Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDx)

Overview

• TEDx: US-based nonprofit, founded in 2003 by Dr. Theo Colborn
• Mission: Compile and disseminate scientific evidence on health and environmental damage by endocrine disruptors (EDs)

The Endocrine System

• Involved in:
  • Conception, development, puberty, adulthood, aging
  • Development and growth, reproduction, intelligence, behavior
  • Metabolism, immune function
• Works via hormones (e.g., estrogens, androgens, thyroid hormones)

Endocrine Disruptors (EDs)

• Defined by the Endocrine Society as exogenous chemicals interfering with hormone action

Historical Context

• Late 1980s: Health effects of EDs first recognized
• Dr. Theo Colborn identified reproductive abnormalities, birth defects, population decline among wildlife in Great Lakes
• Effects seen in human children exposed to PCBs:
  • Lower birth weight, poor cognitive function, and lower IQ
  • Poor attention, memory, and reading comprehension

Key Events

• 1991: Scientific work session with experts from 17 disciplines
  • Led to the term “endocrine disruption”
  • Resulted in a book detailing consequences of EDs

Sources of Endocrine Disruptors

• Byproducts of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
• Found in:
  • Flame retardants, food additives, pesticides, plastics, dyes, preservatives
  • Homes, schools, workplaces, food packaging, toys, cosmetics, electronics, cleaning products

Exposure and Effects

• Present in soil, water, air
• Detected in:
  • Blood, urine, stool, saliva, tears, sweat, placenta, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood
• Higher concentrations generally found in children
• Particularly harmful due to low-level action on hormones
• Permanent changes from prenatal/childhood exposure

Health Impact

• Increase in disorders: Autism, ADHD, asthma, obesity, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, thyroid disorders, infertility, cancers
• Linked to modern synthetic chemicals

TEDx Actions and Achievements

• Compiling of thousands of studies on EDs
• Created and updated a list of EDs with scientific evidence
  • Released initial list in 2011, upgraded with sources and uses
  • Contains nearly 1,000 chemicals

Regulatory Challenges and Needs

• Current risk assessments by governments are inadequate
  • Do not account for low-dose effects
  • Ineffective test endpoints: need hormone function sensitivity
  • Critical exposure periods: prenatal, childhood, puberty, pregnancy, reproductive senescence
  • Long-term, multi-generational effects overlooked

Advocacy and Prevention

• Emphasis on prevention over treatment
• Public can advocate for better laws to reduce ED exposure
• Personal action: “Learn more, use less”
• TEDx website: endocrine disruption.org