GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
THIS WORKSHOP, COMPLEMENTARY AND
INTEGRATIVE WORKSHOPS TO PREVENT
AND MITT TATE EFFECTS OF
ENDOCRINE AND DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS, I'M GLAD YOU JOINED
US.
THIS WORKSHOP IS ORGANIZED BY
NCCIH AND NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES,
ALSO WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
NIH OFFICE OF DISEASE PREVENTION
AND NIH OFFICE OF DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO
RECOGNITION OF IMPACT OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING DISRUPTIN.
EVERYDAY THERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW
HEADLINE ABOUT EDCs AND
FOREVER CHEMICALS AND EFFECT ON
OUR HEALTH AS ADULTS AND
CHILDREN.
SOME ISSUES YOU MAY HAVE HEARD
ABOUT LINKED INCLUDING OBESITY
AND INSULIN RESISTANCE, CERTAIN
CANCERS, ADHD, IMMUNE
DYSFUNCTION, FERTILITY PROBLEMS.
AND THOSE ARE JUST A FEW
CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT POSSIBLY
BE LINKED TO EDCs.
PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING AROUND
EDCs AS FOCUSED ON AVOIDANCE.
AS WE'LL LEARN TODAY, AVOIDANCE
IS IMPORTANT AND CAN HAVE A BIG
IMPACT BUT IT'S NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN HOW PREVALENT
EDCs ARE IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS.
WHETHER IT'S CASH REGISTER
RECEIPTS, DENTAL FLOSS, PILLOWS,
WATER AND CLOTHING.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE OCCUPATIONAL
EXPOSURES.
AVOIDANCE IS IMPORTANT BUT
SOMETIMES JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
AVOIDANCE ALONE IS LIKELY NOT
ENOUGH TO PREVENT COMPLETELY THE
HEALTH EFFECTS EDCs MAY CAUSE.
WE MUST FIND OTHER WAYS, OTHER
EXCLUSIONS, THIS WORKSHOP IS
ABOUT FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR
AVOIDANCE AND REDUCTION OF
EXPOSURE AND MUST FIND WAYS IF
TO BE TO CLEAR THEM FROM OUR
BODIES OR BLOCK EFFECTS OR BUILD
OUR DEFENSES AND RESILIENCY
AGAINST EDCs.
STUDIES ARE BEING DONE WHICH
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT TODAY THAT
SHOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT
WE CAN DO, AND THESE ARE THINGS
THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE AND
PRACTICAL AND SAFE, AND THAT AS
WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM COULD
BE READILY IMPLEMENTED.
WE'RE DOING THAT GREAT WORK
TODAY, HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCHERS
WHO EXAMINED HOW EDCs ARE
IMPACTING HEALTH DISEASE AND
PATTERNS IN THE UNITED STATES
AND WORLD AND FEATURE
PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND CLINICIANS WHO ARE
NAVIGATING EDC EXPOSURE FIRST
HAND TO LEARN HOW THEY ARE DOING
AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH
THEM.
OUR HOPE IS THE WORKSHOP WILL
INFORM YOU ABOUT EDCs BUT ALSO
HELP YOU FEEL EMPOWERED TO DO
SOMETHING REGARDING EDC EXPOSURE
AND RISK REDUCTION.
WE HOPE THIS WORKSHOP INSPIRES
RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC TO
COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER AND
WITH THE NIH TO FIND WAYS TO
STAY HEALTHY AND THRIVE IN THE
FACE OF EDCs.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
INTRODUCE SOME OF OUR GREAT
SPEAKERS WHO WILL BE GIVING SOME
OPENING REMARKS AND IT'S A
TESTAMENT TO HOW IMPORTANT NIH
FEELS THIS SUBJECT IS THAT WE
HAVE FOUR NIH CENTER INSTITUTE
AND OFFICE DIRECTORS
PARTICIPATING IN THIS WORKSHOP.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST INTRODUCE
DR. HELENE LANGEVIN, DIRECTOR OF
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR
COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE
HEALTH.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE MUTED.
DO YOU WANT TO -- IF YOU CAN SEE
THE SLIDES AND UNMUTE.
>> THE NOTICE SHE CHATTED, SHE
LOST HER MUTE BUTTON.
>> OH, THERE YOU ARE.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
WE CAN'T SEE YOU.
>> I ALSO LOST MY VIDEO.
>> THAT'S OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO
JUST TALK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I FIRST WANT TO REALLY APPLAUD
DR. CHIDEYA FOR SPEARHEADING
THIS.
THIS WAS HER BRAIN CHILD.
SHE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF
DOING A WORKSHOP ON ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING CHEMICALS AND REALLY
DROVE THE WHOLE PROCESS, WE WANT
TO APPLAUD HER FOR THAT.
I WANT TO SO MUCH APPRECIATE ALL
THE WONDERFUL INPUT AND SUPPORT
WE'VE HAD FROM NIEHS AND ODP,
ODS.
THIS IS REALLY A GROUP EFFORT TO
HAVE THIS WORKSHOP.
I'M VERY THRILLED.
I'M GOING TO -- THE SLIDE DOES
NOT SEEM TO ADVANCE.
CAN YOU ADVANCE IT FOR ME
PLEASE?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> SO, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
WE'VE BEEN HAVING MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NOT JUST
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS BUT
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS IN GENERAL.
AND WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
EFFECTS, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
BEING ONE OF THEM, BUT THIS IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.
NEXT SLIDE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE EFFECT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS CAN HAVE ON
I THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, OXIDATIVE
STRESS, METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION,
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION, ALSO EFFECTS
THAT WE DON'T KNOW A LOT BUT
THINK THERE MAY BE ADDITIVE
EFFECTS SO THAT WHILE WE'RE
WORKING TOWARDS MITIGATING
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS
THEMSELVES, WE ALSO NEED TO PAY
ATTENTION TO THE OTHER FACTORS
THAT CAN COMPOUND THESE EFFECTS
THAT WE KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT
HEALTHY NUTRITION, PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ET
CETERA, CAN IMPROVE MANY OF THE
OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY COMPOUND
THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
TOXINS.
SO THROUGHOUT THIS WORKSHOP
TODAY I WANT TO URGE YOU ALL TO
THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THIS IS
IMPORTANT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
WORK ON WHILE WE'RE FIGURING OUT
HOW TO RID THE BODY OF THESE
TOXINS, MITIGATE SPECIFICALLY,
BLOCK SOME EFFECTS, ET CETERA.
BUT LET'S ALSO THINK ABOUT
THINGS WE ALREADY KNOW HOW TO
DO.
I'LL STOP HERE AND WISH YOU A
WONDERFUL CONFERENCE.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THE TALKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. RICK
WOYCHIK, DIRECTOR OF THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES.
>> GREAT.
JUST DOING A SOUND CHECK.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> TERRIFIC.
SO HELENE THOSE WERE GREAT
REMARKS.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT JOINING NCCIH
AS WELL AS OUR OTHER PARTNERS
ACROSS THE NIH CO-SPONSORING
THIS WORKSHOP, CONFIDENT IT'S
GOING TO LEAD TO REALLY EXCITING
SCIENCE.
I'M SORRY I CAN'T BE THERE IN
PERSON.
NIEHS, OUR MISSION IS CENTERED
ON STUDYING HOW ENVIRONMENT
IMPACTS HUMAN HEALTH BUT THE
TASK IS ENORMOUS.
THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTNER WITH NCCIH AND OTHER
ICs TO.
NIEHS HAS BEEN PIONEERING
RESEARCH ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF
EDCs, INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING WHICH CHEMICALS
HAVE THESE PROPERTIES AND
DISRUPT NORMAL HORMONE FUNCTION
AND TRIGGER DISEASE AND DEVELOP
INTO ABNORMALITIES.
RESEARCH BEGAN IN THE
MID-1970s WHEN OUR INTRAMURAL
INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED THERE
WERE ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG
DES, LINKED TO RARE CANCERS IN
THE OFFSPRING OF MOTHERS USING
IT.
WE STARTED STUDYING CHEMICALS IN
THE ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE COME TO
REFER TO THEM AS ENVIRONMENTAL
ESTROGENS.
AND MANY WERE FOUND TO CAUSE
WILDLIFE SPECIES TO DIE OFF IN
OUR LAKES AND OCEANS.
THAT WAS AN ALERT.
IT'S NOT JUST DES.
OVER SEVERAL DECADES WE'VE
DISCOVERED MANY CHEMICALS THAT
ARE USED WIDELY SUCH AS DIOXINS,
PFAS, TEFLON, SCOTCH GUARD, A
VARIETY OF THINGS PERSISTENT IN
THE ENVIRONMENT.
THERE'S PESTICIDES LIKE DTT AND
PTHALATES AND BISPHENOL A, THAT
CAN IMPACT OUR HEALTH AND HEALTH
OF FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH
THIS ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING
EFFECT.
WE'VE LEARNED EDCs CAN BE
HARMFUL EVEN AT LOW EXPOSURES
LEVELS, ESPECIALLY THE CASE
DURING CRITICAL DEVELOP
DEVELOPMENTAL PERIODS LIKE
PREGNANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD.
EXPOSURE CAN LEAD TO HEALTH
ISSUES INCLUDING CHANGES IN
PUBERTY DEVELOPMENT,
NEUROBEHAVIORAL EFFECT, CANCERS.
WE'RE FUNDING RESEARCH TO
DEVELOP NEW MODELS AND TOOLS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND MECHANISM OF
TOX
TOXICITY, IMPROVE IDENTIFICATION
OF SUBSTANCES AND BETTER
UNDERSTAND LINKS BETWEEN
EXPOSURES AND HEALTH EFFECTS.
AS WE'VE JUST HEARD IN TODAY'S
WORLD IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE
JUST TO PREVENT ALL EDC
EXPOSURES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THE BEST WE
CAN DO IS TRY TO PREVENT
EXPOSURE BUT HOPEFULLY AS A
RESULT OF THIS WORKSHOP WE CAN
PROMOTE THE TYPE OF RESEARCH
THAT WILL HELP TO IDENTIFY AND
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF
TREATMENTS OR INTERVENTIONS THAT
CAN POTENTIALLY REDUCE OR
MITIGATE EFFECTS OF EDC
EXPOSURE, AN AREA WE CALL THE
EXPOSOME, NOT JUST STUDYING
PHYSICAL AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL EFFECTS
BUT BETTER UNDERSTAND SOME
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AS
HELENE POINTED OUT, WHAT ABOUT
EXERCISE, GOOD DIET, NOT JUST
BAD DIET, PROMOTING CONSUMPTION
OF OMEGA-3 FATTY AS IDENTITY AD
POLYPHENOLS.
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL MOVE US
CLOSER TO ACHIEVING OUR GOALS OF
STUDYING HEALTH EFFECTS AND
POTENTIALLY AFFECTING TYPES OF
INTERVENTION THAT CAN MITIGATE
EXPOSURE TO EDCs UBIQUITOUS IN
THE ENVIRONMENT.
I WISH I COULD BE THERE THE
ENTIRE DAY, BUT I CAN'T.
I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE
ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS THAT
HAPPEN.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DR. WOYCHIK.
GREAT COMMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE LAST BUT
NOT LEAST DR. STEPHAN PASIAKOS,
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS.
>> I'M DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, I WANT TO
SAY HOW THANKFUL I AM TO BE ABLE
TO BE PART OF THIS MEETING
TODAY.
IT'S AN EXCITING WORKSHOP.
I'M GOING TO COME WITH AN OPEN
MIND TO UNDERSTAND EFFECTS OF
EDCs ON HEALTH, PHYSIOLOGICAL
OUTCOMES.
WE KNOW WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO
THE OFFICE OF DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS IS UNDERSTANDING HOW
EDCs CAN AFFECT PHYSIOLOGICAL
PATHWAYS THAT MIGHT PROMOTE
RESILIENCE, ONE OF THE THREE
PRIORITIES FOR THE OFFICE GOING
FORWARD.
THE OFFICE HAS LED TRANS-NIH
WORKING GROUP DEVELOPING
CONSISTENT DEFINITION FOR THE
STUDY AND DESIGN AND CRITERIA
FOR RESILIENCE, BY DEFINITION,
THE CAPACITY TO RESIST, ADAPT
TO, RECOVER OR GROW FROM A
CHALLENGE.
WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN LEARNING
ABOUT TODAY AND TOMORROW IS
UNDERSTANDING ROLE DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS AND KNEW --
NUTRITION MAY SERVE AND WAYS OF
EDCs -- DO THEY DIFFER BY
POPULATION, SUBGROUPS, ARE
PROTECTIVE PATHWAYS THE SAME AND
AFFECTED BY AMOUNT OF
SUPPLEMENTS YOU TAKE,
INTERACTION BETWEEN SUPPLEMENTS,
UNDERLYING NUTRITION AND
PHYSIOLOGIC FACTORS.
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT WORKSHOP.
I'M GLAD FOR OUR OFFICE TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF
THIS.
YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT
RESILIENCE AND I'M EXCITED TO
LEARN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT
COMES OUT OF THIS MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>> I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR.
HEATHER PATISAUL FROM NIEHS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE QR CODE AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE AND ALSO
URL, IF YOU CLICK ON THAT
INFORMATION, YOU WILL SEE THE
FULL BIOS AND NAMES AND GREAT
WORK, DESCRIPTIONS OF THE GREAT
WORK THE SPEAKERS ARE DOING.
WE'LL TRY TO SAVE TIME BY NOT
GIVING BIOS, SO CLICK ON THE
LINKS TO FIND BOYS FOR PEOPLE
LIKE DR. PATISAUL.
DR. PATISAUL?
>> I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION
TO COME TO THIS INCREDIBLE
MEETING AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OPEN BY GIVING AN
INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE FIELD,
WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND DR.
SARGIS WILL TALK ABOUT WHERE
IT'S GOING.
I WANT TO SET THE STAGE BUILDING
FROM THE COMMENTS IN THE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
TOXICOLOGY IS ARGUABLY THE
OLDEST HUMAN SCIENTIFIC
DISCIPLINE.
DID YOU SEE THIS STORY IN THE
NEWS THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS?
WE HAVE RAKUS, A MALE ORANGUTAN
WITH A FACIAL WOUND, FIRST
EXAMPLE OF THE ANIMAL USING A
MEDICINAL PLANT TO HEAL THE
WOUND.
WE'VE EVOLVED TO LEARN WHAT IS
TOXIC, OR YOU WON'T BE HERE
LONG, AND WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC.
SO THIS DATES BACK TO ANCIENT
HUMANS, PROBABLY ANCIENT
ANCESTORS.
AS SOON AS WE'RE LEARN WHAT'S
TOXIC OR THERAPEUTIC WE
WEAPONIZE IT AND USE IT AGAINST
EACH OTHER.
WE'VE EVOLVED FROM USING PLANTS
AND OTHER THINGS TO MAKING THESE
CHEMICALS OURSELVES.
THEY CAN BE THERAPEUTIC OR
TOXIC.
SO THE HISTORY OF TOXICOLOGY
FOLLOWS OUR OWN EVOLUTION.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A TALK ON
TOXICOLOGY WITHOUT PARESELYS,
ALL SUBSTANCES ARE POISONS, THE
RIGHT DOTES DIFFERENTIATES
POISON TO REMEDY.
WE HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR A LONG
TIME.
YOU CAN LOOK IN ANCIENT CHINESE
JOURNALS, ANCIENT EGYPT, INDIA,
ALL OVER THE GLOBE HUMANITY
FIGURED OUT WHAT IS TOXIC AND
NOT TOXIC FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
TOXICITY TESTING WAS LARGELY
DEVELOPED TO DETECT POISONS,
THINGS THAT COULD OVERTLY KILL
YOU OR DO SOMETHING BAD TO YOU
QUICKLY.
IN THE NEW CHEMICAL ERA WE HAVE
ANOTHER PROBLEM, AGAIN A VERY
SIMPLE SLIDE, CORRELATION IS NOT
CAUSATION BUT PICK YOUR FAVORITE
CHRONIC DISEASE, AS CHEMICAL USE
IN THE WORLD HAS GONE UP SO HAS
INCIDENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASE.
THAT INCLUDES MENTAL HEALTH
DISORDERS LIKE I'M INTERESTED
IN, AUTISM AND ADHD, MANY
CANCERS, DIABETES, OBESITY, SO
WE HAVE A SUSPECT.
SOME OF THESE CHEMICAL EXPOSURES
MAY BE IMPACTING OUR HEALTH.
AND THE TRICK IS TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH ONES AND HOW AND WHY.
AND SO THE EDCs ARE DIFFERENT
THAN OVERT POISONS, THEY PERTURB
OUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, WHICH IS
VERY COMPLEX.
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN KNOWN SINCE
ANCIENT TIMES THE BRAIN AND
OTHER ORGANS SECRETE STUFF, IN
THIS CASE GALENUS COLLABORATED
WITH HIPPOCRATES, CALLED IT
PITUITA, , EVENING IN ANCIENT
TIMES WE KNEW THIS.
EARNEST STARLING COINED THE TERM
HORMONE.
>> THOSE ARE ORGANIZING EFFECTS
OF TESTOSTERONE, MALES AND
DDT AND BREAKDOWN PRODUCT WAS
FEMINIZING ANIMALS AND FLIPPING
SO AT THE TIME THEY ARE NORMALLY
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVE TO
TEMPERATURE, THIS CHEMICAL WAS
OVERRIDING THE SIGNAL TELLING
BABY ALLIGATORS TO BECOME
FEMALE.
THE MALES ON THE LAKE FAMOUSLY
HAD MICROPENIS, SO BREEDING WAS
POOR.
AGAIN YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A
CHEMICAL THAT IS IMPACTING
REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT IN
MULTIPLE SPECIES, AND DETENDING
ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE
CHROMOSOMAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL
SEX, EFFECTING CAN BE PROFOUND.
SO THAT WORKS WAS SUMMARIZED BY
ANOTHER FEMALE ECOLOGIST, THEO
COALBURN, THIS WAS THE MOST
FAMOUS MEETING FOR EDSs WHERE
THE TERM WAS COINED.
