On December 3, 2009 Representative James Moran (D-VA) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced legislation to amend the Public Health Service Act that authorizes the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to coordinate and build upon the cutting-edge research related to endocrine disruption. With this authorization, we will be able to identify endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and determine their safety.

According to the Endocrine Disruption Exchange:

Simply put, the main purpose of the program proposed in the bill is to develop reliable and reproducible methods to identify chemicals that can disrupt the human endocrine system. These protocols will:

• address the full range of possible health outcomes (including reproductive, behavioral, intellectual, metabolic, and endocrine disorders);
• be sensitive enough to detect effects at exposure levels relevant to human exposure (and not rely on the assumption that a lower dose produces less effect);
• consider the effects of exposure to multiple chemicals

An Endocrine Disruptor is a condition where the body's endocrine (or hormonal) system is altered by exposure to certain chemicals whose molecular shape matches that of certain hormones. These chemicals are able to fit into receptors on cell surfaces that are meant for hormones, which are the body's messengers. When endocrine disruptors attach to cells they may trigger undesirable behaviors in the cell or prevent legitimate hormones from attaching and delivering their signals.

We swallow, inhale and absorb through our skin, plastics, pesticides, fire retardants, exhaust fumes, fragrance and much more every day. They are in our homes and automobiles, our cleaning products, cosmetics and clothing, even in our children's toys, contributing to our continual, ubiquitous exposure to EDCs.

Check out the Endocrine Disruption Exchange for action tools and easy steps to turn this bill into law!

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