EDC Science Weekly, Apr. 25 – May 1, 2025

Post author:HEEDS
Post published:May 1, 2025
Post category:EDC Science Weekly

A summary of articles on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) added to PubMed this week.

Contents: Events, Regulations/Policy, Methods/Tools/Screening, Commentaries, Reviews/Meta-Analyses, Human Health Studies, Laboratory Studies, Exposure/Environment Studies

Highlights:

The alarming consequences of workforce reductions at the FDA, EPA, NIH and CDC
Grandmaternal perinatal PCBs and prevalence of obesity in adult daughters and granddaughters.
Phthalate exposure from plastics and cardiovascular disease: global estimates of attributable mortality and years life lost
A state of the science review of human health effects of the Michigan PBB contamination after five decades.

Science summaries and highlights

Events

May 8 webinar: Changes at NIH: What do they mean for environmental health? [EDC Strategies Partnership]

May 10-13: EDC sessions at European endocrinology society meeting [European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE)]

May 14: Minimising the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals on health and environment [a scientific update following the Joint Congress of ESPE and ESE, sponsored by ESE]

May 15 webinar: Microplastics’ Impact on the Brain & Heart [Beyond Plastics, PSR NY, Environmental Advocates]

June 10 conference: Preventing diseases by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals (hybrid) [Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)]

June 16-17 workshop: Roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments [The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)]

July 30 – Aug. 1 conference: U.S. Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Society Annual Meeting

More events

Regulations/Policy

A Global Overview of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Regulatory Strategies and Their Environmental Impact.

Positive impact of the legislation on organotins contamination in the marine environment of Hong Kong.

More EDC policy, FPF’s regulations open for comment, Science’s Trump-Tracker, and links to preserved resources removed from U.S. federal websites

Methods/Tools/Screening

ExpoPath: A method for identifying and annotating exposure pathways from chemical co-occurrence networks.

Lessons learned from evaluating defined chemical mixtures in a high-throughput estrogen receptor assay system.

Advancing translational exposomics: bridging genome, exposome and personalized medicine.

From Nuclear Receptors to GPCRs: a Deep Transfer Learning Approach for Enhanced Environmental Estrogen Recognition.

Unraveling ER dimerization dynamics in endocrine disruption based on a BRET-focused approach.

Comparative assessment of different alternatives to animal models for developmental toxicity prediction using physiologically based toxicokinetic modelling approach: A case study of hexaconazole, an azole fungicide

Application of a high-density microelectrode array assay using a 3D human iPSC-derived brain microphysiological system model for in vitro neurotoxicity screening of environmental compounds.

Developing a feasible fast-track testing method for developmental neurotoxicity studies: alternative model for risk assessment of micro- and nanoplastics.

Commentaries

The alarming consequences of workforce reductions at the FDA, EPA, NIH and CDC in the United States

The key characteristics concept.

Researchers Face Challenges Devising a PFAS-Free Future.

Editorial: “Unravelling micro-/nano-plastics toxicity profiling: can we link associated effects to intrinsic characteristics?”.

Reviews/Meta-Analyses

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

Connecting the dots: environmental pollution and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Effect of Endocrine Disruptors on Testicular Function.

Effects of Environmental Pollutants on Tryptophan Metabolism.

Emerging Roles of Histone modifications in Environmental Toxicants-Induced Neurotoxicity.

Environmental Health Is Overlooked in Longevity Research.

BPA/Phenols

Developmental Neurotoxicity of Bisphenol F and Bisphenol S in Animal Model Systems: A Literature Review.

Phthalates

Phthalate exposure from plastics and cardiovascular disease: global estimates of attributable mortality and years life lost

PFAS

Emerging Perfluorinated Chemical GenX: Environmental and Biological Fates and Risks.

Associations between Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Exposures and Bone Mineral: A Systematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis.

The evolution of PFAS epidemiology: new scientific developments call into question alleged “probable links” between PFOA and kidney cancer and thyroid disease.

Health Impacts of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs): A Comprehensive Review.

Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and hematological cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances as Potentiators of Hepatotoxicity in an Exposome Framework: Current Challenges of Environmental Toxicology.

Unveiling the Research Void: Exploring the Reproductive Effects of PFAS Compounds on Male Health.

Flame Retardants

A State of the Science Review of Human Health Effects of the Michigan Polybrominated Biphenyl Contamination after Five Decades.

Toxicity Assessment of Organophosphate Flame Retardants Using New Approach Methodologies.

Neurotransmitter Systems Affected by PBDE Exposure: Insights from In Vivo and In Vitro Neurotoxicity Studies.

Pesticides

Evidence concerning parental exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of leukemia in offspring: a systematic review.

