Navigate the site Newest developments Book Basics New Science Consensus Statements Commentary Myths vs. Reality Useful links Important Events Other Sources Other Languages About the Authors Widespread Pollutants with Endocrine-disrupting Effects [background information about some common EDCs] Information is regularly added to this page. If you have additions--new data on chemicals, references, corrections or things we missed, etc.-- send information here Persistent organohalogens Compound(s) Hormone system affected Mechanism if known References Benzenehexachloride (BHC) Thyroid Akhtar et al. 1996 1,2-dibromoethane Reproductive Brittebo et al. 1987 Chloroform Reproductive Brittebo et al. 1987 Dioxins and furans (in order of antiestrogenic potency : 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin > 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran > 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-furan > 1,2,3,7,9-pentachlorodibenzofuran > 1,3,6,8-tetrachlo-rodibenzofuran) Estrogen work as anti-estrogen through binding with Ah receptor, which then inhibits estrogen receptor binding to estrogen response elements, thereby inhibiting estrogen action Krishnan and Safe 1993 Klinge et al. 1999 Octachlorostyrene Thyroid Sandan et al. 2000 PBBs Estrogen/ Thyroid Bahn et al. 1980 Henderson et al. 1995 PCBs (in order of antiestrogenic potency: 3,3' -pentachlorobiphenyl > 3,3,4,4,5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl 3,3',4,4-tetrachlorobiphenyl > 2,3,3',4,4',5'-hexa, 2,3,3',4,4'- and 2,3,4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl > Aroclors 1221, 1232. 1248, 1254, and 1260 were inactive as antiestrogens at the highest concentrations used in this study (10-6 Ni) Estrogen/androgen/Thyroid Adverse outcomes in reproductive systems. Inhibits estrogen binding to the receptor; works as anti-estrogen. anti-androgenic via Ah receptor interaction Korach et al. 1988 Zoeller et al. 2000 Grey et al. 1999 PCB, hydroxylated Thyroid Binds to thyroid hormone binding protein, but not to the thyroid hormone receptor. Cheek et al. 1999 PBDEs Thyroid Interfere with thyroxine (T4) binding with transthryetin Ilonka et al. 2000 Pentachlorophenol Thyroid Reduces thyroid hormone possibly through a direct effect on the thyroid gland. Bear et al. 1999 Gerhard et al. 1999 Food Antioxidant Compound Hormone system affected Mechanism References Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) Estrogen Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor. Jobling et al. 1995 Pesticide (for information organized by pesticide class) Compound Hormone system affected Mechanism References Acetochlor Thyroid (decrease of thyroid hormone levels, increase in TSH) Hurley et al. 1998 Alachlor Thyroid (decrease of thyroid hormone levels, increase in TSH) Wilson et al. 1996 Aldrin Estrogen Binds to estrogen receptors; competes with estradiol. Jorgenson 2001 Allethrin, d-trans Estrogen Go et al. 1999 Amitrol Thyroid Thyroid peroxidase inhibitors; inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis. Hurley et al. 1998 Atrazine Neuroendocrine-pituitary (depression of LH surge), testosterone metabolism. Inhibits ligand binding to androgen and estrogen receptors. Danzo 1997 Carbaryl Estrogen and progesterone Klotz et al. 1997 Chlofentezine Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Chlordane Testosterone and progesterone Willingham et al. 2000 Cypermethrin Disruption of reproductive function Moore and Waring 2001 DDT Estrogen DDT and related compounds act in a number of ways to disrupt endocrine function by binding with the estrogen receptor, including estrogen mimickry and antagonism, altering the pattern of synthesis or metabolism of hormones, and (4) modifying hormone receptor levels Soto et al. 1994 Lascombe et al. 2000 Kupfer et al. 1980 Rajapakse et al. 2001 DDT Metabolite, p,p'-DDE Androgen Inhibits androgen binding to the androgen receptor, androgen-induced transcriptional activity, and androgen action in developing, pubertal and adult male rats. Kelce 1995 Dicofol (Kelthane) Estrogen Vinggaard et al. 1999 Dieldrin Estrogen Binds to estrogen receptor;competes with estradiol. Soto et al. 1994 Jorgenson 2001 Endosulfan Estrogen Soto et al. 1994 Soto et al. 1995 Ethylene thiourea Thyroid Thyroid peroxidase inhibitor. Hurley et al. 1998 Fenarimol Estrogen Estrogen receptor agonist. Vinggaard et al. 1999 Fenbuconazole Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Fenitrothion Antiandrogen Competitive androgen receptor antagonist. Tamura et al. 2001 Fenvalerate Estrogen Go et al. 1999 Fipronil Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Heptachlor Thyroid Akhtar et al. 1996 Reuber 1987 Heptachlor-epoxide Thyroid/Reproductive Metabolite of heptachlor Reuber 1987 Iprodione Inhibition of testosterone synthesis Benhamed 1996 Karate Thyroid A decrease of thyroid hormone in serum; direct effect on the thyroid gland? Akhtar et al. 1996 Kepone (Chlordecone) Estrogen Displays androgen and estrogen receptor-binding affinities. Waller et al. 1996 Soto et al. 1994 McLachlan(ed) Ketoconazole Effects on reproductive systems Marty et al. 1999 Marty et al. 2001 Lindane (Hexachlorocyclohexane) Estrogen/Androgen Inhibits ligand binding to androgen and estrogen receptors. Danzo 1997 Linuron Androgen Androgen