ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSITION TO XENOESTROGENS AND RELATED HEALTH EFFECTS

The aim of this study is to present the impact of environmental pollutants disrupting the human endocrine system and their negative effects on human health. Xenoestrogens are a group of chemical compounds structurally similar to natural estrogens that mimic the action of natural hormones. Xenoestrogens include substances such as diphenol A (BPA), dimethylacrylated diphenol A (BAD), triethyl dimethyl acrylate glycol (TEGDMA), herbicides, pesticides, PCBs, plasticizers and polystyrenes. These chemicals are widely used in industry, agriculture and households. Environmental research conducted for years has shown that substances that disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system accumulate in the environment in an increasing amount, and thus also in the human body. To provide information on the environmental impact of chemicals, including xenoestrogens, on human health at work, the issues related to occupational health hazards related to the use of pesticides, phthalate release and associated health risks, the health impact of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans and the health impact of pollutants released into the environment as a result of landfill fires, were addressed in this study. It has been shown that xenoestrogens, classified as endocrine disruptors, are present as pollutants practically everywhere: in sewage, water, soil, air, food and in everyday products, including household chemicals and cosmetics. The above means that a large part of the human population around the world is exposed to xenoestrogens both, in private and professional life (at work). Long-term exposure to even low doses of xenoestrogens may ultimately have a negative impact on human health, leading to disturbances in the endocrine system, as well as contributing to the development of neoplastic diseases. The most dangerous is the exposition to xenoestrogens in the early intrauterine period of fetal development or puberty. Considering the above facts, environmental exposure to xenoestrogens should be of particular interest to public and environmental health at every stage of human life.