Science Study Group

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Malcolm Ballantine April 2015

Long History

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� Rachel Carson – Silent Spring – 1962

� Led to the (eventual) banning of DDT

� Aldrin & Dieldrin

� Recognised as Persistent Organic Pollutants (‘POPs’) –use restricted from mid-1970s

� Organic Farming Movement (much broader intent)

� In UK, the Soil Association – set up in 1946, first standards, 1967

Recent Developments

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) – 1995

� International Programme for Chemical Safety (IPCS)

� First Review - 2002

� Stockholm Convention on POPs

� adopted 22 May 2001, entered into force on 17 May 2004.

� The Endocrine Society Scientific Statement – 2009

� WHO/UNEP State of the Science Review - 2012

Key Concerns

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� The high incidence and the increasing trends of many endocrine-related disorders in humans;

� Observations of endocrine-related effects in wildlife populations;

� The identification of chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties linked to disease outcomes in laboratory studies.

WHO/UNEP (2012)

Definition

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� “An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, or (sub) populations.”

International Programme on Chemical Safety, 2002

The Human

Endocrine

System

From:IOMC (2012)

Industrial Chemicals

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� 70,000 to 100,000 chemicals in global commerce

� 5,000 produced in high volumes (> 1 million tonnes/year)

� 7,500 are ‘high-use chemicals’

� Less than 7% of these can be measured in people

� Many of those that can’t be measured are structurally similar to chemicals known to be dangerous

Woodruff (2015)

J Clin Endocrin Metab* 2015 Studies

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� Seven Chemicals/Chemical Classes

� Ten Outcomes

� Three categories

� Male reproductive disorders

� Neurobehavioural deficits and diseases

� Obesity and diabetes

� Estimated economic cost*Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

Hauser et al (2015)

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� Male infertility – phthalate exposure

� Cryptorchidism – prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure

� Testicular cancer - polybrominated diphenyl ethers

� Lowered T (testosterone) concentrations in 55-64 year old men – phthalate exposure

Bellanger et al (2015)

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� IQ loss – polybrominated diphenyl ether and organo-phosphate levels

� Autism Spectrum Disorder – multiple ADCs

� Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – multiple ADCs

Legler et al (2015)

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� Childhood obesity – dichlorodiphenylchloroethylene exposure

� Childhood obesity – prenatal bisphenol A exposure

� Adult diabetes - dichlorodiphenylchloroethylene exposure

� Obesity in older women – phthalate exposure

� New onset diabetes in older women – phthalate exposure

Methodology

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

� Quantitative data from human studies

� Judgements by expert panels

– similar to climate change research

� Results expressed as annual economic cost to EU:

� Male reproductive disorders: €15 billion

� Neurobehavioural Deficits: >€150 billion

� Obesity & Diabetes: >€18 billion

References

Halesworth U3A Science Study Group

Woodruff, T (2015) ‘Making it Real: The Environmental Burden of Disease. What Does It Take to Make People Pay Attention to the Environment and Health?’ J Clin Endocrinol Metab, April 2015, 100(4), 1241-1244.

Hauser, R et al (2015) ‘Male Reproductive Disorders, Diseases and Costs of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the European Union.’ J Clin Endocrinol Metab, April 2015, 100(4), 1267-1277.

Bellanger, M et al (2015) ‘Neurobehavioral Deficits and Associated Costs of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the European Union.’ J Clin Endocrinol Metab, April 2015, 100(4), 1256-1266.

Legler, J et al (2015) ‘Obesity, Diabetes and Associated Costs of Exposure to Endo-Disrupting Chemicals in the European Union.’ J Clin Endocrinol Metab, April 2015, 100(4), 1278-1288.