Research development of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water in China.

Till now there are about 20 billions kinds of man-made synthetic compounds, among which 70-80 thousands kinds are often used. Their adoption pushes the society forward and makes men’s life convenient. But during their production, uses and wrong disposes, they may do great harm to environment, even causing harzards or environmental risks. Reviewing large amount of research data since 1960s, it is found that certain kinds of chemicals not only is carcinogenic, teratogenic or mutagenic, but also may disrupt the reproductive systems of human-beings and animals. It will threaten our generation’s future living and species’ multiplying. Therefore, scientists are paying more and more attention to the screening of such kinds of chemicals and it has become a hot-point problem. Such kinds of chemicals are called “endocrine disrupting chemicals” (EDCs) or “environmental hormone”. Endocrine disrupting chemicals do their harm in three main aspects. The first is that they disturb organism’s reproduction and growth, depressing productive abilities or leading to abnormal physiological phenomena. The second is that they may lower immune abilities, causing more cancers. The last is that they could affect development of nerve system, impairing it or disrupting its endocrine function. The possible action mechanism is as follows. After their entering organism, endocrine disrupting chemicals can mimic the hormones that serve as the messengers regulating the endocrine system, and compete with its own hormone to combine with the receptors of target cells. This will cause obstruction and bring bad effect on endocrine system. Because EDCs are diversiform, complex and in low concentration, relevant detection methods must be sensitive and large sample amount is required, which may vary from 1 to 10 litres according to water’s pollution extent and specific kinds of studied chemicals.