Endocrine Disruptors

The Science, Regulation and Health impact of EndocrineDisrupting Chemicals. Of the ~90,000 chemicals used in commerce, around40,000 are present in consumer goods. Supposedly safe levels of many consumer product chemicals disrupt crucial signaling inthe endocrine system, resulting in reproductive, immune, metabolic or cognitive disorders, breast or prostate cancer depending on the developmental timing and duration of exposure. We will learnabout key components of the endocrine system, and how several known endocrine disrupting chemicals derail normal processes. Although the scientific evidence is clear, there remain significant gaps in consumer protection due to poor/ absent regulation. We will examine how regulatory failure is adversely affecting human health, with particularly high impacts on marginalized communities. The course will consist of lecture, class discussion, written reflection, small group work, in class presentations and a final paper. This is an upper level, intermediate course for Biology Majors and serves as the pre-requisite for the literature based BIOL5130 Environmental Disruptors of Development.