The impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on stem cells: Mechanisms and implications for human health

•EDCs are ubiquitous in the environment and humans are constantly exposed to them.•EDCs can alter stem cell function in ways that can lead to health disturbances.•EDCs can alter the pluripotency, proliferation, and differentiation capacities of embryonic, adult, and cancer stem cells.•EDCs might induce modulation of gene expression, crucial for regulating stem cell self-renewal and differentiation.•EDCs can have long-term effects on stem cells, even after exposure has stopped. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds, either natural or man-made, that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system. There is increasing evidence that exposure to EDCs can have profound adverse effects on reproduction, metabolic disorders, neurological alterations, and increased risk of hormone-dependent cancer. Stem cells (SCs) are integral to these pathological processes, and it is therefore crucial to understand how EDCs may influence SC functionality. This review examines the literature on different types of EDCs and their effects on various types of SCs, including embryonic, adult, and cancer SCs. Possible molecular mechanisms through which EDCs may influence the phenotype of SCs are also evaluated. Finally, the possible implications of these effects on human health are discussed. The available literature demonstrates that EDCs can influence the biology of SCs in a variety of ways, including by altering hormonal pathways, DNA damage, epigenetic changes, reactive oxygen species production and alterations in the gene expression patterns. These disruptions may lead to a variety of cell fates and diseases later in adulthood including increased risk of endocrine disorders, obesity, infertility, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer. Therefore, the review emphasizes the importance of raising broader awareness regarding the intricate impact of EDCs on human health. [Display omitted]