Contents
SUMMARY 
1. INTRODUCTION 
2. IDENTIFICATION OF ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS 
  2.1 The Chemicals 
   2.2 Identification 
3. ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT 
    3.1 Transport and Distribution of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Environment 
    3.2 Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Food Web 
4. HUMAN EXPOSURE TO ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS 
    4.1 Pesticide Residues in Food and Drinking Water 
    4.2 Food Packaging and Processing 
    4.3 PVC Toys 
5. EXPOSURE OF THE DEVELOPING YOUNG TO ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS 
    5.1 Exposure in the Womb 
    5.2 Exposure of the Nursing Young 
6. LEVELS OF ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION 
7. HOW ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS CAUSE HEALTH EFFECTS 
    7.1 Hormones in the Body - The Endocrine System 
    7.2 Hormones Which Are Affected by Endocrine Disrupters 
    7.3 How Endocrine Disrupters Work 
    7.4 Is endocrine-disruption feasible at current environmental levels of chemicals? 
8. HEALTH EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS 
    8.1 The Vulnerable Foetus and Young 
9. MALE REPRODUCTION 
    9.1 Increasing Reproductive Disorders in Men 
    9.2 Possible Causes of the Increasing Incidence of Male Reproductive Disorders 
    9.3 Laboratory Studies 
    9.4 Wildlife Studies 
10. FEMALE REPRODUCTION 
    10.1 Developmental Effects 
    10.2 Effects in Adult Women 
    10.3 Wildlife Studies 
11. SEX RATIO 
12. EFFECTS ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 
    12.1 Development of the Nervous System 
    12.2 Effects of PCBs and Dioxins on the Human Nervous System 
    12.3 Possible Consequences of Effects on the Nervous System 
13. IMMUNE SYSTEM 
    13.1 Effect of Endocrine-Disrupters on Immune System Development 
    13.2 Human Studies 
    13.3 Wildlife Studies 
14. PHYTOESTROGENS: NATURALLY OCCURRING CHEMICALS IN PLANTS WHICH AFFECT HORMONE SYSTEMS 
15. PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE 
    15.1 Regulation 
    15.2 The Way Forward 
    15.3 Conclusions
Table 1: KNOWN AND SUSPECTED ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS AND THEIR USES
Table 2: Compounds that may have the potential to cause adverse effects through the Ah receptor mediated mechanism of action
REFERENCES