Review of environmental endocrine stressors and their effects on hormone systems

Photo by Clayton Robbins / Unsplash

Frontiers in Medicine Published May 8, 2026 Medically reviewed May 8, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Consider that environmental endocrine disruptors may affect hormone systems, but evidence is observational and effects are context-dependent.

This is a narrative review that synthesizes evidence on environmental endocrine stressors. The scope includes non-chemical stressors like electromagnetic fields, noise, artificial light at night, and thermal stress, as well as chemical and biochemical endocrine disruptors (EDCs). The authors argue that EDCs can interfere with hormone synthesis, signaling, and metabolism, potentially leading to reproductive, metabolic, and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Non-chemical disruptors are described as acting through central regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-organ axes to disrupt endocrine homeostasis. The review notes that physiological and biochemical effects depend on exposure intensity, duration, and timing, and vary according to sex and species. It also suggests that non-chemical or biochemical disruptors may have adverse or beneficial effects depending on exposure conditions. Key limitations acknowledged include the complexity of exposure pathways and the variability in reported effects. The authors emphasize that the evidence is observational and does not establish causality. Practice relevance is restrained, highlighting the need for further research to clarify mechanisms and health impacts.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original 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.