A LARGE NUMBER OF MAN-MADE
CHEMICALS RELEASED IN THE
ENVIRONMENT HAVE POTENTIAL TO
DISRUPT ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS OF
ANIMALS, FIRST TIME THIS WAS PUT
TO PAPER.
LIKE RACHEL CARSON, THE BOOK
CAUGHT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION,
SAME THROUGH FOR THEO COLBORN.
SO WE'VE CHANGED AN ERA.
ALL THE WAY UNTIL OUR STOLEN
FUTURE WE WERE WHAT I WOULD CALL
BEING IN THE POISON PERIOD,
THOUGHT ABOUT CHEMICALS AS
POISONS.
WE DESIGNED OUR REGULATORY
SYSTEM AROUND POISONS, DEVELOPED
FOOD SYSTEM AND MEDICAL SYSTEM
AROUND POISONS.
IF YOU LOOK THROUGH SILENT
SPRING YOU SEE POISON OR
POISONOUS MENTIONED 50 TIMES, 10
MENTIONS OF HORMONE, NONE ON
ENDOCRINE.
TOXICOLOGY AND ENDOCRINE NOTHING
HAD NOT INTERSECTED YET.
IN 1991, 1992, YOU GET THE
INTERSECTION AND WE MOVE FROM
THE POISON PERIOD TO THE
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION PERIOD, WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND NEW WAYS IN
WHICH EXOGENOUS CHEMICALS CAN
IMPACT OUR BODIES AND HEALTH.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT?
THIS IS THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY
DEFINITION.
THERE ARE OTHER WORKING
DEFINITIONS DEPENDING WHAT YOUR
GOAL IS.
MOST SIMPLY, IT'S A EXOGENOUS
CHEMICAL OR MIXTURE OF CHEMICALS
THAT INTERFERE WITH ASPECTS OF
HORMONE ACTION, INCLUDING
ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE OF HORMONES
AND ACTIVATIONAL ROLE LATER IN
LIFE.
SO HOW DO WE GET EXPOSED?
YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT THIS
MORNING, DDT IS A PESTICIDE.
SOME ARE ACUTELY TOXICS, HAVE
EFFECTS OF AT LOWER DOSES.
CHILDREN PRODUCTS CONTAIN EDCs
INCLUDING FLAME RETARDANTS NOT
ON THE LIST, ELECTRONICS,
BUILDING TEARS, ON AND ON.
I HAVE A PICTURE OF SOY TO
REMIND YOU WE'RE NOT THE ONLY
ONES THAT CAN MAKE ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
NATURE IS QUITE GOOD AT THAT.
SOY AND OTHER LEGUMES CONTAIN
PHYTOESTROGENS, VERY ESTROGENIC,
THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF WOMEN
EATING ENOUGH SOY AND SOY-BASED
FOODS THEY SHUT OFF MENSTRUAL
CYCLES.
THAT WOULD BE AN ACTIVATIONAL
EFFECT.
THERE ARE NATURAL SOURCES, THEY
ARE NOT ALL MAN MADE.
AS PLASTIC BREAKS DOWN IT
ABSORBS CHEMICALS INCLUDING
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
WE KNOW DISEASE IS ASSOCIATED
WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE,
IT'S UNDERAPPRECIATED.
WE'VE SPENT EFFORT TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT GENETIC BASIS OF
DISEASE AND A LOT LESS EFFORT ON
THE ENVIRONMENT BUT WE KNOW THE
ENVIRONMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN OVER
80% OF DEADLY DISEASES.
SO DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH
EDCs, MOST OF THE WORK HAS
FOCUSED ON REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS
AND FERTILITY BECAUSE OF THAT
CRITICAL ROLE OF STEROID
HORMONES IN DEVELOPMENT.
EDCs PLAY A ROLE IN OBESITY,
IMPAIRED IMMUNE FUNCTION,
NEUROLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL
PROBLEMS, ONE OF THE AREAS I
WORK ON.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK TO
UNDERSTANDING HOW EDCs DISRUPT
OUR BODY.
THIS IS A 2020 REVIEW, A BUNCH
OF US WORKED ON.
IDENTIFYING KEY CHARACTERISTICS
OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION.
IT INCLUDES MIMICKING A HORMONE
SO YOU CAN MIMIC ESTROGEN, BLOCK
A HORMONE, DOWNREGULATE
RECEPTORS, UPREGULATE RECEPTORS,
INTERFERE WITH ITS SIGNALING
CASCADE, HAVE EPIGENETIC
EFFECTS, PREVENT THE BODY FROM
MAKING A HORMONE IT NEEDS, AND
SO THE FIELD IS REALLY AT THE
POINT WE'RE STARTING TO
UNDERSTAND CRITICAL MECHANISMS,
HELPING US DEVELOP IN VITRO AND
SCREENING ASSAYS FOR CHEMICALS
WE COULD DEPLOY.
SO BASIC PRINCIPLES, TO CLOSE
OUT THIS TALK, WE THINK ABOUT
RESILIENCE, ONE, IT'S NOT THE
DOSE THAT MAKES THE POISON, IT'S
THE TIMING.
SO DR. WOYCHIK MENTIONED DES IN
HIS REMARKS.
WE KNOW NOW THAT THE BABIES
EXPOSED TO DES IN UTERO, BOYS
AND GIRLS, HAVE A MUCH, MUCH
HIGHER RISK OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF
OTHER COMPLICATIONS, DEPENDING
WHEN THEY WERE EXPOSED.
THIS IS A LIST OF ALL OF THE
THINGS DES DAUGHTERS HAVE
EXPERIENCED BUT THAT RISK
CHANGES DEPENDING ON WHEN THEY
WERE EXPOSED IN PREGNANCY.
FOR SOME THE RISK IS EVEN HIGHER
IN LATE IN PREGNANCY, FOR SOME
HIGHER IF EARLIER, JUST DEPENDS.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR DES SONS
THAT ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER
BEING EXPOSED IN UTERO, SO FOR
EDCs WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
TIMING.
IT'S THE TIMING THAT MAKES THE
POISON.
THE SECOND IS IS DIFFERENT
SYMPTOMS, THE GOAL TO BE
OPTIMAL.
SO FOR HORMONES THIS IS PRETTY
MUCH HOW THEY FUNCTION.
YOU WANT TO BE IN OPTIMAL RANGE.
CHEMICALS CAN HAVE NON-LINEAR
EFFECTS ON ENDPOINTS,
CHALLENGING FOR A FIELD THAT
THINKS ABOUT LINEAR, FOR EDCs
IT'S DIFFERENT.
THIRD PRINCIPLE IS MIXTURE,
WE'RE ALL EXPOSED, YET WE WATCH
ONE AT A TIME.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE MIXTURE OF CHEMICALS IN OUR
BODIES AT ANY ONE TIME ARE
IMPACTING OUR HEALTH.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO
GLOBALLY CHANGE FOR ME, I WAS
NORTH CAROLINA YESTERDAY, DCS
TODAY, MIXTURES IN MY BODY HAVE
CHANGED, DIFFICULT TO GET A
HANDLE ON EXPOSURE.
DISORDERS COMPLICATED DISORDERS
LIKE AUTISM, CAN HAVE MORE THAN
ONE ETIOLOGY.
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO GET
TO A DISEASE.
AS AN EXAMPLE I BRING UP
PLASTICS, WE'RE WRESTLING WITH
THAT.
PLASTIC CONTAINS A MIXTURE OF
EDCs AND TENDS TO ABSORB, AS
WE CONSUME AND ARE EXPOSED TO
MORE MICROPLASTICS IT'S A GREAT
CONDUIT FOR BRINGING EDCs INTO
OUR BODY.
FINALLY WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
SYSTEMS, THE OVARY CAN'T OVULATE
WITHOUT THE BRAIN.
MOM SUCKS DOWN AN EDC COCKTAIL,
FLAME RETARDANTS, TOUCHES THE
FETAL BRAIN, EASY EXPERIMENT.
THAT'S NEVER HOW THAT WORKS.
CHEMICAL COCKTAIL COULD IMPACT
MOM, SHE COULD DEVELOP MATERNAL
HYPERTENSION, OR LOW BIRTH
WEIGHT BABY, OR AS WE'RE WORKING
ON, YOU CAN DISRUPT THE
PLACENTA, WE HAVE FLAME
RETARDANDS THAT DISRUPT
NEUROTRANSMITTER PRODUCTION IN
THE PLACENTA WHICH IMPACTS
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FETAL BRAIN.
CHEMICALS DO NOT MAKE IT TO THE
FETAL BRAIN.
BECAUSE THEY ACT ON THE PLACENTA
WE SEE SIGNIFICANT NEURAL
DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS.
WITH EDCs YOU HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT SYSTEMS.
HOW DO WE FIND AGENCY?
THINGS TO THING ABOUT CRITICAL
WINDOWS.
THERE ARE TIMES OUR BODIES ARE
MORE SENSITIVE THAN AT OTHER
TIMES.
SO WE DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL OR
SMOKE CIGARETTES WHEN PREGNANT,
YOU DON'T PUT A 2-YEAR-OLD ON
BIRTH CONTROL.
WE CAN LEVERAGE THIS KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT CRITICAL WINDOWS TO
PROVIDE SAFETY AND RESILIENCE
KNOWING SOME EXPOSURES CAN BE
MANAGED, LABELING HELPS.
AS WE GET MORE LABELS IT'S
EASIER TO FOR AVOIDANCE.
NOT ALL EDCS ARE ANTHROPOGENIC,
NATURAL DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN
GOOD.
I DON'T WANT POISON IVY EXTRACT
IN MY FACE CREAM AND NONE OF US
WANT RATTLESNAKE POISON.
IT WAS CONSUMER DEMAND, NOT
REGULATORY ACTION, THAT GOT
BUSINESS PHENOL A OUT OF BABY
BOTTLES.
AS WE MOVE TO UNDERSTAND
MECHANISMS WE NEED TO GET OUT OF
THE MINDSET IN THE REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK DEALING WITH POISONS
INTO DEALING WITH OTHER TYPES OF
CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE HARM
INCLUDING EECs.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT A
COUPLE OF PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE
WRITTEN FOR A MORE GENERAL
AUDIENCE, SO IF YOU WANT TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT EDCs OR SHARE
THE KNOWLEDGE WITH COMMUNITY
GROUPS, THE PLASTICS AND HEALTH
PUBLICATION ON THE LEFT AND THAT
INTRODUCTION TO EDCs ON THE
RIGHT WAS PROJECTS DONE BY THE
ENDOCRINE SOCIETY IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL POLLUTION
ELIMINATION NETWORK, REALLY
WRITTEN TO MAKE THE SCIENCE VERY
DIGESTIBLE, IT'S FACT ORIENTED,
WRITTEN IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
IF YOU WORK WITH GROUPS WHERE
ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR FIRST
LANGUAGE BUT THEY ARE INTERESTED
IN THE TOPIC THESE ARE TWO
APPROACHABLE GREAT PUBLICATIONS
THAT YOU'LL FIND USEFUL.
I THANK NIEHS FOR FUNDING NEARLY
ALL OF THIS WORK.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS EBBS LENT.
I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE DR.
ROB SARGI
FROM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SCIENTISTS.
WE REALIZE THERE WAS A GIVE YOU
WERE HEARING SPANISH ON THE
ENGLISH CHANNEL.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S BEEN FIXED.
IF YOU'RE BILINGUAL YOU ENJOYED
IT OR IF YOU'RE LEARNING SPANISH
LIKE ME MAYBE IT WAS AN ADDED
BONUS FOR THE WORKSHOP.
SO, ROB?
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL IN THE FIELD
AND AN IMPORTANT POINT MOVING
FORWARD AS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT
ACTIONS TO TAKE TO MITIGATE
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CHEMICALS.
I DO CONSULTING WORK FOR CVS
HEALTH, BY WAY OF DISCLOSURE,
ALSO A FIGURES AT V.A. BUT I'M
NOT TALKING IN THAT OFFICIAL
CAPACITY.
I DO WORK CENTERED ON THE FACT I
WORK IN AN OPPRESSOR COMMUNITY
THAT GETS ELECTRICITY FROM COAL,
WE'RE WORKING TO FIGHT AGAINST
THAT.
THEMAIN REASON I'M HERE IS IN
LINE WITH MY LAB AND CAREER
UNDERSTANDING HOW HUMANS ALTER
HUMAN HEALTH.
OUR GOAL IS TO FIGURE OUT WAYS
TO TRANSLATE KNOWLEDGE WE GAIN
ABOUT ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO THINK
AS WE THINK ABOUT THESE
INTERVENTIONS THE CONTEXT IN
WHICH WE'RE HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION, THAT NEEDS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THE MOST
EFFICIENT AND JUST APPROACH FOR
ADDRESSING HEALTH THREATS OF
EDCs IS THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY
AND REGULATORY ACTION,
IMPORTANTLY PUBLIC POLICY AND
REGULATORY ACTION THAT SPANS
GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT BIOGEO CHEMICAL CYCLES
THAT SPREAD ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR CURRENT POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC SYSTEM FAILED TO
PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE HAVE EXPOSURES THAT DATE BACK
IN HISTORY THAT STILL CIRCULATE
IN OUR BODIES THAT WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT WAYS TO ADDRESS.
WE NEED TO COUPLE WITH THE
INTERVENTION APPROACH.
WHEN I START TO THINK ABOUT HOW
OUR SYSTEM HAS FAILED I'M
REMINDED OF FANNIE LOU HAMER, AN
ACTIVIST WHO GAVE THIS FAMOUS
SPEECH 60 YEARS AGO IN HARLEM
THAT WAS TITLED "I'M SICK AND
TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED."
I THINK THIS UNDERSCORES WHAT I
FEEL SEEING PATIENTS WHICH IS
THIS FACT THAT WE HAVE THESE
FOLKS THAT WE'RE CARING FOR, FOR
WHOM WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH AS A
SYSTEM.
AS A PHYSICIAN, WE'RE NOT DOING
ENOUGH TO GIVE PATIENTS ADVICE
ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO
MITIGATE EFFECTS OF THE
EXPOSURES THEY MAY NOT HAVE
AGENCY TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS.
PART OF THE REASON I THINK THIS
SYMPOSIUM IS SO IMPORTANT IS WE
NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GIVE
THESE FOLKS POWER TO GET THEIR
HEALTH BACK, A BIG REASON I'M
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT
IS THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
WHERE THE FIELD OF ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTORS IS AND HOW THERE IS
NOT UNIFORM AGREEMENT THAT THIS
IS A THING.
SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DENIAL
ABOUT ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
ACTION THAT IS VERY MUCH AKIN TO
CLIMATE CHANGE.
WHEN WE START TO THINK ABOUT HOW
FOLKS ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE THERE'S
INTERESTING ILLUSTRATIONS ABOUT
THE WAYS WE NEED TO EMPOWER OUR
SCIENCE IN ORDER TO RESIST
RESISTANCE FROM CORPORATIONS AND
POLLUTERS ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.
THIS IS A STUDY CONDUCTED BY
CENTER FOR COUNTERING DIGITAL
HATE, THEY SAW A SHIFT FROM OLD
DENIAL WHICH INCLUDED CLIMATE
CHANGE WASN'T HAPPENING OR
HUMANS WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE TO
THE RISE OF NEW DENIAL, EFFECTS
ARE BENEFICIAL OR AT WORST
HARMLESS, CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
IS UNRELIABLE OR CLIMATE CHANGE
SOLUTIONS DON'T WORK.
AND SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THE
INTERVENTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT I THINK IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON US TO SHOW THAT
OUR INTERVENTIONS WORK IN ORDER
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING
THE CONTROVERSIES THAT MAY
ARISE.
THIS IS ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHAT WE
NEED TO DO MOVING FORWARD.
HEATHER WENT THROUGH THIS.
THE SCOPE IS ENORMOUS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SO MANY
CHEMICALS FOLKS ARE EXPOSED TO
THROUGH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY,
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, PERSONAL
AND HOME CARE PRODUCTS.
ONE THING IS EXPOSURES THAT
OCCUR THROUGH MEDICAL CARE,
THROUGH MEDICATIONS, OFF-TARGET
EFFECTS OF ADJUVANTS AND
PLASTICS WE USE.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THESE
EXPOSURES, MYRIAD EXPOSURES
OCCUR ACROSS THE LIFESPAN,
EFFECTS MAY BE DIFFERENT
DEPENDING ON ORGANIZATIONAL
EFFECTS IN SENSITIVE WINDOWS OF
DEVELOPMENT OR ACTIVATIONAL
EFFECTS LATER IN LIFE.
END RESULT IS THAT WE HAVE
EVIDENCE LINKING EDCs TO A
VARIETY OF FORMS OF ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTION, HEATHER TALKED ABOUT
NEUROBEHAVIOR ABNORMALITIES,
CARDIOMETABOLIC, ADRENAL
DISRUPTION, LIVER DISEASE, THE
WHOLE BIT.
THE SCALE OF THIS PROBLEM IS
ACTUALLY QUITE ENORMOUS.
IT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
IS CLINICAL PRACTICE IN TERMS OF
HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
SO WE CONDUCTED THIS SCOPING
REVIEW WE PRESENTED AT THE END
CONTRIBUTE SOCIETY LAST YEAR
LOOKING AT 60 CRITICAL PRACTICE
GUIDELINES FROM 2007 TO 2023,
GUIDELINES CLINICIANS USE TO
TELL PATIENTS HOW TO CARE FOR
THEMSELVES, WHAT TREATMENTS ARE
BEST.
WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THERE WAS
MUCH NON-SPECIFIC MENTION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT BUT NEARLY ALL OF IT
WAS UNRELATED TO CHEMICAL
EXPOSURES IN ANY WAY.
THERE WAS MINIMAL MENTION OF
EXPOSURES SPECIFICALLY LINKED TO
DISEASE, AND ZERO MENTION OF
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL INTERVENTIONS
TO ADDRESS ADVERSE
CARDIOMETABOLIC IMPACTS OF
EDCs.
