Endocrine Insider
July 22, 2009
(See Full Issue)

Nicholas Kristof, columnist for The New York Times, cited the Society’s Scientific Statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in his recent column regarding the health effects of phthalates. He likens the Statement to a “powerful warning” that endocrine disruptors, including phthalates, are a significant concern to public health.

This isn’t the first time Kristof has referenced the Society’s Scientific Statement on EDCs. In a previous column on the potential link between EDCs and deformations in fish and amphibians in lakes and rivers, Kristof called the Statement “landmark” and stated that it should serve as “a wake-up call.” Kristof also discussed this column during an appearance on “The Colbert Report.”

The continued high-profile coverage of the Scientific Statement is a reflection of the scientifically sound nature of the Society’s endeavors in EDCs.  The Scientific Statements Task Force and the Research Affairs Core Committee jointly oversaw the development of the Statement, and the authors were tasked with developing an informative report describing the state of EDC science.  The resulting document presents a balanced, measured look at the effects of EDCs and suggests future directions to help ameliorate those effects.

The Society released Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement at ENDO 09. The Statement was authored by a task force co-chaired by Andrea C. Gore, PhD, and Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, MD, and appeared in the June issue of Endocrine Reviews.  The other members of the task force were Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, MD PhD, Linda C. Giudice, MD PhD, Russ Hauser, MD PhD, Gail S. Prins, PhD, Ana M. Soto, MD, and R. Thomas Zoeller, PhD.

The Scientific Statement can be accessed online.