Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are chemicals that can disturb the hormonal balance of the body by affecting the endocrine system. These substances are commonly present in everyday consumer products, especially plastics and cosmetic products, resulting in continuous human exposure. This review article summarizes current knowledge about selected endocrine disruptors in these product categories and examines their possible health effects. The article focuses primarily on bisphenols, phthalates, perfluorinated compounds (PFAS), parabens, UV filters, and aluminium salts found in plastics and cosmetics. It also describes the mechanisms through which these substances exert their effects during critical stages of human development. Attention is also paid to their possible consequences for human health, especially in relation to reproductive disorders, metabolic diseases, neuroendocrine dysfunctions, and an increased risk of cancer, the incidence of which in the population has been increasing in recent years. In conclusion, the article highlights the need for legislative reforms, consistent biomonitoring, and interdisciplinary cooperation in prevention and public education.
EIT Food is a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology that connects universities, research institutions, businesses and start-ups with the aim of transforming the European food system towards greater sustainability, health, and consumer trust. Through various types of programs for students, start-up entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and researchers, it offers support for education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector. Using examples of Czech projects, the article shows how the European programmes help bring research results into practice and facilitate their successful entry into the market.
Drug printing technologies offer new opportunities for personalized pharmacotherapy and address the limitations of both industrial manufacturing and traditional extemporaneous preparation. They allow individual dosing, the combination of several active substances in a single dosage form, and adjustment of the dosage form's size and shape to a specific patient's needs. The greatest clinical potential lies in paediatrics, geriatrics, and in patients with rare diseases, for whom commercially available products often do not meet individual needs. The article reviews the results of European clinical studies that have used 3D printing technologies for individualized drug preparation, and summarizes the current regulatory situation. At the EU level, the first guidance document on implementing 3D printing of oral dosage forms under good manufacturing practice has been published. In contrast, extemporaneous preparation of these dosage forms remains within the competence of the national legislation of individual Member States. The United Kingdom was the first country worldwide to adopt a regulatory framework for the point-of-care manufacture of medicines, in which 3D drug printing is one of the permitted technologies. Against this international backdrop, the article outlines the prospects for implementing 3D printing technologies in the Czech healthcare system.
