Neurotoxic effects of endocrine disruptors

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a newly defined category of environmenta l contaminants that may affect animal and human populations by interfering with normal hormone action. There is substantial concern that these agents could have a range of subtle and long-lasting effects. Because of the sensi tivity of the developing central nervous system to low levels of endogenous gonadal hormones during development, the central nervous system may be a t arget for the action of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Curr Opin Neurol 12 :745-751. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.