Newswise — Washington, DC—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 ChemicalsCongressional briefing sponsored by the Endocrine Society
Who:Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATSDirector, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) & the National Toxicology ProgramResearch Triangle Park, NC
John A. McLachlan, PhDFormer Scientific Director, NIEHSWeatherhead Distinguished Professor of Environmental StudiesTulane School of MedicineNew Orleans, LA
Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPHDirector, Program on Reproductive Health and the EnvironmentProfessor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive SciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA
Andrea C. Gore, PhDVacek Chair of PharmacologyProfessor, Division of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Texas at AustinAustin, TX
When: Wednesday, September 2112:00 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.
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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, which is celebrating its centennial in 2016, 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 Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.
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