definition

Last update: 08/04/2024 [1, 2, 3, 4]

Endocrine active substances (EAS) are substances that can interact or interfere with normal hormonal action. When this leads to adverse effects, they are called endocrine disruptors (EDs). 
According to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, ‘Endocrine disruptor’ means a substance or a mixture that alters one or more functions of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse effects in an intact organism, its progeny, populations or subpopulations.

EDs can be classified in ‘Known or presumed’ or ‘suspected’.
Known or presumed EDs meet all the following criteria:
  • endocrine activity;
  • an adverse effect in an intact organism or its offspring or future generations;
  • a biologically plausible link between the endocrine activity and the adverse effect. 

Suspected EDs meet all the previous criteria except (2) due to serious doubt about the relevance of the adverse effects.

Schematic figure depicting the classification of the 514 endocrine-mediated endpoints into 7 systems-level perturbations [53].
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