Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that interfere with natural signalling, production, secretion, and emission of hormones. EDCs cover a wide range of sources, exposure pathways, chemicals classes, and ultimately effects with unknown mechanisms. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are highly stable compounds resistant to environmental degradation. POPs can biomagnify with the food supply chain and bioaccumulate in the body. The detrimental health effects of EDC exposure has been observed in wildlife and lab animals. In epidemiological studies, exposure to EDCs has been linked to reproductive impairment, adverse birth outcomes, and cancer. In recent decades, the increasing rate of obesity and diabetes across the world have been linked to ubiquitous exposure to EDCs. EDCs with obesity inducing and energy metabolic disrupting properties have been defined as obesogens. Obesogens can alter energy homeostasis by disrupting the endocrine system. Moreover, obesogens can induce direct alterations in metabolic targets such as adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Although regulation and legislation has helped to use synthetic compounds wisely, ubiquitous exposure to EDCs is difficult to be eliminated. The understanding of mechanisms of EDCs in obesity and diabetes pathogenesis is needed to be thoroughly studied. Methods to compensate for the detrimental effects after EDCs exposure also require further explorations.
| Date of Award | Dec 2019 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Awarding Institution | - Queen's University Belfast
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| Supervisor | Lisa Connolly (Supervisor) & Brian Green (Supervisor) |
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Endocrine disrupting chemicals : impact on obesity/diabetes pathways and intervention via dietary nutrients
Xie, Y. (Author). Dec 2019
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy