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Environmental Toxicants

Meaning

Environmental Toxicants are non-biological chemical agents present in the surrounding environment that can cause adverse health effects upon exposure, even at low, chronic levels. This broad category includes heavy metals, industrial solvents, pesticides, and the ubiquitous Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) found in various consumer products and plastics. Exposure to these toxicants presents a continuous challenge to the body’s detoxification capacity and hormonal homeostasis. The accumulation of these agents can contribute significantly to allostatic load.