15.02.2015 Views

Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

1. MAJOR HEALTH AND<br />

SCIENCE INSTITUTIONS<br />

HIGHLIGHT CONCERNS<br />

ABOUT EDCs<br />

Significant advances in research in<strong>to</strong> endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and<br />

their health effects have elevated concerns in recent years about these chemicals<br />

among a number of international scientific and health organizations. The<br />

<strong>Endocrine</strong> Society was the first <strong>to</strong> take a public stance on the state of EDC science<br />

with the 2009 publication of its Scientific Statement on EDCs (1). At that time,<br />

the Society’s membership asserted that there was sufficient evidence <strong>to</strong> conclude<br />

that EDCs pose a public health risk. The Society’s 2012 Statement of Principles on<br />

EDCs and Public Health Protection, letters <strong>to</strong> the European Commission (March<br />

2013), and <strong>to</strong> the Secretariat of the Strategic Approach <strong>to</strong> International <strong>Chemicals</strong><br />

Management (SAICM, June 2013) encouraging science-based action on EDCs<br />

further advanced awareness and understanding of EDCs.<br />

Since the <strong>Endocrine</strong> Society’s inaugural statement in 2009, the number of medical<br />

societies voicing concern over EDCs globally has grown in parallel with the body<br />

of literature revealing negative health effects of chemicals that interfere with hormone<br />

action. In the United States, the American Medical Association – the largest<br />

organization of US medical professionals – adopted a policy in November 2009<br />

(D-135.982, Regulation of <strong>Endocrine</strong>-<strong>Disrupting</strong> <strong>Chemicals</strong>) calling for improved<br />

regula<strong>to</strong>ry oversight of EDCs based on “comprehensive data covering both lowlevel<br />

and high-level exposures” * . In the same month, the American Public Health<br />

Association † called for “a precautionary approach <strong>to</strong> reducing American exposure<br />

<strong>to</strong> endocrine-disrupting chemicals.” The American Chemical Society issued<br />

a 2012-2015 policy statement on testing for endocrine disruption ‡ , recommending<br />

* https://ssl3.ama-assn.org/apps/ecomm/PolicyFinderForm.plsite=www.ama-assn.org&uri=%2fresou<br />

rces%2fhtml%2fPolicyFinder%2fpolicyfiles%2fDIR%2fD-135.982.HTM<br />

† http://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policydatabase/2014/07/09/09/03/a-precautionary-approach-<strong>to</strong>-reducing-american-exposure-<strong>to</strong>-endocrine-disrupting-chemicals<br />

‡ http://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/policy/publicpolicies/promote/endocrinedisrup<strong>to</strong>rs/2012-<br />

05-testing-for-erine-disruption.pdf<br />

4

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!