The Endocrine Society -- conducting its annual meeting in Washington, DC this week -- has just released a 50+ page detailed Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals.According to the EPA, endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic a natural hormone, fool the body into over-responding to the stimulus (e.g., thyroid hormone that results in hyperthyroidism), or respond at inappropriate times (e.g., producing thyroid hormone when it is not needed). Other endocrine disrupting chemicals block the effects of a hormone from certain receptors (e.g. thyroid hormones required for normal development). Still others directly stimulate or inhibit the endocrine system and cause overproduction or underproduction of hormones (e.g. an over or underactive thyroid). Certain drugs are used to intentionally cause some of these effects, such as birth control pills. In many situations involving environmental chemicals, however, an endocrine effect is not desirable.
American endocrinologists have not formally weighed in on the issue in depth until today's release of the statement. You can download a free copy of this PDF document online now.
Image: Endocrine Society
Why is flouride not mentioned in this document even thought it interferes with thyroid function and displaces iodine? Have decades of marketing toothpaste put flouride above all questioning?