WASHINGTON (January 3, 2019) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement in response to the forthcoming release of the book, “Sicker, Fatter, Poorer: The Urgent Threat of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals to Our Health and Future . . . and What We Can Do About It,” by Dr. Leonardo Trasande:
“The term ‘hormone-disrupting chemical’ is widely misused and considered by scientists to be a misnomer since many substances have been shown to interact with the endocrine system without causing an adverse health effect. To stay below ranges of exposure determined to be safe, consumers should read product labels closely and follow directions carefully. Some exposures will produce no response at all, while others may bring about temporary responses to which the body can naturally adjust and maintain its normal function – a similar example is typical exposures to sunlight or soy products. The primary focus should be on preventing over-exposures so that any potential health risks can be avoided.
“We encourage readers of Dr. Trasande’s book to review all claims with caution and a discerning eye, as research on ‘hormone-disrupting chemicals’ from Dr. Trasande and others has been found to be lacking in scientific quality, credibility, and reliability (see: Bond and Dietrich, Middlebeek and Veuger, Bolt, and Swaen et al).”
For additional information about the safety of endocrine active chemicals, consumers may visit the following websites: www.endocrinescience.org and www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org.