Association of endocrine disrupting chemicals with male reproductive health

Research on endocrine disrupting chemicals continues the long tradition of reproductive and endocrine toxicology. The most harmful chemicals for male reproduction are antiandrogenic compounds that interfere with both development and function of the testis. This leads to birth defects such as cryptorchidism and hypospadias, structural anomalies of the testis that may cause testicular cancer and poor semen quality. Human epidemiological studies rarely detect any association between single chemical exposures and adverse effect. We are currently missing comprehensive analyses of the adverse effects of life-long combined exposures to multiple chemicals, which would reflect our real life environment.