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Non-chemical, chemical, and biochemical, endocrine disruptors: biphasic health effects and pathophysiological insights

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2026 · Mixed · Insufficient evidence

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MixedInsufficient evidencePaper 6873

This review states that non-chemical environmental endocrine stressors, including electromagnetic fields, can disrupt endocrine homeostasis and affect neuroendocrine function, signaling pathways, oxidative stress responses, and circadian rhythms. It also note…

Study snapshot

PublicationFront Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2026
Study typereview
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with hormone synthesis, signaling, and metabolism, leading to reproductive, metabolic, and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Non-chemical environmental endocrine stressors, including electromagnetic fields, noise, artificial light at night, and thermal stress, can disrupt endocrine homeostasis, alter neuroendocrine and hormonal function, affect signaling pathways, oxidative stress responses, and circadian rhythms. Unlike classical EDCs, which primarily exert their effects by direct binding to hormone receptors and metabolic enzymes, non-chemical endocrine disruptors predominantly act through central regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-organ axes. EDCs, especially their biochemically active secondary metabolites, disrupt endocrine homeostasis by directly binding target hormone receptors or enzymes and then interacting with the hypothalamus-pituitary-organ axes. These physical stressors modulate molecular pathways, including MAPK and NF-κB signaling, oxidative stress responses, and circadian rhythm regulation, thereby affecting reproductive and neuroendocrine functions. Their physiological and biochemical effects depend on exposure intensity, duration, and timing; these effects vary according to sex and species. Non-chemical or biochemical endocrine disruptors may exhibit adverse or beneficial effects, depending on exposure conditions, and can modulate major endocrine hormones and inflammatory mediators, supporting their therapeutic applications. Music therapy, cryotherapy, thermotherapy, phototherapy, and pulsed electromagnetic field therapies are used to reduce inflammation, enhance circulation, facilitate musculoskeletal recovery, treat neonatal jaundice, and manage diverse clinical conditions. This review aims to explain non-chemical environmental disruptors, their partially overlapping mechanisms that target the same hormonal, circadian, and cellular signaling pathways, and to discuss their potential therapeutic applications.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview
Effect directionmixed
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 86% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review states that non-chemical environmental endocrine stressors, including electromagnetic fields, can disrupt endocrine homeostasis and affect neuroendocrine function, signaling pathways, oxidative stress responses, and circadian rhythms. It also notes that pulsed electromagnetic field therapies may have therapeutic applications depending on exposure conditions.

Outcomes measured

  • endocrine homeostasis
  • neuroendocrine and hormonal function
  • signaling pathways
  • oxidative stress responses
  • circadian rhythms
  • reproductive function
  • inflammatory mediators
  • therapeutic applications
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electromagnetic fields; pulsed electromagnetic field therapies",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "endocrine homeostasis",
    "neuroendocrine and hormonal function",
    "signaling pathways",
    "oxidative stress responses",
    "circadian rhythms",
    "reproductive function",
    "inflammatory mediators",
    "therapeutic applications"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review states that non-chemical environmental endocrine stressors, including electromagnetic fields, can disrupt endocrine homeostasis and affect neuroendocrine function, signaling pathways, oxidative stress responses, and circadian rhythms. It also notes that pulsed electromagnetic field therapies may have therapeutic applications depending on exposure conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.86,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "endocrine disruptors",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "non-chemical stressors",
    "pulsed electromagnetic field therapy",
    "hormonal function",
    "circadian rhythms",
    "oxidative stress",
    "neuroendocrine function"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1813234
PubMed: 42181203

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