**2. Availability of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment**

EDCs are available in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, polycarbonate materials (type 7 plastics), epoxy resins, medical devices [intravenous (i.v.) bags, dialysis bags, surgical implants, dental fillings sealants], pharmaceuticals (enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements), consumer products (make-up products, fragrances, nail polish, lotions, creams, baby products, soaps, liquid soaps shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays), children's toys, children products (modeling clay, waxes, paints), printing inks, paints, household products (detergents, softeners, surfactants), construction materials (including floorings and PVC windows, wood floor finishes, cements, caulking in buildings), insulating fluids (transformer oils) for transformers and capacitors, lubricating oils, stabilizing additives in flexible PVC coatings of electrical cables and electronic components, textiles (footwear, raincoats, picture printed shirts), vacuum pump fluids, pesticides (insecticides), and flame retardants and, most importantly, in food (packaging materials and in the inner lining of food cans) [3–5].