THERE'S A HUGE GAP IN WHAT
CRITICAL CONDITION
-- IN
WHAT WE KNOW AND TRANSLATED INTO
TREATMENT.
WHEN YOU LIVE IN THIS ECO-SYSTEM
IGNORANCE, IT'S OFTEN HARD TO
HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I WAS SUPER EXCITED WHEN THE
NATIONAL ACADEMIES CAME OUT WITH
THEIR STATEMENT, GUIDANCE OF
PFAS EXPOSURE TESTING AND
CLINICAL FOLLOW-UP, THE FIRST
MOVE TO REALLY GET ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING SCIENCE INTO A MORE
CLINICAL FRAMEWORK FOR US TO
CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS.
SO, THIS IS ONE STEP, IT'S ONE
CLASS OF CHEMICALS, ARGUABLY A
VERY IMPORTANT CLASS THAT'S
HIGHLY RELEVANT TO HUMAN HEALTH
BUT WHAT IT REPRESENTS IN TERMS
OF TRANSITION OF GETTING
HEALTHCARE ENGAGED IN SCIENCE
AND MANAGEMENT IS FUNDAMENTALLY
IMPORTANT.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE MORE WITH
REGARD TO THIS MOVING FORWARD.
IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
INTERVENTION IT'S NICE TO KNOW
WHAT WORKS.
WHAT'S EXCITING IS WE'RE
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO
HAVE DONE REALLY EXCITING
SCIENCE RELATED TO INTERVENTIONS
THAT COULD SPECIFICALLY
ATTENUATE ADVERSE EFFECTS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND
PUBLISHED A COUPLE PAPERS IN
2019, AND MORE RECENTLY WITH
LEO, AS WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS
ISSUE INTO THE WORLD OF INTERNAL
MEDICINE WHERE I OPERATE.
AND WHAT'S EXCITING IS THAT
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF EVIDENCE,
BUT HOW WE APPROACH THIS, HOW IT
TAKES CONTEXTUAL FRAMING, WHAT I
WOULD ARGUE IS WHAT WE WANT TO
CONSIDER OUR VARIOUS DIFFERENT
APPROACHES FOR MITIGATING
ADVERSE EFFECTS, BUILDING
RESILIENCE, LOWERING EXPOSURES,
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT
PRIMARY GOALS WE CAN THINK ABOUT
REDUCING AND ELIMINATING
EXPOSURE, MODIFYING INTAKE,
MITIGATE IMPACTS AND FACILITATE
REMOVAL.
AS WE CONCEPTUALIZE
INTERVENTIONS IT'S IMPORTANT TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
NON-PERSISTENT POLLUTANTS LIKELY
TO BE RAPIDLY CLEARED OR TALKING
ABOUT PERSISTENT POLLUTANTS THAT
WILL BIOACCUMULATE AND BE AROUND
FOR A WHILE?
THE VALUE OF EACH OF THESE
INTERVENTIONS WILL VARY BASED ON
EXPOSURES THAT WE'RE
SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN IF WE THINK ABOUT SORT
OF THIS TRAJECTORY, AS ONE MOVES
FROM EXPOSURE TO DISEASE, THERE
ARE DIFFERENT POINTS AT WHICH WE
CAN INTERVENE THAT MAY HAVE MORE
OR LESS IMPACT.
SO OBVIOUSLY REDUCING EXPOSURES
IS A CORE ASPECT BUT MAYBE
THERE'S ALSO WAYS WE CAN
INTERVENE TO ANTAGONIZE ADVERSE
PROGRAMMING EVENTS THAT OCCUR
DURING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
INDUCED IN DEVELOPMENT.
CAN WE MODIFY MATERNAL
METABOLISM, LIFESTYLE,
NUTRITION, TO LOWER THE
EXPOSURES OF DEVELOPING FETUSES
AND INFANTS?
WHAT TYPE OF DIETARY AND
LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS CAN WE
ENGAGE IN AFTER ADULTHOOD, EARLY
CHILDHOOD, TO MITIGATE EFFECT?
AND FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS
PERSISTENT WHAT CAN WE DO TO
ACTUALLY LOWER EDCs,
FACILITATE ELIMINATION?
AND THE END RESULT IS AS WE
UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISMS BY
WHICH ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
EXPERT EFFECTS ARE THERE
MECHANISM-BASED INTERVENTIONS
THAT CAN TARGET PATHWAYS TO
PROMOTE DISEASE POST EXPOSURE?
THE GOOD NEWS IS, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT, THERE'S EVIDENCE TO
SUGGEST THAT ALL OF THESE ARE
OPTIONS, THAT THERE'S DATA TO
SUGGEST THAT WE CAN DO EACH OF
THESE THINGS TO MITIGATE
EFFECTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS
INTERVENTIONS TRIED TO LOOK AT
EXPOSURE REDUCTION STRATEGIES,
SHOWING CAPACITY OF SOME OF
THESE TO LOWER PTHALATES,
PHENOLS, UV FILTERS, TRICLOSAN.
SUPPLEMENTATION WITH METHYL
DONORS CAN ANTAGONIZE PROGRAM AS
BISPHENOL A EXPOSURE.
USING FOLATE, FISH NUTRIENTS,
CALCIUM AND IRON FOR MATERNAL
NUTRITION CAN ANTAGONIZE EFFECTS
OF MERCURY AND LEAD, COUNTLESS
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS WITH ATTENUATE
TOXICITY OF COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTANTS INCLUDING ARSENIC,
CADMIUM, PCBs.
THESE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE
ANTIOXIDANTS, PLANT EXTRACTS,
SELL INYUM, FOLIC ACID,
RESVERATROL, N-ACETYL CYSTEINE,
ZINC.
EACH MAY BE HELPFUL IN THE
NARROW SCOPE IN WHICH THEY HAVE
BEEN STUDIED.
THERE'S ALSO HOPE FOR SOME OF
THESE PERSISTENT POLLUTANTS IN
WHICH THEY BIOACCUMULATE IN THE
BODY AND STICK AROUND FOR A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THINGS HAVE BEEN TRIED THAT
INCLUDE OLESTRA IN POTATO CHIPS
BUT SHOWN THEY CAN REDUCE LEVELS
OF SOME PERSISTENT POLLUTANTS.
CHOLESTRYAMINE HOLDS PROMISE AS
DOES FIBER, WHICH OFFERS
POSSIBILITIES, THERE'S BLOOD
DONATION, PHLEBOTOMY, AND
DIURETICS AND SGLT2 INHIBITORS,
THESE WITH WORK ACROSS CLASSES.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EVIDENCE AS
A WHOLE I'M EXCITED TO HEAR
ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE IN
THIS AREA.
I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A
30,000-FOOT VIEW OF AMAZING
SCIENCE YOU'LL SEE BUT WHAT THIS
DOES IS GIVES A LOT OF HOPE
ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WHAT
OPTIONS WE HAVE BEFORE US.
BUT WITH THAT HOPE I THINK COMES
CONTEXT, AND THAT CONTEXT IS
THAT WHILE WE WANT TO EMPOWER
INDIVIDUALS TO REDUCE OR
ATTENUATE EXPOSURES WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS
HAVE CHOICES, THAT OPTIONS
AREN'T ALWAYS KNOWN OR CLEAR,
HEATHER MADE THE POINT ABOUT
LABELING.
INTERVENTIONS DON'T ALWAYS WORK.
BENEFITS ARE NOT ALWAYS
DOCUMENTED.
THERE'S THE ISSUE OF RISK
DEVELOPING ACROSS THE LIFESPAN,
WITH INTERVENTION AT ONE POINT
IN TIME, HOW DO WE LINK THOSE
TOGETHER?
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE AS SOMEONE TWO TAKES
CARE OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES,
HEALTH IS HARD.
IT'S HARD TO DO THIS.
AND PART OF IT IS THIS ISSUE OF
ADHERENCE IN WHICH WHEN WE ASK
PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THEY OFTEN
FIND IT HARD TO DO.
SO THIS IS OLD DATA BUT I THINK
ILLUSTRATES THE POINT.
STATINS ARE CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING
MEDICATIONS THAT REDUCE RISK OF
HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES,
UNEQUIVOCALLY IN CLINICAL
TRIALS.
DESPITE THIS EVIDENCE TWO YEARS
OF BEING ON STATIN MEANS ABOUT
50% OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
STOP TAKING THEIR STATIN AND
THIS IS EVEN IN FOLKS WHO HAVE
ALREADY HAD A HEART ATTACK AND
STROKE.
IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO DO
THINGS.
AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR
INTERVENTIONS WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE, WHAT'S
FEASIBLE, AND WHAT CAN OCCUR IN
THE CONTEXT THAT JIBES WITH THE
BURDENS OF LIFE THAT PATIENTS
OFTEN FACE.
I WANT TO SAY THIS, DON'T GET
THE OPPORTUNITY OFTEN.
ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS ABOUT
THE ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR FIELD WE
HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE DOING
AWESOME WORK TO MAKE THE WORLD A
HEALTHIER PLACE, REINFORCED BY
THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM.
YOU CAN SEE ANY NUMBER OF
ESTIMATES BUT OVER 80,000
CHEMICALS IN COMMERCE, LINKED TO
A VARIETY OF DISEASES.
SO ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
THE FIELD IS WE ALL HAVE OUR
THING WE CAN WORK ON BECAUSE THE
SCALE OF THE PROBLEM IS SO HUGE.
AND WHILE MIXTURES ARE
INCREASING FOCUS, WHAT IS
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS
MECHANISTIC WORK IS INHERENTLY
REDUCTIONIST, AND THIS POSES
RISKS TO TRANSLATION.
SO WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS
THAT WHILE WE'RE ALL WORKING ON
THESE PROBLEMS, WE CANNOT
PROPOSE 80,000 DISTINCT
SOLUTIONS TO 80,000 CHEMICALS.
WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK FOR THE
TWO-FERS, THREE-FERS, AND
80,000--FER IN WHICH WE LOOK FOR
INTERVENTIONS THAT TARGET
MULTIPLE EDCs, REQUIRING
COLLABORATION AMONG THIS AMAZING
COMMUNITY, ACROSS EDC SUBFIELDS,
REQUIRING CONSIDERATION OF BANG
FOR OUR BUCK.
HOW DO WE GET THE BEST BENEFIT
LOOKING AT ATTRIBUTABLE RISK AND
COST EFFECTIVENESS?
I WANT TO SAY IT'S CRITICAL AS
WE THINK ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS
TO RECOGNIZE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS
OF EDCs ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY
BORNE BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE EXPOSED TO A VARIETY OF
TOXICANTS LINKED TO ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING MANIFESTATIONS.
AS SUCH, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE CAN EMBED ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING SCIENCE MORE
THOROUGHLY INTO SOCIAL AND
STRUCTURAL DETERMINANT OF
HEALTH.
AS WE CONSIDER OUR EFFORTS TO
PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY, IT'S
CRITICAL WE THINK ABOUT HOW
INCORPORATING EDCs FITS WITHIN
THE HEALTH POLICIES FRAMEWORK,
OUR APPROACH TO CHEMICALS IS NOT
JUST AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
APPROACH BUT IT IS ALSO A HEALTH
APPROACH, ALSO AN AGRICULTURAL
APPROACH, A HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT ISSUE.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW ALL
THESE THINGS CAN IMPACT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
OUTCOMES OF OUR PATIENTS.
I WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US NOT TO RELY ON
INDIVIDUAL ACTION, BUT AS WE
THINK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL ACTION,
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO
TAKE THIS TO TRAINEES, TO
EDUCATE THEM, EDUCATE
COLLEAGUES, ENGAGE PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS, AND ADVOCATE FOR
SCIENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICY TO
MITIGATE ADVERSE EFFECTS.
WE CAN DO THAT.
WE NEED TO BE INSPIRED BY FANNIE
LOU HAMER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
THE SCIENCE IN THE COMING DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN TO ZOOM
PARTICIPANTS AND THOSE IN THE
ROOM.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION GO TO THE
MICROPHONE.
BUT I GUESS I'LL START.
AND HOPEFULLY OTHER PEOPLE WILL
STAND UP AND ASK QUESTIONS.
THERE'S SO MUCH REALLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION IN BOTH OF YOUR
PRESENTATIONS.
AND IT'S VERY SOBERING.
AS WAS POINTED OUT, HORMONES
HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS,
DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.
EVEN BEFORE BIRTH.
WE KNOW A LOT OF EFFECTS HAPPEN.
WOULD YOU SAY -- IS IT POSSIBLE
TO EVEN SAY THAT THERE'S ONE
POINT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
MOST CRITICAL?
IF WE HAD A MAGIC WAND, NO
EXPOSURE AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
WHAT WOULD HAVE DOWNSTREAM THE
BIGGEST EFFECT?
WOULD IT BE A WOMAN
PRE-CONCEPTION?
SO KIND OF BEFORE SHE EVEN
CONCEIVES?
WOULD IT BE IN UTERO SO WOULD HE
IT PERIPUBERTAL KID WHO HAS YET
TO SECRETE SEX HORMONES EN
MASSE?
IS THERE A POINT IN TIME WE
SHOULD FOCUS?
THINKING ABOUT THE MENTIONING TO
THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTIONS IF
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERVENTION
AT STRATEGIC TIME, KEEPING THE
MESSAGE SIMPLE TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE THEY CAN GET THE MOST BANG
FOR THEIR BUCK AS YOU SAID.
IF THERE ONE POINT IN TIME IF
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON
THIS POINT IN TIME?
YES.
THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY ALL
IMPORTANT.
THERE ARE WINDOWS WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF DATA, AGING, PUBERTY IS
STILL UNDERSTUDIED AS A WINDOW
OF DEVELOPMENT, SO UNDERSTANDING
THE FULL IMPACT.
TO YOUR POINT, IT SEEMS
ADDRESSING ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT
EARLY IN LIFE IS CRITICAL,
PRE-CONCEPTION, PREGNANCY, EARLY
POST-NATAL LIFE WILL PROBABLY
HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT BUT
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT
INTERVENTIONS AT OTHER PERIODS
ARE ALSO NOT HELPFUL.
WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT
INTERVENTIONS THAT SPAN THE
LIFESPAN BUT THINKING ABOUT
THOSE TIMES IN WHICH
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTS ARE
TAKING PLACE IN WHICH WE'RE
SETTING SOMEBODY UP FOR A
LIFETIME INCREASED RISK OF
ILLNESS PROBABLY GETS THE
BIGGEST BANK FOR THE BUCK.
THERE'S SOME ETHICAL THANKS WE
CAN TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF
TARGETING PREGNANCY, WHAT THAT
MEANS, BLAMING WOMEN AND THOSE
TYPE OF THINGS, MAKING THAT
PRIORITY.
THAT'S WHAT MY INKLING WOULD BE
IF WE HAVE TO PICK ONE.
I HOPE WE DON'T.
>> OF COURSE.
>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.
IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE ORGAN
DEVELOPMENT OCCURS AT DIFFERENT
POINTS ACROSS DEVELOPMENT.
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT
REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT?
THAT'S A DIFFERENT TIME WINDOW
THAN LUNG DEVELOPMENT OR BONES.
WE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW
EDCs IMPACT THESE TARGET
ORGANS ESPECIALLY SOMETHING LIKE
BONES, RIGHT?
SO UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW
THERE'S A REALLY SMALL SNAPSHOT
IN TIME BUT ORGANIZATIONAL
EFFECTS AND PRE-CONCEPTION ARE
IMPORTANT.
YOU MENTIONED EDUCATING
CLINICIANS.
WE COULD TALK TO PREGNANT WOMEN,
WHERE DO YOU WORK?
PHYSICIANS DON'T ASK A LOT OF
THOSE QUESTIONS.
ARE THEY SPRAYING PESTICIDES IN
YOUR HOME?
COULD YOU LAY OFF FOR SIX
MONTHS?
BASIC INTERVENTIONS ARE VERY
POSSIBLE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE.
>> ONE THING I WOULD ADD, WE'RE
STARTING TO GATHER THESE SOCIAL
AND STRUCTURAL DETERMINANT OF
HEALTH IN OUR MEDICAL RECORDS.
BUT THEN THE MILLION DOLLAR
QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH
THAT INFORMATION?
THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THE
WORKSHOP, ONCE WE GATHER THAT
INFORMATION WE'LL BE ABLE TO
GIVE FOLKS ADVICE WHAT TO DO
WITH IT.
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> LINDA BIRNBAUM, FORMER
DIRECTOR NIEHS.
THANK YOU FOR FABULOUS TALKS
HITTING ON KEY POINTS BUT A
COUPLE COMMENTS.
WE KNOW PRE-CON ACCEPTSAL
EXPOSURE TO DEDS HAVE LONG-TERM
EFFECTS.
HEATHER, YOUR POINT ABOUT IT
VARIES DEPENDING UPON ORGAN
SYSTEM BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
TARGET POPULATION MOST RECEPTIVE
THEN CLEARLY THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO
IS PREGNANT IS OFTEN THE MOST
RECEPTIVE PERSON TO TRY TO DO
SOMETHING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, AT TIMES
THAT'S TOO LATE.
THE OTHER COMMENT I WANTED TO
MAKE, I THINK ROB TALKED ABOUT
TWO- OR THREE-FERS, WE'VE GOT TO
GO BIGGER THAN THAT.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CLASSES,
GROUPS, SOMETIMES CHEMICALS,
SOMETIMES CATEGORIES OF
PRODUCTS, THERE ARE A LOT MORE
THAN 80,000 CHEMICALS, HEATHER,
YOUR POINT, NATURAL IS NOT
NECESSARILY BETTER OR GOOD.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T THINK
ABOUT.
THERE HAVE BEEN 350,000
CHEMICALS INTENTIONALLY PRODUCE
THE IN THE LAST 60 YEARS, THAT
DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR
TRANSFORMATION OR BREAKDOWN
PROBLEMS.
THERE ARE A LOT MORE.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO LOOK ONE AT
A TIME OR EVEN AT MIXTURES OF
TWO OR THREE OR FIVE.
