Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Food

Title: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Food
Publication Type: Research Reports
Year of Publication: 2021
Abstract:Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a group of complex chemicals that are emerging asserious environmental pollutants and threats to public health globally. EDCs are considered highlytoxic due to their persistent properties and ability to cause serious and long-term impacts on variouscritical endocrine functions such as adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immuneeffects in both humans and wildlife. 

There are several global research reports which address various aspects of EDCs including the sources& exposure to EDCs and the possible impacts on human health. However, the information on EDCSis very limited in the Indian context for the concerned stakeholders and the general public. 

Toxics Link has developed this report as food is found to be an important source of exposure toEDCS. The report has been derived from the most published research studies and data from India andacross the globe and has highlighted the gaps and challenges on the issues of EDCs in food in India. Itaims to get an overview of the status of EDCs in food and food products in India from the regulatoryand policy perspective as well as attempts to incorporate the global regulatory developments on EDCsin food. 

The report has covered three major sources of exposure of EDCs -EDCs in industrial applications andconsumer products, organo-chlorine pesticides and environmental by-products. It is expected tobenefit the policymakers to frame new policies on EDCS in food, catalyze new research studies, andwill help in alerting the consumers with new information on EDCs and get access to safe food.