Cited by 19Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactHealth, Environment, Cognitive Aging

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure: Cardiometabolic health risk in humans

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Ma, Cheng-Xu, Ma, Xiao-Ni, Li, Hong-Li, Mauricio, Dídac, Fu, Song-Bo·2025·Cardiovascular Diabetology

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that interfere with hormone action, and growing evidence suggests that human exposure to certain EDCs may increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). To clarify the impact of EDC exposure on cardiometabolic health, we conducted a review of the literature (2005-2025) to identify both human epidemiological studies and animal mechanistic studies. In this narrative review, we primarily summarize the existing human epidemiological evidence on the cardiometabolic effects of EDCs, while also considering mechanistic insights, including selected animal studies, to illustrate biological plausibility. Key findings indicate that EDC exposures are consistently associated with elevated risks of cardiometabolic conditions. Notably, prenatal and early-life EDC exposures appear to increase susceptibility to obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular dysfunction later in life, while adult exposures are linked to a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and related cardiovascular complications. In conclusion, this review underscores EDC exposure as a significant environmental risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. Accordingly, strengthening regulatory policies to reduce human exposure to these chemicals-alongside further research into underlying mechanisms-may be crucial for improving cardiometabolic health outcomes.

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  • The most consistent evidence base for pregnancy environmental exposures and later cardiometabolic risk relates to ambient air pollution, persistent pollutants such as PFAS, and selected EDCs, with diet and built-environment features as modifiers and correlated determinants.

    “The most consistent evidence base relates to ambient air pollution, persistent pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and selected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), with diet and built-environment features functioning as modifiers and correlated determinants of risk across the life course [75,76,77].”

    From Placental Pathophysiology and Developmental Programming of Adult Cardiometabolic Risk: A Narrative Review of Pregnancy Exposures (2026) · cites this paper as [77]

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  1. [12]Braun JM. Early-life exposure to EDCs: role in childhood obesity and neurodevelopment. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2017;13(3):161–73. 27857130 PMC5322271
  2. [104]Zangiabadian M, Jolfayi AG, Nejadghaderi SA, Amirkhosravi L, Sanjari M. The association between heavy metal exposure and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Diabet Metabolic Disorders. 2024;23(1):11–26. PMC11196503 38932800
  3. [155]Mohd Efendy Goon MD, Zulkifli S, Abdullah Soheimi SS, Ab Rahim S, Abd Latip N, Hashim N, et al. Association between polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dioxin with metabolic syndrome (METS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):17941. 39095444 PMC11297331
  4. [203]Grandjean PDO. Transparency and precaution in chemical regulation: U.S. vs. EU. Am J Public Health. 2013;103(5):e62–9.23488507

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Authors
Ma, C.-X., Ma, X.-N., Li, H.-L., Mauricio, D., & Fu, S.-B.
Venue
Cardiovascular Diabetology
Published
2025-10-01
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
381-381
ISSN
1475-2840 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4414700639
Cited by
19
References
208
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 1
FWCI
2.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cardiovascular Diabetology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • the Technique Plans Foundation of Lanzhou City (2022-ZD-97)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260050, 82460177)
  • Lanzhou University 2023 College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship (20230060190)
  • The Hospital Fund of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University (ldyyyn2020-93)
  • Gansu Province Science and Technology Plan Project - Joint Research Fund (25JRRA1251)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
Keywords
endocrine disruptors, cardiometabolic health, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose metabolism, prenatal exposure, early life exposure, environmental risk factors, endocrine disruption, chemical regulation
MeSH terms
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Animals, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Environmental Exposure, Female, Humans, Obesity, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Risk Assessment, Metabolic Syndrome, Endocrine Disruptors

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