Nikiforos Alygizakis ↗, researcher at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ↗, has dedicated his career to detecting and understanding contaminants of emerging concern. Using advanced mass spectrometry and non-target screening, he has led large-scale monitoring campaigns across Europe, helping to reveal the hidden complexity of chemical mixtures in our environment. Among these, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) stand out as a critical challenge: substances that can interfere with hormonal systems even at extremely low doses, with impacts that span from fertility issues to developmental and metabolic disorders. As PARC’s chemical leader on EDCs, Alygizakis is at the forefront of efforts to map exposure, advance new testing methods, and ensure that Europe’s regulatory response keeps pace with the science.

Let’s begin with your background. What brought you into the world of chemical safety and endocrine-disrupting chemicals? 

I specialise in environmental analytical chemistry and work on the identification of contaminants of emerging concern using high-resolution mass spectrometry and non-target screening. Over the past few years, I have led large-scale monitoring campaigns and become increasingly aware of the unique challenges posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including their detection approaches, low-dose effects, complex mechanisms, and persistence. These complexities and their health implications led me to focus my research on EDCs, and in PARC I was selected as the EDCs chemical leader. 

Why are EDCs such a key concern for public health today? 

They interfere with the body’s hormonal systems, affecting development, reproduction, metabolism, and even neurological health. Unlike many chemicals, EDCs can cause harm at very low concentrations, and their effects can appear long after exposure. This makes them a priority for prevention and regulation. 

What kind of impact do they have on human health? 

We know EDCs are linked to reduced fertility, developmental disorders, metabolic diseases, and hormone-related cancers. Projects within PARC are also exploring less obvious outcomes, such as the role of metabolic endocrine disruptors in obesity and the impact of thyroid-disrupting chemicals on brain development. They can also affect wildlife in similar ways, which in turn can influence ecosystem health. 

… But do people realise that? 

Public awareness is still uneven. People may recognise the risks of well-known chemicals like BPA, but not the thousands of substitutes and emerging EDCs entering the market. That’s why our communication must combine clear messages with solid scientific evidence. 

Could you share with us which data we have about population exposure to EDCs in Europe? 

There are some existing data for EDCs in Europe. However, we lack investigations that are thorough in terms of chemical coverage and holistic in terms of spatial distribution, with a statistically robust number of samples. PARC is uniquely positioned to address this gap by collecting human biomonitoring data from over 3,300 participants across 11 countries, covering substances such as PFAS, pesticides, bisphenols, phthalates, and metals. These measurements, spanning children, teenagers, and adults, will provide a representative picture for Europe. 

Are these scientific findings informing stronger regulatory action? 

Yes, data from PARC feed directly into EU agencies such as EEA, EFSA and ECHA. Recent examples are the projects on BPA alternatives hazard assessment and mycotoxin hazard characterisation. In the case of PARC, the major EU agencies are also participants of the partnership which ensures more efficient uptake of PARC projects. The results generated by PARC can support restriction proposals or the setting of new exposure limits. 

EDCs often work in low doses and have complex mechanisms. How can we address this scientific complexity? 

We combine advanced monitoring with effect-based analysis, in vitro testing and computational modelling. Computational tools provide a unique opportunity for better mechanistic understanding through PARC projects such as AOP Development and PBK modelling. Thanks to these advancements, we can translate in vitro and in silico results into regulatory-relevant predictions. The use of NAMs allows us to test thousands of chemicals without relying solely on animal studies, while Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment provide structured decision frameworks. This integrated approach helps us understand how low-level exposures lead to health effects. 

What are the biggest gaps you still see in public awareness or policymaker understanding? 

The biggest gap is in recognising mixture effects and real-life exposure patterns. Most people still think in terms of single chemicals, but, in reality, we are exposed to many at once.

A second critical gap is the misconception that “replacement” chemicals are automatically safer. The project on BPA alternatives shows this is not always true. 

How is PARC contributing to advancing knowledge and risk assessment methods for EDCs? 

PARC has dedicated a significant amount of resources to 12 projects on EDCs, covering environmental and human monitoring, hazard identification, New Approach Methodologies, modelling, and integrated assessment. This coordinated effort is unique in Europe. 

Can you share a recent breakthrough or finding under PARC that you find particularly significant? 

One exciting step is the pan-European environmental monitoring campaign combining targeted analysis of over 900 proven EDCs with suspect screening of more than 7,000 potential ones in water, soil, air and fish. This is unprecedented in scope and will give us a new map of EDC occurrence.

Another exciting development is a NAM battery for thyroid disruption and developmental neurotoxicity. For the first time, we have integrated human stem cell-based assays, zebrafish models, and in silico predictions into a coherent testing strategy that regulators can use. 

What are PARC’s priorities for the next phase of research and policy action on EDCs and how do you see your role as a chemical leader? 

Our next phase has three main priorities:

• Complete and interpret large-scale monitoring campaigns in humans and the environment, bringing together the General Survey and the EDC environmental pilot to give a truly integrated view of exposure.
• Finalise and validate NAMs and IATAs for thyroid hormone disruption, anti-androgenic effects, metabolic disruption, and other key EDC endpoints, ensuring they are directly usable for regulatory decision-making.
• Establish a science-based early-warning system for chemicals, using occurrence data, effect-based monitoring, and predictive modelling (including PBK, AOPs, and mixture assessment) to identify hazardous EDCs before they become widespread problems.

My role is to connect the various PARC projects working on EDCs to make sure that chemical signals are detected early, linked to human exposure pathways, and rapidly translated into policy-relevant information. This means working at the interface of analytical science, data modelling, and regulatory engagement so that EDC risks are not only identified but acted upon before they escalate.