title: The influence of endocrine disruptors on growth and development of children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review describes the most recent data about the effects of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) on infant and early childhood growth and reproductive tract development as well as controversies in the field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EDCs are present in pregnant women, young children and adolescents. Whether the level of exposure contributes to disease is an ongoing debate. Epidemiological studies suggest associations between prenatal EDC exposure and disease outcome, but animal studies using controlled EDC exposure have varying results with underlying mechanisms largely unknown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human exposure to EDCs is widespread; bisphenol A, phthalates and persistent organic pollutants are detectable in all age groups and geographical locations in the USA. Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that phthalates and bisphenol A have adverse effects on birth weight, promote development of childhood obesity and adversely affect male reproductive tract development. Differences in the interpretation of available studies underlie the disparate conclusions of scientific and regulatory body's panels on potential toxicological effects of EDCs at current levels of human exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. sdivall1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: DiVall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000139:chemically induced; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010575:Pesticides; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids