Endocrine disruptors and children's health

Key words: Endocrine disruptors, Persistent organic pollutant, Children’s health, Exogenous substances, Steroidal hormones

Children and adolescents are daily exposed to substances present in nature and to industrial and chemical products that may interfere with their normal endocrine functions over time. For this reason, such exogenous substances able to cause adverse effects in a healthy body are defined as “endocrine disruptors”. Their action mainly, but not exclusively, affects steroidal hormones by interfering with the functions of androgens, oestrogens, glucocorticoids, mineralcorticoids and hormones of the thyroid gland