Chemical Manipulation of Humanity: US Endocrine Society Warns AGAIN on Endocrine Disrupters

Boy oh boy, I've wanted to get back to this vital topic! Finally! Despite the fact that there is evidence of real world harm to the environment and all living things, we still keep getting the same old tired, false AGW spin. (I even saw, first time ever a tell-a-vision commercial for some sort of AGW alliance here in Canada!)Simply put the AGW lie benefits the petrochemical industry (profits gained) and EDC restriction or removal would harm the petrochemical industry (profits lost) In a way this is much like the big bad tobacco meme- Was it the tobacco? Or was it the whole host of EDC and other toxins included alongside the tobacco that did so much harm? Smart money is on the petrochemicals included that barely got noticed in all the hulabaloo (sleight of hand) about tobacco! All we got was the catch phrase big tobacco, when it should have been big toxic petrochemical.... Link

Evidence increasingly links endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to diabetes and obesity, among other conditions, according to the second scientific statement to address this issue from the US Endocrine Society.The new statement builds on the Endocrine Society's landmark 2009 report, which examined the scientific evidence on EDCs and their impact on humans. It was published online September 28.Unborn children are particularly at risk when exposed to endocrine disrupters, according to the society. Animal studies indicate that exposure to even tiny amounts in the prenatal period can trigger obesity in later years, and some disrupters directly target beta and alpha cells in the pancreas, as well as fat and liver cells. All of this can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.Endocrine disrupters can also alter the way cells grow and develop by mimicking, blocking, or interfering with the body's natural hormones.Nearly everyone has been exposed to one or more of these chemicals, which include bisphenol A (BPA) found in food-can linings and cash-register receipts, phthalates found in plastics and cosmetics, flame retardants, and pesticides.Indeed a literature review presented recently at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2015 Meeting in Stockholm linked exposure to pesticides to a 60% increased risk of type 2 diabetes.Stronger Evidence in Past 5 Years: Advice for Consumers and DoctorsThe new statement corroborates earlier findings, linking endocrine disrupters — in addition to their impact on obesity and diabetes — to effects on male and female reproductive health, hormone-related cancers, prostate conditions, thyroid disorders, and neurodevelopmental issues.In an online press conference with reporters on Monday, Andrea Gore, PhD, professor and Vacek chair of pharmacology at the University of Texas at Austin, and chair of the task force that developed the statement, said the group is highlighting obesity and diabetes this time because the evidence for effects on these diseases is much stronger than it was 5 years ago.Information from the report should inform consumers and conversations doctors have with obese or diabetic patients, Dr Gore said.She recommends a few easy steps for the public to reduce exposure, starting with avoiding water bottles. Refilling a (stainless steel) travel cup with water reduces both exposure to the plastic chemicals and the number of bottles that wind up in landfills and oceans.Also, avoiding microwaving plastics and processed foods can limit chemical exposure."When doctors talk about lifestyle to their patients," Dr Gore says, "they typically emphasize healthy diet and exercise, but I would be surprised if, as part of the healthy-diet conversation, they talk about…trying to stay away from microwaving plastics. You may have a healthy meal, but if it's in a plastic container, it's leaching chemicals."Many Medical Specialties AffectedDr Gore also advises that not just endocrinologists, but general practitioners, pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, and fertility doctors should emphasize reduction of exposure to these disrupters when they talk to their patients.She stressed the need for urgent research and testing of chemicals and gave this example of the potential scope of the threat: "In the US, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) includes about 85,000 chemicals, most of which have not been tested for their health effects, and humans are exposed to many. Not all of these chemicals are EDCs, but if even 1% of them were EDCs, that would be 850 chemicals."The full statement will be published online in the society's journal Endocrine Reviews in October.Among the actions, it will call for:    Further research to more directly establish cause-and-effect relationships between endocrine-disrupter exposure and specific health conditions.    Regulation to ensure that chemicals are tested for endocrine activity before their use is permitted.    Industrial partners to create products that test for and eliminate potential EDCs.    Education for the public and policy makers on ways to keep EDCs out of food, water, and the air, as well as ways to protect unborn children.Dr Gore also advises rethinking the composition of teams that are researching effects of disrupters to extend beyond endocrinologists."We need basic translational research, clinical scientists, healthcare professionals, and physicians who are working with patients and others," she concluded.

Chemical Watch

“When high-quality endocrinological studies demonstrate that a chemical interferes with hormone action in vivo and in vitro at environmentally (human) relevant concentrations, and when we have a high degree of evidence that these hormone systems are essential for normal development, it is reasonable to infer that these chemicals will produce adverse effects in humans,” says the summary”

 Toxic Nail-Polish Chemicals Found In Women's Bodies, But Are You Really Surprised? that looks stupid anywayNO!

Many men and women are so tied up in the pursuit of beauty that they neglect important questions — like if the products they’re using contain hazardous chemicals. A recent study conducted by researchers from Duke University and the Environmental Working Group has found a toxic chemical, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), in nail polish commonly used to manufacture plastic and a fire retardant in foam furniture.

From earlier:

The US Navy’s Sitting Ducks