Endocrine Insider
May 13, 2010

(See Full Issue)

Last week, the President’s Cancer Panel released its 2008-2009 report “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now.” The report presents several recommendations for reducing the public’s risk of environmentally related cancer, including precaution and better coordination on the part of agencies and offices charged with regulation of chemicals.  The Panel also calls for improved information sharing among researchers, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders; urges physicians to be more aware of environmental exposures when taking patient histories; and recommends the development and dissemination of public-health messages.  These recommendations reinforce the Society’s positions as outlined in its Scientific Statement and Position Statement  on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

The Society continues its proactive efforts to improve awareness and regulation of EDCs.  In addition to discussing EDCs with congressional leaders during Hill visits (see accompanying Endocrine Insider story), the Society has met recently with key congressional staff to discuss current and pending legislation affecting EDC policy, providing scientific perspective to the policymakers.  Society experts also met jointly with congressional staff and officials from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss the EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, with the goal of improving and strengthening the program as the agency implements it.

With its tremendous resource of scientific experts and its established reputation as a thought leader on EDCs, the Society is well positioned to continue to influence the debate and to increase public awareness of endocrinology and its central role in human health.