Impaired fertility and abnormal birth outcomes constitute major human health burdens. In the U.S., 5-10 percent of couples who desire children find that conception is difficult or impossible, and approximately 50 percent of pregnancies are not successfully completed. There is a birth defect rate of 3-5 percent, and a decline in human sperm counts over recent decades has been reported but not confirmed. Environmental exposures account for a portion of these adverse reproductive events. The NTP/NIEHS established the Center to provide scientifically based, uniform assessments of the evidence that exposure to man-made or naturally occurring chemicals may adversely effect reproduction or development in humans.
The Center's first evaluations were completed in 2000 by an expert panel who evaluated seven phthalate esters widely used as plasticizers in consumer products. The Panel expressed "minimal" or "negligible" concern for the possibility that six may cause adverse reproductive effects under current levels of human exposure. They expressed "serious" concern for the development of infants exposed to high levels of DEHP as the result of extensive medical treatment using PVC medical tubing and other devices for feeding and medicating critically ill infants. A review of methanol (high production volume chemical in a variety of consumer products i.e., paints, antifreeze, cleaning solutions, adhesives, potential for expanded use as a vehicle fuel/fuel additive) is underway. The goal of this presentation is to highlight the Center's progress and to obtain feedback from the public health community, which will enhance the relevance and impact of the Center's efforts.
See www.niehs.nih.gov and http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.govLearning Objectives: "At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1) Discuss four NIEHS and NTP priority areas of environmental health research and their impact on risk assessments; 2) Participate further in determining research directions of both the NIEHS and the NTP and in selecting chemicals through public input, comment and/or nomination of chemicals for study and review; 3) Participate on panels, committees, boards, councils that provide oversight and review of these programs, as appropriate and as qualified."
Keywords: Environmental Health, Risk Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Support from the NIEHS