Environmental Endocrinology: Interactions Between Environment and Hormonal Systems

Vina Yanti SusantiIndonesia Speaker Environmental Endocrinology: Interactions Between Environment and Hormonal SystemsEnvironmental Endocrinology: Interactions Between Environment and Hormonal System Vina Yanti Susanti1 1 Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Abstract The endocrine system serves as a sophisticated regulatory network essential for maintaining homeostasis, growth, and reproductive health through precise hormonal signaling. However, increasing exposure to environmental stressors—specifically Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)—has been shown to interfere with these pathways, posing significant risks to human health. This review explores the complex interactions between environmental pollutants and the hormonal system by dissecting the ten key functional characteristics of EDCs. The analysis categorizes these interactions into direct and indirect mechanisms. We examine how EDCs act as receptor agonists or antagonists, blocking natural hormones, and how they modulate receptor expression and signal transduction pathways. Furthermore, the review highlights the molecular impact of EDCs on epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation and histone modification. At the systemic level, we discuss the disruption of hormone synthesis, transport, distribution, and clearance. Finally, the review addresses the downstream consequences on cellular fate, including dysregulated proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. By integrating these ten dimensions, this paper emphasizes that environmental endocrine disruption is a multifaceted process rather than a single-point failure. Elucidating these integrated mechanisms provides a profound understanding of how environmental factors interact with and fundamentally reshape the body's internal hormonal landscape. Keywords: Environmental Endocrinology, Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), Key Characteristic of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals