Endocrine Insider
June 25, 2009

As part of its overall efforts to ensure the consideration of endocrine research in discussions about policy governing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), the Society hosted a one-day conference on June 9 in conjunction with ENDO 09 in Washington, DC.  Organized by a committee of experts chaired by R. Thomas Zoeller, PhD, The 2nd Endocrine Society Forum on Endocrine Disruptors: Best Science for Risk Management and Policy brought together regulators, policymakers, and researchers of several relevant disciplines to discuss strategies for the incorporation of critical endocrine data into decisions on EDC policy.  Designed to encourage dialog among key stakeholders, the Forum enhanced the Society’s central role in the ongoing efforts to effectively regulate EDCs.  The conference was co-sponsored by the American Thyroid Association, the Society for the Study of Reproduction, and the Society of Toxicology.

Jerrold Heindel, PhD, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, gave the keynote address, providing suggestions to researchers on how to plan and conduct endocrine research that is both hypothesis-driven and informative for risk assessments and policy decisions.  Elaine Francis, PhD, and Leslie Touart, PhD, of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), spoke about the agency’s efforts to regulate EDCs.  Both speakers touched on the EPA’s Endocrine Disruptors Screening Program, discussing the history and the future of the program.

Bruce Lanphear, PhD, provided the overall context for the public health risk of exposure to EDCs by invoking lessons learned about population risk from other environmental toxicants, including lead and tobacco smoke.  Attendees also heard from several leading experts in the EDC field, including Tamara Galloway, PhD, Kevin Gaido, PhD, Josef Koehrle, PhD, Niels Skakkebaek, MD, Craig Steinmaus, MD PhD, and Cheryl Walker, PhD.  Sessions were moderated by Andrea Gore, PhD, Deborah Corey-Slechta, PhD, and Ana Soto, PhD.

The organizing committee worked closely with the Society’s Research Affairs Core Committee, primarily through former basic science co-chair Alan Schneyer, PhD, to ensure that the Forum not only presented cutting-edge endocrine research but also adhered to the Society’s larger strategic goals. 

The Society has also recently released its first-ever Scientific Statement, which focuses on the basic science of EDCs and the implications for human health and disease.  Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals  is available online and was published in the June issue of Endocrine Reviews.  The Society will soon release a position statement outlining the Society’s views on EDC policy.