CHEMICAL LEGACY: PFAS AND THEIR PERSISTENT IMPACTS ON FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Abstract

This literature review investigates the environmental persistence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), particularly focusing on the impacts of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the human endocrine system in regard to reproductive and fertility functions. The human endocrine system, a complex network of glands and hormones, plays a central role in regulating important bodily functions, making it a critical aspect of reproductive health. Commonly known as "forever chemicals" since they are exceptionally persistent in the environment and in living organisms, PFAS are gaining increasing scientific interest due to their widespread use in everyday products and their potential public health implications. This review investigates the physiological mechanisms through which PFAS disrupt the female reproductive system, either through acting as hormone receptor agonists or antagonists or by interfering with hormone production, signaling, and receptor expression. This review also highlights the risks PFAS pose to fetal development. By evaluating the sources of PFAS contamination, their routes of entry into the human body, and their aggressive accumulation in critical organs, this review highlights the urgent need for regulatory action to mitigate exposure and address environmental injustices faced by underserved communities in the American Southwest.