Sen Kerry and Rep Moran introduce bill to protect people from toxins that are endocrine disruptors

[karynnj]

Some of you might remember from the This moment on Earth book tour, that Teresa Heinz Kerry usually spoke of environmental toxins including phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors. Teresa has hosted annual conferences for medical researchers that deal with environmental toxins, women's health and cancer.

Moran and Kerry introduced legislation to protect people.

The Endocrine Society commends Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) for introducing the Endocrine Disruption Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 4190; S. 2828). The bill, endorsed by the Society, amends the Public Health Service Act by authorizing the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct a research program on endocrine disruption aimed at preventing and reducing the production of and the public’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

The legislation reflects the findings and recommendations of The Endocrine Society’s peer-reviewed Scientific Statement (http://www.endo-society.org/journals/scientificstatemen... /) on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) released by the Society this past June. The Scientific Statement presents evidence that endocrine disruptors—substances that interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism or action—impact health resulting in adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects in both humans and wildlife.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/559294/?sc=rsmn

Here is a statement from Representative Moran:

Today, Congressman Jim Moran of Northern Virginia and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts introduced legislation to explore linkages between hormone disrupting chemicals in the environment and everyday goods and the dramatic increase of autism, hyperactivity, diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, prostate cancer and other hormone related disorders.

For years, scientists have noted strange anomalies in fish and wildlife in locations where endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found. In the Potomac River, a recent study found an astounding 100 percent of small mouth bass in certain sites of the basin exhibited both male and female organs, a characteristic linked to EDCs.

“These fish are the proverbial ‘canaries in the coal mine,’ a symptom of a larger sickness in our environment. The implications for humans are real and deeply troubling,” said Congressman Moran, who worked with experts for roughly a year to craft the legislation.

“We need facts driven by science, not politics, ideology, or powerful interests, when it comes to understanding the risks associated with chemicals - especially where there's real concern about harmful developmental disorders in children,” Senator Kerry said after introducing the companion bill in the Senate. “The better we understand these chemicals, the better equipped we’ll be to protect kids and the public.”

http://moran.house.gov/apps/list/press/va08_moran/Endocrine.shtml

(Thanks to Prosense for the Moran statement)

[karynnj]

1. Here is one account of Teresa Heinz Kerry speaking of this danger on that book tour

Teresa then moved on to speak of environmental toxins, such as phthalates, that can be found in many of our everyday household cleaners, cosmetics, and personal care products. Phthalates are highly dangerous estrogen mimics that cause not only breast cancer in women, but – as Teresa only recently found out – can also increase prostate cancer risk in men, especially if they had it before, or if there is a genetic predisposition.

‘When I go to a store and see a cosmetic product that says “not tested on animals “I think, right, going to be tested on humans. How is that right? Why is it that in Europe, companies bear the burden of proof of the safety of a chemical whereas in the US the consumer bears the burden to prove the harmfulness?’, She asked the audience. Nods and murmurs.

Yes, why IS that, I wonder?

http://www.johnkerry.com/blog/entry/a_moment_in_cambridge_massachusetts/

As one who has often looked to see that products were not tested on animals, this comment read back then really made me think and I have avoided buying products with a long lists of ingredients that I don't know that proudly say they were not tested on animals!

[AdHocSolver]

2. If there is a tiny conflict between corporate profit and human welfare, guess which takes precedence

Whether it is a matter of providing Americans affordable health care versus ensuring insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies make enormous profits;

Whether it is a matter of providing Americans family supporting jobs versus ensuring multinational corporations access to foreign slave labor to make enormous profits;

Whether it is a matter of protecting the environment versus providing oil and chemical companies guaranteed huge profits;

Whether it is a matter of protecting the savings, homes, and retirement assets of middle class Americans versus protecting the fraudulent profits of a bunch of crooked bankers;

Whether it is a matter of protecting our freedom of speech and access to information versus providing media conglomerates control of information channels;

It is a wonderful feeling to know ahead of time how YOUR interests will be served.

Kudos to Representative Moran and Senator Kerry for their efforts.

[Cha]

3. They are nasty..Merci, Senator Kerry and

Rep Moran. I've been using natural cleaners since the '70's and they're used where I work, too.

Very important, imv.

[tandot]

4. I am very careful to avoid anything with BPAs because of it

Especially in baby products. The pacifier I bought said "BPA free." However, I found out that the nipple itself is BPA free but the shield is not. When babies suck, the BPA from the shield leaks into the nipple. They tested several pacifiers in Germany and found that the one I have had the highest level of BPAs. They apparently aren't tested as rigorously in the US.

[Hekate]

5. Best of luck to them; this is very needed. Teresa is a remarkable woman in her own right...

She would have made a good First Lady back in 2004--but then, First Ladies have to be involved in relatively uncontroversial causes, and she wouldn't have had the freedom to take on issues like this.

Thanks to Rep Moran and both the Kerrys. I hope they can pull this off.

Hekate

[wisteria]

6. Good bill! n/t

[boppers]

7. Science (or reporting) FAIL.

"In the Potomac River, a recent study found an astounding 100 percent of small mouth bass in certain sites of the basin exhibited both male and female organs, a characteristic linked to EDCs."

It's a characteristic related to fish, as well, since it's quite common for fish to be simultaneous or sequential hermaphrodites.

[ensho]

8. good

nt