>> GOOD POINT.
>> YEAH, MANN.
>> I WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOY, WHICH IS AN
ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING FOOD.
IT'S THYROID DISRUPTING, WHEN
SOY-BASED BABY FOOD CAME OUT, IT
WAS THYROID DISRUPTING.
HE CAN MITIGATE WITH IODINE, WE
HAVE EXAMPLES, SOY IS AN
EXAMPLE, BUT THERE AREN'T A TON
OF MAGIC BULLETS.
>> GREAT LEAD-IN TO MY QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS THAT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL AND REDUCING ABSORPTION
OF SOME OF THESE EDCsS,
LIMITED RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN
DONE.
CURIOUS WHETHER THAT IN THE
STUDIES WHEN YOU LISTED DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS LIKE ASCORBIC ACID,
FOLIC ACIDS, POLYPHENOLS,
CURIOUS IF IT'S KNOWN WHETHER OR
NOT AN ADEQUATE DIET HAVING
THOSE NUTRIENTS AVAILABLE IS
SUFFICIENT OR WHEN YOU'RE
MENTIONING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HIGHER
DOSE THAN IN AN APPROPRIATE
DIET.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CLEAR
ANSWER.
WE KNOW ADEQUATE INTAKE OF SOME
NUTRIENTS IS PROBABLY PRETTY
GOOD PROTECTION.
WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S INADEQUATE
INTAKE OF MANY OF THEM, WHETHER
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IRON,
CALCIUM, THOSE THINGS THAT CAN
INTERFERE IN DISRUPTION OR SORT
OF THE UPTAKE OF SOME OF THESE
TOXIC METALS.
SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE
FIGURING OUT THRESHOLD, LIKE HOW
MUCH YOU NEED IS CRITICAL, AND I
THINK YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN
ALSO, IF I CAN READ INTO IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE.
HOW MUCH WOULD WE BENEFIT FROM
GETTING PEOPLE OFF ULTRA
PROCESSED FOODS AND GETTING THEM
ON WHOLE DIETS ADEQUATE IN ALL
OF THESE NUTRIENTS, WOULD THAT
BE IN ITSELF SORT OF SUFFICIENT?
POTENTIALLY A MEANS OF
INCREASING ACCESS TO SO EVERYONE
CAN DO THESE THINGS.
OPEN QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT
WE NEED AND HOW MUCH OF A
BENEFIT WE GET.
BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO SORTING
THAT OUT OVER TIME FOR SURE.
>> THANKS.
>> IF I COULD ADD, WHEN YOU LOOK
BACK AT PARACELSUS, VITAMINS
FALL INTO THAT CURVE, MORE IS
NOT ELSE INLY BETTER.
AMERICANS LOVE TO OVERDO IT.
OH, MAN, TWO VITAMIN D GUMMIES?
I'M GOING TO TAKE SIX.
WE FORGET THERE'S A CURVE YOU
CAN FALL OUT OF THERAPEUTIC
LEVEL AND HIT ADVERSITY.
THEA THAT'S WHAT PARACELSUS WAS
TALKING ABOUT.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT SELENIUM,
THERE'S ON A UNIQUE WINDOW, TOO
LITTLE IS BAD, TOO MUCH ALSO IS
PROBLEMATIC AS WELL FOR SURE.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM ZOOM.
LISTEN TOKING TO DR. SARGIS MOST
EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING JUSTICE
ISSUES IS SOCIETAL REGULATORY.
IS ANYONE STUDYING WHAT
REGULATIONS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE
FOR HEALTH?
>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT LITERATURE
SUPER WELL.
WE DID AN ANALYSIS IN, I DON'T
KNOW, 2018 OR SOMETHING, WE
LOOKED AT FEDERAL POLICY RELATED
TO DIABETES-ASSOCIATED ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTORS AND FOUND ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING.
SORT OF IN THE LITERATURE.
LIKE DDT, THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH
DIABETES REGULATED FOR DIFFERENT
REASONS BUT FROM METABOLIC
HEALTH STANDPOINT DID NOT
IDENTIFY ANYTHING SPECIFIC FROM
THAT STANDPOINT.
SO, I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE WORKING
ON THIS.
I HAVE TO CLAIM IGNORANCE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WORKS BEST
HERE AND WHAT DOESN'T.
>> I'LL ADD WE KNOW EXPOSURE CAN
COME DOWN.
ALL OF US HAVE DDT IN OUR BODIES
BECAUSE IT'S A LONG-LIVED
CHEMICAL BUT PBDE BURDENS ARE
COMING DOWN, OTHER CHEMICALS.
WHEN YOU PUT POLICIES IN PLACE
THAT REZEUS EXPOSURE BODY
BURDENS DECLINE BUT IT WILL TAKE
A WHILE TO SEE THE HEALTH
BENEFITS OF THAT.
>> 100%.
THIS GETS AT THIS IDEA WITH THE
CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE TOO, THAT
WE NEED TO SHOW THESE
INTERVENTIONS WORK.
IN ADDITION TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF STAVE
OFF DESTRUCTION OF OZONE LAYER
AS WELL.
WE KNOW ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
CAN WORK.
WHAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT WAY?
THAT'S WHERE DEBATE HAS TO BE
HAD.
>> I'M A NATUROPATHIC DOCTORA
BOARD MEMBER FOR NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MEDICINE.
WE ADVOCATE FOR TRAINING
CLINICIANS.
SUCH A BIG CONVERSATION, WE
COULD TALK FOR HOURS.
I HAVE A QUESTION.
PICKING YOUR BRAINS ABOUT MORE
OF A CAPACITY FOR CLINICIANS WHO
MAYBE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
TRAINING IN ENVIRONMENTAL
MEDICINE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
AT-RISK PATIENTS, MY THOUGHTS
REGARDING THINGS LIKE LOOKING AT
PHASE 2 DETOXICATION LIKE
HOMOCYSTEINE TO LOOK AT CAPACITY
AND VITAMIN D BECAUSE HEAVY
METALS SUPPRESS.
THOSE THREE TESTS SEEM LIKE AN
INEXPENSIVE MANIFESTO INTO A
CHEMICAL PATTERN.
WE LOOK FOR CHOLESTEROL AND
GLUCOSE READILY.
WONDERING YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
THAT.
>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IDEA OF
BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THESE
THINGS IS GOOD.
WE NEED CLINICAL DATA TO SHOW
WHAT IT MEANS AND THEN ALSO WHAT
ACTIONS YOU TAKE.
THE OTHER ASPECT AS YOU KNOW IS
ONCE YOU GET THE DATA, WHAT ARE
WE ASKING THE PATIENTS TO DO
WITH THAT INFORMATION?
WHAT'S THE INTERVENTION THAT'S
GOING TO IMPROVE HOMOCYSTEINE
LEVELS OR RAISE CYSTEINE LEVELS,
THE STRUGGLE TO APPLY THAT
INFORMATION.
AND FIGURING OUT THE BEST TESTS
TO ASSESS THAT.
THAT'S CERTAINLY PART OF IT,
FROM AN INDIVIDUAL STANDPOINT.
I THINK ALSO, YOU KNOW,
INDIVIDUALS ARE INDIVIDUALS BUT
THINKING ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE
AND BEING ABLE TO USE OUR
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COMMUNITIES, MAY
BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF ASSESSING
PROBABILITY SOMEBODY MAY OR MAY
NOT BE AT INCREASED RISK AS
WELL.
ALL OF THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT
AND ON THE TABLE AS WE TRY TO
TRANSLATE THIS INTO THE CLINIC.
THE OTHER THING I'M SUPER
EXCITED ABOUT RESOURCES YOU
HAVE.
WHAT I KNOW IS THAT OUR MED
STUDENTS ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT
THIS, OLDER FACULTY AREN'T SO
MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE A
GENERATIONAL SHIFT, OF WHO'S IN
POWER, BUT MED STUDENTS ARE
SUPER EXCITE AND ENGAGED AND GET
IT.
WE NEED TO EDUCATE THEM TO
EMPOWER THEM TO BE LEADERS OF
THE FUTURE.
>> WE'RE A PROFESSION
ORGANIZATION WITH A REDUCE THE
RATE FOR STUDENTS, ACCESS TO ALL
CLINICAL GUIDELINES, FREE TO ALL
MEMBERS.
PLUS WE HAVE A CLINICAL FORUM
ONLINE FOR OUR MEMBERS TO
DISCUSS CASES AND PROBLEM-SHOOT
WITH EXPERT MEMBERS.
SO ANY STUDENTS CAN JOIN FOR
LESS THAN FIVE CUPS OF COFFEE.
>> I ALSO THINK THE LANDSCAPE
THIS IS CHANGING AND FAST.
WHEN THE NATIONAL ACADEMY LOOKED
AT EFFECTS OF PFAS THEY MADE
TESTING RECOMMENDATIONS, SO THAT
WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES WE'VE
SEEN THE NATIONAL ACADEMY SAY,
YEAH, YOU NEWED TO TEST BLOOD
LEVELS AND DEPENDING ON LEVELS
HERE IS THE INTERVENTION.
I KNOW THERE ARE COMPANIES NOW
JUST LIKE YOU CAN GET YOUR GENE
SEQUENCED THROUGH 23ANDME OR
WHATEVER, COMPANIES ARE COMING
UP WITH TEST INDICATES FOR
PTHALATES AND BPA, AND WE'LL SEE
CAPACITY FOR PEOPLE TO TEST AND
SHOW UP AT A CLINIC, I HAVE THIS
MUCH BPA IN MY BODY, WHAT DO I
DO?
WE HAVE TO GET BETTER AND
EDUCATING AND COMING UP WITH
WAYS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS BECAUSE
THAT TESTING CAPACITY IS COMING.
>> IS ANYONE REGULATING THOSE
TESTS? DO WE KNOW THEY ARE
ACTUALLY SENSITIVE, SPECIFIC,
ACCURATE?
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PANIC
PEOPLE.
OR GIVE THEM FALSE -- OH, MY
LEVEL IS LOW, AND THEY ARE LEVEL
IS NOT KNOW.
>> IT'S COMING.
WHEN YOU GET THAT GENETIC TEST
AND THAT PAMPHLET WITH THIS
PERCENT DNA, HOW GOOD IS THAT?
IT'S A SIMILAR PROBLEM.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE
YOU'RE COMING FROM, AND WHAT ARE
PEOPLE GOING TO DO WITH THAT
INFORMATION.
WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS THAT
INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
>> IMPORTANT FOR BUILDING TRUST
WITH PHYSICIANS ALSO, SO
PHYSICIANS NEED TO BE EMPOWERED
IF THEY ARE CONFRONTED WITH THIS
INFORMATION, THEY HAVE TO HAVE
THE ACTION ON THE BACK END AND
WE ALSO HAVE TO SHOW THAT ACTION
ACTUALLY MATTERS.
WHATEVER THAT INVESTMENT IS, IT
HAS TO MATTER.
THE LAST THING TO POINT OUT FOR
EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT OVER THE NEXT LITTLE BIT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
WE CAN'T HAVE INTERVENTIONS ONLY
THE AFFLUENT CAN AFFORD.
AS WE THINK ABOUT THE REST OF
THE DAY WHAT THESE INTERVENTIONS
ARE AND HOW WE'LL IMPLEMENT THEM
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY.
>> I AGREE.
NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE,
PRACTICAL, AFFORDABLE.
EXCELLENT SESSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'D LIKE TO -- SPEAKING ABOUT
HOW WE CAN BENEFIT PEOPLE,
INDIVIDUALS, I'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE NEIL McMILLAN FROM
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FIREFIGHTERS, HIS EXPERIENCE AS
SOMEONE EXPOSED OCCUPATIONALLY
EXPOSED TO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS.
NEIL, PLEASE COME ON UP.
>> I'M A FIREFIGHTER, WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FIREFIGHTERS.
A BIG PART OF MY JOB IS TO HELP
SUPPORT OUR 346,000 MEMBERS
ACROSS THE U.S. AND CANADA
BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATELY
OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES THEY
SUFFER IN THE COURSE OF THEIR
DUTIES.
SOME OF THOSE EXPOSURES WE SEE
UP HERE ON THE SCREEN, THIS
BOSTON FIREFIGHTER COVERED WITH
PCBs FROM A POWER PLANT FIRE,
180 ATTENDED THAT FIRE, A FEW
YEARS AGO, 50 DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER UNFORTUNATELY.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF AND
ENCRITICAL CONDITIONED
DISRUPTING CHEMICAL WITH MORE
ATTENTION ON IT RECENTLY, PFOA,
A PFAS CHEMICAL, NOT NEW WITH
THE GROUP HERE.
I'LL START WITH A QUOTE,
SPEAKING TO THE POINT PUBLIC
DOLLARS, TIME, ENERGY, HAVE BEEN
COMMITTED TO UNDERSTAND EFFECTS
OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS, WHILE A LOT OF HEALTH
EFFECTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN BY
PEOPLE THAT CREATE AND
MANUFACTURE AND PROLIFERATE
CHEMICALS IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS
AND IN FIRE SERVICE, FIRE
EQUIPMENT PRODUCTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, FOR FIREFIGHTERS,
WE HAVE A HARD TIME
UNDERSTANDING THE TYPE OF
SCIENCE AS PROVIDED BY TRUSTED
VENDORS, I'LL USE AIR QUOTES IN
THAT, AND OTHERS.
THEY WILL TOLL US FLUOROPOLYMERS
POSE NO HEALTH RISKS EVEN WHEN
HEATED, WHEN INCORPORATED IN
ARTICLES THAT END UP IN
FIREFIGHTING PRODUCTS.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK DEEPER AND
SEE WHEN THESE TYPES OF
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS ARE PUBLISHED
BY SCIENTISTS, WORKING STAFF FOR
CHEMICAL COMPANIES AND
INDUSTRIES WHO PRODUCE THE
PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE
WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
WE WANT TO GRAB EVERYBODY IN
THIS ROOM TO COME ALONG WITH US
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION.
WITHOUT ADVOCACY OF SCIENTISTS
WHO UNDERSTAND THESE PRODUCTS
AND CHEMICALS WE'RE OUT THERE IN
THE ETHER BY OURSELVES.
TALKING WITH FIREFIGHTER
EXPOSERS, THEY ARE EXTREME, IT'S
DIFFICULT FROM INDUSTRIAL
HYGIENE PRODUCT TO QUANTIFY
EXPOSURES.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE BUILDING THAT
WAS BURNING, IN THIS PICTURE.
YOU CAN SEE AERIAL APPARATUS
EXTENDING UPWARDS, OUT OF SHOT.
WE KNOW AS FIREFIGHTERS 97% OF
PARTICULATE IS INVISIBLE, TOO
SMALL TO SEE WITH THE NAKED EYE.
WE CAN'T ESCAPE THE HAZARDOUS
ENVIRONMENTS, WHETHER
ATMOSPHERES OR OTHERWISE WE'RE
EXPOSING OURSELVES TO.
SOME EXPOSURES WITHIN THAT FIRE
EFFLUENT INCLUDES PAH, VOV,
PFAS, OTHER EXPOSURES ARE SLEEP
DEPRIVATION, SLEEP DISRUPTION,
ABNORMAL SLEEP CYCLES, TRAUMATIC
EVENTS THAT PLAY A PART IN
MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR
FIREFIGHTERS TO MITIGATE AND
REGULATE SOME OF THE OTHER TYPES
OF EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURES TO
BPAs AND PTHALATES, ET CETERA.
ANOTHER THING TO CONCEPTUALIZE,
WHEN YOU'RE A FIREFIGHTER WE'RE
GOING TO BE EXPOSED OVER A LONG
PERIOD OF OUR CAREER TO
CHEMICALS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A
CHRONIC EXPOSURE THAT'S ALWAYS
LEADING TO ULTIMATE ILLNESSES.
THERE CAN BE ACUTE EXPOSURE
EVENTS.
ONE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT IS A
PLASTIC RECYCLING PLANT FIRE
THAT OCCURRED IN HAMILTON,
ONTARIO.
A NUMBER OF THOSE FIREFIGHTERS
ARE STILL SUFFERING
REPERCUSSIONS OF THE CANCERS AND
OTHER NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES
FROM THAT SINGLE EVENT.
PARADISE, CALIFORNIA, WHEN IT
BURNED, BURNED NUMEROUS HOMES,
LEFT A WAKE OF TRAGEDY WITH
RESPECT TO HEALTH OUTCOMES TO
FIREFIGHTERS THERE.
EAST PALESTINE RAIL DISASTER CAN
HAPPEN IN ANY COMMUNITY,
AFFECTING ANY NUMBER OF FIRST
RESPONDERS.
THESE ACUTE AND CATASTROPHIC
SINGLE EXPOSURES ARE INCREASING.
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE,
HIGHER INSTANCES OF FIRES, FIRES
INVOLVING URBAN INTERFACE.
HURRICANES, GOING TO NEW YORK,
HURRICANE SANDY, HAWAII, AND
THESE ARE LEADING AGAIN TO
INCREASE IN I GUESS CHEMICALS
AND EXPOSURE INSULTS, IN THE
FIRE SERVICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SEEING
EFFECTS IN CHICKENS COME HOME TO
ROOST YEAR AFTER YEAR AS WE
MEMORIALIZE OUR MEMBERS AT OUR
MEMORIALS.
COLORADO SPRINGS.
GETTING BACK TO
ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS,
A NUMBER OF CLASSIC CHEMICALS
THAT HAD SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE
FIRE SERVICE ARE FLAME
RETARDANDS.
STUDIES ARE CLEAR ABOUT HIGHER
BLOOD CONCENTRATION AND URINARY
METABOLITES.
BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL IN
PRODUCTS STILL WITHIN HOME,
HOMES BURN, FIREFIGHTERS ARE
EXPOSED.
WE SEE BODY BURNS INCREASE AFTER
EACH FIRE EVENT.
IT'S NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISING
WE'RE SEEING HIGH CONCENTRATIONS
OF FLAME RETARDANT, THIS STUDY
SHOWED LEVELS IN FEMALE
FIREFIGHTERS AND EFFECTS OF
THYROID HORMONE EFFECTS FROM
FLAME RETARDANTS WITHIN THEIR
BODIES.
