Protecting Children’s Health
Preventing Children’s
Exposure to
Endocrine Disruptors by
Lawrence H. Keith, Ph.D.
Version 1.2
Introduction
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There are many chemicals that are present in our
environment that have unknown impacts on children
One such group of chemicals are endocrine disrupting
chemicals.
This is a complex and controversial topic that is still
rapidly developing.
Endocrine disruptors is a new category of pollutants
that do not appear to do much harm to adults however, they may harm our children. In fact, the
younger the child, the greater is the risk of harm if the
child is exposed to these chemicals. The unborn child is
thus at greatest risk.
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What We Will Be Discussing
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What endocrine disruptors are
What determines when a chemical is an endocrine
disruptor
How endocrine disruptors can harm people
Why children are at higher risk than adults from
endocrine disruptors
How children’s behavior increases their risk to chemical
exposure
Public concerns and views about endocrine disruptors
Sources of endocrine disruptors
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More of What We Will Be Discussing
EPA’s approach to regulating endocrine
disruptors
 Types of chemicals that are suspect endocrine
disruptors
 Progress (or lack of it) being made to regulate
endocrine disruptors
 Where to find more information about this topic
 How to protect children from endocrine
disruptors
 How to contact the author
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What is The Endocrine System?
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The endocrine system is
a system of glands that
produce chemical
messengers (hormones)
and the receptors in
tissues that respond to
them.
 Examples
include the
thyroid, pituitary and
adrenal glands plus the
male and female
reproductive systems.
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What are Endocrine Disrupting
Chemicals (EDCs)
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They are synthetic and naturally
occurring chemicals that affect the
balance of normal hormone functions in
animals (including humans).
 They may be estrogen or androgen
modulators.
 These are sex hormones!
As
“modulators” EDCs may either
mimic these sex hormones or else
block their activities (blocking
chemicals are called anti-estrogens
and anti-androgens). Either way, the
effects are bad.
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What are the Effects of Endocrine Disruptors?
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The exact effects are dependent on the animal
species, its age, its gender, the amount of
exposure, and the timing of the exposure.
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Fetuses and newborns are the most susceptible.
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The reason is because sex hormones regulate sexual differentiation
during fetal development.
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Therefore, timing of exposure may be more important than the dose!
Sex hormones also play a role in organization of
specific areas of the brain.
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However, not much is known about this action yet.
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Characteristics of Endocrine Disruptors
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Thus, effects of endocrine disruptors are not
focused on adults but rather on the fetus and
young children.
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A major complexity is that the effects in humans
or other animals may not be discernable for
many years after a person is born. Typically,
problems arise when humans reach puberty.
Source: L. H. Keith, Environmental Testing & Analysis, Vol. 8, No. 4, July/August, 1999, p.p. 27 - 28.
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More Characteristics of Endocrine
Disruptors
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The endocrine system appears to be similar in
most animals, which means that endocrine
disruptors are expected to have similar effects in
most animals.
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This is in contrast to the situation with
carcinogens where we know that feeding
studies do not necessarily mimic closely the
carcinogenic effect that may occur in humans.
Source: L. H. Keith, Environmental Testing & Analysis, Vol. 8, No. 4, July/August, 1999, p.p. 27 - 28.
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Suspected Effects in Boys and Men
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Male Fertility
 Reduction in sperm production.
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Sexual Development Defects and Cancer
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Reduced ability of sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg.
Undescended testicles in baby boys.
“Inter-sex” features (male and female organs) in baby boys.
Shorter than normal penises.
Increased incidences of cancer of the testicles in younger men.
Prostate enlargement in older men.
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Suspected Effects in Girls and Women
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Difficulty in becoming pregnant
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Breast Cancer
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This is complex and endocrine disruptors may only be
one of multiple contributing factors.
Endometriosis
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Also difficulty in maintaining pregnancy.
This is when bits of uterine lining migrate to other
pelvic organs causing pain, internal bleeding, and
infertility
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Other Suspected Effects
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Damage to the Immune System
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This type of effects has been observed with
wildlife - it is also suspected to occur with
exposed humans.
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The classic work that brought effects of
chemical pollution in wildlife to our attention
was Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in
1962.
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The classic work that brought effects of
endocrine disruptors in wildlife to our
attention was Our Stolen Future in
1996.
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Additional Suspected Effects
 Increased
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Incidences of Goiters
Goiters are enlargements of the thyroid gland.
 They can disrupt metabolism and result in the “wasting
syndrome”
Hyperactivity, Learning, & Attention
Problems
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These include neurological disorders such as abnormalities in
behavior, difficulty in learning, distorted sensory functions, and
immunological disorders that may cause susceptibility to disease,
hypersensitivity and allergies.
