Endocrine Disruptors: Hidden killers in our food. A mini review on some Italian products

Endocrine Disruptors Chemicals (EDCs) are compounds, mostly of anthropogenic origin, which are found in various materials, used for several purposes such as pesticides, metals ions, additives and preservatives in food and personal care products. In Europe, Endocrine Disruptors have been defined as exogenous substances that have harmful effects on the individuals owing to their interaction with endocrine system. In the United States, EDCs have been described as exogenous agents that interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action or elimination of the natural ligands responsible for maintaining homeostasis and regulating body development. These two definitions are complementary, but both indicate that the effects induced by EDCs involve mechanisms relating in some way to hormonal homeostasis and action.