Neonicotinoid insecticides in non-target organisms: Occurrence, exposure, toxicity, and human health risks

Metals/Metalloids

Associations of Environmental Exposure to Arsenic, Manganese, Lead, and Cadmium with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review of Recent Evidence from Mechanistic Studies.

The impact of cadmium exposure on breast cancer risk: Exploring dose-response relationships and mediating effects.

Cadmium exposure and risk of pancreatic cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Microplastics/Nanomaterials

Safety challenges of mechanically recycled polyethylene terephthalate for food contact materials: A review.

The effects of exposure to microplastics on female reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Exploring the Micro- and Nanoplastics-Diabetes Nexus: Shattered Barriers, Toxic Links, and Methodological Horizons.

Microplastic distribution and its implications for human health through marine environments.

Miscellaneous

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Freshwater Systems: A Comprehensive Review of Sources, Distribution, and Ecotoxicological Impacts.

Review of Health Effects of Automotive Brake and Tyre Wear Particles.

Human Health Studies

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

Assessing the association of multi-environmental chemical exposures on metabolic syndrome: A machine learning approach. [PFAS etc.]

Cumulative environmental exposures and metabolic syndrome: A study of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.

Chemical Pollutant Exposure in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Integrating Toxicogenomic and Transcriptomic Evidence to Elucidate Shared Biological Mechanisms and Developmental Signatures.

Bisphenols/Phthalates

Prenatal exposure to mixtures of phthalates and bisphenol A and eczema risk: findings in atopic and non-atopic children from the LiNA birth cohort.

Analysis of Phthalate Monoesters and Bisphenols in Human Prostate Cancer Tissue and Urine.

Increased maternal urinary bisphenol F levels associated with reduced anogenital distance in male newborns.

Associations between phthalate metabolites and two novel systemic inflammatory indexes: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data.

Exploring the Association Between Sleep Patterns, Pubertal Health, and Phthalate Exposure-Preliminary Results from Slovakia.

Persistent Organic Pollutants: PCBs, Dioxin, OCPs

Grandmaternal perinatal serum polychlorinated biphenyls and prevalence of obesity in adult daughters and granddaughters.

Maternal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in indoor air and asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, and respiratory tract infections in childhood.

PFAS

Longitudinal association of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure with lipid traits, in a healthy unselected population.

Assessing the Impact of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Concentrations on Immune Function in an Industrialized Region of China.

Associations of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances with Genotoxic Biomarkers: New Insights from Cross-Sectional and In Vivo Evidence.

Flame Retardants

Association of organophosphate flame retardants exposure with liver function and the contrasting mediating roles of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

Pesticides

Domestic Use of Solvents and Pesticides and the Risk of Hypospadias in Offspring: A Case-Control Study From Brittany, France.

Metals/Metalloids

Effects of prenatal lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic exposure on children’s neurodevelopment in an artisanal small-scale gold mining area in Northwestern Tanzania using a multi-chemical exposure model.

Associations between plasma and urinary heavy metal concentrations and the risk of prostate cancer.

Air Pollution

Ambient Air Pollution and Semen Quality in China: A Nationwide Case-Control Study of 27,014 Males with Biomarker-Confirmed Semen Pathology.

Sex differences in the association between long-term ambient particulate air pollution and the intestinal microbiome composition of children.

Effects of Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure on Disease Outcomes and Hybrid Immune Responses in SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infections: A Study of the Yichang COVID-19 Antibody Longitudinal Survey (YC-CALS) in China.

Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care Products

Exposure profiles to Benzophenones and their impacts on thyroid hormones in pregnant women.

Miscellaneous

Association between ethylene oxide exposure and serum sex hormone levels measured in a reference sample of the US general population.

Laboratory Studies

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

The environmental contaminants, tributyltin and bisphenol S, alone or in combination, harm the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis and uterus.

BPA/Phenols

Interplay between prenatal bisphenol exposure, postnatal maternal care, and offspring sex in predicting DNA methylation relevant to anxiety-like behavior in rats.

The protective role of 3-Indoleglyoxylic acid in Bisphenol S-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction via mitochondrial ROS-Mediated IL-17/CXCL10/TNF-α signaling.

Comparative toxicity of eleven bisphenol analogs in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Role of Thymus ciliatus (Thyme) to Ameliorate the Acute Neurotoxicity Induced by Bisphenol A: In Vivo Supported with Virtual Study.

Toxicogenomic profiling of endocrine disruptor 4-Nonylphenol in male catfish Heteropneustes fossilis with respect to gonads.

Phthalates

Influence of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on dysregulation of testosterone production via alteration of aromatase expression.

Research mechanism of DBP and DEHP in the development of PCOS based on network toxicology and molecular docking.

Oral exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) alters the expression of GATA6, OCT4, and CDX2 in blastocysts and decreases the rate of implantation in a mouse model.