A NUMBER OF FLAME RETARDANTS
AGAIN TRANSITIONED OUT BUT
ABSOLUTE EFFECTS IS INDISPUTTED
AND WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
SOME OF THESE ULTIMATE HEALTH
OUTCOMES, THAT'S WHY WE COME
HERE AND COLLABORATE WITH ALL OF
YOU TO HELP UNDERSTAND SO WE CAN
MAYBE PURSUE SOME REGULATORY
INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE
NECESSARY.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FIREFIGHTERS, WE'RE NOT THE
BIGGEST UNION.
WE HAVE 346,000 MEMBERS,
STEELWORKERS ARE BIGGER,
TEAMSTERS ARE BIGGER, BUT WE
HAVE A BRAND THAT'S PRICELESS,
INVALUABLE, BUILT ON THE BACK OF
FIREFIGHTERS THAT PASSED AWAY
AND SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN
THE LINE OF DUTY.
WE DO HAVE INFLUENCE WITHIN
FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATURES
TO HELP ADVANCE LEGISLATION,
CURRENTLY WE HAVE GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON I
BELIEVE THREE DOZEN BILLS
SPECIFIC TO PFAS ACROSS THE U.S.
AND CANADA.
BECAUSE OF THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
THE BEST AND CURRENT INFORMATION
MOVING FORWARD.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PPEs NOT
PROTECTING US FULLY, AREAS OF
HIGH ABSORBENCY IN SKIN ARE
SATURATED WITH FLAME RETARDANTS
FROM FIRES, AND MORE ALARMING
AND DISTURBING TO US KNOWING
THAT NUMBER OF EXPOSURES ARE
UNAVOIDABLE IS FLAME RETARDANTS
ARE ENGINEERS INTO OUR PPE
UNFORTUNATELY.
BEING VOLATILIZED WHEN WE ENTER
FIRE ENVIRONMENTS, SOMETHING
THAT WE TAKE EXCEPTION TO AND
LEAN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SLIDE,
A AND COMMENT BY DR. PHILIP
GRANDJEAN, WE SHOULD KNOW THESE
THINGS BEFORE WE START CLOTHING
OURSELVES IN THESE HAZARDS.
EFFECTS OF FLAME RETARDANTS ARE
ABSOLUTE FROM OUR GEAR ALONE.
NEW GLOVE AND HOODS SHOW
ESTROGEN ACTIVITY.
OLD AND USED HOODS AND GLOVES
SHOW ANTI- ESTROGENIC EFFECTS.
WE'RE HARVESTERS AND DEPOSITORS
OF CHEMICALS.
WE TAKE GEAR BACK TO FIRE HOUSE,
CLEAN THEM IN SPACES WE USE,
FITNESS, WE HOST PANCAKE
BREAKFAST, BRING IN NEIGHBORHOOD
DAY CARES AND PRESCHOOLS TO COME
INTO THE AREAS.
THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE
UNFORTUNATELY SPREAD A LOT OF
THESE EDC CHEMICALS.
NOT SURPRISING A NUMBER ARE
FOUND IN HIGH CONCENTRATIONS
WITHIN FIRE STATIONS,
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO
CALIFORNIA, BUT THE USUAL
SUSPECTS IN HIGH CONCENTRATIONS,
BD 209, BD 47, REPLICATED ACROSS
OTHER STATES, CONSISTENT.
FIREFIGHTING IS VERY SIMILAR
ACROSS STATE TO STATE AND
UNFORTUNATELY THE CONCENTRATIONS
OF FLAME RETARDANDS IN FIRE
STATION DUST IS QUITE HIGH STATE
TO STATE WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE
NEXT AREA OF
ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS,
VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FIRE
SERVICE, PFAS.
THESE CHEMICALS AS WE HEARD ARE
DESIGNED INTO CONSUMER PRODUCTS,
BUILDING COMPONENTS, WHETHER
SHINGLES, SEALERS FOR CONCEIT
COUNTER TOPS, PAINT, TEXTILES, A
DRAPES, WIRING, AND AQUEOUS FORM
WHICH RESULTED IN GROUND WATER
AND SURFACE WATER CONTAMINATION,
AND JUST LIKE THE FLAME
RETARDANDS ENGINEERED INTO OUR
TURNOUT CLOTHING, THAT'S
CLOTHING FIREFIGHTERS SOMETIMES
WEAR FOR 48 HOURS, 72 HOURS IN A
ROW, A FIREFIGHTER GETS FORCED
INTO MANDATORY OVERTIME AND IT
CAN GO BEYOND THAT.
WE'RE SEEING PFAS IN FIRE
STATION DUST, A STUDY OUT OF
AUSTRALIA, AS COMPARED TO HOMES,
RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF PFAS, A STUDY
IN 2020 SHOWED SIMILAR HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS IN U.S. AND
CANADIAN FIRE STATIONS, A LOT OF
GREAT WORK BY DR. PEASLY AND
OTHERS, TURNOUT GEAR HAS HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS BUT A NUMBER OF
PFAS LIBERATED FROM OUR GEAR
DURING REGULAR ABRASION,
LAUNDERING, USE, AND WHEN
HEATED.
AS WE HEARD THERE'S DEGRADATION
PRODUCTS DR. BIRNBAUM MENTION
THAT ADD TO THAT WIDER SCOPE OF
PFAS CONTAMINATION.
THIS IS WHAT'S DIFFICULT FOR US
TO ACCEPT BECAUSE A LOT OF
STUDIES, THESE ARE STUDIES
ALLOWING US TO SHED LIGHT AS AN
OCCUPATION ON THESE CHEMICALS
BUT THEY ARE BEING PUSHED BY
SPOUSES OF FIREFIGHTERS, YOU
KNOW, DIAGNOSED WITH CANCERS,
AND OTHER ILLNESSES, BY MOTHERS
OF FIREFIGHTERS WHO PASSED AWAY
IN THE LINE OF DUTY, AND IT'S
REALLY INCUMBENT ON WIDER
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SKILL
AND EXPERTISE TO ASSIST SO THE
BURDEN DOESN'T FALL ON THOSE
AFFECTED DIRECTLY TO DO THAT
RESEARCH.
HEATING OF THESE TURNOUT GEAR
PRODUCTS, ALCOHOLS ARE
LIBERATED, THERE'S WORK OUT OF
HEALTHCANADA, IT'S PRELIMINARY,
SEEING THE SAME ALCOHOLS BEING
LICK RATED AS LOW AS 38 DEGREES,
ALARMING FOR US TO SEE.
ANDY YOUNG AND COLLEAGUES IN
THEIR FIRE STATION DUST STUDY
FOUND SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH LEVELS
OF PFAS WITHIN FIRE STATIONS
WITH HIGHEST LEVELS BEING WITHIN
TURNOUT GEAR LOCKER ROOMS
INDICATING LIKELIHOOD OF
CARBOXYLATES ARE COMING FROM A
TEXTILE SOURCE.
SO, HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE TO
EXPOSURE?
DERMAL FLUX STUDIES RELATED HOW
DERMAL EXPOSURE TO PFAS
SIGNIFICANT ROUTES, INHALATION
TO VOLATILE PFASS, GETTING A
BETTER CONCEPTUAL IDEA OF HOW
THESE CHEMICALS ARE ENTERING
FIREFIGHTERS, SOMETHING WE NEED
TO SEE MORE WORK IN.
NASA DID A GREAT JOB IDENTIFYING
GUIDELINES, FIREFIGHTERS ARE
MENTIONED AS BEING A POPULATION
AT RISK.
I HAVE TO CREDIT ALICIA BARBER,
A SPOUSE OF A FIREFIGHTER NATE
BARBER IN NANTUCKET, NATE IS A
CANCER SURVIVOR, TESTICULAR
CANCER, PROPER ATTENTION IS PAID
IN THIS POPULATION.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN UP TO 74%
HIGHER THAN GENERAL PUBLIC FOR
CERTAIN PFAS.
A NUMBER OF THESE PFAS CHEMICALS
BEING FOUND COMING OFF OUR GEAR
AND AAAF ARE ASSOCIATED WITH
CANCER AFFECTING FIREFIGHTERS AT
HIGHER RATES.
ONE STUDY WITHIN FIREFIGHTERS,
IF YOU MIRROR HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS, SCHOLARLY
ARTICLES RELATED TO THOSE, JUST
THREE SPECIFIC PFAS OUT OF
THOUSANDS, WE SEE LUNG CANCER,
PROSTATE CANCER, ENDOMETRIOSIS
AND NEGATIVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED
JUST WITH THE THREE CHEMICALS.
IF YOU'RE A MILITARY
FIREFIGHTER, INDUSTRIAL
FIREFIGHTER, YOU DEAL WITH AFFF,
HIGH CONCENTRATIONS WITH FOUND
IN BLOOD SERUM.
STUDIES OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO
HAVE SHOWN HIGH LEVELS IN
FEMALES OF PFNA AND PFHxS, AS
COMPARED TO OFFICE WORKERS.
BACK TO MY ORIGINAL SLIDES HOW
DO WE INTERPRET THIS
INFORMATION?
MANUFACTURERS HIRED THEIR OWN
SCIENTISTS TO REVIEW THAT STUDY
AND SAID THIS STUDY SHOWS PFAS
AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE CONSISTENT
WITH THOSE OF OFFICE WORKERS.
DR. MORELLO-FROSH SAID THEY
IGNORED LARGE PORTIONS OF THAT
PAPER.
DILUTING OF SCIENCE IS A
PROBLEM, THROWS BARRIERS AND
CHALLENGES FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
AND ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, WE
NEED MORE HELP.
A NUMBER OF OTHER STUDIES
SHOWING HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS,
I'LL CLICK THROUGH A FEW.
STUDIES IN THE AUSTRALIA, U.S.,
CZECH FIREFIGHTERS SEEING HIGH
LEVELS OF PFAS COMPARED TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND GREAT EPIGENETIC WORK,
ACROSS A SLEW OF EPIGENETIC
CLOCK MODELS, HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS OF PFAS IN
FIREFIGHTER BLOOD SHOWS ADVANCED
EPIGENETIC AGING.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH
EFFECTS, FIREFIGHTERS TYPICALLY,
YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF YOUNG
THUNDER CATS, HIRING OUT OF PRO
SPORTS, SEMI-PRO SPORTS,
MILITARY, LOW RATES OF
LIFESTYLE-RELATED ILLNESS AND
DISEASES, ARTHRITIS, DIABETES,
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, KIDNEY
DISEASE, COPD, LOW, LOW RATES AS
COMPARED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
WE EXPECT TO SEE HEALTH
CONDITIONS LOWER THAN THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, WE SELECT OUT
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE
PREEXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS,
AND WE PROMOTE PHYSICAL FITNESS
AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.
WE SEE HIGH LEVELS
UNFORTUNATELY, HIGH RATES, HIGH
MORTALITIES OF CANCERS I
MENTIONED EARLIER AND HIGH RATES
OF NEGATIVE BIRTH OUTCOMES,
PRE-TERM DELIVERIES, LOW BIRTH
WEIGHTS, OFFSPRING OF
FIREFIGHTERS.
ONE STUDY OUT OF KOREA NEGATIVE
HEALTH OUTCOMES ELEVATED IN
FIREFIGHTERS THAT THEY WERE
STUDYING, THAT'S ALARMING,
KNOWING THAT A NUMBER OF
ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE
NEGATIVE BIRTHS, REPRODUCTIVE
OUTCOMES, WE CAN'T HELP BUT
BELIEVE WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
THERE'S FIRE.
WE'RE SEEING ALL SORTS OF HIGH
INSTANCES OF A NUMBER OF DEFECTS
WITHIN OFFSPRING OF
FIREFIGHTERS, WE'RE SEEING
CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS BORN
WITH CARDIAC CONGENITAL
ABNORMALITIES, AGAIN NOT
SURPRISING, A NUMBER OF PFAS
WHICH HAS BEEN TESTED IN
FIREFIGHTERS AT HIGHER
CONCENTRATION LIKE PFDOA,
ASSOCIATED WITH DEFECTS.
RESEARCH BEING CONSISTENT
SHOWING BASICALLY FEMALE
FIREFIGHTERS CONSISTENTLY
SHOWING A THIRD LEVEL REDUCTION
IN AMH VALUES COMPARED TO
FEMALES IN THE SAME AGE AND
GENERAL PUBLIC.
FROM A CANCER STANDPOINT IT'S
CONCERNING, LET ALONE
REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES.
THE REAL TAKEHOME MESSAGE FOR
US, WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES
IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
SINCE COVID, THE OCCUPATION IS
MORE MOBILE, ABILITIES TO WORK
FROM HOME AND OTHER OPTIONS,
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS A
STRUGGLE.
CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA,
FIREFIGHTERS MAKE $15 AN HOUR,
COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING
66 HOURS A WEEK, ADDITIONAL
OVERTIME ON TOP OF THAT.
FIREFIGHTING IS GENERATIONAL.
THERE'S NEPOTISM FOR SURE.
WE DEPEND ON IT AS AN INDUSTRY.
WE DEPEND ON IT AS AN
OCCUPATION, AS PEOPLE THAT
RESIDE IN THESE COMMUNITIES
SERVED BY FIREFIGHTERS.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE
GRANDFATHER, YOUR MOTHER, YOUR
COUSINS, YOUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS ALL IN THAT SAME
OCCUPATION.
THIS IS WHAT'S AT STAKE.
IF WE DON'T START ADDRESSING
ESPECIALLY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH
EXPOSURES, WE NEED LEGACY
FIREFIGHTERS, GENERATIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS TO FILL OUR RANKS.
BECAUSE OF THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL ATTENTION BEING SPENT
ON THIS BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF
THE AMERICAN FIRE SERVICE MAY
RELY ON SOLUTIONS COMING OUT OF
THIS GROUP AND OTHERS TO HELP
ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.
AND WITH THAT I WANT TO THANK
Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
>> TALKING ABOUT CONGENITAL
HEART DEFECTS, I THINK IT
ALLUDES TO GREATER CONCERN,
MULTI-GENERATIONAL AND
TRANSGENERATIONAL EFFECTS.
EVEN IF THERE'S NOT OVERT
CONGENITAL WE NEED TO CONSIDER,
YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT MIGHT BE
SEEN LATER AS CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN START AGING.
I JUST WONDER IF WE'VE STARTED
TO DEVELOP RESEARCH TO LOOK AT
CHILDREN OF THOSE THAT BRAVELY
WENT INTO THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER, FIGHTING THE CALIFORNIA
FIREFIGHTERS, WHERE ATTENTION
NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT,
DESCENDANTS AS WELL.
>> EXCELLENT POINT.
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH
CENTER PROGRAM IS AN AMAZING
COHORT, 70,000 INDIVIDUALS
ENROLLED.
WE'RE HOPING TO SEE MORE
INFORMATION COME FROM THAT.
THE STUDY OUT OF TORONTO IS FROM
1993 OR 1997.
IT'S TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR
UPDATED INFORMATION.
TOO MANY ARE GENERATIONAL, THEY
ARE THEMSELVES ARE INFERTILE,
UNABLE TO HAVE FAMILIES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S
COINCIDENCE THERE.
MY DEPARTMENT, A THOUSAND
FIREFIGHTERS, SEVEN CHILDREN
HAVE PASSED AWAY FROM CHILDHOOD
CANCER OR SURVIVED AND STRUGGLED
THROUGH THE DIAGNOSIS.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOUR
COMMENTS AND I HOPE THERE'S MORE
ATTENTION AND PEOPLE SEEKING
FUNDING TO DO MORE RESEARCH,
ROBUST RESEARCH, IN THAT AREA.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FROM DR.
MARK WILLIAMS, DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE, DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY,
HE ASKS, GREAT PRESENTATION,
DOES THE FIREFIGHTER SERVICE
HAVE A SYSTEM OF OCCUPATIONAL
EXPOSURE MONITORING BEFORE,
DURING, AFTER FIREFIGHTER
SERVICE?
IT JUST DISAPPEARED.
AFTER FIREFIGHTERS SERVICE THAT
MIGHT IDENTIFY FIREFIGHTERS AS
GREATER RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH
OUTCOMES AND ENABLE A SYSTEM OF
MITIGATION AND RESILIENCE
BUILDING?
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THE MOST ROBUST AREA OF THAT
DATA CAPTURE IS WORLD TRADE
CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY FIREFIGHTERRING IS
REGIONAL, RECORD KEEPING OFTEN
IS REGIONAL.
WE TRY TO PROMOTE EXPOSURE, BUT
IT'S A CHALLENGE TO ABSTAIN
RECORDS, MAINTAIN RECORDS, TO
HAVE ANY SORT OF PROSPECTIVE
PLANNING.
IT'S A GAP IN RESEARCH, A GAP IN
DATA, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL WE'LL BE
ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BECAUSE
FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOOD AT SOLVING
PROSECUTES.
THEY GO TO PROBLEMS, SOLVE THEM.
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS.
WE'VE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION
BACK FROM OUR MEMBERS ACROSS THE
U.S., HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE
ADDRESSING THIS SOON.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
AS I WAS LISTENING AND LOOKING
AT YOUR PRESENTATION I WAS SO
SADDENED AND I'M SO SORRY THAT
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH
KIND OF CHOOSING BETWEEN NOT
BURNING UP AND POTENTIALLY BEING
POISONED.
ARE THERE SAFER ALTERNATIVES OUT
THERE NOT BEING USED WIDELY?
IS ANYONE TRYING TO DO R&D TO
DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES IN TERMS OF
GEAR, THE FOAM THAT HAS PFAS IN
IT, ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES THAT
LOOK PROMISING?
DO YOU HAVE OPTIONS OR DO
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE OPTIONS AND
THEY ARE JUST NOT GETTING --
USING SAFER OPTIONS?
>> YES, THERE ARE OPTIONS.
WHERE WE RUN ACROSS ISSUES ARE
IN STANDARDS BODIES AND MILL
SPEC.
