Health: the greatest evil of the 21st century, what you need to know about endocrine disruptors

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Endocrine disruptors (EDs), these molecules disseminated in our environment, constitute a sneaky threat to our health. Indeed, we are talking today about widespread contamination, a phenomenon closely linked to the industrialization of the 20th century. They are now omnipresent, like microplastics: in our homes (cosmetics, food packaging), our food (packaged foods, fruits, vegetables), or our living environment (water, air and soil).

They exert a deleterious influence on our hormonal system, the same one that controls many vital functions. Faced with this alarming observation, the scientific community is increasingly concerned about the potential consequences of this chemical contamination on the health of current and future generations. The stakes are high, because it is nothing less than understanding and controlling the mechanisms by which these disruptors can alter our physiological balance.

A molecular intrusion into our hormonal balance

EDs encompass a wide range of molecules, of natural or synthetic origin. Their particularity lies in their ability to disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, as their name suggests. This complex system, the body's true conductor, regulates essential functions such as growth, metabolism (the set of chemical reactions that occur in our body to transform food into energy) and reproduction.

These substances act in a sneaky way, mimicking or blocking the action of natural hormones. To better understand the phenomenon, imagine hormones as keys that open specific locks in our cells. Endocrine disruptors are fake keys that can either open locks incorrectly or block them completely, preventing the real keys (natural hormones) from working.

Some, such as bisphenol A (BPA), long used in food plastics, can bind to hormone receptors, causing inappropriate physiological responses: decreased fertility in men and women, impaired neurodevelopment in children, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, etc. (non-exhaustive list).

Others, such as certain organochlorine pesticides, synthetic chemicals containing chlorine, disrupt the synthesis or transport of hormones in the body. This can ultimately result in an increased risk of cancer, metabolic or developmental disorders (non-exhaustive list here too).

We are constantly exposed to these disruptors and there is absolutely no one on the planet who can escape them. This omnipresence obviously makes their avoidance too complex.

A spectrum of health effects that is constantly expanding

The consequences of PE on human healthare as diverse as they are worrying. The various epidemiological and toxicological studies on them highlight a wide range of harmful and indisputable effects.

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According to this study from the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, there is a significant decline in sperm quality in men, associated with an increase in congenital genital malformations. In particular ” testicular dysgenesis syndrome […] which could be promoted by early exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) “. This is a ” developmental disorder of the testicles that can lead to birth defects in boys, an increased risk of testicular cancer and poor sperm quality in adulthood ” according to the same study.

In women, these substances are suspected of playing a role in the increase in cases of endometriosis, a gynecological disease in which tissue similar to that lining the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often causing chronic pain, painful periods and sometimes leading to fertility problems. They may also play a role in the development of hormone-dependent cancers, a type of cancer that grows and spreads under the action of hormones.

Fetal and infant development appear particularly vulnerable to EDCs. Exposure in utero or during early childhood can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, growth disorders, and even precocious puberty. These effects, sometimes subtle, can manifest years after the initial exposure, greatly complicating their study and prevention.

More recently, the link between exposure to EDCs and the risk of contracting metabolic diseases has been highlighted. According to this study, obesity and type 2 diabetes, real scourges of modern societies, could partly find their origin in chronic exposure to these substances.

The impact of EDCs on human health and the environment is emerging today as one of the major health issues of our time. The complexity of these substances, their ubiquity in our living environment and their effects often delayed over time pose an immense challenge to the medical community and public decision-makers. To fully understand this problem, the only possible approach must be multidisciplinary. The latter must combine advances in basic research in endocrinology and toxicology, the development of more sensitive analytical methods, and the implementation of appropriate public health policies. Even by adopting this approach, it is not even certain that we will one day be able to implement preventive measures that are sufficiently effective to protect future generations.

• Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are invading our daily lives, threatening our health at all levels.
• These hidden substances disrupt our hormonal system, causing serious and lasting disorders.
• Their omnipresence in our environment makes it difficult to avoid them, with potentially disastrous health effects.

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