From North to South: A Global Perspective on the Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Reproductive Development and Function

Reproductive disorders are increasing in both men and women, and exposure to environmental chemicals is recognized as a key factor contributing to this global health issue. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are particularly concerning because they interfere with the hormonal systems that control reproductive development and function. Chemicals like bisphenols, phthalates, azole fungicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been linked to reproductive problems, including genital malformations and reduced sperm production in men, as well as ovarian dysfunction and altered puberty timing in women.

While EDCs are a worldwide problem, their use and regulations can differ greatly between regions. This is due to variations in regulatory policies, risk assessments, and economic priorities. In developing countries, regulations may be less strict due to limited resources, local climate needs, and other factors such as communicable diseases or political and industrial influences. These differences are also reflected in the scientific research landscape, with most EDC studies and publications coming from the Northern Hemisphere, particularly Europe and North America. This is largely because these regions have more funding, research infrastructure, and a stronger focus on environmental health. In contrast, countries in the Southern Hemisphere, with some exceptions like Australia, often have fewer resources for research and regulation, leading to less published data on EDCs.

The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight EDC research related to reproductive toxicity in parts of the world where fewer studies are typically published. While this does not exclude participation from other regions, the focus is on the Southern Hemisphere, with the hope of encouraging knowledge sharing about challenges specific to these areas. Topics of special interest include:

· Developmental exposure to EDCs impacting the reproductive systems

· Human-relevant toxicity, with data originating from either human or model species

· New knowledge on specific EDCs used in specific parts of the world and that may harm reproductive health

· Regional challenges regarding use or regulation of EDCs

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: endocrine disruptors, reproductive development, toxicology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.