Paternal Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Transgenerational Epigenetic Regulation: Research Progress on the Effects of Preconception Exposure on Offspring Health

Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widely present in industrialized and modern environments. They primarily enter the human body through bioaccumulation in the food chain and migration from food packaging materials, thereby posing potential risks to food safety and human health. EDCs exhibit significant toxicity to germ cells and can induce epigenetic alterations, making them a critical factor in transgenerational health risks. However, compared with maternal exposure, the intergenerational effects of paternal EDC exposure remain understudied. This review focuses on paternal preconception EDC exposure, summarizes its impacts on male reproductive toxicity and offspring health, and highlights the underlying epigenetic mechanisms. It aims to provide a basis for improving the risk assessment of male reproductive toxicity and to offer directions for developing targeted epigenetic intervention strategies.