Source: American Chemical Society, “Endocrine Disruptors,” Science in Focus, 1998, Washington, DC
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Why Children are More at Risk Than Adults
from Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors
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“Children are not just little adults. As a percentage of
body weight, they breathe more air, drink more
water, and eat more food than adults.”
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“Their organ systems are undergoing rapid and
sweeping development changes, and their behavior
brings them into near constant contact with their
physical environment.”
Source: Jeff Johnson, Chemical & Engineering News, October 25, 1999, p.p. 28 - 30, American
Chemical Society, Washington, DC.
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Children’s Developing Bodies Also
Differentiate Their Exposure Risks from Adults
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“During the differentiation of reproductive organs, hormones, growth
factors, and other endogenous chemical mediators regulate gene
expression and direct differentiation.”
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“One marked difference between exposure to endocrine disruptors
during critical periods in development versus during adulthood is the
irreversibility of an effect during development.”
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Disruption of the action of estrogen (the female hormone) or
androgen (the male hormone) during critical periods (for example,
when the fetus is rapidly developing in the mother’s body) can lead to
permanent alterations in the development of reproductive organs and
other tissues with receptors for these hormones.
Source: R. Bigsby, R. E. Chapin, G. P. Daston, B. J. Davis, J. Gorski, L. Earl Gray, K. L.
Howdeeshell, R. T. Zoeller, and F. S. vom Saal, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 107,
Supplement 4, August 1999, p.p. 613 - 618.
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In Agricultural Areas Pesticides May
Drift Into Homes With Dust
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In general the house dust collected from indoor carpeted areas of
agricultural workers had concentrations of organophosphate pesticides 7
times higher than the house dust collected in similar areas from urban sites.
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This is of concern since young children crawl around on these areas and
also breathe air with stirred up dust on the floors.
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The study found that children of agricultural workers have about a 4
times greater exposure to organophosphate pesticides than other
children in the same community.
Source: C Lu, R Fenske, J Touchstone, T Moate, G Kedan, D Knutson, and D Koch Box, Pages 131-132 in
Preprints of Extended Abstracts, Vol. 39 No. 2, Symposia Papers Presented Before the Division of Environmental
Chemistry American Chemical Society New Orleans, LA August 22-26, 1999. (Summary available from Dr. Keith on
the Internet at http://www.acs-envchem.duq.edu/neworl.htm)
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Children May Be Exposed at
Schools and Day Care Centers
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At the request of Senator Joe Lieberman (CT), the General Accounting
Office (GAO) prepared a report on pesticide spraying in schools. It
indicated that parents, educators, and government officials know little
about the amount of pesticides being sprayed at schools or how often
children are exposed.
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The review documented 2,300 pesticide exposures in American
schools from 1993 - 1996 and found that 329 of those individuals
required some medical attention. There was no follow up
information on 40% of the 2,300 exposure cases.
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These figures are incomplete and unreliable because of the lack of
hard data about pesticide use in the nation’s 110,000 public
schools. And this doesn’t even include private schools and day
care centers.
Source: Senator Lieberman’s web site available January 5, 2000 at
http://www.senate.gov/member/ct/lieberman/general/r010400a.html
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Findings of the GAO Report
1. There is no comprehensive, readily-available national or state-by-state
data on the amount and kinds of pesticides being used in schools.
2. Although regulations require pest control companies to keep records for
two years on the amount and site of pesticide applications, only one
state requires them to report the information.
3. For the cases of school exposures where follow up did occur, 329
individuals were seen at health care facilities, 15 were hospitalized,
and 4 were treated in intensive care units.
4. Eight states collect information on the use of pesticides within their
states, but only 2 collect information on pesticides used in schools. No
state collects information on exposure patterns in schools.
5. There are no standard criteria for clearly identifying illnesses linked to
pesticide exposure; misclassification of pesticide illness is common.
Source: Senator Lieberman’s web site available January 5, 2000 at
http://www.senate.gov/member/ct/lieberman/general/r010400b.html
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Senator Lieberman’s Comments
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The information gap on pesticide use in schools is troubling because
“...children are particularly vulnerable to risks associated with
pesticides, including elevated rates of leukemia and brain cancer.”
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“…while we have a national framework for protecting workers from
environmental and health hazards on the job, we have no such
system for protecting children from toxic substances in the
classroom.”
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Lieberman called on EPA to take immediate steps and start by
providing guidance to pest control companies and school officials on
the relative risks of different application methods, and setting strong
uniform guidelines for notifying parents and educators before
pesticides are used on school grounds.
