2015, Pages 237–255
Chapter 13 – Endocrine Disruption of Developmental Pathways and Children’s Health
- Available online 26 March 2015
Widespread
human exposure to known or suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals
(EDCs) has been documented worldwide, while rates of endocrine-related
diseases and disorders among children are increasing. This chapter
provides an overview of the current state of the epidemiological
evidence for the adverse impacts of common persistent and nonpersistent
EDCs on child development. The selected health end points discussed here
include fetal growth, early reproductive tract development, pubertal
development, obesity, and neurodevelopment. Despite their limitations,
the studies mentioned here add to a growing body of evidence that
exposure to chemicals commonly found in consumer goods, personal care
products, food, drinking water, and other sources may adversely affect
child development through altered endocrine function in a variety of
pathways. Given the range of these potential serious developmental
effects, efforts to reduce EDC exposure as a precaution among pregnant
women and children are warranted.
Keywords
- Child development;
- fetal development;
- reproductive tract;
- puberty;
- obesity;
- neurodevelopment;
- persistent organic pollutants (POPs);
- nonpersistent chemicals;
- prenatal exposures;
- childhood exposures