AFFF, PARIS AIRPORT, HEATHROW,
ALL FREE, BUT IN U.S. FOR THOSE
COULD BE IMPLEMENTED FROM
TURNOUT GEAR STANDPOINT IT'S
RESTRICTED TESTING WITHIN
STANDARDS THAT MANDATE CERTAIN,
FOR EXAMPLE, EXPANDED POLY TETRA
FLUOROET LINE
FIREFIGHTERS WILL MAKE
ADAPTATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS
FROM PERFORMANCE STANDPOINT BUT
THE REAL INTEREST TO GET AWAY
FROM UNNECESSARY EXPOSURES BUT
UNTIL REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
CHANGE WE'RE LIMITED TO WHAT WE
CAN USE.
>> I CAN MAKE A COMMENT?
LINDA BIRNBAUM.
>> PLEASE GO UP TO THE
MICROPHONE.
PEOPLE ON ZOOM --
>> IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024,
ACTUALLY 2020, THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT HAS TO STOP USING ALL
PFAS-CONTAINING AFFF BY THE ENDS
OF THE YEAR BUT THERE'S
RESISTANCE FROM DEPARTMENT OF
NAVY, SAYING THAT THE
NON-PFAS-CONTAINING AFFF DOESN'T
MEET THE REQUIRED MILITARY
SPECIFICATIONS, BUT THEY -- I
MEAN THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING
ON TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT.
TOTALLY AGREE.
HEATHROW, LOTS OF OTHER PLACES
STOPPED USING AFFF A LONG TIME
AGO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT,
DR. BIRNBAUM.
THANK YOU FOR THESE WORK ON
THESE TYPES OF CHEMICALS.
I READ A LOT OF IT.
I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF
GIANTS WITH THE RESEARCH.
A FAN BOY OVER HERE.
>> GET HER AUTOGRAPH AT THE
ENDS.
>> MY COLLEAGUE SUSAN ALICE WAS
PRESENTS AT THE U.S. CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE WHEN THE DoD STATED
EMPHATICALLY REQUESTED A YEAR OF
EXTENSION, 2025, 2026, FOR THE
TRANSITION AND THAT'S
DISCOURAGING, IN OTHER AREAS
ALTERNATIVES ARE BEING USED, A
LOT OF CATCH.
AREAS FOR CHEMICAL SITES, PETRO
CHEMICAL FACILITIES CAN ALREADY
ACCEPT ADDITIONAL EFFLUENT FLOW
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE NECESSARY
FROM ALTERNATIVES.
WE SEE PETRO CHEMICALS COMPANIES
MAKING TRANSITION, IT'S COST
EFFECTIVE, THERE'S SPILLS AND
MANDATORY TESTING KNOWING THEY
ARE PAYING MONEY TO REMEDIATE
WATERS CONTAMINATE IT'S WITH
AFFF, WE'LL TRY TO PUSH TO MOVE
FORWARD BECAUSE SOLUTIONS ARE
VIABLE AND WE DON'T SEE THE RISK
OUTWEIGHS THE REAL NEED TO MAKE
THOSE CHANGES BUT THANK YOU FOR
YOUR COMMENT.
>> I THINK WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU, NEIL.
SO NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT
SOLUTIONS POTENTIALLY.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE BURDENS.
EPIDEMIOLOGY.
WE'VE HEARD PERSPECTIVE FROM
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN EXPOSED AND
WORKS WITH PEOPLE BEING EXPOSED.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO START THE
SESSIONS TO HEAR ABOUT RESEARCH
OF PROMISING INTERVENTIONS AND
THERAPIES THAT COULD ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF EDCs IN OUR BODIES.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE DR.
MISH-MASHINGIOUS FROM EMORY,
LIFESTYLE, DIET, SLEEP, PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INHAVE IT DR.
PETERSON AND PETRIELLO TO SIT AT
THE LONG TIME, YOU'RE IN THE
AUDIENCE, SO IT'S EASIER TO STEP
UP WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME.
PLEASE BRING YOUR NAME CARDS.
BUT DR. MARCUS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL
EPIDEMIOLOGIST.
I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON
THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES FOR OVER
30 YEARS.
I STARTED WHEN I WAS 12.
FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS I HAVE
WORKED WITH A COMMUNITY IN
MICHIGAN WHERE THE LIVESTOCK
FEED WAS CONTAMINATED WITH
ABROMINATED FLAME RETARDANT.
ONE PRODUCT WAS NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENT FOR FEED, THE OTHER
WAS ABROMINATED FLAME RETARDANT.
THEY GOT THEM MIXED UP AND IT
WAS MIXED IN WITH THE LIVE STOCK
FEED.
COWS ATE IT, PEOPLE DRANK THE
MILK, ATE THE BEEF AND PORK AND
CHICKEN AND EGGS.
AND LITERALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
WERE CONTAMINATED WITH THIS
ABROMINATED FLAME RETARDANT.
THE FARMERS KNEW SOMETHING WAS
WRONG AND TESTED THE FEED FOR
THE USUAL SUSPECTS AND DIDN'T
FIND IT SO THEY SAID IT'S SAFE.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HEARD, OH,
THE WATER IS SAFE.
THE FEED IS SAFE.
IF YOU ONLY TEST FOR XYZ, YOU
ONLY KNOW XYZ AREN'T THERE.
IF YOU DON'T TEST FOR IT, YOU
DON'T KNOW IT'S THERE.
IT WAS ONLY THROUGH THE
PERSISTENCE OF ONE PARTICULAR
FARMER WHO SENT SAMPLES OF THE
FEED TO LABORATORIES ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY THAT SOMEBODY WHO
HAPPENED TO BE WORKING WITH
BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS
RECOGNIZED THE SIGNATURES ON THE
CHROMATOGRAM AND THAT'S HOW IT
WAS DISCOVERED.
I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS
POPULATION, WE WORKED TOGETHER
TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH EFFECTS
THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED.
WE FOUND MYRIAD OF HEALTH
EFFECTS THAT HEATHER TALKED
ABOUT.
WE FOUND INCREASE IN THYROID
PROBLEMS.
WE FOUND INCREASE IN BREAST
CANCER.
THE CHILDREN WHO WERE EXPOSED IN
THE ROOM, THE GIRLS HAD EARLIER
PUBERTY DEVELOPMENT, THE BOYS
EXPOSED IN IN UTERO GROWTH HAD
SLOWER GROWTH AND PURE PUBERTY
DEVELOPMENT.
MEN EXPOSED THEIR CHILDREN
LIKELY TO HAVE LOWER BIRTH
WEIGHT.
I WORK CLOSELY WITH THIS
COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN CHAIRING
ALL OF THIS WORK WITH THEM.
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW CAN I GET
RID OF THESE CHEMICALS?
BECAUSE BROMINATED FLAME
RETARDANTS ARE STORED IN BODY
FAT.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY HEALTH AND
MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH?
MY DOCTOR DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS.
AND DISMISSES MY CONCERNS.
ONE THING WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS
DEVELOP A CONTINUING MEDICAL
EDUCATION COURSE FOR PHYSICIANS
AND NURSES.
BUT IT FOCUSES, AS WE TALKED
ABOUT, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
SOLUTIONS TO OFFER.
WHAT WE EMPHASIZE WAS TAKING A
GOOD EXPOSURE HISTORY, AND
SCREENING AND EARLY DIAGNOSES.
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PATIENT
MIGHT BE AT HIGHER RISK FOR
SIMILAR TO A FAMILY HISTORY, YOU
CAN PROPERLY CARE FOR THEM.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SEE IF THERE
ARE ANSWERS TO THE FIRST TWO
QUESTIONS FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND
FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT I
THINK WE REALIZE THAT IT REALLY
TAKES ALL OF US TO IMPLEMENT
CHANGE.
AND I REALIZE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY
HERE, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, WE'VE
GOT RESEARCH FUNDERS AND
RESEARCHERS.
WE'VE GOT CLINICIANS.
I DON'T KNOW THERE ARE ANY
POLICYMAKERS HERE.
I THINK THAT'S WHO WE NEED TO
BRING INTO THIS CONVERSATION.
OKAY.
THAT'S IT.
I'M GOING TO STOP AND INTRODUCE
THE PANELIST S WHO WILL TELL US
ABOUT POTENTIAL WAYS TO MITIGATE
THE DAMAGE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO ADVANCE THE
SLIDES.
>> I WANT TO CALL DR. RITA
STRAKOVSKY TO START HER
PRESENTATION.
>> DB STLOOTION ARE ARE DB
STREWINGS
>> ARE YOU THERE?
>> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ON ZOOM.
UNFORTUNATELY I COULDN'T BE ABLE
IN PERSON BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL
HAVE A NICE DISCUSSION AFTER.
I HAVE -- I'M GOING TO MOVE A
LITTLE BIT.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE HERE.
I PUT AN ASTERISK HERE TO REMIND
MYSELF TO MENTION I'M GOING TO
START THE MORNING BY TALKING
ABOUT NON-PERSISTENT
ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
THESE ARE IN AND OUT OF THE
BODY, 12-48 HOURS, REQUIRES
UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS IN TERMS
OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.
I WANTS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR
MY TALK.
RESEARCH IN MY GROUP FOCUSES ON
WOMEN'S HEALTH ACROSS THE
LIFESPAN WITH METABOLIC AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES,
TODAY PREGNANCY AS A SENSITIVE
WINDOW FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD
HEALTH.
HOPEFULLY WHAT I TALK ABOUT
TODAY WILL BE IMPORTANT ACROSS
THE LIFESPAN, CERTAINLY NOT JUST
FOR THE WOMEN.
SO, LET'S GET STARTED.
I'LL FOCUS ON NON-PERSISTENT
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
INCLUDING PARABENS, PTHALATES,
BISPHENOLS, RELATED TO
CONTAMINANTS AND EFFECT ON
PREGNANCY OUTCOME.
WHEN IT COMES TO DIET, THE FOCUS
OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION, RELATED
TO MITIGATION, WE TAKE TWO
APPROACHES IN MY GROUP.
ONE IS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THE
DIET AS EXPOSURE SOURCE,
CONSIDERING MITIGATION BY
LIMITING EXPOSURE, I'VE TALKED
ABOUT -- AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT THAT ALREADY THIS MORNING.
THE OTHER IS TO THINK ABOUT --
I'M STUCK AGAIN.
MAYBE.
THERE WE GO.
THE OTHER IS TO CONSIDER THE
RULES OF DIET IN INDIVIDUALS WHO
ALREADY HAVE EXPOSURE TO EDCs,
WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
MOLECULAR TOXOLOGICAL TARGETS OF
EDCs AND IDENTIFY DIETARY
PATTERNS THAT WOULD INCREASE
RESILIENCE.
WE'VE HEARD THAT DISCUSSED THIS
MORNING.
INCREASED RESILIENCE IN RESPONSE
TO TOXIC EFFECTS, TODAY I'M
PROVIDING EXAMPLES OF EACH.
LET'S START WITH THE FIRST ONE.
THERE WE GO.
FIRST EXAMPLE I'M GOING TO TALK
ABOUT PTHALATES, YOUR -- WHICH
ARE UBIQUITOUS, AT LEAST ONE
PTHALLATE, TYPICALLY PORE.
PLASTICIZERS HAVE FUNCTIONS,
THAT'S WHY THEY ARE SO YOUR --O
YOUR -- SO UBIQUITOUS.
THEY ARE KNOWN DISRUPTORS
CONFIRMED IN STUDIES AND
IMPORTANTLY PTHALLATE EXPOSURE
IN PREGNANCY HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED
WITH ADVERSE PREGNANCY AT BIRTH
OUTCOME, NEURODEVELOP PROBLEMS,
OBESITY IN CHILDREN, MATERNAL
HEALTH AND PREGNANCY AND
POSTPARTUM.
FOR TODAY'S EXAMPLE I'LL
HIGHLIGHT WORK ON METABOLIC
HEALTH AND PREGNANCY
SPECIFICALLY GLUCOSE LEVELS.
GLUCOSE, MATERNAL GLUCOSE
HOMEOSTASIS IS AN IMPORTANT
PREDICTOR OF FETAL GROWTH,
PREGNANCY HEALTH OUTCOMES.
BOTH MATERNAL DIET AND EXPOSURE
TO PTHALATES INDEPENDENTLY AND
OTHER EDCs HAS ASSOCIATED WITH
DYSREGULATED HOMEOSTASIS.
TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER, TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
[AUDIO DISTORTION]
POOR DIET ASSOCIATED WITH MOORE
MATERNAL METABOLIC HEALTH,
INCREASING EXPOSURE TO PTHALATES
SPECIFICALLY AND OTHER
PLASTICIZERS THAT REGULATE
MATERNAL METABOLIC PROCESSES.
I MENTIONED TODAY THE DIET
QUALITY AS TERMINOLOGY BUT
DIDN'T INTRODUCE IT OR HOW TO
DEFINE IT.
RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON
INDIVIDUAL FOODS OR NUTRIENTS
WITHIN SOMEONE'S DIET, DIET
QUALITY INDICES WERE DEVELOPED
TO THINK ABOUT DIETARY PATTERNS
IN HOLISTIC MANNER.
ONE INDEX IS CALLED THE
ALTERNATIVE HEALTHY EATING INDEX
WHICH FOCUSES ON DIET QUALITY
OVER ANY SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL
FOODS OR NUTRIENTS.
BASED ON GROUPS OF FOODS THAT
ARE MOST PREDICTIVE OF CHRONIC
DISEASE BURDEN.
SO THE INDEX INCLUDES FOODS THAT
ARE LISTED HERE ON THIS TABLE.
WE ESSENTIALLY CALCULATE INDEX
BY TAKING SUM OF THE SCORES OF
THE CONSUMPTION FOR INDIVIDUAL
FOODS OR NUTRIENTS.
BY USING SUMMATIVE SCORE CAN
IDENTIFY DIETARY PATTERNS AND
HOW THEY RELATE TO HEALTH
OUTCOMES AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND
HOW INDIVIDUAL FOODS OR
NUTRIENTS WITHIN THE INDEX ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEALTH
OUTCOMES, AS I'LL SHOW YOU IN
THE SECOND EXAMPLE IT'S TRICKY
AND COMPLICATED.
SO COMING BACK TO THIS DIAGRAM,
WE WANTED OVERALL TO UNDERSTAND
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIET,
PTHALATES, METABOLIC HEALTH
INDIVIDUALLY.
WHETHER PTHALLATE EXPOSURE I WAS
THIS.
WE CONFIRMED INDIVIDUALLY POOR
DIET QUALITY WAS AN IMPORTANT
DETERMINANT OF EXPOSURE TO
PTHALATES.
MORE QUALITY DIETS ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER EXPOSURE
TO MANY PTHALATES.
WE ALSO IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUAL
POOR MATERNAL GLUCOSE
HOMEOSTASIS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR
MATERNAL METABOLIC OUTCOMES AS
WELL.
HOW ARE THESE RELATED?
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE OBSERVED
PARTLY ONE REASON THAT POOR DIET
QUALITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH
LOWER -- WITH POOR MATERNAL
GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS BECAUSE
LOWER QUALITY DIETS HAVE HIGHER
PTHALLATE LEVELS.
WHAT CAN WE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS
IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
MESSAGING?
SO OUR DATA SUPPORT THE IDEA BY
CONSUMER HIGH QUALITY DIETS IN
PREGNANCY OVERALL THAT PREGNANT
WEDNESDAY AREN'T ONLY IMPROVING
NUTRIENT PROFILES TO SUPPORT
PREGNANCY HEALTH AND FETAL
DEVELOPMENT BUT THEY ARE
DECREASING EXPOSURE TO
POTENTIALLY HARMFUL ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTORS.
BOTH OF THESE BENEFICIAL FACTORS
IMPROVE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES.
AS WE DISCUSSED AGAIN EARLIER
THIS MORNING, LIMITING PERSONAL
EXPOSURE TO MANY ARE DIFFICULT,
SOME CASES IMPOSSIBLE, IN CASES
OF PARTICULAR NON-PERSISTENT
EDCs STUDIES SUGGEST LIFESTYLE
MODIFICATIONS ESPECIALLY DIET
CAN BE POWERFUL TOOLS FOR
DECREASING EXPOSURE, PERHAPS
SOME GOOD NEWS.
SO MOVING TO THE SECOND EXAMPLE,
MAYBE PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE
OF WHAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT
WHEN THINKING ABOUT MITIGATION,
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE THINKING
ABOUT AGAIN MITIGATION OF
NON-PERSISTENT EDC EXPOSURE BY
CONSUMER MORE HEALTHFUL DIET.
RELATED TO ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS,
PARABENS ARE YOUR -- UBIQUITOU.
THEY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH
POOR PREGNANCY IN EXPERIMENTAL
MODELS, EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES.
IN STARTING THIS RESEARCH, AT
THE TIME TIME WE WERE BEGINNING
STUDIES, MOST OF THE WORK
RELATED TO PARABEN EXPOSURE IN
PREGNANCY FOCUSED ON THIRD THEY
WERE BIRTH, INTERESTED IN
LOOKING AT BIRTH SIZE
SPECIFICALLY.
ESSENTIALLY OUR MAIN FINDING WAS
THAT OVERALL, PARABENS WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER BIRTH
WEIGHT, ON THE LEFT, AND BIRTH
LENGTH ON THE RIGHT IN RELATION
TO TWO PARABENS WE STUDIED,
METHYL AND PROPYL, ASSOCIATED
WITH SMALLER BIRTH WEIGHTS OR
BABIES BORN SHORTER, IN
COMPARISON, AND SPECIFICALLY IN
BABY GIRLS SUGGEST CLASSIC
SEX-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATION.
WHERE DOES DIET COME INTO THIS?
THE DATA UNDERLYING MECHANISM
ARE LESS KNOWN COMPARED TO
PTHALATES BUT PARABENS AT LEAST
PARTLY IMPACT INFLAMMATION AND
OXIDATIVE STRESS.
TO MITIGATE EFFECTS THIS IS WHAT
WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT.
