Introduction: The Ecological Relevance of Chemically Induced Endocrine Disruption in Wildlife

Abstract

Over the last two decades, there has been increasing scientific concern and public debate regarding the adverse effects of chemical pollutants in the environment that can interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system in wildlife and in humans (the so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals, EDCs). These concerns have been fueled primarily by reports of disrupted reproductive function and development in certain wildlife—mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and mollusks—and by the increased incidence of certain diseases of the endocrine system in humans. Investigators hypothesize that EDCs are the cause. Some of the adverse effects observed in wildlife species are strongly associated with exposure to chemicals that mimic or interfere with hormone function, particularly estrogen function, but in many cases, the causal link between exposure to EDCs and endocrine disruption is unclear. Because of the diverse effects of EDCs on the thyroid, retinoid, androgen, estrogen, and corticosteroid systems of a wide range of animals, it is imperative that research continues to address the extent of the risk posed by EDCs to wildlife. The ecological relevance of endocrine disruption in wildlife is, however, difficult to quantify, as there is limited understanding of how physiological changes affect the individual animal and how individual responses affect population and community. Furthermore, a major challenge faced by environmental biologists is the need to place endocrine disruption into context with other environmental pressures faced by our wildlife populations, for example, global warming.