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The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd...
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The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Xenobiotics (ISSN 2039-4713). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Chemicals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2025) | Viewed by 3832

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elisa Cairrao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. RISE-Health, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal
2. FCS—UBI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal
Interests: endocrine disruptors; human exposome; pregnancy exposome; phthalates; flame retardants; UVB-filters; bisphenols; cardiovascular endocrinology; fetoplacental vasculature; vascular smooth muscle cells; neurovascular unit; hypertensive disorders in pregnancy; hypothyroidism; calcium and potassium channels; sex hormones; patch clamp
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humans are continually exposed to various environmental contaminants known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can lead to adverse effects on human health. Exposure to these EDCs represents a global concern due to their adverse effects on the human endocrine system. Moreover, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which EDCs interact with hormonal action are complex and difficult to understand. For this reason, improving our knowledge of these mechanisms is one of the key current challenges in endocrine research.

This Special Issue will focus on advances in understanding emerging contaminants’ role in human health, with the aim of providing an integrative, novel, and transdisciplinary approach to evaluating actual human exposure to EDCs and contributing to the prevention and treatment of diseases. The theme is multidisciplinary, so I invite you to submit original research and review articles across the following non-exhaustive list of topics:

  • Environmental health;
  • Risk assessments;
  • Health impact assessments;
  • Endocrine-disrupting chemicals;
  • Cellular and molecular mechanisms;
  • In vitro studies;
  • Translational research;
  • Molecular docking.

Dr. Elisa Cairrao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Xenobiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • endocrine disruption
  • risk assessment
  • human exposome
  • emerging compounds
  • adverse outcome pathways
  • animal translational studies

