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Guide on endocrine-disrupting chemicals released
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A guide documenting the threat to human health that endocrine-disrupting chemicals pose has recently been released, according to a joint press release from the Endocrine Society and IPEN.
“There is good reason to suspect that increasing chemical production and use is related to the growing incidence of endocrine-associated disorders over the past 20 years, including male reproductive problems, early female puberty, cancers and neurobehavioral disorders,” Andrea C. Gore, PhD, and Endocrine Society member and author of the guide, said in the release. “Importantly, there is growing evidence that fetuses and children have a particular vulnerability to these chemicals. Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals was written to help policymakers and others better understand how these chemicals work and to assist them in making informed policy decisions.”
Next week, policymakers and stakeholders will meet to discuss future steps on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management. A consensus resolution was adopted in 2012 by the international community identifying endocrine-disrupting chemicals as a policy issue.
“In Geneva next week, the international community will decide how to respond to regional recommendations and growing stakeholder concerns about EDCs,” Olga Speranskaya, PhD, co-chair of IPEN, said in the release. “Some of our goals for the meeting include new initiatives to identify potential EDCs and safer alternatives including nonchemical alternatives, more awareness raising about the hazards of EDCs and steps toward translating research results into control actions.”
For more information:
Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs).