Endocrine-disrupting pollutants properties affecting their bioactivity, remediation, and detection

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or synthetic substances able to mimic, interfere with, or block endogenous hormones, thus disrupting the normal function of the endocrine system. Most of them are largely applied in agriculture and industry. As a result, humans are chronically exposed to mixtures of EDCs. Their adverse effect on human health may appear long after exposure, making it difficult to assess their full impact. Thus, understanding the molecular basis of recognition of suspected EDCs by their biological targets is fundamental to get insight into their mechanism of action. This review will focus on the role of intermolecular interactions, specifically halogen and chalcogen bonds, in EDC recognition processes, offering an overview of the latest advances in the study of disruption mechanisms.