Source: Senator Lieberman’s web site available January 5, 2000 at
http://www.senate.gov/member/ct/lieberman/general/r010400a.html
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Examples of Exposure to Pesticides at Schools
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Many schools and day care centers are regularly sprayed with
pesticides. Outdoors, children and wildlife are exposed to pesticides
used on lawns and gardens, public parks, and playing fields. The
pesticides then can be tracked indoors. Also, wooden playground
structures are often treated with wood preservatives. [Source #1]
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Numerous studies document that children who suffer chronic or
acute exposure to pesticides experience elevated rates of childhood
leukemia, soft tissue sarcoma, and brain cancer. [Source #2]
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One recent study showed that after a single broadcast application
in an indoor setting of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide commonly used in
schools, the chemical remained on children’s toys and hard
surfaces for two weeks, resulting in exposure 21 to 119 times
above the current recommended safe dose. [Source #2]
Source #1: WWF Canada available January 5, 2000 at http://www.wwfcanada.org/reduce-risk/c_index.html
Source #2: Senator Lieberman’s web site available January 5, 2000 at
http://www.senate.gov/member/ct/lieberman/general/r010400a.html
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How to Reduce Children’s Exposure to
Pesticides in Schools and Day Care Centers
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When a school uses pesticides it should notify parents and teachers a day in
advance.
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The least toxic materials possible to do the job should be used.
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People should not be allowed back into the buildings until the residue is
gone. (Author’s note: as a chemist, this is not a practical statement because
a specific amount per surface area should be recommended).
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Only trained and licensed people should be allowed to spray pesticides.
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If outside grounds and fields where children play are treated with pesticides
then prior notice should be given to parents and teachers.
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If a school has wooden playground products that are made from treated
wood (typically using arsenic and copper compounds) then the surfaces
should be painted to seal it and reduce leaching.
Source: Environment and Human Health, Inc. web site available January 5, 2000 at
http://www.ehhi.org/12steps.html
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A New Congressional Initiative School Environment Protection Act (SEPA)
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Introduced by Senators Robert Torricelli (NJ) and Patty Murray (WA) on
October 12, 1999 (S 1716), and by Representative Holt (NJ) on November 9,
1999 (HR 3275). Co-sponsored by Senator Robert Lieberman (CN) on
December 22, 1999.
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The act would require public schools to use Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) approaches to pest control and identify acceptable
“least toxic” pesticides. It would allow a school to use conventional
pesticides only if a pest cannot be controlled after using IPM and least
toxic pesticides, and provided the school staff and parents are notified 72
hours prior to application.
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The act also excludes from use in schools pesticides that are determined
by EPA to cause cancer, mutations, birth defects, reproductive
dysfunction, neurological and immune system effects, endocrine system
disruption, and those pesticides rated as acutely and moderately toxic.
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Source: NCAMP, January 5, 2000 at http://www.safe2use.com/media/sepa.htm
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S. 1716 [106th]: School Environment
Protection Act of 1999
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Sponsor:Sen. Robert Torricelli [D-NJ]
Cosponsors (6): Sen. John Kerry [D-MA]Sen. Paul Sarbanes [?-MD]Sen.
Barbara Mikulski [D-MD]Sen. Christopher Dodd [D-CT]Sen. Joseph
Lieberman [D-CT]Sen. Patty Murray [
Status: Introduced
Reported by Committee
Voted on in Senate
Voted on in House
Signed by President
Oct 12, 1999
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This bill never became law. This bill was proposed in a previous session of
Congress. Sessions of Congress last two years, and at the end of each
session all proposed bills and resolutions that haven't passed are cleared
from the books.
Last Action:Oct 12, 1999: Read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture.
This bill is identical to S. 2109 (Status: Dead).
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Where Can You Find More Information?
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We’ve barely scratched the surface. Your library and the Internet have a
wealth of additional information. Here are some more leads:
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The book, Our Stolen Future (in your local bookstore, from amazon.com, etc.)
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U.S. EPA endocrine disruptor page at http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo
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The author’s web page at www.instantref.com/eed.htm
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Wayne Sinclair, MD, web page at www.chem-tox.com/cancerchildren/
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An excellent Japanese Web Site at http://www.nihs.go.jp/hse/environ//endocrin.html
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National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides at http://www.ncamp.org
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Environment and Human Health, Inc. at http://ehhi.org/intro.html
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World Wildlife Fund Canada at http://www.wwfcanada.org/hormone-disruptors
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National Science and Technology Council - Endocrine Disruptors Research Initiative at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OSTP/Environment/html/fac_endocrine.html
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National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Environmental Health
Perspectives at http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/
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Suspect Endocrine Disruptors Cover
Many Different Kinds of Chemicals
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The following list illustrates the wide variety of chemicals that may
need to be monitored in the environment and food:
 Biocides - chemicals that kill animals like barnacles and snails
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Insecticides - chemicals that kill mosquitoes and other bugs
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Herbicides - chemicals that kill weeds
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Fungicides - chemicals that kill fungus
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Industrial Organic Chemicals - solvents, plastics, paints, etc.