receptor antagonist. Waller et al. 1996 Lambright et al. 2000 Grey et al. 1999 Malathion Thyroid Significant decrease of thyroid hormone in serum, with perhaps a direct effect on the thyroid gland. Akhtar et al. 1996 Mancozeb Thyroid Thyroid peroxidase inhibitors. Hurley et al. 1998 Maneb Thyroid The metabolite ethylenthiourea inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis. Toppari et al. 1995 Methomyl Thyroid Porter et al. 1993 Klotz et al. 1997 Methoxychlor Estrogen Through mechanisms other than receptor antagonism. Precise mechanism still unclear. Pickford and Morris 1999 Metribuzin Thyroid Porter et al. 1993 Mirex Antiandrogenic activity; inhibits production of LH. Potentially thyroid. Chen et al. 1986 Chernoff et al. 1976 Nitrofen Thyroid Structural similarities to the thyroid hormones; nitrofen or its metabolite may have thyroid hormone activities. Stevens and Summer 1991 Nonachlor, trans- Estrogen Estrogen receptor agonist? Willingham et al. 2000 Oxychlordane Reproductive Guillette et al. 1999 Pendimethalin Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Pentachloronitrobenzene Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Permethrin Estrogenic Go et al. 1999 Procymidone Androgen Androgen receptor antagonist. Ostby et al. 1999 Grey et al. 1999 Prodiamine Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Pyrimethanil Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Sumithrin Androgen Go et al. 1999 Tarstar Thyroid A decrease of thyroid hormone in serum; direct effect on the thyroid gland? Akhtar et al. 1996 Thiazopyr Thyroid Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone. Hurley et al. 1998 Thiram Neuroendocrine-pituitary (depression of LH surge), thyroid (decrease of T4, increase of TSH) Stoker et al. 1993 Toxaphene Estrogen/ Thyroid Soto et al. 1994 Triadimefon Estrogen Estrogen receptor agonist. Vinggaard et al. 1999 Triadimenol Estrogen Estrogen receptor agonist Vinggaard et al. 1999 Tributyltin Reproductive Horiguchi et al. 2000 Trifluralin Reproductive/ Metabolic Rawlings et al. 1998 Vinclozolin Androgen Anti-androgenic. (Competes with androgens for the androgen receptor (AR), inhibits AR-DNA binding, and alters androgen-dependent gene expression.) Soto et al. 1994 Soto et al. 1995 Kelce et al. 1994 Grey et al. 1999 Zineb Thyroid The metabolite ethylenthiourea inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis. Toppari et al. 1995 Ziram Thyroid Inhibits the iodide peroxidase. Structural similarities between ziram and thiram; ziram can be metabolized to thiram in the environment. Marinovich et al. 1997 Phthalate Compound Hormones affected Mechanism References Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) Estrogen Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor Jobling et al. 1995 Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) Estrogen Androgen Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor. anti-androgenic Jobling et al. 1995 Harris et al. 1997 Grey et al. 1999 Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) Estrogen Androgen Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor. anti-androgenic Jobling et al. 1995 Harris et al. 1997 Moore et al. 2001 Grey et al. 1999 Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) Estrogen Harris et al. 1997 Other Compounds Compound Hormones affected Mechanism References Benzophenone Estrogen Binds weakly to estrogen receptors, roles of its metabolite remain to be clarified. Schlumpf et al. 2001 Bisphenol A Estrogen Estrogenic; binds to estrogen receptor Fisher et al. 1999 Anderson et al. 1999 Rajapakse et al. 2001 Bisphenol F Estrogen Estrogenic; b inds to estrogen receptor Perez et al. 1998 Benzo(a)pyrene Androgen anti-androgenic Thomas 1990 Carbendazim Reproductive Gray et al. 1990 Ethane Dimethane Sulphonate Reproductive Gray et al. 1999 Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) Thyroid, reproductive suppression of T3,T4; mechanism unknown 3M data Nonylphenol, octylphenol Estrogen Estrogen receptor agonists; reduces estradiol binding to the estrogen receptor. Soto et al. 1991 Soto et al. 1995 Danzo 1997 Lascombe et al. 2000 Rajapakse et al. 2001 Resorcinol Thyroid Lindsay et al. 1989 Styrene dimers and trimers Estrogen Estrogen receptor agonists Ohyama et al. 2001 Metals Compound Hormones affected Mechanism References Arsenic Glucocorticoid Selective inhibition of DNA transcription normally stimulated by the glucocorticoid-GR complex. Kaltreider et al. 2001 Cadmium Estrogenic Activates estrogen receptor through an interaction with the hormone-binding domain of the receptor. Stoica et al. 2000 Johnson et al. 2003 Lead Reproductive Telisman et al. 2000 Hanas et al. 1999 Mercury Reproductive/ Thyroid Facemire et al. 1995 OSF Home About this website Newest Book Basics Synopsis & excerpts The bottom line Key points The big challenge Chemicals implicated The controversy Recommendations New Science Broad trends Basic mechanisms Brain & behavior Disease resistance Human impacts Low dose effects Mixtures and synergy Ubiquity of exposure Natural vs. synthetic New exposures Reproduction Wildlife impacts Recent Important Results Consensus News/Opinion Myths vs. Reality Useful Links Important Events Important Books Other Sources Other Languages About the Authors Talk to us: email
