scholarly journals Public Awareness and Risk Perceptions of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 7778
Author(s):  
Melissa Kelly ◽  
Lisa Connolly ◽  
Moira Dean
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous chemicals found in food, consumer products, and the environment. EDCs are ubiquitous in modern life and exposure is associated with many negative health effects, such as reproductive disorders, metabolic disorders, and cancer. Scientists have deemed EDCs as a serious public health risk, yet the public’s perceptions of these chemicals is poorly understood. This study aimed to qualitatively explore how aware the public is of EDCs and their attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of EDC risk. Thirty-four participants (aged 19–65 years) took part in the six focus groups. Discussions were transcribed verbatim and Nvivo 11 was used for thematic analysis. Our results indicated that awareness of EDCs was low. Themes of EDC risk perception included perceived control, perceived severity, and similarity heuristics. Risk alleviation strategies were also discussed. Future research should use quantitative methodology and a larger sample size to validate the findings from this study. Findings from this study may aid the development of effective risk communication strategies and public health interventions.

scholarly journals Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Current Understanding, New Testing Strategies and Future Research Needs

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 933
Author(s):  
Maria E. Street ◽  
Karine Audouze ◽  
Juliette Legler ◽  
Hideko Sone ◽  
Paola Palanza
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developmental Origins ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Important Class ◽  
Testing Strategies ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Health And Disease

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous chemicals which can disrupt any action of the endocrine system, and are an important class of substances which play a role in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) [...]

scholarly journals Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Thyroid Cancer: An Overview

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Mathilda Alsen ◽  
Catherine Sinclair ◽  
Peter Cooke ◽  
Kimia Ziadkhanpour ◽  
Eric Genden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
National Library ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Carcinogenic Effect ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

Endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDC) are known to alter thyroid function and have been associated with increased risk of certain cancers. The present study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of available studies on the association between EDC exposure and thyroid cancer. Relevant studies were identified via a literature search in the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health PubMed as well as a review of reference lists of all retrieved articles and of previously published relevant reviews. Overall, the current literature suggests that exposure to certain congeners of flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and phthalates as well as certain pesticides may potentially be associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. However, future research is urgently needed to evaluate the different EDCs and their potential carcinogenic effect on the thyroid gland in humans as most EDCs have been studied sporadically and results are not consistent.

scholarly journals The influence of risk perceptions on close contact frequency during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Wambua ◽  
Lisa Hermans ◽  
Pietro Coletti ◽  
Frederik Verelst ◽  
Lander Willem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Public Health Communication ◽  
Contact Behaviour ◽  
Contact Frequency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Human behaviour is known to be crucial in the propagation of infectious diseases through respiratory or close-contact routes like the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. Intervention measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus mainly aim at limiting the number of close contacts, until vaccine roll-out is complete. Our main objective was to assess the relationships between SARS-CoV-2 perceptions and social contact behaviour in Belgium. Understanding these relationships is crucial to maximize interventions' effectiveness, e.g. by tailoring public health communication campaigns. In this study, we surveyed a representative sample of adults in Belgium in two longitudinal surveys (8 waves of survey 1 in April 2020 to August 2020, and 11 waves of survey 2 in November 2020 to April 2021). Generalized linear mixed effects models were used to analyse the two surveys. Participants with low and neutral perceptions on perceived severity made a significantly higher number of social contacts as compared to participants with high levels of perceived severity after controlling for other variables. Furthermore, participants with higher levels of perceived effectiveness of measures and perceived adherence to measures made fewer contacts. However, the differences were small. Our results highlight the key role of perceived severity on social contact behaviour during a pandemic. Nevertheless, additional research is required to investigate the impact of public health communication on severity of COVID-19 in terms of changes in social contact behaviour.

