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Hello my name is Anna.
I am a toxicologist working at EFSA.
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My work involves assessing
the safety of chemicals in food.
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Today I am here to talk about
endocrine-active substances
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often called endocrine disruptors
and their relevance
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for the body's system of hormones,
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which is called
the endocrine system.
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But first of all
let me explain
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how the body's endocrine system
and our hormones work.
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The endocrine system
consists of glands,
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such as the female ovaries
and the male testes,
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the pancreas, the adrenal,
the thyroid
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and the pituitary glands
that produce hormones.
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From pre-natal to old age,
hormones released
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into the bloodstream travel
throughout the body
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and trigger specific responses
that regulate the organs
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and body functions –
for example brain
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and sexual development, reproduction,
mood, metabolism and blood sugar levels.
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Sometimes, only a tiny
amount of hormone
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is needed to trigger the intended action.
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Imbalances and malfunctions
of the endocrine system
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can result in
well-known diseases,
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such as diabetes and obesity,
infertility and cancer.
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Also, disruption of
the endocrine system
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can cause birth defects and
learning disabilities.
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So what are endocrine active substances?
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They are chemicals
that can interact
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directly or indirectly with
the endocrine system.
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They can be both man-made
and naturally occurring.
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Other endocrine-active substances,
sometimes found in food
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and the environment,
include some pesticides
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and some industrial
pollutants like dioxins,
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PCBs and BPA, which is used
in some food packaging.
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How do these substances
interact with our bodies?
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In different ways.
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For example, they may behave
similarly to natural hormones
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or block their effects, or change
hormone levels in the body.
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These effects are not
necessarily adverse.
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Certain drugs, such as
birth-control pills,
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are used precisely for their
endocrine effects.
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Whether or not the effect
is adverse or disruptive
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depends on various
factors, such as
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the nature and the dose of
the chemical,
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the type of effect and
the condition of the body.
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The time when exposure takes
place is also critical.
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During important phases
of development
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such as prenatal and infancy
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– the so called windows
of susceptibility –
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individuals are more sensitive to
hormonal activity.
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In other words, the same amount
of an endocrine disruptor
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could damage the foetus
without affecting the mother.
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