Woodhead Publishing Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Food (Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition)

The rise in the incidence of health problems such as reproductive disorders and testicular and breast cancer has been linked by some to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment. The role of food in transmitting these chemicals is uncertain and a topic of considerable research. This important book addresses key topics in this area. Opening chapters review the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on health and behaviour. The second part of the book covers the origins, analysis and risk assessment of endocrine disruptors in food products. Concluding chapters concentrate on particular endocrine disrupting chemicals. Key features: Reviews the impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on health and behaviour including cancer and reproductive disorders. Addresses the origin and analysis of endocrine disruptors with chapters on surveillance and analysis techniques. Examines the relevance of genetics, epigenetics and genomic technologies to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Contents: Part 1 Endocrine disruptors, health and behaviour: The effect of dietary endocrine disruptors on the developing fetus; Human epidemiologic studies of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and altered hormone levels; Epidemiological evidence on impaired reproductive function and cancer related to endocrine disrupting chemicals; Nutritional phytoestrogens and bone health. Part 2 Origin and analysis of endocrine disruptors in food products: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: origins, fates and transmission into the food chain; Surveillance of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in foods; Advances in chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry-related techniques for analysis of endocrine disruptors in food; Biosensors for endocrine disruptors. Part 3 Risk assessment of endocrine disruptors in food products: Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in food; Bioassays for the detection of hormonal activities; Genetics, epigenetics and genomic technologies: importance and application to the study of endocrine disrupting chemicals; Computer-aided methodologies to predict endocrine-disrupting potency of chemicals; Endocrine disruptors in breast milk and the health-related issues of breastfeeding; Assessing the risks of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Part 4 Examples of endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with food and other consumer products: Dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants; Bisphenol A; Phytoestrogens and phytosterols; Pharmaceuticals; Endocrin-active Ultraviolet filters and cosmetics; Mechanisms of action of particular endocrine-disrupting chemicals.