Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become a growing concern due to their ability to interfere with the endocrine system, causing a range of adverse health effects. Beyond immediate impacts, emerging research suggests that EDCs can have transgenerational effects, influencing not only the exposed individuals but also their offspring and future generations. This phenomenon raises critical questions about the long-term consequences of EDC exposure, including potential disruptions to hormonal regulation, reproductive health, and developmental processes. The underlying mechanisms, such as epigenetic changes and alterations in gene expression, are complex and not yet fully understood. As the scientific community continues to uncover the depth and breadth of these effects, there is an urgent need to explore and document the full scope of transgenerational impacts caused by EDCs. This topic holds significant implications for understanding how environmental exposures can shape health outcomes across multiple generations, highlighting the importance of continued research in this area.

This Research Topic aims to address the insufficient understanding of how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect health across generations. Despite recent advances in identifying EDCs and their immediate effects, the long-term, transgenerational impacts remain poorly understood. To tackle this issue, the research will explore mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications and altered gene expression that mediate these effects. By integrating recent findings from molecular biology, toxicology, and epidemiology, this topic seeks to clarify the pathways and health consequences of EDC exposure, guiding future interventions and policy decisions.

Potential subtopics are as follows:
• Epigenetic Modifications: Exploring how EDCs induce changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA expression across generations.
• Gene Expression Alterations: Investigating the mechanisms by which EDCs alter gene expression patterns and their long-term effects on endocrine function.
• Reproductive Health Impacts: Examining the effects of EDC exposure on fertility, reproductive organ development, and hormonal balance across multiple generations.
• Developmental and Growth Disruptions: Studying the impacts of EDCs on physical and neurological development during critical windows of susceptibility.
• Critical Windows of Susceptibility: Identifying periods of heightened vulnerability to EDC exposure during prenatal, perinatal, and early life stages.
• Mitigation and Policy Implications: Evaluating strategies to reduce EDC exposure and discussing the policy implications for public health protection.

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Frontiers in Endocrinology

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