Cluster of Research into Endocrine Disruption in Europe

Cluster of Research into Endocrine Disruption in Europe

Cluster of Research into Endocrine Disruption in Europe, (CREDO).

Cluster of Research into Endocrine Disruption in Europe

The increasing concern about reproductive disorders in humans, and widespread sexual disruption among wildlifehas caused a group of people to form such organization in Europe.

They are concern about the disruption & abnormal changes happened to the reproductive system & endocrine systems.
*the feminization of male fish and birds;
*the masculinization of female fish, gastropods, and birds.
*In humans, decreased sperm numbers,
*In humans, an increasing incidence of certain congenital malformations.
*In humans, increase of hormone-related cancers (such as breast cancer and testicular cancer)

It is a positive effort to focus on the alarming issues about how the chemicals in the industrial era have been affecting lives on Earth. It helps to make people aware of what side-effects & harms are going on.

The main culprit is the chemicals in the environment that can disrupt the normal functioning of hormone systems.

These chemicals are referred to as endocrine disrupters. They include a large number of pesticides and industrial chemicals that can be found in food items, human tissues and the environment.

PROJECTS/AREAS

Four projects funded by the European Union form the core of the CREDO cluster:

*EDEN: Endocrine disrupters: Exploring Novel Endpoints, Exposure, Low-Dose and Mixture-Effects in Humans, Aquatic Wildlife and Laboratory Animals
*COMPRENDO: Comparative Research on Endocrine Disrupters, Phylogenetic Approach and Common Principles focussing on Androgenic/Antiandrogenic Compounds
*EURISKED: Multi-organic risk assessment of selected endocrine disrupters (ED's).UV-absorbing chemicals (4-MBC, OMC), characterised recently as estrogenic, and of benzophenone 2 (a chemical used in cosmetics) as well as the fungicide procymidone and the pesticide linuron will be studied in rats and gene-targeted mice. High throughput methods will be employed to identify EDs with (anti) estrogenic, (anti) androgenic, (anti) progestational, (anti) glucocorticoid, and (anti) thyroid hormone activities.
*FIRE: improve risk assessment of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) for human health and wildlife. BFRs, such as the high production volume chemicals polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) have been identified as potential endocrine disrupters.

Together, they represent over 60 research laboratories in Europe, with a total budget of more than 20 Million Euros.

WORK

* Identifying causative chemicals
* Defining the extent of human and wildlife effects
* Analysing risks

Endocrine Disruption?

(quoting from CREDO website)

=What are endocrine disruptors?

=The endocrine system regulates many essential bodily functions, including reproduction and development, through the production of hormones which serve as chemical messengers. Hormones, such as oestrogens and androgens, are released into the blood stream by endocrine glands and circulate around the body at very low concentrations. Once within their target cells, the hormones bind to, and activate specific receptors that respond to hormone signals and influence changes in bodily functions and organs.

Chemicals which interfere with or alter the body's own chemical messaging or endocrine system.
These chemicals are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

EDCs are synthetic chemicals and natural plant products which interfere with or alter the development or function of the endocrine system. Certain EDCs are known to mimic the effects of natural hormones by triggering their specific receptors, these are termed agonists. Some endocrine disruptors bind to hormone receptors and block the action of the natural hormones, these are termed antagonists. However, there are other ways that EDCs can alter the endocrine system. They can also interfere with the production, transport, metabolism or excretion of naturally occurring hormones. What these EDCs have in common, is that they have the potential to interfere with wildlife and human health.

=Where do endocrine disruptors come from?

=EDCs come from a wide variety of sources. Many EDCs are synthetic chemicals produced specifically for their biological properties and are used as pesticides, herbicides or pharmaceuticals. Other EDCs are used in a diverse array of products, including cosmetics, sunscreens and plastic formulations. There are also a large number of synthetic chemicals in production which have not been tested for endocrine disrupting activity, and whether they have the potential to act as EDCs is not known.

As EDCs are released into the environment they may be carried by air, water or in the food chain. Many of the known EDCs are now ubiquitous environmental contaminants, which has resulted in widespread exposure of both humans and wildlife. For example, EDCs have been detected in the fat of polar bears in the polar region where these chemicals have never been used.

CONTACT

Different projects are headed by different doctors and professors across Europe.
Please visit their website for contact names & methods.