Endocrine Disruptors and Other Environmental Influences on Hormone Action

2019 ◽  
pp. 85-106
Author(s):  
Laura N. Vandenberg
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Environmental Chemicals ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Hormone Action ◽  
Hormone Synthesis ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Dose Effects ◽  
History Of

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with hormone action by altering hormone synthesis, secretion, transport in the blood, binding to receptors, metabolism, or excretion. This chapter reviews the history of EDCs and other environmental chemicals, methods used to identify EDCs, and common uses for these chemicals in consumer products. It also describes major principles of endocrinology and how these features influence the actions of EDCs. This chapter will also evaluate controversies in the study and regulation of EDCs, including the concept of “low dose effects,” the question of whether humans are exposed to EDCs at levels that can cause harm, and the determination of “safe” doses of exposure. Finally, this chapter reviews other environmental factors that can influence the health of laboratory animals and interfere with the study of EDCs.

scholarly journals In utero exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, micro-RNA profiles, and fetal growth: a pilot study protocol

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tricia L. Larose ◽  
Pål Sætrom ◽  
Marit P. Martinussen ◽  
Håkon Skogseth ◽  
Torkjel M. Sandanger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Mirna Expression ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Mirna Expression Profiles

Background: The developing fetus is particularly vulnerable to the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Molecular fingerprints of EDCs can be identified via microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles and may be etiologically implicated in the developmental origin of disease (DOHaD). Methods/design: This pilot study includes pregnant women at high risk (smoking at conception), and low risk (non-smoking at conception) for SGA birth (birthweight<10th percentile for gestational age). We have randomly selected 12 mothers (3 high-risk SGA birth, 3 low-risk SGA birth, 3 high-risk non-SGA birth, 3 low-risk non-SGA birth), with EDC measurements from gestational week 17. All offspring are female. We aim to test the stability of our samples (maternal serum, cord blood, placenta tissue), observe the differential expression of miRNA profiles over time (gestational weeks 17, 25, 33, 37, birth), and study the consistency between maternal EDC measures and miRNA expression profiles across our repeated measures. Expected impact of the study for Public Health: Results from this pilot study will inform the development of a larger cohort wide analysis, and will impact the current state of knowledge in the fields of public health, epigenetics, and the DOHaD.

Effects of endocrine disruptors in aquatic mammals

2003 ◽  
Vol 75 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 2235-2247 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Fossi ◽  
Letizia Marsili
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Disruptors ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Toxicological Effects ◽  
Aquatic Food Chain ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Aquatic Food ◽  
Aquatic Mammals

In the last few decades, various studies have shown that aquatic mammals are sensitive to the toxicological effects of certain xenobiotic compounds, including the large class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Since some EDCs, particularly organochlorines, tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the aquatic food chain, various aquatic mammals, particularly those high in the food chain, such as pinnipeds, odontocete cetaceans, and polar bears, are potentially "at risk". The main aim of this chapter is to define the state of the art on effects of endocrine disruptors in aquatic mammals, both freshwater and marine. Another aim is to formulate recommendations for future research in this field and finally to define what can be done internationally for hazard/risk assessment and communication of the findings.

scholarly journals Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Infectious Diseases: from Endocrine Disruption to Immunosuppression

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3939
Author(s):  
Elikanah Olusayo Adegoke ◽  
Md Saidur Rahman ◽  
Yoo-Jin Park ◽  
Young Ju Kim ◽  
Myung-Geol Pang
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are hormonally active compounds in the environment that interfere with the body’s endocrine system and consequently produce adverse health effects. Despite persistent public health concerns, EDCs remain important components of common consumer products, thus representing ubiquitous contaminants to humans. While scientific evidence confirmed their contribution to the severity of Influenza A virus (H1N1) in the animal model, their roles in susceptibility and clinical outcome of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cannot be underestimated. Since its emergence in late 2019, clinical reports on COVID-19 have confirmed that severe disease and death occur in persons aged ≥65 years and those with underlying comorbidities. Major comorbidities of COVID-19 include diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, and kidney and liver diseases. Meanwhile, long-term exposure to EDCs contributes significantly to the onset and progression of these comorbid diseases. Besides, EDCs play vital roles in the disruption of the body’s immune system. Here, we review the recent literature on the roles of EDCs in comorbidities contributing to COVID-19 mortality, impacts of EDCs on the immune system, and recent articles linking EDCs to COVID-19 risks. We also recommend methodologies that could be adopted to comprehensively study the role of EDCs in COVID-19 risk.

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