Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Startling report from the Endocrine Society


In Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement by Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, Linda C. Giudice, Russ Hauser, Gail S. Prins, Ana M. Soto, R. Thomas Zoeller and Andrea C. Gore, published in June 2009, we learn that endocrinology researchers are alarmed at the potential consequences of overuse of these chemicals.

Here is an excerpt from the abstract: "There is growing interest in the possible health threat posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are substances in our environment, food, and consumer products that interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, or action resulting in a deviation from normal homeostatic control or reproduction. In this first Scientific Statement of The Endocrine Society, we present the evidence that endocrine disruptors have effects on male and female reproduction, breast development and cancer, prostate cancer, neuroendocrinology, thyroid, metabolism and obesity, and cardiovascular endocrinology. Results from animal models, human clinical observations, and epidemiological studies converge to implicate EDCs as a significant concern to public health."

Unfortunately you have to pay to read the full text, but Fanatic Cook has a great blogpost on this. Scary stuff, and I'm glad they are going on record to alert the public and lawmakers to this public health threat.

1 comment:

  1. I also worry about the damage that has already been done. And hope that this brings us closer to more people taking action to get these endocrine disruptors out of our products.

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