Application of bioinformatics techniques to discovery of mechanisms by which plasticizers promote acute myelogenous leukemia.

Persistent Organic Pollutants: PCBs, Dioxin, OCPs

The role of the ferroptosis pathway in the toxic mechanism of TCDD-induced liver damage in zebrafish.

PFAS

Molecular Mechanism of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate-Induced Lung Injury Mediated by the Ras/Rap Signaling Pathway in Mice.

Apical effects of simulated maternal exposure of salmonid fishes to novel and typical per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.

Limited effects of fluorine-free foam alternatives on gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larval development in laboratory and mesocosm studies.

Towards a Better Understanding of the Human Health Risk of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using Organoid Models.

Impacts of sex and gestation on bioaccumulation and transfer of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in loaches.

The toxicological effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea): exploring the relationship between liver damage and gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) activates astrogliosis-associated neuroinflammation through ER stress-autophagy axis.

Perfluorooctanoic acid disrupts thyroid hormone biosynthesis by altering glycosylation of Na⁺/I^– symporter in larval zebrafish.

Flame Retardants

Prepubertal Exposure to Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate Disrupts Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity via Ferritinophagy-Mediated Ferroptosis.

3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Mechanistic understanding of the toxic effects of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) and tricresyl phosphate (TCP) to Escherichia coli: Evidence from alterations in biomarker expression and perturbations of the metabolic network.

Health Risks of Low-Dose Dietary Exposure to Triphenyl Phosphate and Diphenyl Phosphate in Mice: Insights from the Gut-Liver Axis.

Organotins

Impact of Tributyltin (TBT) on Energy Metabolism and Redox Homeostasis in Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus.

Pesticides

Neurosteroid mitigation of developmental neurological dysfunction, long-term epileptic biomarkers, chronic neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration in a pediatric rat model of organophosphate exposure.

Functional responses of tadpoles exposed to different concentrations of Roundup® herbicide.

Combined Neurotoxic Effects of Commercial Formulations of Pyrethroid (Deltamethrin) and Neonicotinoid (Imidacloprid) Pesticides on Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Behavioral, Molecular, and Histopathological Analysis.

Rotenone Exposure During Development Conditions Parkinsonian Phenotype in Young Adult Rats.

Impacts of Pinus pinaster extract and L. carnitine on gene expression and reproductive efficacy against Mancozeb-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.

Exploring pesticide risk in autism via integrative machine learning and network toxicology

Prediction of the Neurotoxic Mechanisms of the Pesticide Phorate Using Network Toxicology, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Transcriptomic implications of low herbicide concentrations in hepatic cells: Insights into the individual and combined effects of 2,4-D, glyphosate, and AMPA.

Metals/Metalloids

Molecular Mechanisms Contributing to the Impairment of Steroid Hormones, Sperm Characteristics, and Testicular Architecture in Male Rabbits After Chronic Exposure to Cadmium: Role of Gallic Acid and Selenium as Antioxidants.

Effects of Arsenic-induced Diabetic Vascular Diseases through Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway: In vitro and In vivo Studies.

Cadmium exposure causes trophoblast abnormal syncytization and endocrine dysfunction in preeclampsia.

Microplastics/Nanomaterials

Ingesting chitosan can promote excretion of microplastics.

Interaction of Microplastics with Emerging Organic Pollutants: A Study on Atrazine Adsorption and Phytotoxicity.

Polystyrene nanoplastics exposure trigger cognitive impairment mitigated by luteolin modulated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase/glutathione-dependent pathway.

Epigenetic and Gene Expression Responses of Daphnia magna to Polyethylene and Polystyrene Microplastics.

Polystyrene microplastics reduce honeybee survival by disrupting gut microbiota and metabolism.

Maternal Exposure to Phthalates and Nanoplastics, Isolated or Combined: Impacts on Placental Structure, Development, and Antioxidant Defense as a Trigger for Maternal-Fetal Adversities.

From metabolism to lifespan trade-offs: polyethylene microplastics induce circadian disruption and sex-specific aging in Drosophila melanogaster.

Maternal co-exposure to Cd and PS-NPLs induces offspring ovarian inflammatory aging via promoting M1 macrophage polarization.

Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care Products

Quantitative Analysis of Endocrine Disruption by Ketoconazole and Diethylstilbestrol in Rat Mammary Gland Development.

Mechanistic Insights into 3-Isopropylphenol-Induced Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish: A Network Toxicology and Molecular Docking Approach.

Miscellaneous

6PPD-quinone exposure induces oxidative damage and physiological disruption in Eisenia fetida: An integrated analysis of phenotypes, multi-omics, and intestinal microbiota.

Exposure/Environment Studies

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

Are NHANES data representative of the US population for chemicals with seasonal and regional use?

Plastic additives in the diet: Occurrence and dietary exposure in different population groups.

Raw sheep wool contamination with bisphenol A and parabens. An assessment of interregional differences.

Component specific responses of the microbiomes to common chemical stressors in the human food chain.

BPA/Phenols

Internal Bisphenol Analogue Exposure in an Elderly Chinese Population: Knowledge from Dietary Exposure.

Parabens/Triclosan/Antimicrobials

Population-specific exposure risks from parabens and antimicrobials in cosmetics and personal care products: Insights from Korean usage patterns.

PFAS

Serum Concentration of Selected Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Industry and Occupational Groups Among US Adult Workers, NHANES 2005-2014.

Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages.

Concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in sediments and wastewater treatment plant-derived biosolids from Ireland.

Effects of Self-Affirmation and Self-Efficacy Cues on Responses to PFAS Risk Information.

Quantification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air emissions: An interlaboratory comparison.

Microplastics/Nanomaterials

Widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in the intestines of birds: A case study from Chengdu, China.

Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care Products

Socioeconomic status in the association between use of personal care products and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in pregnant Taiwanese women.

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This list is not meant to be exhaustive, and generally does not include studies on detection, remediation, or treatment of EDCs. Industry-funded articles are included without notation. Note that journal publication dates may be different from dates added to PubMed. To see the searchable archives, please email me and ask to join the EDC Science Weekly group EDC_research@googlegroups.com. There are searchable archives. Compiled by Sarah Howard of Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS), a program of Environmental Health Sciences.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please feel free to donate here! Thank you!

EHN EHN

Webinar: Communicating about EDCs & health: why words matter
by Sarah Howard on May 9, 2025 at 6:22 pm
In this July 8 webinar, Drs. Kevin Elliott and Laura Vandenberg will discuss the range of ways in which scientists can frame and present information on research findings. For example, framing an EDC-related health outcome as a disease or disability can help to focus public attention on hazards of toxic chemicals and promote action to protect human health. At the same time, this framing can be used to stigmatize and harm individuals and communities. The speakers will share a range of strategies available to researchers to communicate responsibly and effectively. Sponsored by the Collaborative for Health and Environment (CHE).
Webinar recording: Changes at NIH: What do they mean for environmental health?
by Sarah Howard on April 3, 2025 at 3:34 pm
This May 8 webinar featured Dr. Linda Birnbaum, who discussed the implications of the Trump administration's changes for environmental health and the NIH. Sponsored by the EDC Strategies Partnership.
Webinar recording: Childhood cancer and the environment: prevention opportunities
by Sarah Howard on March 11, 2025 at 3:35 pm
This April 24 webinar featured Drs. Mark Miller and Catherine Metayer, and was sponsored by CHE Alaska.

EHN EHN

Chemicals in food are an overlooked threat to public health, scientists say
by Environmental Health Sciences Staff on May 30, 2025 at 7:40 pm
A recent article published in Nature Medicine highlights the ubiquitous presence of synthetic chemicals in the global food supply and emphasizes the need to transition to a safer, more sustainable food system. “Public health should be a priority for policymakers, and the importance of mitigating chemical exposures is still underappreciated.”
PCB chemicals may trigger multi-generational cycle of obesity
by Environmental Health Sciences Staff on May 21, 2025 at 5:38 pm
According to a recent study published in Obesity, women’s exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) chemicals was linked to an increased risk of obesity for both their daughters and granddaughters. “Women of reproductive age are a critical target population for reducing exposure to suspected obesogens … Support for clinician education will be essential to implement this strategy.”
Study highlights potential health risks of chemicals in ultra-processed foods
by EHN Curators on May 21, 2025 at 11:21 am
Synthetic chemicals migrating into ultra-processed foods from packaging and equipment may contribute to rising rates of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses, a new review in Nature Medicine finds. Shannon Kelleher reports for The New Lede.

EHN EHN

EPA backs off stricter PFAS water rules while thousands of others are unregulated
by EHN Curators on May 22, 2025 at 5:35 pm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is walking back water limits for several toxic PFAS chemicals, sparking outcry from scientists and public health advocates. But how much of a difference can limits on individual PFAS compounds make if thousands of others remain unregulated? Joseph Winters reports for Grist.
Vermont pauses PFAS rules as EPA delays and weakens federal limits
by EHN Curators on May 20, 2025 at 11:46 am
Vermont officials are reassessing their tighter drinking water standards for toxic PFAS chemicals after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rolled back parts of its landmark 2023 regulations and extended deadlines for compliance. Olivia Gieger reports for VTDigger.
New EPA reorganization may quietly dismantle chemical health watchdog
by EHN Curators on May 16, 2025 at 1:08 pm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to gut its independent chemical risk program, potentially stalling regulation of dangerous substances and handing a long-sought victory to the chemical industry. Molly Taft reports for Wired.