Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
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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 />
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