Emerging scientific research on endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) reveal five broad trends: 1. EDCs are ubiquitous, to the extent that it is unlikely that any human matures within the womb without exposure to some degree of contamination; indeed exposure to complex mixtures is the norm. 2. Levels of contamination required to produce biologically relevant effects are dramatically lower than once considered plausible. 3. Many new sources of exposure are being identified, including common consumer products. 4. Research is now focusing on a wide range of health endpoints including impaired fertility, immune system dysfunction and neurological deficits in which the effects may not be manifest until decades after fetal exposure. 5. The range of hormone systems involved is much broader than when the problem was originally framed around "estrogen mimics." Together, these broad trends indicate that epidemiological studies are biased toward false negatives in assessing the health effects of exposure to EDCs.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to: 1) Define an endocrine disruptor; 2) Describe health effects associated with endocrine disruptors in laboratory animals, wildlife, and humans; 3) Explain why endocrine disruptors are unique toxicants due to their mode of action; 4) Understand why epidemiologic methods are poorly suited to detecting endocrine disruption effects
Keywords: Endocrine, Environmental Exposures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.