Concerns over dietary exposure risks of environmental endocrine disruptors and protection for vulnerable populations

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous chemicals that interfere with human endogenous hormones. People can be exposed to EDCs through various routes, including diet, air, and dust, which increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Among these routes, dietary exposure is the main source of EDCs, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), multiple pesticides, heavy metals, and phthalates. It is urgent to understand the dietary exposure risks of EDCs among susceptible populations in China, and to evaluate whether there are health risks for susceptible populations at current exposure levels. Rapid development in technologies of dietary exposure assessment and health risk assessment have been noted in recent years. This paper reviewed the current research progress and future prospects regarding the dietary exposure risks associated with EDCs.