A series of four studies published online on March 5, 2015 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism investigates the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on EU’s economy. The findings suggest that exposure to EDCs likely costs the European economy more than €157 billion each year in health care expenses and lost earning potential. The Endocrine Society highlights in a press release that the €157 billion is actually a conservative estimate and stresses that the costs may reach €270 billion each year.

The new economic analysis demonstrates how staggering the cost of widespread EDC exposure is to society, says Leonardo Trasande of the New York University, U.S., who led a team of 18 researchers in this landmark initiative. The global team of EDC experts adapted existing environmental health cost models, relying on the approach described in 1981 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a part of the U.S. National Academies. By using the IOM approach, annual costs of environmental contribution to diseases can be assessed. Based on published literature, five expert panels estimated the probability that EDCs contributed to various medical conditions. Consequently, they limited the economic analysis to the disorders they identified to have the strongest scientific evidence (male reproductive dysfunctions, neurological impacts, diabetes and obesity). The authors then considered annual direct costs (e.g., hospital stays, physician services) and indirect costs (e.g., lost worker productivity) associated with the different medical conditions. The major cost drivers were loss of IQ and intellectual disabilities resulting from prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and adult obesity linked to phthalate exposure. The authors hope that the studies will bring the latest endocrine science to the attention of policymakers, who will consider the new findings in reaching regulatory decisions.

Read more

Endocrine Society (March 5, 2015). “Estimated costs of endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure exceed €150 billion annually in EU.

References

Trasande, L. et al. (2015). “Estimating burden and disease costs of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the European Union.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (published online March 5, 2015).

Hauser, R. et al. (2015). “Male reproductive disorders, diseases and costs of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the European Union.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (published online March 5, 2015).

Legler, J. et al. (2015). “Obesity, diabetes and associated costs of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the European Union.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (published online March 5, 2015).

Bellanger, M. et al. (2015). “Neurobehavioral deficits, diseases and associated costs of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the European Union.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (published online March 5, 2015).

 

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