Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances that interfere with the endocrine system and cause adverse effects. We aimed to classify the effects of 24 known EDCs, prevalent in certain occupations, according to four modes of action (estrogenic, antiestrogenic, androgenic, and/or antiandrogenic). A literature search, stratified into four types of literature was conducted (namely: national and international agency reports; review articles; primary studies; ToxCastTM). The state of the evidence of each EDC on sex hormone function was summarized and reviewed by an expert panel. For each mode of action, the experts evaluated the likelihood of endocrine disruption in five categories: "No", "Unlikely", "Possibly", "Probably", and "Yes". Seven agents were categorized as "Yes," or having strong evidence for their effects on sex hormone function (antiandrogenic: lead, arsenic, butylbenzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate; estrogenic: nonylphenol, bisphenol A). Nine agents were categorized as "Probable," or having probable evidence (antiandrogenic: bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, nonylphenol, toluene, bisphenol A, diisononyl phthalate; androgenic: cadmium; estrogenic: copper, cadmium and; anti-estrogenic: lead). Two agents (arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls) had opposing conclusions supporting both "probably" estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects. This synthesis will allow researchers to evaluate the health effects of selected EDCs with an added level of precision related to the mode of action.

Centre de recherche du CHUM Montréal QC Canada

Centre de recherche en santé publique Université de Montréal Montréal QC Canada

Département Prévention Cancer Environnement Centre Léon Bérard Lyon France

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Université de Montréal Montréal QC Canada

Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Université de Montréal Montréal QC Canada

Faculty of Safety Engineering Technical University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Faculty of Science and Engineering Division of Population Health Health Services Research and Primary Care University of Manchester Manchester UK

Inserm UA 08 Radiations Défense Santé Environement Lyon France

Institute of Experimental Medicine of the CAS Prague Czech Republic

JH Tox Consulting Maastricht Netherlands

National Center for Environmental Health Hazard Assessment US Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC USA

Výzkumný ústav organických syntéz a s Centre for Ecology Toxicology and Analytics Rybitví Czech Republic

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