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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Alison Carlson, MS, Commonweal, 2529 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, 415-923-0817, Alison_Carlson@sbcglobal.net

Surveys of contaminants in people demonstrate that the average American has a “body burden” of toxic chemicals – including a significant number of known reproductive toxicants – at levels that concern scientists and physicians. Studies suggest causal links between environmental contaminants and reproductive system dysfunction; decreased sperm quality; egg quality and genetic damage; spontaneous abortion and other reproductive health issues. Some contaminants that are suspected contributors to infertility, miscarriage, low birth rates, fetal reproductive damage are persistent and bioaccumulative. Many are known endocrine disruptors and therefore strong candidates for disturbing the delicate hormone balances, cell signaling and gene expression required for reproductive development and health - including fetal future reproductive capacity.

Despite growing evidence of the impact of toxicant exposures on fertility, there has been a dearth of awareness and discussion of environmental chemical factors among fertility patients and professionals. The Collaborative on Health and the Environment Fertility and Early Pregnancy Compromise Working Group (CHE Fertility) has been working collaboratively to address this gap by mobilizing key constituencies, including infertility patients, practitioners and their advocacy and professional groups to engage in a scientific dialog on environmental contaminants and fertility compromise, increase opportunities for collaborative research, and promote awareness and education on protective health policies.

This presentation will highlight the current collaborative scientific and educational activities of CHE Fertility, including a discussion of current and future research directions and national activities that are engaging multiple constituencies on quality science, education and policy in the context of infertility and early pregnancy compromise.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Name at least three environmental variables that can contribute to infertility and early pregnancy compromise.
• Describe how environmental factors may increase the risk of infertility.
• Describe at least three examples of collaborative activities led by infertility researchers, health professionals and advocacy groups that are working to reduce exposures to environmental toxics through educational outreach and collaborative research.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures

Related Web page: www.healthandenvironment.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No