M4 - Children's Health and Environmental Exposures in EuropeAndreas 10:30 am - Noon
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| Chair(s): Gail Charnley
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M4.1 SCALE: European Environmental Health Initiative. RA Becker; American Chemistry Council Rick_Becker@americanchemistry.com
Abstract: The extent to which environment plays a role in public health is complex. Definitions used for “environment” have been so variable & confusing, that generalized conclusions of the contribution of environment to the burden of disease in a population are difficult to verify. In a broad sense, environment can be defined, as it is in the US for the National Children’s Study, as natural & man-made factors, biological & chemical factors, physical surroundings, social factors, behavioral influences, cultural/family influences & geographic locations. As interest is growing globally on clarifying the role of the environment in public health, the European Commission (EC) is developing an EU Environment & Health Strategy. From a scientific perspective, the stated objective of the strategy is heroic in scope - to relate environmental factors & adverse health effects in order to provide the basis for a Community policy addressing sources, impacts, & pathways of health stressors. The methods for evaluating cause & effect relationships & contributions of environmental factors to disease within a scientifically sound structure is far from clear. Nevertheless, the EC will initially focus on children’s health, in particular: asthma & respiratory disease, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, childhood cancer, endocrine disruption & some “priority” environmental pollutants. Actions proposed over 2004-2010 include developing integrated environment & health information; filling knowledge gaps by strengthening research & identifying emerging issues; raising awareness through risk communication, training, & education; & reviewing & adjusting risk reduction policies. This presentation will provide an update on the status of the European environmental health initiative & set the stage for the following three presentations, which will describe current knowledge about trends in children’s health in Europe & about the potential roles of environmental chemicals in those outcomes.
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M4.2 Evaluation of trends in Children’s Health. D.A. Goldstein; The Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri daniel.a.goldstein@monsanto.com
Abstract:
Identification of high priority children’s environmental health issues currently relies heavily upon recognition of trends in Children’s health outcomes. Widely held beliefs regarding trends in children’s health, often manifest in headlines touting “epidemics” of childhood cancer or autism, are frequently unsubstantiated by, or even at odds with, available scientific evidence. The literature regarding child health trends was systematically reviewed in order to identify validated trends in child health. Clear evidence exists for increases in asthma, with suggestive evidence exists for some other allergic disorders. Changes in population adjusted child cancer rates indicate small alterations in frequency for major childhood cancers, possible trends for certain rare tumors, and changes in brain tumors resulting from changes in diagnostic modality. There is no convincing evidence available regarding trends in neuro-developmental disorders, including autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. While data document a declining age of puberty in females, evidence for other changes in reproductive function demonstrates wide temporo-spatial variation, but no clearly defined global trends.
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M4.3 Role Of Environmental Chemical Exposures In Children’s Health. Lewis, R.J.; ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc. r.jeffrey.lewis@exxonmobil.com
Abstract: A European scientific chemical association evaluated available data on trends in children’s health and the role of chemical exposures in those trends. Health trends assessed included respiratory diseases (asthma), cancer, and neurodevelopmental and reproductive disorders. Although some data suggest a potential role for chemical exposures in the etiology of some diseases, the overall trend assessment does not support chemicals as a major etiological factor. With regard to asthma, certain ambient and indoor air pollutants may exacerbate this disease, but there is little evidence to support a causative role for chemical exposures. For childhood cancer, genetic rather than chemical factors appear to be highly important. Additionally, other than the role of therapeutic and atomic radiation exposure, clear data regarding the contribution of early life environmental exposures to adult cancer remains limited. Lead, mercury and PCBs are potential neurotoxicants, but with the exception of lead, the role of environmentally relevant concentrations of these and other chemicals has not been established. Finally, the role of environmental chemical exposures in producing alterations in reproductive and endocrine function in children has not been established. Methodological challenges in studying children's health trends and the role of chemical exposures and current data gaps are also discussed.
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M4.4 Implications for Risk Management Policy and Research. G Charnley; HealthRisk Strategies charnley@healthriskstrategies.com
Abstract: European regulatory requirements for chemical toxicity testing vary widely across different regulatory programs. As in the US, data from a core set of toxicologic studies are not available for all chemicals, although the chemical industry is voluntarily making public OECD Screening Information Data Sets (SIDS) on 2150 of the most widely used substances. The need for toxicity data should be based on whether a significant number of individuals is likely to be exposed at potentially meaningful levels. A tiered approach to toxicity testing, dependant upon production, use patterns, exposure potential, and the results of prior testing, is the most effective way to produce needed data in a timely manner at a manageable cost. Tests for developmental neuro- and immuno-toxicology and hormonal activity are still under development and discussion. In a tiered testing protocol, such tests most likely belong in a later testing scheme, but optimal requirements remain to be clearly established. While it is apparent that the newer forms of developmental toxicity testing may identify novel endpoints relative to more traditional toxicity testing, it is not apparent that they will often identify toxicity at dose levels meaningfully below those found to affect adult organisms. New findings, while of scientific interest, may or may not have an impact on risk assessment or risk management outcomes. Risk assessment methods currently in use incorporate significant uncertainty factors to account for potential inter-species and intra-species differences in susceptibility to toxicity. Additional uncertainty factors can be added to compensate for data insufficiency but analyses suggest that the existing uncertainty factors are likely to be adequately protective of sensitive individuals, including children, under most circumstances. This presentation will highlight areas of research and science policy that could contribute to the effectiveness of the European environmental health strategy.
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