The environmental burden on endocrine neoplasia: a review on the documented impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have gained more importance in the past decade, mostly due to their role in the pathogenesis of disease, especially in carcinogenesis. However, there is limited literature on the environmental burden on some of the less common endocrine neoplasia.

Areas covered

This review focuses on both observational and experimental studies linking exposure to EDCs and endocrine neoplasia specifically pituitary, thyroid, adrenal and neuroendocrine tumors. Following PRISMA guidelines, a search of English peer-reviewed literature was performed using Medline and Google Scholar, giving preference to recent publications.

Expert opinion

Exposure to EDC occurs not only in the household but also at work, whether it is in the office, factory, or farm and during transport from one location to another. Many studies have evaluated the effect of single environmental agents; however, humans are rarely exposed to only one EDC. Different EDCs and different levels of exposure may interact together to provide either a synergistic and/or an antagonistic disruption on human health, and hence a complex mechanism to elucidate. The ultimate adverse effect is difficult to predict, as it is not only influenced by the degree of exposure, but also by genetics, lifestyle, comorbidities, and other stressors.

KEYWORDS:

• Adrenal
• endocrine-disrupting chemicals
• environment
• pituitary
• neoplasia
• neuroendocrine
• thyroid cancer

Article highlights

• Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are defined as ‘exogenous chemicals, or mixture of chemicals, that interfere with any aspect of hormone action’ including hormone synthesis and secretion, transport, metabolism, receptor binding and elimination.

• A higher incidence of acromegaly was found in polluted areas in Messina, Sicily compared to low polluted areas.

• Lactotrophic cell line proliferation in the pituitary gland can be enhanced by bisphenol A and Cadmium. Other estrogen-derived compounds such as genistein, nonylphenol, bisphenol S and endosulfan can also enhance anterior pituitary cell line proliferation in vitro.

• A higher incidence of thyroid carcinoma (TC) has been found in residents living in areas contaminated with radioactive iodine after the nuclear plant accidents at Chernobyl (Ukraine) and in areas close to industrial facilities in Manizales, Colombia.

• An increased incidence of TC in residents of volcanic areas has also been observed namely Hawaii, the Philippines, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Iceland and Mount Etna.

• Thyroid cell proliferation can be promoted by chronic low-dose exposure to metals such as copper, mercury, palladium, tungsten and zinc, and bisphenol A and non-phenoyl.

• TC risk is increased with pesticide use, especially metalaxyl, a fungicide, lindane, malathion, and organochlorine insecticides.

• Non-functional adrenal adenomas had statistically significantly higher serum BPA levels than controls.

• Adrenal adenomatous lesions were observed to have a higher content of the essential elements copper, manganese, selenium and zinc, and the non-essential element, lead, than normal adrenal glands.

• Phaeochromocytomas had significantly higher levels of zinc and selenium than healthy adrenal glands.

• Increased risk of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors was found in those born in areas close to coal, hard rock, and uranium mining facilities.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contribution statement

Both authors contributed to the idea for the article, the search strategy, selection process and data collection. The manuscript was written by Dr Mangion. Dr Gruppetta has critically revised the work. Both authors approved the final manuscript.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2023.2268215.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.