Occupational and environmental agents as endocrine disruptors : experimental and human evidence

In the last few years great concern has arisen from the description of adverse endocrine effects of several occupational and environmental chemical agents on human and/or wildlife health. Such agents may exert their effects directly, specifically binding to hormone receptors, and/or indirectly, by altering the structure of endocrine glands and/or synthesis, release, transport, metabolism or action of endogenous hormones. Many studies have been focused on the outcomes of the exposure to those chemicals mimicking estrogenic or androgenic actions. Nonetheless, the disruption of other hormonal pathways is not negligible. This paper reviews the experimental and human evidence of the effects of occupational and environmental chemical agents on hypothalamus-pituitary unit, pineal gland, parathyroid and calcium metabolism and adrenal glands.