title: Endocrine disrupting chemicals in the atmosphere: Their effects on humans and wildlife.
abstract: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous agents that interfere or disrupt the normal synthesis, secretion, transportation, binding and metabolism of natural hormones; eventually dysregulating homeostatic mechanisms, reproduction and development. They are emitted into the atmosphere during anthropogenic activities and physicochemical reactions in nature. Inhalation of these EDCs as particulate and gaseous vapors triggers their interaction with endocrine glands and exerts agonist or antagonists actions at hormone receptors. The endocrine disruption at nanogram levels of EDC's has gained concern in the last decade, due to infertility among men and women, early puberty, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Thus, the review explores the literature that addresses the major occurring EDCs in the atmosphere including phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), dioxins, alkylphenols (APs) and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). Sources, fate, half-life, mechanism, measured concentrations in air, bioaccumulation in tissues, laboratory exposures correlating to toxicological effects of these EDCs in humans and wildlife are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Studies, CEG Campus, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: jayshreeannamalai@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jayshree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Annamalai
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Studies, CEG Campus, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: nvasu30@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vasudevan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Namasivayam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000378:metabolism; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D012098:Reproduction; D012744:Sex Ratio
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C032279:phthalic acid; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Atmospheric toxicants; Bioaccumulation; Endocrine disruption; Exposure; Organic vapors