Endocrine Society calls for stronger policies to protect public health
To mark 25 years of research into chemicals that disrupt the body’s hormones, the Endocrine Society will sponsor a Congressional briefing Sept. 21 exploring the latest breakthroughs in the field.
The evidence is more definitive than ever before that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with hormones in a manner that harms human health. During the event, Endocrine Society members and other experts will discuss the threat EDCs such as bisphenol A (BPA) pose to brain development and reproductive health.
EDCs are chemicals or mixtures of chemicals that can interfere with the body’s hormones. There are more than 85,000 manufactured chemicals, of which thousands may be EDCs. EDCs are found in everyday products and throughout the environment.
During the past 25 years, studies have linked EDCs to numerous health problems, including male reproductive disorders, premature death, obesity and diabetes, neurological impacts, breast cancer, endometriosis, female reproductive disorders, immune disorders, liver cancer, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, prostate cancer and thyroid disorders.
As scientific understanding has evolved, concerns have grown about the threat EDCs pose to the public, particularly pregnant women, infants and children. Policies are needed to protect people from the harmful consequences of EDC exposure. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have introduced legislation to address the need to better regulate chemicals used in personal care products, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee has scheduled a hearing for this Thursday concerning the need to improve cosmetic safety.
What:
From Hormones to Brain Development: 25 Years of Groundbreaking Research on Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals
Congressional briefing sponsored by the Endocrine Society
Who:
Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS
Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) & the National Toxicology Program
Research Triangle Park, NC
John A. McLachlan, PhD
Former Scientific Director, NIEHS
Weatherhead Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies
Tulane School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA
Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPH
Director, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Andrea C. Gore, PhD
Vacek Chair of Pharmacology
Professor, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
When:
Wednesday, September 21
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Where:
406 Dirksen Senate Office Building (EPW Hearing Room)
RSVP to Jessica Harris at [email protected]. Lunch will be served.
About Endocrine Society
Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses, and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.
Colleen Williams Senior Communications Manager, Public Relations Phone: (202)-971-3611 [email protected]
Jenni Glenn Gingery Director, Communications and Media Relations Phone: (202)-971-3655 [email protected]