DIET QUALITY FITS THE BILL.
NEXT STEP WE EVALUATED
ASSOCIATIONS AND LOOKED AT
ASSOCIATIONS IN WOMEN WHO HAVE
HIGHER COMPARATIVELY DIET
QUALITIES, LOWER DIET QUALITIES.
WE OBSERVED IN GIRLS OF MOMS
WITH HIGHER QUALITY DIETS THERE
WAS NO LONGER ASSOCIATION OF
PARABENS WITH BIRTH OUTCOMES.
OVER IN BABY GIRLS WHO WOMEN
CONSUME DIET, SUGGESTING HIGHER
QUALITY DIETS POTENTIALLY
MITIGATED TOXIC OR HARMFUL
EFFECT OF PARABENS.
YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF WHAT DO I
RECOMMEND TO PATIENTS?
MAKING FULL CHANGES TO SOMEONE
DIEET QUALITY IS CHALLENGING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER
AGAIN.
JUST FOR TODAY, WE LOOKED AT
SPECIFIC FOODS THAT WERE
ESSENTIALLY PRIMARILY
RESPONSIBLE FOR MITIGATION
EFFECTS.
HERE IS WHAT WE OBSERVED.
SO, IN THE CASE OF BIRTH WEIGHT,
WE OBSERVED THAT IN WOMEN IN
WHOM ASSOCIATIONS OF METHYL
PARABEN WERE PER SAYS TENT THEY
CONSUMED FEWER WET VEGETABLES,
NEWS, LESS MEAT, MORE SUGAR
SWEETENED BEVERAGES AND SODIUM.
IN PURPOSING, LESS WHOLE GRAINS.
BIRTH WEIGHT, SIMILAR.
IN WOMEN IN WHOM EFFECT OF
PARABENS PERSISTED ON IMPACTING
SHORTER BIRTH WEIGHT, WOMEN
CONSUMED FEWER FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES, CONSUMED MORE
SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES AND
TRANSFAT.
ALTHOUGH AGAIN IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT COMPONENTS ARE
MOST IMPORTANT, OVERALL
LIFESTYLE PATTERNS, DIETARY
PATTERNS MORE HELPFUL THAT MAKE
US MORE RESILIENT TO TOXIC
EFFECTS OF VARIOUS CONTAMINANTS
ARE LIKELY MOST EFFECTIVE OF
BEING MITIGATORS.
AS A SUMMARY, THAT LIMITING EDC
EXPOSURE IS A POWERFUL AND
FEASIBLE TOOL FOR IMPROVING
HEALTH OUTCOMES SPECIFICALLY
PREGNANCY HEALTH OUTCOMES.
DIETARY CHANGES ARE LIKELY GOING
TO BE THE ONES MOST POWERFUL AND
MOST SORT OF CAPABLE OF
MITIGATING DELETERIOUS EFFECTS
OF EDC EXPOSURE.
I THANK EVERYONE IN THE GROUP,
COLLABORATORS AND FUNDING
SOURCES AN PARTICIPANTS IN THIS
IMPORTANT RESEARCH.
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE
END.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THAT WAS GREAT.
WE'LL HOLD QUESTIONS UNTIL THE
END OF THE PANEL.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK DR. KAREN
PETERSON TO COME UP TO THE
PODIUM.
>> IT'S A TEST.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE THE SECOND
SPEAKER FROM THE MICHIGAN
RESEARCH CORRIDOR.
NO PRESSURE THERE.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT
THE TALKS LINED UP THIS WAY.
I HOPE TO BUILD ON SOME OF THE
REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS THAT
WERE RAISED.
LET US CONSIDER WHETHER HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES INCLUDING DIET AND
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SLEEP
LATER ON MIGHT COUNTERACT
EFFECTS OF EDCs ON
CARDIOMETABOLIC WOMEN'S HEALTH.
OKAY.
I'M GOING OLD SCHOOL.
SORRY ABOUT THE POINTER.
IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE.
WHY DO WE CARE?
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALWAYS AT
ONCE, THEY ARE FOUND, I'M GOING
TO FOCUS ON NON-PERSISTENT
EDCsS, PLASTICS, PERSONAL CARE
PRODUCTS, FOOD, PACKAGING.
SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON
PTHALATES AND PARABENS
ASSOCIATED NOT MANY WITH CHRONIC
INFLAMMATION WHICH MIGHT PLAY A
ROLE IN METABOLIC SYNDROME
DEVELOPMENT.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS TO BRING
UP, WHEN DOES EXPOSURE MATTER.
I HAVE REALLY UTILIZED THE
DOHaD FRAMEWORK WHETHER EARLY
LIFE EXPOSURES INCLUDING IN THE
WOMB NOT ONLY TO TOXICANTS BUT
NUTRIENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL
INFLUENCES HAVE LONG-LASTING
EFFECTS ACROSS MULTIPLE
LIFESTYLE PERIODS INCLUDING
PUBERTY.
I WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHY IS IT
WE KNOW LESS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES
OF EDC EXPOSURES IN ADULTHOOD
FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH DURING
MID-LIFE?
AND THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION.
WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE SEQUELAE
OF EDCs EXPOSURES AS WOMEN GO
THROUGH MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION.
MID-LIFE DOES ENCOMPASS
TRANSITION CHARACTERIZED BY
PHYSIOLOGIC AND HORMONAL CHANGES
WHICH TOGETHER MAY LEAD TO
INCREASES IN BODY WEIGHT AND
ABDOMINAL OBESITY, THESE MAY
ALSO FAVOR INSULIN RESISTANCE,
HYPERTENSION, OTHER CHRONIC
CONDITIONS.
MID-LIFE IS PLAUSIBLY SENSITIVE
TO EFFECTS OF EDCs DUE TO
CHANGING HORMONAL MILIEU.
AND AGAIN A FEW STUDIES SUGGEST
POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS OF EDCs
WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME
COMPONENTS AND INFLAMMATION IN
WOMEN INCLUDING PREGNANT WOMEN.
THERE ARE HARDLY ANY -- WE COULD
ONLY FINE ONE, IN MID-LIFE
WOMEN.
SO OBJECTIVES THAT WILL DRIVE
THE SNAPSHOT OF RESULTS I'LL
SHOW TODAY WOULD BE CHARACTERIZE
ASSOCIATION OF NON-PERSISTENT
EDCs WITH COMPONENTS OF
METABOLIC SYNDROME AND
INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN THE
SAMPLE OF MEXICAN WOMEN IN
MID-LIFE WE FOLLOWED THROUGH THE
ELEMENT COHORT THAT I'D BE HAPPY
TO TALK MORE ABOUT IN QUESTION
AND ANSWERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE
INTERESTED IS NOT ONLY
CONSIDERING DIET QUALITY
SPECIFICALLY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
DIETS BUT ALSO WHETHER THESE
MIGHT INTERACT AND WORK TOGETHER
WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SLEEP
BEHAVIORS.
IN RESULTS NEXT THIS IS A
PRE-PANDEMIC SAMPLE,
POST-PANDEMIC DATA IN HOUSE
RECENTLY.
WOMEN AGED 46 YEARS ON AGE, MORE
OR LESS.
NEW BMI WAS 30, HALF OF THE
SAMPLE ARE CLASSIFIED WITH HIGH
BMI THAT IS OBESITY.
MENOPAUSAL STATUS, ABOUT HALF
WERE EITHER MENOPAUSAL OR
PERIMENOPAUSAL BASED ON WISE
CRITERIA, IN THIS COHORT A THIRD
WERE CURRENT OR FORMER SMOKERS,
73% WORKING CLASS.
THIS IS URBAN, MEXICO CITY.
IN A LONGITUDINAL PILOT STUDY
AMONG THESE WOMEN THAT I'LL TELL
YOU MORE ABOUT WE WERE ABLE TO
LOOK AT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
NON-PERSISTENT EDC EXPOSURE IN
2008, AND COMPONENTS TEN YEARS
LATER.
SO, WE AGAIN WENT WITH THE
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT
ONCE APPROACH, ANALYZED 16
PTHALATES, 4 PARABENS, 7
PHENOLS, COMPARABLE TO CDC
METHOD.
BUILDING ON A POINT EARLIER DR.
BIRNBAUM MADE, SINGLE
METABOLITES AND LOOKING AT
COMBINATIONS OF METABOLITES.
WE TOOK EDITORIAL PRIVILEGES,
LOOK AT THE SUM OF THE EHP
METABOLITES, PERSONAL COMPOUNDS
FOUND IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS,
INCLUDING DHP, SAME WITH
ANTI-ANTHROAGAINIC COMPOUNDS AND
PLASTICS.
AND FOR OUTCOMES WE WERE ABLE TO
LOOK AT A PANEL OF INFLAMMATORY
CYTOKINES, TNF ALPHA, C-REACTIVE
PROTEIN AND INTERLEUKIN,
FASCINATING AND VEXING BECAUSE
SOME WERE PRO- AND
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND WE'RE
STILL UNDERSTANDING THE
CYTOKINES THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS
METABOLIC SYNDROME AND ITS
COMPONENTS.
THEN THIS IS ANOTHER MEASURE OF
DIETARY QUALITY, NOT OPTIMAL
DIETARY QUALITY, THE NOVEMBER A
INDEX USED INTERNATIONAL THAT
CLASSIFIES PERCENT OF ENERGY
INTAKE FROM ULTRA PROCESSED
FOOD.
WE USE VALIDATED FOOD FREQUENCY
QUESTIONNAIRE THAT'S ADAPTED
FROM MEXICO HEALTH AND NUTRITION
SURVEY.
I WANT TO FLAG THE IMPORTANCE OF
UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURES IN
DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, WHICH IS I
THINK WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO IN
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE IN
THATTER A AND USE CATEGORY FOR
PERCENT OF ENERGY INTAKE, 29% OF
ENERGY INTAKE, FROM YOU ULTRA
PROCESSED FOODS IN THIS
POPULATION.
MAIN POINTS, IT'S A SERIES OF
CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS, THE
TOP BAR IS SHOWING WHETHER
ENERGY INTAKE FROM ULTRA
PROCESSED FOODS WAS ASSOCIATED
WITH ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS.
YELLOW IS NEGATIVE.
WHAT WE FOUND ULTRA PROCESSED
FOODS CORRELATED WITH SUM OF
DEHP, DOWNSTREAM METABOLITES,
SUM OF PLASTICS.
GREAT NEWS IF YOU REDUCE INTAKE
OF ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS.
HOWEVER IT WAS NOT ASSOCIATED
WITH ANY OF THE INFLAMMATORY
CYTOKINES.
IF YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER TODAY,
YOU WOULD THINK THESE WOULD BE
ASSOCIATED.
SO, I'LL JUST SHOW TWO OTHER
FIGURES, VERY DENSE.
I'LL WALK THROUGH A COUPLE
POINTS.
WE DID REGRESSION MODELS
ADJUSTING FOR MULTIPLE IMPORTANT
COVARIATES TO SEE WHETHER SINGLE
EDCs AND IMPORTANTLY SUMMARY
EDCs MIGHT BE RELATED WITH
DIFFERENT INFLAMMATORY
CYTOKINES, THIS WOULD BE THE
MECHANISM UNDERLYING WE THINK
DEVELOPMENT OF METABOLIC
SYNDROME.
THIS IS TNF ALPHA.
THE TAKEHOME MESSAGE, DEHTP,
PLASTICS AND ONE OF THE
DOWNSTREAM METABOLITES WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER LEVELS OF
THIS INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE.
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
WHEN WE ADDED ULTRA PROCESSED
FOODS, WE COULD NO LONGER
CONSIDER IT A MODERATOR IT DID
REDUCE THE P-VALUE BUT DIDN'T
CHANGE EFFECT ESTIMATE.
A DIFFERENT EXAMPLE, I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS'S THOUGHTS ON THIS, I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT METHYL
PARABEN, VERY DEMOCRATIC,
NEGATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH
ALMOST ALL INFLAMMATORY
CYTOKINES, ONE EXAMPLE HERE, IN
A COUPLE CASES STRENGTHENED BY
ADDING ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS TO
THE MODEL.
THIS WAS A BIT OF PUZZLE BUT I
THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND
IT'S AN ANTI-FUNGAL AGENT, USED
IN PERSONAL PRODUCTS, IN SOME
FOOD PRODUCTS AND COULD BE
CONFOUNDED WITH POSSIBLY HIGH
QUALITY DIETS, JUST A
HYPOTHESIS.
THIS IS SHOWS RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN EDCs WHEN WOMEN WERE
35 YEARS OF AGE, THEY'VE HAD
MOST OF THEIR CHILDREN BUT WERE
NOW HAVING -- STARTING TO HEAD
INTO MID-LIFE, AND METABOLIC
SYNDROME, 9 TO 10 YEARS LATER.
TAKEHOME MESSAGE SUM OF DBT AND
DEHP, PACKAGING AND PERSONAL
CARE PRODUCTS, ASSOCIATED WITH
APPROXIMATELY TWO-FOLD INCREASE
IN TRIGLYCERIDES, BAD BLOOD FATS
FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT WORK
ALWAYS WITH THIS PARTICULAR
OUTCOME.
IN ADDITION MEP, LIPSTICK, WHICH
I PUT ON BEFORE THIS TALK,
ASSOCIATED WITH TWO-FOLD
INCREASE, TWO DCP METABOLITES.
THERE WERE SINGLE ASSOCIATIONS,
WORRISOME, FOUR-FOLD INCREASE OF
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
ASSOCIATIONED WITH MCOP AND WITH
POLY PARABEN.
THERE WERE A COUPLE NEGATIVE
ASSOCIATIONS THAT WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT, AGAIN TRICLOSAN.
WHAT DID WE LEARN?
CORRELATION WITH NON-PERSISTENT
EDCs, INVERSE INVERSELY CORRE.
SO WHAT ABOUT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE?
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF TRYING TO
SORT OUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF
DIET JUST TO SOME OF THE HEALTH
OUTCOMES.
THE BOTTOM LINE SINCE I'M SHORT
ON TIME IS THAT WE DID NOT FIND
THAT ALTERNATIVE MEDITERRANEAN
DIET, REALLY IMPORTANT HEALTHY
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET, WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH METABOLIC
SYNDROME WHICH IS ABOUT HALF OF
THE WOMEN IN THE SAMPLE.
BUT THESE ARE TEASER FOR
FINDINGS AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
FOR NUTRITION IN TWO WEEKS,
SHORT SLEEPERS, WE DID SEE
ALTERNATIVE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
HAD PROTECTIVE EFFECT.
WE FOUND DIETARY INFLAMMATORY
INDEX, WE CAN GO INTO DETAIL IN
Q&A, WAS NOT RELATED TO
METABOLIC SYNDROME BUT WE DID
FIND SEDENTARY ACTIVITY WAS
ASSOCIATED AS WELL AS SITTING
TIME WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF TWO
CYTOKINES.
DO WE KNOW ENOUGH TO TAKE
ACTION?
PROBABLY NOT.
BUT THERE ARE -- THIS WORK IS
CONSISTENT WITH A VERY LARGE
BODY OF LITERATURE THAT
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIETS IN
COMBINATION WITH HEALTHY
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LIFESTYLE
BEHAVIORS AND DARK CHOCOLATE OF
COURSE MAY REDUCE EDC EXPOSURE
AND MAY IMPROVE MOST COMPONENTS
OF CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK.
AGAIN, MY CALL FOR CONTEXT
SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON EDC
SOURCES, WE WORK IN MEXICO CITY,
SOME SOURCES WILL BE DIFFERENT
BUT ALSO PATTERNS OF USE.
FINALLY THE OBLIGATORY BULLET,
WE NEED REPEATED MEASURES OF
EXPOSURES AND REPEATED MEASURES
OF OUTCOMES WHICH ARE CURRENTLY
COMING IN AS PART OF THE R01.
I THINK A QUESTION, FOR EXAMPLE,
IS WHETHER NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION
OF EDCs WITH INFLAMMATION IS A
REFLECTION OF SOMETHING THAT
RELATES TO THE TEMPO OF
MENOPAUSE IN THAT TRANSITION AND
WHETHER THERE'S ANY ALTERATIONS
THERE.
SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT LINDSEY
ENGLISH AND DR. LIBNI TORRES,
AND OTHER COLLABORATORS WHOSE
RESEARCH IS DETAILED IN PREVIOUS
SLIDES, AND A LARGE ELEMENT
COHORT, 30 YEARS OF FUNDING FROM
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD TO SEE INTEREST IN
MENOPAUSAL WOMEN.
WE'D LIKE TO ASK DR. JOSEPH
BRAUN TO START HIS PRESENTATION
PLEASE.
DR. BRAUN?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
HELLO?
>> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
MAYBE SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> SURE.
I CAN ADVANCE.
OKAY.
I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS
FOR INVITING ME TO TALK AND
THANK RITA AND KAREN FOR SETTING
ME UP WELL.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT PFAS
EXPOSURE HERE.
AND SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN
DOING TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL
HEALTH EFFECTS OF PFAS EXPOSURE.
MANY ARE FAMILIAR SO I WON'T
SPEND TIME, CHARACTERIZED BY
CARBON CHAINS THAT ARE
FLUORINATED, USED IN NON-STICK
COOK WARE, STAIN RESISTANT
TEXTILES AND AFFF.
THEY ARE DETECTED IN NEARLY
EVERYTHING WE MEASURE THEM IN
INCLUDING DRINKING WATER, SOIL,
HUMAN BLOOD, EVEN IN THE ARCTIC,
EVEN IN ANIMALS ABOVE THE ARCTIC
CIRCLE.
THE EXTENT OF PFAS CONTAMINATION
IS HIGH, 50,000 SITES IN THE
UNITED STATES USING PFAS.
THIS IS RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD
CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER.
AND THERE'S CONCERN OVER THE
FACT PFAS PERSISTS FOR YEARS,
BIOLOGICAL HALF-LIVES, FIVE TO
SEVEN YEARS, DEFINITE
ENVIRONMENTAL PERSISTENCE.
