Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Costs EU Billions Annually

Newswise — BRUSSELS, BELGIUM–Human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) likely contributes to a number of diseases and health conditions in the EU, with costs estimated between €150-260 billion per year (1.2-2.0% of Gross Domestic Product), according to a new series of studies to be published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Reporters are invited to attend a news conference highlighting the study’s findings. The simulcast event will feature live speakers in Brussels and via webcast from the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Diego, California.

EDCs are chemicals that interfere with hormone action and are commonly found in food and food containers, plastic products, furniture, toys, carpeting, building materials and cosmetics. EDCs include chemicals such as bisphenol A (water bottles, can linings), certain phthalates (various plastic products and cosmetics), and pesticides such as chlorpyrifos (used on a wide variety of food crops). They are often released from the products that contain them and enter the bodies of humans and wildlife through dust or through the food chain.

In these studies, researchers used available epidemiologic and toxicologic evidence to assess the economic burden of potential outcomes to EDC exposure, including: infertility and male reproductive dysfunctions, birth defects, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurobehavioral and learning disorders.

During the webcast, reporters will have an opportunity to pose questions to one of the study’s authors, Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Environmental Medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center.

Study co-authors Philippe Grandjean, MD, PhD, head of the Environmental Medicine Research Unit at the University of Southern Denmark and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health at the Harvard School of Public Health, and Martine Bellanger, PhD, Professor of Health Economics at the EHESP French School of Public Health, will be in attendance in Brussels and will field questions from reporters.

Date:Thursday, March 5, 201517.15-18.15 CET

Where:Aloft Brussels ShumanPlace Jean Rey 3, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Please note seating space is limited. Reporters can RSVP for the event by email to [email protected].

Journalists who prefer to view only the webcast portion of the event may register at www.endowebcasting.com. The webcast will begin at 17.30 CET.

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Founded in 1916, the Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest, largest and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, the Endocrine Society’s membership consists of over 18,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Washington, DC. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/EndoMedia.