Influence of Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals on the Immune System

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, i.e., endocrine disruptors (EDs), are exogenous compounds that have the potential to interfere with hormonal regulation and the normal endocrine system and consequently cause side effects on human health. Environmental estrogens, i.e., xenoestrogens, are a diverse group of chemicals that bind to estrogen receptors, mimic estrogenic actions, and may have side effects on human health. Bisphenol A (BPA), which is produced by the acid-catalyzed reaction of acetone and phenol and is widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is classified into xenoestrogens. Food allergy is caused by individual intolerance towards commonly tolerated foods, and this event derived from an immunological mechanism. Allergic diseases such as urticaria, asthma and anaphylaxis, are known to be connected with the production of specific immunoglobulin (I(g))E to allergens of environmental sources. In this paper, we discuss the relationship of EDs between xenoestrogenic reaction and immune responses in human and animals.