The Two Faces of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Genital Development

The Two Faces of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Genital Development

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are substances that interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, or action resulting in a deviation from normal homeostatic control or reproduction. EDCs represent a broad class of molecules in our environment, food, and consumer products such as plasticizers, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorinated pesticides, and many other chemicals. Most of the products that contain these EDCs are requisitely used in everyday life; however the results of several animal models and human clinical research, as well as data from epidemiological studies reveal that EDCs are a significant concern to public health.