Research Progress in Non-Monotonic Dose-Response of Endocrine Disruptors

Key words: 
• endocrine disruptors /
• non-monotonic dose-response /
• linear dose-response /
• regulatory toxicology

Abstract: In traditional toxicology theory, the dose-response relationship caused by toxicants is linear and monotonic. Linear dose-response relationship is the theoretical base for calculating the safe dose of chemicals. However, more and more studies have shown that dose-responses of endocrine disruptors are non-linear, i. e. U-shaped, inverted U-shaped or more complicated non-monotonic dose-response curves. We introduced the research progress in non-monotonic doseresponse of hormones and endocrine disruptors by illustrating typical examples and summarized several mechanisms for non-monotonic dose-response. Then, we discussed the challenges that non-monotonic dose-response brings to risk assessment for chemicals in traditional regulatory toxicology.