New survey on exposures of pregnant consumers to potential endocrine disruptors

 A new survey from the Danish EPA concludes that daily life exposure to multiple potential endocrine disruptors from food, indoor environment and consumer products may cause a risk for some pregnant women and further, that there is a need to reduce exposures of pregnant women to potential endocrine disruptors 

The 27th of March 2012 the Danish EPA published a survey which shows that daily life exposure to multiple endocrine disruptors from food, indoor environment and consumer products may cause a risk for some pregnant women and that there is a need to reduce the exposures of pregnant women to potential endocrine disruptors.

The survey is a follow up of a Danish survey from 2009 showing a risk for 2-year old children exposed to a combination of potential endocrine disruptors from food, consumer products and the indoor environment.

In December 2009 the European Environment Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on combination effects of chemicals in general and endocrine disruptors in particular. The Commission will report back to the Council early 2012 by the latest assessing the need to include risks from exposure to multiple chemicals from different sources and pathways in the EU-legislation.

The two Danish surveys show that on a case-by-case basis, the risk of known combined exposures to chemicals can be assessed by use of the concept for dose addition.  This approach requires a level of knowledge which is very rarely available. It may therefore be relevant to consider more general and pragmatic approaches to regulate the combined exposures to chemicals from multiple sources and pathways.

Based on the assumptions in the report, it can be concluded that:

• Most Danish pregnant women are expected to be exposed to a combination of the selected substances, but not at levels that give rise to concern.
• Some pregnant women can, due to their consumption and behaviour, be exposed to a combination of potential endocrine disruptors in levels that give rise to concern.
• Combined exposure must be taken into consideration when assessing the risk from exposure to endocrine disruptors.
• For some pregnant women there is a need to reduce exposure to potential endocrine disruptors from food, indoor environment and consumer products
   

The survey is the scientific basis for an information campaign directed towards pregnant women and women wanting to become pregnant with the aim to give recommendations on how to minimize the exposure to endocrine disruptors.

More information
Survey:

Summary
Conclusions

Full survey

Campaign materials:

Leaflet: Expecting a baby (in english)

The information campaign webapp can be seen here (in Danish): http://klartilstorken.dk