The Endocrine Society and the global organization of non-profits IPEN have jointly released a new guide documenting the threats that endocrine-disrupting chemicals pose to human health. “There is good reason to suspect that increasing chemical production and use is related to the growing incidence of endocrine-associated disorders over the past 20 years, including male reproductive problems, early female puberty, cancers and neurobehavioral disorders,” said lead author of the guide Andrea Gore in a press release.
“Importantly, there is growing evidence that fetuses and children have a particular vulnerability to these chemicals,” Gore said. “Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals was written to help policymakers and others better understand how these chemicals work and to assist them in making informed policy decisions.”
Endocrine disruptors affect human hormones, and are found in many common pesticides, plastics, personal care products, and flame retardants. The press release provides a link to the freely available 70-page resource guide.
New Resource on Health Threats Posed by Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals Released on Eve of International Chemical Safety Meeting (Endocrine Society press release, December 9, 2014)