On September 28, 2015 the Endocrine Society published the executive summary of “The Endocrine Society’s second Scientific Statement on endocrine disrupting chemicals” (FPF reported). This second statement builds on the Endocrine Society’s report of 2009, which examined the state of scientific evidence on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their effects on human health. The recent report reviews advances in EDC research from the past six years and examines emerging evidence linking EDC exposure to health problems such as diabetes and obesity, infertility, hormone-related cancers, neurological issues, and thyroid disorders. Also, studies investigating EDC exposure of the fetus and infant, their development and the probability of disease and dysfunctions later in life were thoroughly covered. “The evidence is more definitive than ever before – EDCs disrupt hormones in a manner that harms human health,” said Andrea C. Gore, chair of the task force that developed the statement. The Endocrine Society calls for 1) more research to infer cause-and-effect relationships between EDCs and health, 2) testing of chemicals for endocrine activity, including at low doses, before market release, 3) chemists and industry to create EDC-free products, and 4) education of the public and policy makers on how to keep EDCs out of food, water and air, as well as away from unborn children and infants.
On the same day, the U.S. chemical industry trade association American Chemistry Council (ACC) published a press release stating that “the Endocrine Society’s statement (…) disregards the state of the science associated with the effects of chemicals on the endocrine system and makes broad, unsupported claims about the relationship between certain chemicals and disease.” The ACC refers to “11 principles for identifying endocrine active and endocrine disrupting chemicals“ released by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and encourages the Endocrine Society “to adopt and adhere to these common-sense principles when pursuing future research.”
Read more
Endocrine Society (September 28, 2015). “Chemical exposure linked to rising diabetes, obesity risk.”
ACC (September 28, 2015). “Endocrine society disregards state of science around chemical exposures and endocrine system.”
References
Gore, A.C. et al. (2015). “Executive summary to EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s second Scientific Statement on endocrine disrupting chemicals.” Endocrine Reviews (published online September 28, 2015).
Diamanti-Kandarakis, E. et al. (2009). “Endocrine disrupting chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement.” Endocrine Reviews 30(4):293-342.
ICCA. “Principles for identifying endocrine active and endocrine disrupting chemicals.” (pdf)
