DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS IN WILDLIFE AND HUMANS

Large numbers and large quantities of endocrine-disrupting chemicals h ave been released into the environment since World War II. Many of the se chemicals can disturb development of the endocrine system and of th e organs that respond to endocrine signals in organisms indirectly exp osed during prenatal and/or early postnatal life; effects of exposure during development are permanent and irreversible. The risk to the dev eloping organism can also stem from direct exposure of the offspring a fter birth or hatching. In addition, transgenerational exposure can re sult from the exposure of the mother to a chemical at any time through out her life before producing offspring due to persistence of endocrin e-disrupting chemicals in body fat, which is mobilized during egg layi ng or pregnancy and lactation. Mechanisms underlying the disruption of the development of vital systems, such as the endocrine, reproductive , and immune systems, are discussed with reference to wildlife, labora tory animals, and humans.