What Is NIEHS Research Telling Us About Endocrine Disruptors?
The NIEHS has been a pioneer in conducting research on the health effects of endocrine disruptors for more than three decades starting with the endocrine disrupting effects of the pharmaceutical diethylstilbestrol (DES). From the 1940s -1970s, DES was used to treat women with high risk pregnancies with the mistaken belief that it prevented miscarriage. In 1972, prenatal exposure to DES was linked with the development of a rare form of vaginal cancer in the DES-daughters, and with numerous non-cancerous changes in both sons and daughters. NIEHS researchers developed animal models of DES exposure that successfully replicated and predicted human health problems and have been useful in studying the mechanisms involved in DEStoxic effects.3 NIEHS researchers also showed the effects of DES and other endocrine disruptors involved the estrogen receptor protein mechanism.4 Researchers are playing a lead role in uncovering the mechanisms of action of endocrine disruptors Today, scientists are: •
