Safety, health and environmental agencies in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan have begun to recognize the hazards of a broad category of chemicals called endocrine disruptors (also known as EDCs) that may be causing long lasting effects on people and animals. EDCs are found in a wide variety of workplaces. If you think that such chemicals may be present at your company, you need to discuss their properties and risks with your employees. This article will help you answer the questions your employees are most likely to pose.

Q. 1: What Is an Endocrine Disruptor?

A: An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body's normal functions. This disruption can happen through the altering of normal hormone levels, halting or stimulation of the production of hormones or changes in the way hormones travel through the body.

Q. 2: What Are Some Examples of EDCs?

A: EDCs include diethylstilbesterol (the drug DES), dioxin, PCBs, DDT and some other pesticides. Many chemicals, particularly pesticides and plasticizers, are suspected endocrine disruptors.

Q. 3: What Do EDCs Do?

A: EDCs interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system. Introduction of EDCs into the body may cause reproductive problems for both men and women.

Q. 4: What's the Endocrine System?

A: The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the blood. Hormones affect all aspects of human activity. The best known hormones are the sex hormones, such as estrogens in women and androgens in men. There are other hormones such as thyroid hormones and insulin.

Q. 5: Who's at Risk?

A: You could be at risk, if you work in an industry that manufactures herbicides, pesticides or insecticides, or if you work with plastics. EDCs are also used throughout the paper industry, particularly in the bleaching of paper.

Q. 6: What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

A: There are three steps to take to protect yourself and others against the risks of EDCs:

Q. 7: What Happens Next?

Research is continuing. EDCs have not yet been fully studied or documented. What we do know is that exposures to high doses of some of these chemicals can be harmful to both humans and animals. Learn about the hazards of EDC's - and all the chemicals in your surroundings.

Conclusion

When discussing EDCs with your employees, be sure to emphasize the importance of using personal protective equipment, engineering controls and administrative controls. And while they need to be aware of the risks, tell employees not to automatically assume that EDCs are to blame just because they're having problems conceiving or carrying a baby to term. After all, many things other than workplace exposure to EDCs can cause such reproductive issues.

INFO TO GO
Online Resources for Endocrine Disruptors

By Kenneth Weinberg

The Endocrine System

Here's where to find more information on endocrine disruptors:

Questions and answers from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/endocrine.html

Endocrine Disruptor Knowledge Base
http://edkb.fda.gov/

Questions about Endocrine Disruptors
http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/pesticide/endocrine.htm

Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp#exposure

Assessing Health Risks from Pesticides
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm

The Yokohama Consensus Statement International Workshop on the Effects of Endocrine Disruptors in Living Things, Yokohama City University, 13 December, 1999
http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/Consensus/yokohama.htm

MEMBER REPLY
Re Hand Washing

Here are a few more tips on bringing home the point of hand washing.

Purchase some of that glow-in-the dark powder and put some on a door knob into the training room. About 1/2 way through the presentation, darken the room and go around with a portable UV lamp and see what's glowing...all the while talking about hand cleanliness

When your staff use gloves, do they know the correct way to take them off. Give them a mixture of catsup and shaving cream. Show they the correct way to take off their gloves. See who get the stuff on themselves...oh, put the mixture on their hands and have them stand while you talk about glove removal and to show them. Chances are someone will adjust their glasses or touch themselves with the gloves on.

When washing your hands, sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself. It will give you the correct timing for a thorough washing.

Barry R. Weissman, REM, CSP, CHMM, CHS-IV, CIPS
Vice President
Hillmann Group, LLC

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