Analytical challenges of environmental endocrine disruptor monitoring

Reported increases in the incidence of endocrine-related conditions have led to speculation about environmental causes. Environmental scientists are focusing increased research effort into understanding the mechanisms by which endocrine disruptors affect human and ecological health. Fundamental to this understanding is the ability to characterize and quantify these types of chemical compounds. Immunoassays and tandem analytical techniques, that team chromatography with sensitive immunochemical methods, enable bioanalysis of compounds in complex matrices. Examples of immunochemical methods with applications to environmental monitoring and human exposure assessment are given.