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Metals - mercury, arsenic, tin, and chromium
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PCBs - now are banned from commercial use
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Chemicals with no commercial use - chlorinated dioxins and furans (these were
impurities in Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War to defoliate the forests and
they are also produced naturally in forest fires).
Source: Dr. L. H. Keith at the Waste Testing and Quality Assurance Symposium, July 1997, Washington, DC
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Where Are We Now?
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EPA is less than halfway through the job of revising new limits for pesticides
on food that were based on risks to adults to make them safer for risks to
children.
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“The Agency is mired in a regulatory battle fraught with law suits, lobbying
and legislative pressure.”
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“Policy papers and health studies that were supposed to guide the
reassessment effort are bogged down in politicized scientific debates.”
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“Proposed rule changes are slowed by technical challenges, some
engineered by former EPA officials now working as consultants for
pesticide concerns.”
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Less than 40% of the 5,500 pesticides have new limits.
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The endocrine disruptor screening program is still not launched.
Source: USA Today, August 30, 1999 pages 1A - 2A
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But There Are
Two Sides to This Story
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“Farmers and pesticide manufacturers say that many of
the pesticides in EPA’s sights have been used for
decades and that the Agency has scant scientific
evidence to justify further restrictions.”
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“New limits could leave crops vulnerable to pests,
leading to food shortages.”
Source: USA Today, August 30, 1999 pages 1A - 2A
Author’s Comment: Remember, EPA still doesn’t have tests that can differentiate
definitively between endocrine disruptors and non-endocrine disruptors. This is a
difficult test when one has to rely on the effects of chemicals on organisms to make
this distinction.
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What Can You Do to Protect Children?
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First, don’t over react. For example, don’t stop
breast feeding just because of a fear of exposure
of your baby to endocrine disruptors. Evaluate
the situation and if, as a parent, you feel that you
have a higher than average exposure to
pesticides or other chemicals, then check with
your doctor. Breast feeding has many health
advantages.
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Write to your senators and congressmen to let
them know how you feel about the dead
legislation.
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What Can You Do to Protect Children?
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Work with your local school boards, day care directors,
parent-teachers associations, and local environmental
chemists to evaluate planned pesticide applications,
provide adequate prior notification to parents and teachers,
make sure that trained and licensed professionals apply
the chemicals, and insure that good records (i.e., what
chemicals were applied, how much, where, and when) are
kept by the school.
When wood treated with arsenic, copper,
pentachlorophenol, and other toxic chemicals is used for
playground equipment, paint its surfaces to minimize
leaching of the chemicals which may result in higher
exposure to children through skin absorption.
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What Can You Do to Protect Children?
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Avoid areas that have been recently sprayed with
pesticides.
Wash all fruits and vegetables before preparing them for
infants, children, and pregnant or nursing women.
Wash children’s hands before eating. Remember, the hand
to food to mouth route is normal for a child’s eating habits.
Keep tables, floors, and horizontal surfaces clean where
dirt, dust, and all manner of particulate materials can
concentrate.
Keep a reasonably clean, dust-free, dirt-free house. You
aren’t going to be able to prevent children from crawling
(nor do you want to) so make their environment as clean
as possible.
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What Can You Do to Protect Children?
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When possible, select phthalate-free plastic toys for
infants (these will be labeled).
If cockroaches are a problem, use an integrated
approach consisting of filling gaps and cracks, keep the
areas clean, and use pest baits in addition to spraying
with pesticides. Be sure all foods are removed from any
area sprayed with pesticides.
If fleas are a problem, use low-dose products if possible
and keep treated pets away from children immediately
after dipping or spraying.
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What Can You Do to Protect Children?
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Be aware of any unusually high occurrences of health
problems involving symptoms from exposure to
endocrine disruptors in your neighborhood. If there seem
to be problems, call them to the attention of your doctor
for potential referral to an epidemiologist.
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Read and keep up with pending developments in this
rapidly changing field. As information becomes available
you’ll be seeing many more articles on endocrine
disruptors in the press and on TV. There is more we
don’t know than what we do know about this problem
today.
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