Endocrine Disruptors and Carcinogenesis

Environmental chemicals that at certain doses interfere with the endocrine system are called endocrine disruptors; the disruption of homeostasis induced is including birth defects, feminizing effects and cancerous tumors. The critical window of development for most organisms is the in utero period where substantial damage to a developing fetus takes place after exposure to these chemicals; further, the risk of cancer development increases after environmental or occupational exposure later in life. In this review, epidemiological data are quoted regarding the increased cancer risk after the exposure to endocrine disruptors, while a current quantitation method of the chemical carcinogenesis evolving is also provided.