Exposure to endocrine disruptors and development of allergic diseases

National audience; The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing worldwide with unprecedented complexity and severity. The most common allergies in children are food allergies (8%), eczema (10%) and asthma (10%). The exact causes of this increase are not fully understood. Notably, human exposure to environmental pollutants such as endocrine disruptors (EDs) has attracted attention in recent years. This review highlights recent research exploring the effects of ED exposure in allergic diseases. Among these EDs, bisphenol A, phthalates, triclosan and paraben have demonstrated harmful effects in terms of the development of allergies. Epidemiological studies have shown that they may act either directly on the immune system leading to disturbance of tolerance or indirectly via modulation gut microbiota. In addition, sex hormones, which are also deregulated by ED exposure, promote allergic sensitization in animal models and may cause atopic disorders in humans. These emerging data on the development of allergy following dietary and respiratory exposure to such chemicals demonstrate the critical value of understanding their mechanisms and preventing the associated risks.