Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review

The aim of this umbrella review was to evaluate the quality, potential biases, and validity of the existing evidence on the relationship between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) exposure and health outcomes, through a comprehensive review of available meta-analyses. The included meta-analyses w...

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Main Authors: Junhao Chen, Pan Song, Chao Li, Hengjia Liu, Lei Zhang, Yi Zhou, Zhien Zhou, Weigang Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009194
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author Junhao Chen
Pan Song
Chao Li
Hengjia Liu
Lei Zhang
Yi Zhou
Zhien Zhou
Weigang Yan
author_facet Junhao Chen
Pan Song
Chao Li
Hengjia Liu
Lei Zhang
Yi Zhou
Zhien Zhou
Weigang Yan
author_sort Junhao Chen
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this umbrella review was to evaluate the quality, potential biases, and validity of the existing evidence on the relationship between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) exposure and health outcomes, through a comprehensive review of available meta-analyses. The included meta-analyses were searched across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. This umbrella review included systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies that assessed the impact of EDCs exposure on various health outcomes in humans. The search resulted in the identification of 67 meta-analyses and 109 health outcomes from 7552 unique articles. All of these 109 health outcomes were derived from meta-analyses of observational studies. EDCs exposure included pesticides (n = 30), BPA (n = 13), PAHs (n = 18), PFAS (n = 10), and heavy metals (n = 38). Sixty-nine harmful associations were found to be statistically significant, along with one beneficial association. The remaining 39 outcomes were either harmful or beneficial but did not reach statistical significance. Significant harmful associations between EDCs exposure and 22 cancer outcomes, 21 neonatal/infant/child-related outcomes, 18 metabolic disorder outcomes, 17 cardiovascular disease outcomes, 11 pregnancy-related outcomes, and 20 other outcomes (renal, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, and hematologic) were detected. Exposure to environmental EDCs is closely linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Given the widespread exposure to these pollutants globally, precautionary policies may be warranted to reduce population-level exposure and mitigate potential health risks associated with environmental chemicals.
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spelling doaj-art-c8bb1b19cbda43009c14edcc5af2cf2d2025-08-20T04:02:32ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211857410.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118574Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella reviewJunhao Chen0Pan Song1Chao Li2Hengjia Liu3Lei Zhang4Yi Zhou5Zhien Zhou6Weigang Yan7Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, ChinaThe Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaThe Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Correspondence to: Department of Urology, Surgical Building of Peking, Union Medical College Hospital, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Dong Cheng District, Beijing 100730, China.Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Correspondence to: Department of Urology, Surgical Building of Peking, Union Medical College Hospital, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Dong Cheng District, Beijing 100730, China.The aim of this umbrella review was to evaluate the quality, potential biases, and validity of the existing evidence on the relationship between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) exposure and health outcomes, through a comprehensive review of available meta-analyses. The included meta-analyses were searched across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. This umbrella review included systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies that assessed the impact of EDCs exposure on various health outcomes in humans. The search resulted in the identification of 67 meta-analyses and 109 health outcomes from 7552 unique articles. All of these 109 health outcomes were derived from meta-analyses of observational studies. EDCs exposure included pesticides (n = 30), BPA (n = 13), PAHs (n = 18), PFAS (n = 10), and heavy metals (n = 38). Sixty-nine harmful associations were found to be statistically significant, along with one beneficial association. The remaining 39 outcomes were either harmful or beneficial but did not reach statistical significance. Significant harmful associations between EDCs exposure and 22 cancer outcomes, 21 neonatal/infant/child-related outcomes, 18 metabolic disorder outcomes, 17 cardiovascular disease outcomes, 11 pregnancy-related outcomes, and 20 other outcomes (renal, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, and hematologic) were detected. Exposure to environmental EDCs is closely linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Given the widespread exposure to these pollutants globally, precautionary policies may be warranted to reduce population-level exposure and mitigate potential health risks associated with environmental chemicals.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009194Endocrine disrupting chemicalsMeta-analysisHealth outcomesSystematic reviewUmbrella review
spellingShingle Junhao Chen
Pan Song
Chao Li
Hengjia Liu
Lei Zhang
Yi Zhou
Zhien Zhou
Weigang Yan
Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Endocrine disrupting chemicals
Meta-analysis
Health outcomes
Systematic review
Umbrella review
title Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review
title_full Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review
title_fullStr Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review
title_full_unstemmed Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review
title_short Endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health: An umbrella review
title_sort endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and health an umbrella review
topic Endocrine disrupting chemicals
Meta-analysis
Health outcomes
Systematic review
Umbrella review
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009194
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