Biomaterial Database

Human exposure to endocrine-active chemicals: hazard assessment problems. 1997

S Safe, and K Connor, and K Ramamoorthy, and K Gaido, and S Maness

Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4466, USA.

Industrial-derived endocrine disruptors or endocrine-active chemicals (EACs) have been identified and hypothesized to play a role in human disease. Most of the xeno-EACs which have been characterized bind to the estrogen receptor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, or androgen receptor. Hazard and risk assessment of xeno-EACs is complicated by several factors which include the following: (i) humans are exposed to relatively high levels of natural EACs compared to xeno-EACs; (ii) very little information on the effects of metabolism, serum, and intracellular binding proteins on target cell uptake of EACs is known; (iii) humans are exposed to EAC mixtures and their interactive effects may be additive, antagonistic, or synergistic and also response- and tissue-specific; and (iv) individual EACs may be agonists/antagonists for more than one endocrine response pathway. Scientific-based hazard and risk assessment of both natural and xeno-EACs clearly requires more information on dietary intakes, target organ exposures, mechanisms of action, and interactive effects of mixtures.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011944	Receptors, Androgen	Proteins, generally found in the CYTOPLASM, that specifically bind ANDROGENS and mediate their cellular actions. The complex of the androgen and receptor migrates to the CELL NUCLEUS where it induces transcription of specific segments of DNA.	Androgen Receptors,5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone Receptor,Androgen Receptor,Dihydrotestosterone Receptors,Receptor, Testosterone,Receptors, Androgens,Receptors, Dihydrotestosterone,Receptors, Stanolone,Stanolone Receptor,Testosterone Receptor,5 alpha Dihydrotestosterone Receptor,Androgens Receptors,Receptor, 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone,Receptor, Androgen,Receptor, Stanolone,Stanolone Receptors,alpha-Dihydrotestosterone Receptor, 5
D011960	Receptors, Estrogen	Cytoplasmic proteins that bind estrogens and migrate to the nucleus where they regulate DNA transcription. Evaluation of the state of estrogen receptors in breast cancer patients has become clinically important.	Estrogen Receptor,Estrogen Receptors,Estrogen Nuclear Receptor,Estrogen Receptor Type I,Estrogen Receptor Type II,Estrogen Receptors Type I,Estrogen Receptors Type II,Receptor, Estrogen Nuclear,Receptors, Estrogen, Type I,Receptors, Estrogen, Type II,Nuclear Receptor, Estrogen,Receptor, Estrogen
D004703	Endocrine System	The system of glands that release their secretions (hormones) directly into the circulatory system. In addition to the ENDOCRINE GLANDS, included are the CHROMAFFIN SYSTEM and the NEUROSECRETORY SYSTEMS.	Endocrine Systems,System, Endocrine,Systems, Endocrine
D004781	Environmental Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals.	Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001665	Binding Sites	The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule.	Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D015262	Xenobiotics	Chemical substances that are foreign to the biological system. They include naturally occurring compounds, drugs, environmental agents, carcinogens, insecticides, etc.	Xenobiotic
D018336	Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon	Cytoplasmic proteins that bind certain aryl hydrocarbons, translocate to the nucleus, and activate transcription of particular DNA segments. AH receptors are identified by their high-affinity binding to several carcinogenic or teratogenic environmental chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in cigarette smoke and smog, heterocyclic amines found in cooked foods, and halogenated hydrocarbons including dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls. No endogenous ligand has been identified, but an unknown natural messenger with a role in cell differentiation and development is suspected.	AH Receptors,Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors,Dioxin Receptors,Receptors, AH,Receptors, Dioxin,TCDD Receptors,AH Receptor,Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor,Dioxin Receptor,Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor,Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Receptors,Receptors, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin,Receptors, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon,Receptors, TCDD,TCDD Receptor,Receptor, AH,Receptor, Aryl Hydrocarbon,Receptor, Dioxin,Receptor, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon,Receptor, TCDD
D018570	Risk Assessment	The qualitative or quantitative estimation of the likelihood of adverse effects that may result from exposure to specified health hazards or from the absence of beneficial influences. (Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 1988)	Assessment, Risk,Benefit-Risk Assessment,Risk Analysis,Risk-Benefit Assessment,Health Risk Assessment,Risks and Benefits,Analysis, Risk,Assessment, Benefit-Risk,Assessment, Health Risk,Assessment, Risk-Benefit,Benefit Risk Assessment,Benefit-Risk Assessments,Benefits and Risks,Health Risk Assessments,Risk Analyses,Risk Assessment, Health,Risk Assessments,Risk Benefit Assessment,Risk-Benefit Assessments