An endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are defined as an exogenous agent that interferes with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action or elimination of natural hormones in the body responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of development processes.
EDCs act mainly by interfering with natural hormones produced by endocrine glands because of their strong potential to bind to estrogen or androgen receptors
EDCs can bind to and activate various hormone receptors like Androgen Receptor, Estrogen Receptor, Estrogen Related Receptor, Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, Constitutive Androstane Receptor, etc. and subsequently mimic the natural hormone's action
Pesticides like atrazine, chlordecone, dicofol, endosulfan, lindane, methoxychlor, and vinclozolin are reported to act as endocrine disruptors.
