Several leading researchers in the area of EDCs made speeches to an audience of over 200 people at the workshop ”Why are we concerned about endocrine disruptors”, organised by the Swedish Toxicological Council and the Swedish Research Council Formas on 15 June 2012 in Stockholm.
Ms. Nina Cromnier, Director-General of the Swedish Chemicals Agency welcomed the participants and gave a brief account of activities of the Swedish Toxicological Council and the Swedish Research Council Formas.
The moderator of the workshop, Professor Åke Bergman of Stockholm University, made a short introduction to the area of EDCs indicating that Endocrine Disruptors have been a topical issue for two decades and intensive work is going on within this field. He presented the different issues to be covered during the day and introduced the first speaker Mr Björn Dufva of the Swedish Ministry of the Environment.
Mr Dufva informed about the work of the Swedish Government in this area. He mentioned the efforts made towards a toxic-free everyday environment, an area where the Swedish Chemicals Agency has been allocated an extra sum of SEK 100 million for in total four years. One aim is to help the industry to substitute the most hazardous chemicals.
– Our aim is to move from the present-day situation with constant exposure from many chemicals to a reality where parents can be sure that their children are not exposed to endocrine disruptors and other hazardous substances in their everyday environment, said Mr Dufva.
Hormonal diseases are on the increase
Professor Jerrold Heindel of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences described why EDCs cause such concern and worry. Hormonal diseases have increased in the last 20-40 years. There is increased risk of male and female reproduction disorders, leukemia, asthma, autism, obesity and diabetes.
He continued to say that 30 per cent of human diseases are caused by the environment rather than due to genes and that human beings are more sensitive to effects in some periods of their lives than in others. Pregnancy and prepuberty are two such periods.
– We don´t know exactly how many hormone disrupting substances there are today, but we could make a list of 800 compounds we know are hormone-disrupting, said Professor Heindel.
Professor Cynthia DeWit of Stockholm University made an account of how humans and wild animals are exposed to these EDCs and what the most common sources of exposure are.
Wild animals have been affected
Professor Andreas Kortenkamp and Professor Susan Jobling of Brunel University in the United Kingdom (UK), showed results with mice and examples of how wild animals had changed their behaviour and physics following exposure to EDCs. Emissions of pharmaceuticals having hormonal effects to our watercourses, for example, have affected male fish to become feminisised and decreased the ability to reproduction.
In the ensuing panel discussion Sweden was encouraged to press for more stringent EUlegislation on hormone-disrupting substances. The fact that UK and Germany want to legislate on the very worst substances only is a recipe on a catastrophe, said Professor Kortenkamp.
Particularly sensitive periods
After lunch, Professor Jorma Toppari of the Finnish Åbo University, had a lecture on the effects of EDCs on male reproductive health particularly during sensitive periods in the life of the unborn child.
Dr. Anna-Maria Andersson of Copenhagen University Hospital continued speaking on EDCs and the male reproduction and showed results from tests of phthalates in the blood of Danish children and Assoc.
Professor Tracey Woodruff of the University of California looked closely at the effects of EDCs on maternal reproduction. Investigations have shown, among other things, that it is more difficult for young women to become pregnant today than 20 years ago, which could have a connection with the increased production of chemicals and exposure to them.
Professor Thomas Zoeller of the University of Massachusetts lectured on the connection between endocrine disruptors and thyroid diseases. Professor Bruce Blumberg of the University of California talked about the links between environmental toxins and obesity.
Risks connected with food packagings
Dr. Jane Muncke, researcher at Emhart Glass emphasised the importance of examining the material of food packagings for determining how we are exposed to endocrine disrupting compounds. Food contact materials have until now been underestimated as a source, but more than 90 per cent of the material used today in contact with food is plastics. More than 50 known endocrine disrupting compounds are used legally in food packaging today. Triclosan and Bisphenol A are two of these, said Dr. Muncke, who concluded her lecture by saying that there are many questions still to be answered.
Work in Sweden and worldwide
Professor Helen Håkansson, Karolinska institutet, gave an overview of ongoing Swedish research on endocrine disrupting substances.
Dr. Peter Korytar, of the EU Environment Directorate- General, informed about ongoing and planned efforts on endocrine disruptors. A conference on this subject that took place in Brussels on 11-12 June 2012 attracted 350 participants. The EU strategy on endocrine disruptors is 13 years old and is now being revised to be published in a final 400-page-report by 2013 on the website of DG Environment.
Mrs. Agneta Sundén-Bylén, UNEP, communicated UNEP´s view on this issue and pointed out the need for an overall website on endocrine disrupting substances.
Dr Remi Bars, ECETOC, gave the industry viewpoints. Unless we separate substances with high impact from those with low impact we will end up with an endless list of substances, said Dr. Bars. Let´s avoid polarised positions.Mr. Jerker Ligthart of the International Chemicals Secretariat (ChemSec) said that there is enough information to act and that ChemSec welcomes additional legislation on hazardous chemicals.
Dr. Ing-Marie Olsson, the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) pointed out the need for improved networks and the intention of KemI to contribute including more endocrine disruptors in REACH.
Finaly the moderator Professor Åke Bergman closed the workshop by expressing his thanks to the speakers, the audience and the organizers who together contributed to a successful event.
Reference ☞
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