Based on: Overview of the Most Common Endocrine Disruptors: Exposure, Mechanisms, Health Effects, and Remediation Strategies — Environmental Toxicology, 2026. DOI 10.1002/tox.70066
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a heterogeneous group of environmental pollutants that can interfere with the body's hormonal signalling. In this 2026 review, the authors examine how widespread these chemicals are, how they act at the molecular level, which health effects have been linked to them, and which strategies are being developed to remove them from the environment.
The authors frame the problem in historical terms. Warnings raised decades ago — from Rachel Carson's Silent Spring to the 1991 Wingspread Conference — have been borne out as evidence accumulated that people are exposed routinely through air, water, food, consumer products, and the workplace.
The review synthesises existing evidence on many of the most studied EDCs, including atrazine, bisphenol A, dioxins, perchlorate, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, triclosan, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and heavy metals. For each, it brings together information on exposure pathways, measured environmental levels, regulatory standards, molecular mechanisms, and observed health outcomes.
A central focus is the endocrine system itself: the regulation of thyroid hormones, reproductive hormones, metabolic pathways, and developmental processes. The analysis draws on experimental, epidemiological, and meta-analytic evidence together, rather than on any single study design.
The authors are candid about the limits of the evidence. While mechanistic studies consistently confirm that these chemicals can disrupt endocrine signalling, human population studies are often heterogeneous — differing in how exposure is measured, in dose–response relationships, in co-exposure to multiple chemicals, and in individual susceptibility.
The review closes by comparing remediation approaches — physical, chemical, biological, and nature-based — and weighing their effectiveness, limitations, and suitability for different environments. Its overall conclusion is that endocrine disruptors remain a significant public-health concern, and that stronger regulatory strategies, better exposure characterisation, and improved remediation technologies are all needed to reduce long-term risks to human health and ecosystems.