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 1709 KB  
Article
Estrogen Degradation Metabolites: Some Effects on Heart Mitochondria
by Cristina Uribe-Alvarez, Elizabeth Lira-Silva, Lilia Morales-García, Natalia Chiquete-Felix, Francisco Javier Roldán-Gómez, Jesús Vargas-Barrón, José J. García-Trejo, Alejandro Silva-Palacios, Salvador Uribe-Carvajal and Natalia Pavón
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(5), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15050170 - 18 Oct 2025
Viewed by 398
Abstract
Mitochondria play crucial roles in various cellular functions, including ATP production, apoptosis, and calcium homeostasis. Signaling pathways and hormones such as estrogens regulate the mitochondrial network through genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic processes. Estrogens increase the efficiency of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by preventing uncoupling. [...] Read more.
Mitochondria play crucial roles in various cellular functions, including ATP production, apoptosis, and calcium homeostasis. Signaling pathways and hormones such as estrogens regulate the mitochondrial network through genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic processes. Estrogens increase the efficiency of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by preventing uncoupling. Upon reaching menopause, when estrogen levels decrease, impaired mitochondrial function (uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation, lower ATP yields) is observed. Like all hormones in the body, estrogens undergo metabolic processing, resulting in estrogenic degradation metabolites (EDMs). These metabolites can form adducts with genomic and mitochondrial DNA and are of particular interest due to their potential role as carcinogens. Given that estradiol influences mitochondrial function, it is possible that EDMs may have an impact on heart mitochondria. To investigate this, we used isolated heart mitochondria from control and oophorectomized (mimicking menopausal stage) female Wistar rats of the same age. We found that mitochondria exposed to EDMs exhibited reduced coupling of oxidative phosphorylation and diminished ATP production, while increasing reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, these effects were significantly stronger in mitochondria from oophorectomized rats than in mitochondria from control (intact) rats. In addition, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex activities were differentially affected: complex I and ATPase activities decreased, while complex IV remained unaffected. We propose that exposure to EDMs promotes mitochondrial dysfunction in rats and that these effects are exacerbated by oophorectomy, a procedure commonly used to model the effects of menopause in women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 2815 KB  
Article
QSAR Models for Predicting Oral Bioavailability and Volume of Distribution and Their Application in Mapping the TK Space of Endocrine Disruptors
by Guillaume Ollitrault, Marco Marzo, Alessandra Roncaglioni, Emilio Benfenati, Olivier Taboureau and Enrico Mombelli
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(5), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15050166 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 432
Abstract
Toxicokinetic (TK) properties are essential in the framework of chemical risk assessment and drug discovery. Specifically, a TK profile provides information about the fate of chemicals in the human body. In this context, Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (QSAR) models are convenient computational tools for [...] Read more.
Toxicokinetic (TK) properties are essential in the framework of chemical risk assessment and drug discovery. Specifically, a TK profile provides information about the fate of chemicals in the human body. In this context, Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (QSAR) models are convenient computational tools for predicting TK properties. Here, we developed QSAR models to predict two TK properties: oral bioavailability and volume of distribution at steady state (VDss). We collected and curated two large sets of 1712 and 1591 chemicals for oral bioavailability and VDss, respectively, and compared regression and classification (binary and multiclass) models with the application of several machine learning algorithms. The best predictive performance of the models for regression (R) prediction was characterized by a Q2F3 of 0.34 with the R-CatBoost model for oral bioavailability and a geometric mean fold error (GMFE) of 2.35 with the R-RF model for VDss. The models were then applied to a list of potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), highlighting chemicals with a high probability of posing a risk to human health due to their TK profiles. Based on the results obtained, insights into the structural determinants of TK properties for EDCs are further discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 420 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Endocrine Disruptome and VirtualToxLab for Predicting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Binding to Nuclear Receptors
by Nina Franko, Manca Vetrih and Marija Sollner Dolenc
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(5), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15050136 - 22 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 777
Abstract
This study investigated whether the Endocrine Disruptome and VirtualToxLab in silico platforms are suitable for predicting the endocrine disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)—in particular, for interactions with oestrogen receptors (ERs) and androgen receptor (AR). Compounds included in the U.S. Environmental [...] Read more.
This study investigated whether the Endocrine Disruptome and VirtualToxLab in silico platforms are suitable for predicting the endocrine disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)—in particular, for interactions with oestrogen receptors (ERs) and androgen receptor (AR). Compounds included in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s PFAS working list were analysed with both models, and the results were compared with the available in vitro data regarding their modulation of nuclear receptors. Based on the identified prediction parameters, such as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and Mathews’ correlation coefficient, VirtualToxLab was found to be a reliable model for predicting the reactivity of PFASs with AR, while a positive consensus approach of both platforms provided reliable predictions of the PFAS reactivity with ERα and ERβ. This study provides the evidence that Endocrine Disruptome and VirtualToxLab can be used as a tier 1 screening tool for assessment of the endocrine disrupting effect of PFASs. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the likelihood of endocrine disrupting properties increases with the lipophilicity of PFASs and identifies the understudied PFHpS, PFNS, PFDS, 9-Cl, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, 6:2 monoPAP, 8:2 monoPAP, and 5:3 acid as potential ligands of AR and/or ERs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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15 pages, 301 KB  
Review
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Male Infertility: Mechanisms, Risks, and Regulatory Challenges
by Sofoklis Stavros, Nikolaos Kathopoulis, Efthalia Moustakli, Anastasios Potiris, Ismini Anagnostaki, Spyridon Topis, Nefeli Arkouli, Konstantinos Louis, Charalampos Theofanakis, Themos Grigoriadis, Nikolaos Thomakos and Athanasios Zikopoulos
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(5), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15050165 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1049
Abstract
Male reproductive health is increasingly threatened by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which interfere with hormonal homeostasis and reproductive physiology. Rising rates of male infertility have been linked to greater exposure to pollutants such as heavy metals, phthalates, pesticides, and bisphenol A. These compounds act [...] Read more.
Male reproductive health is increasingly threatened by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which interfere with hormonal homeostasis and reproductive physiology. Rising rates of male infertility have been linked to greater exposure to pollutants such as heavy metals, phthalates, pesticides, and bisphenol A. These compounds act through multiple mechanisms, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, receptor-mediated disruption of estrogenic and androgenic signaling, alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, and heritable epigenetic changes. Such disruptions impair key outcomes like sperm concentration, motility, morphology, DNA integrity, and steroidogenesis. Evidence from animal studies and human epidemiology consistently demonstrates these harmful effects, with biomarkers of EDC exposure correlating with reduced semen quality, hormonal imbalances, and infertility. Beyond individual health, infertility linked to EDCs carries significant social and economic costs. This review evaluates regulatory frameworks, highlights methodological challenges in risk assessment, and synthesizes mechanistic and clinical evidence. Particular attention is given to unresolved issues such as non-monotonic dose responses, mixture effects, low-dose exposures, and transgenerational impacts. Future priorities include refining biomonitoring, addressing mixture risks, and strengthening international regulation. By integrating mechanistic, clinical, and policy insights, this review underscores the urgent need for strategies to mitigate EDC-related threats to male reproductive health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 688 KB  
Review
Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Brain: The Example of Neurodevelopment Alterations upon Exposure In Utero to Synthetic Sex Hormones
by Charles Sultan, Laura Gaspari and Marie-Odile Soyer-Gobillard
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(5), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15050162 - 10 Oct 2025
Viewed by 805
Abstract
Endocrine disruptors contaminate indoor and outdoor air, water, and food. Besides modifications of the androgen/estrogen balance, endocrine disruptors can alter thyroid function, metabolic balance, immune defenses, and brain development during fetal life, childhood, and adolescence. Among the consequences of fetal exposure to endocrine [...] Read more.
Endocrine disruptors contaminate indoor and outdoor air, water, and food. Besides modifications of the androgen/estrogen balance, endocrine disruptors can alter thyroid function, metabolic balance, immune defenses, and brain development during fetal life, childhood, and adolescence. Among the consequences of fetal exposure to endocrine disruptors, neurobehavioral disorders, particularly psychiatric disorders (for example, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), attention deficit disorders, and mood disorders, occupy a special place. Therefore, endocrine disruptors are also neuroendocrine disruptors. This review article first summarizes the direct and transgenerational effects of endocrine disruptors. Then, data from a French national cohort of patients whose mothers were treated with synthetic hormones (estrogens and/or progestogens) during their pregnancy(ies) are used to describe the psychiatric disorders developed by children exposed in utero and the multigenerational and potentially transgenerational impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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