HISTORICAL EXPOSURE IS A CONCERN
HERE.
WE'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE DISCOVERING NOW THAT THEY
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THESE
CHEMICALS USED SINCE THE
1950s, DRINKING CONTAMINATED
DRINKING WATER OR LIVE NEXT TO,
YOU KNOW, A BIOSOLID FACILITY
THAT'S BEEN SPREADING THAT ON
CROPS, PFAS-CONTAMINATED
BIOSOLIDS.
UNLIKE NON-PERSISTENT CHEMICALS
THESE ARE STILL IN OUR BODY.
WE CAN'T JUST STOP DOING
SOMETHING AND GET RID OF THEM.
THIS IS REALLY CONCERNING
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE THINKING
ABOUT WHAT DO I DO NOW THAT I'VE
BEEN EXPOSED.
CAN YOU ADVANCE THE SLIDE?
IT'S NOT ADVANCING.
PFAS IS ASSOCIATED WITH
DIFFERENT HEALTH EFFECTS,
DECREASE THE BIRTH WEIGHT,
REDUCED VACCINE RESPONSE IN
CHILDREN, METABOLIC EFFECTS,
ELEVATED CHOLESTEROL, LIVER
DISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE,
TESTICULAR CANCER.
A NUMBER OF ENDPOINTS ACROSS THE
LIFESPAN.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FRAMEWORK
OF HOW WE CAN THINK ABOUT
PREVENTING PFAS EXPOSURE AND
RELATED HEALTH EFFECTS, APPLIED
TO ANY EXPOSURE WE'RE LOOKING
AT.
PREVENTING EXPOSURE THROUGH
REGULATION AND POLICY IS MOST
EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF HEALTH
IMPACTS, CHEAPEST IN TERMS OF
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL COST.
NEXT IS OUR LINE OF DEFENSE,
MITIGATING, AFTER YOU'VE BEEN
EXPOSED, AND AT THE END REDUCE
BODY BURDEN.
I'LL TALK ABOUT AN EXAMPLE OF
EACH WITH THE FIRST TWO BEING
WORK FROM MY GROUP.
ONE THING BORN OF THE PANDEMIC
TEST LOW COST AIR FILTERS.
THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT ATTENTION.
AN IDEA FOR DO IT YOURSELF AIR
FILTER, FOUR MERV 13 FILTERS IN
THE FORCED AIR FURNACE, A BOX
FAN, SLAPPED TOGETHER WITH DUCT
TAPE AND CARDBOARD.
THEY DID ELEGANT STUDIES, AIR
FILTERS YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF
FOR LESS THAN $100 WERE AS
EFFECTIVE AS COMMERCIAL AIR
FILTERS REDUCING PARTICULATES
AND THERE WERE VERY FEW STUDIES
IF THEY WERE EFFECTIVE FOR
REDUCING CHEMICAL POLLUTANT
EXPOSURE.
THE DEAN OF OUR SCHOOL SAID I
WANT TO PUT THESE IN EVERY ROOM
OF THE SCHOOL AND I SAID IF
YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT I WANT
TO TEST THE AIR SAMPLES BEFORE
AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS TO
SEE FIT REDUCES LEVELS OF
EXPOSURE TO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS.
WE DID A STUDY IN COLLABORATION
WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERING AND SILENT SPRING
INSTITUTE, QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL
STUDY, 17 ROOMS IN THE SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, UNIT OF
OBSERVATION WAS THE ROOMS,
PRE-INTERVENTION PERIOD IN
NOVEMBER OF 2021, DURING
INTERVENTION PERIOD IN MARCH
2022, PUT THE CORESY-ROSENTHAL
BOXES IN 17 ROOMS, WITH THE GOAL
TO ACHIEVE SIX AIR CHANGES PER
HOUR, 12 HOURS A DAY, ROBIN
DODSON AND I DID EXPOSURE
MONITORING USING ACTIVE AIR
MONITORING FOR FOUR DAYS, BEFORE
AND DURING INTERVENTION PERIOD
AND MEASURED 66 PFAS AND
PTHALATES, THOUSANDS OF OTHER
CHEMICALS USING NON-TARGETED
ASSAY.
AND THIS IS A SLIDE SHOWING HOW
WE THE BOXES ABLE REDUCE THE AIR
LEVEL OF SIX PFAS BY 28 TO 61%,
THIS SHOWS DENSITY PLOTS, VIOLIN
PLOTS OF THE CONCENTRATION IN
AIR OF SIX PFAS BEFORE THE
INTERVENTION, DURING
INTERVENTION, IN BLUE AND PINK,
EACH PAIR OF DOTS AND LINE IS A
ROOM, YOU CAN SEE HOW EACH
ROOM -- HOW LEVEL IN EACH ROOM
CHANGED BEFORE VERSUS DURING THE
INTERVENTION PERIOD.
AND THESE WERE SIX PFAS THAT
DECLINED.
IN MOST ROOMS THE LEVELS DID
DECLINE, IN ALL OF THEM.
SOME MAYBE INCREASED IN SOME
CASES LIKE PFBS, WE DON'T KNOW
WHY BUT WE SEE THERE WAS
DRAMATIC DECLINES IN MOST OF THE
ROOMS, SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS
OVERALL.
IN ADDITION WE DID A
NON-TARGETED ANALYSIS TO LOOK
AND SEE WHAT OTHER CHEMICALS DID
WE REDUCE IN THE PROCESS OF
RUNNING OF THE FILTERS, KATE
MANN FROM UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN, THREE DIFFERENT MODES
FROM CHROMATOGRAPHY AND HIGH
RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY,
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN 17
OTHER FEATURES FROM
CHROMATOGRAMS.
BEFORE VERSUS DURING, WE SEE
SIGNIFICANT HITS IN GREEN IN
THAT VOLCANO PLOT.
WHEN WE CLASSIFY INTO CATEGORIES
WE FOUND REDUCTIONS IN
PLASTICIZERS, PTHALATES, PFAS,
PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES,
INSECTICIDES, FOOD CHEMICALS,
SOME COULD BE APPLIED IN INDOOR
OFFICE SPACES LIKE
ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES,
CONFIRMING SEVERAL PTHALATES
WERE REDUCED USING TARGETED
ANALYSIS.
IMPLICATIONS ARE QUITE PROFOUND
IN THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY DECREASE EXPOSURE TO
MANY TOXIC COMPONENTS OF THE
EXPOSOME.
WE KNOW THAT AIR FILTRATION
REDUCES LEVELS RESPIRATORY
PATHOGENS AS WELL AS
PARTICULATES LIKE THOSE FROM
WILDFIRE SMOKE OR AMBIENT
SOURCES, AND THIS IS ADDING TO
EVIDENCE SHOWING THEY REDUCE
LEVELS OF INDOOR EXPOSURES TO
CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS, AN
AFFORDABLE, SCALABLE,
SUSTAINABLE INTERVENTION TO
IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY,
POTENTIALLY REDUCING EXPOSURE TO
MANY EDCsS, LIKE THE APPROACH,
THREE-FER OR FOUR-FER APPROACH,
WHATEVER NUMBER THAT WAS
MENTIONED EARLIER, AND FROM THE
SCALABLE SUSTAINABLE SAMPLING,
RELATIVE AAFFORDABLE, $50 TO
$100 TO PUT TOGETHER.
WE'VE HELD NUMEROUS BUILD-A-BOX
EVENTS TO BUILD AND DECORATE
THEM, AND MAKING MINI CORSI
ROSENTHAL BOXES WITH A COMPUTER
FAN ON THE TOP, FOR LESS THAN
$50 APIECE.
I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS AND TALK
QUICKLY ABOUT WORK LOOKING AT
LIFESTYLE FACTORS AS WELL AS A
WAY TO REDUCE POTENTIAL EFFECTS
OF PFAS EXPOSURE, WORK THAT WE
FOUND PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO PFAS
IS ASSOCIATED WITH
CARDIOMETABOLIC DISORDERS, RISK
IN ADOLESCENTS, INCREASED RISK
OF OBESITY AND THIS IS IN TWO
COHORTS WITH THE HOME STUDY ON
THE LEFT AND THIS ON THE RIGHT A
NATIONAL STUDY OF ALMOST 1400
CHILDREN FROM ECHO CONSORTIUM.
>> TWO MINUTES.
>> LOOKING AT WHAT INTERVENTIONS
MIGHT MITIGATE EFFECTS OF
PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO PFAS.
IN THE HOME STUDY WE WERE
ABLE -- CHILDREN WITH HIGHER
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HAD CAM PENNED
ASSOCIATIONS WITH
CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK 12 YEARS
LATER SHOWING BETA COEFFICIENTS
FOR ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PFOA
AND PREGNANCY AND AT AGE 12,
AMONG CHILDREN IN HIGHER
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GROUP THERE
WAS NO ASSOCIATION, BUT AMONG
CHILDREN IN LOWER PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY GROUP MEASURED AT AGE
12 MORE RISK WITH INCREASING
PFAS CONCENTRATIONS IN
PREGNANCY.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO MITIGATE
EFFECTS WITH SOMETHING LIKE
EXERCISE.
THIS MATCHES WORK DONE BY
CARDENAS AND GROUP IN ADULTS
FROM DIABETES PREVENTION
PROGRAM, WHERE THESE ADULTS WERE
RANDOMIZED TO TWO INTERVENTIONS,
ONE BEING LIFESTYLE, ONE BEING
PLACEBO, FOUND ASSOCIATION
BETWEEN ADULTHOOD PFOA AND RISK
OF TYPE 2 DIABETES WAS TAM
DAMPENED
WITH LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION
SUGGESTING ADULTHOOD PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY AND DIETARY MITIGATION
MAY BE ABLE TO REDUCE EFFECT OF
PFOA EXPOSURE ON RISK OF
DIABETES.
THE NEXT TWO, TALKING ABOUT WHAT
WE SHOULD BE DOING IN TERMS OF
THINKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD
WITH PFAS, SHORT TERM
EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS
AND CRAFTING THOSE, FUNDING FOR
INTERVENTIONS, SPECIFICALLY
AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL
INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE
AND HOW WE MIGHT USE THOSE TO
REDUCE BODY BURDEN, PREVENT
EXPOSURE.
MEDIUM TERM LIKE INDUSTRY
CHANGES TO STOP USING PFAS,
REGULATING THE CLASS RATHER THAN
ONE AT A TIME.
AND LONG TERM SEEING WE NOW HAVE
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS, EPA
SET MINIMUM CONTAMINATION
LEVELS, ADDRESSING CONTAMINATION
AT 700 DoD SITES AND
CONTAMINATION IN FOOD AND
ELIMINATING NON-ESSENTIAL USES
OF PFAS.
SO I'LL STOP HERE WITH THE NEXT
STEPS, MULTI-MODAL
INTERVENTIONS, TWO-FER,
THREE-FER, FOUR-FER, TO PREVENT
HEALTH EFFECTS IN COMMUNITIES
WITH HISTORICAL EXPOSURE, MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THINGS WE
NEED TO GIVE COMMUNITY GROUPS TO
SAY THESE ARE THE THINGS WE CAN
DO TO PREVENT EXPOSURE, REDUCE
EXPOSURE, REDUCE BODY BURDEN AND
MITIGATE HEALTH EFFECTS.
I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE THE COLLEAGUES
PART OF THIS WORK SINCE THE
BEGINNING, FUNDING FROM THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR.
BRAUN.
I'LL ASK DR. PETRIELLO TO COME
TO THE PODIUM.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS AN AMAZING WORKSHOP SO
FAR.
EVERYONE IS BUILDING ON EACH
OTHER.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOLISTIC
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, TO
DECREASE CIRCULATING PFAS.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FUNDING.
I'LL PRESENT A COLLABORATION
BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
AND WHERE I AM NOW, WAYNE STATE,
OUR P30 CENTERS.
TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT
BIOBEHAVIORAL STUDY IN HUMANS AT
RISK FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE,
BACKGROUND ON CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE AND HOW THINGS CHANGED
OVER TIME.
BUT REALLY TALK ABOUT A PAPER WE
PUBLISHED ON HOLISTIC IDEA OF
INVOLVING EXERCISE, DIET, STRESS
REDUCTION, THESE THINGS WE KNOW
IMPACT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND
ADDING ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT
TO IT.
SO YES, THIS WORKS.
ONE THING I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
RELATED TO CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE IS THE SHIFT OF WHERE WE
SEE MORTALITY OVER TIME.
YOU CAN SEE THINGS ARE SHIFTING
FROM THE BIG CITIES IN THE
NORTHEAST, BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA,
NEW YORK CITY, TO MORE OF THE
RURAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE
SOUTH.
YOU CAN SEE SOME THINGS THAT
SOME PLACES THAT NEVER CHANGE.
SO CAN WE LEARN ABOUT
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND RISK
FACTORS OF CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE LOOKING AT THESE SHIFTS?
ARE THERE ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS
THAT CHANGED OVER TIME,
ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS THAT STAYED
THE SAME IN SOME PLACES?
I THINK THESE TYPE OF CHANGE
OVER TIME GRAPHS CAN BE
INFORMATIVE TO US.
AND SO I'M A CARDIOVASCULAR
TOXICOLOGIST, WHAT I DO IN THE
LAB WHEN NOT DOING HUMAN STUFF
WE'LL TALK ABOUT TODAY IS LOOK
AT ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS AND
HOW THEY CAN INCREASE
ATHEROSCLEROSIS, CARDIOMETABOLIC
DISEASES.
WE LOOK AT BIOMARKERS OF
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.
THESE ARE ALL THE MAIN THINGS
YOU WOULD GET CHECKED OUT BY
YOUR CARDIOLOGIST, TOTAL
CHOLESTEROL, LDL, HDL,
TRIGLYCERIDES, THERE'S OTHER
THINGS LIKE PROTEINS THAT CAN
BIND LIPID MOIETIES LIKE
ALIPIDS.
THERE'S DRUGS NOW ACTIVELY
ANTAGONIZING THIS INFLAMMATION.
AND THERE'S EMERGING BIOMARKERS
WE CAN STUDY IN THE LAB AS WELL
SUCH AS TMAO FROM DIET.
I WILL TALK ABOUT PFOS, NEAR AND
DEAR TO MY HEART IN MICHIGAN,
BUT A GLOBAL ISSUE FOR SURE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MISSION
THYRSE, YELL --
MIXTURES.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MIXTURE
OF PFOS, NOT NECESSARILY ONE AT
A TIME.
HERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO
CLASSIFY PFOS, SO THERE'S MANY
WAYS.
ONE OF THE EASIER WAYS TO LOOK
AT WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN USED,
LEGACY POLLUTANTS LIKE CARBOXYL
OR SULPHONIC, ALTERNATIVES, THEY
ALSO SEEM TO BE QUITE BAD.
AND EMERGING POLLUTANTS SUCH AS
GEN X AND ALL OF THESE ARE IN
MIXTURES IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE HEARD ABOUT PTHALATES AND
PLASTICIZERS, LONG HALF-LIFE
COMPOUNDS ARE IN OUR BLOOD AT
MUCH HIGHER LEVELS THAN OTHER
COMPOUNDS.
DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T FOCUS
ON PTHALATES BUT RIGHT NOW THIS
IS A REALLY CRITICAL POLLUTANT
WE NEED TO BE STUDYING.
THERE WAS A WORKSHOP ABOUT
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND PFOS,
THEY WROTE A NICE PAPER THAT
CAME OUT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT NHANES,
BACKGROUND LEVELS ON THE LEFT
PFOA, ON THE LEFT PFOS, LOWEST
VERSUS HIGHEST EXPOSURE, WITH
THE BLUE VERSUS RED BELL CURVES,
YOU CAN SEE WHETHER WE'RE
LOOKING AT PFOA OR PFOS, IF YOU
HAVE HIGHER LEFTS OF PFOS IT'S
SHIFTING BELL CURVE TO THE
RIGHT.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S GOING TO
SHIFT AMONG 20 MGS, IT'S A BIG
DEAL.
HOW MANY MORE MILLIONS WILL BE
PUT ON A STATIN.
THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A SMALL
POINT AT THE SINGULAR PERSON
LEVEL BUT AT POPULATION LEVEL
THESE SHIFTS OR BELL CURVES ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO OTHER THAN THE IMMUNE
FUNCTION RELATED TO PFOS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THE
MOST REPRODUCIBLE EFFECT.
WHEN STILL AT KENTUCKY WE WERE
BROUGHT UP IN THE IDEA OF
LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION, THEY HAD
A SUPERFUND PROGRAM ON THIS,
MOSTLY PRE-CLINICAL WORK, ALSO
CEC ENGAGEMENT IDEAS.
WE WERE THERE, TRYING TO THINK
HOW CAN WE TAKE THIS FROM THE
MICE AND CELL CULTURE AND LOOK
AT THIS TYPE OF INTERVENTION AND
LIKE A HUMAN COMPONENT.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE DR.
MOSER THERE, DOING THESE
BIOBEHAVIORAL STUDIES, SHE'S
PART OF THE NURSING DEPARTMENT
THERE AND DEVELOPED THIS
INTERVENTION, HEARTHEALTH
INTERVENTION, SUBSEQUENT
VERSIONS, WHERE THEY DID A
HOLISTIC BIOBEHAVIORAL STUDY,
WE'LL GO INTO THE METHODS,
ACROSS KENTUCKY, THEIR ARE THE
THREE SITES.
YOU CAN SEE DEMOGRAPHICS OVER
HERE.
WE'RE NOW IN THE 50-YEAR-OLD, SO
ANOTHER GOOD REASON FOR THIS
WORKSHOP WE'RE GOING OLDER AS WE
GO THROUGH.
YOU CAN SEE MOSTLY FEMALE.
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
KENTUCKY, PRETTY MUCH 100%
CAUCASIAN, WHEN THEY ARE BORN
THEY LIFT IN THE SAME COUNTY THE
REST OF THEIR LIFE PRETTY MUCH.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S MOST PEOPLE
WERE NEVER SMOKERS.
DEB FINISHED THIS STUDY.
I'LL SHOW DATA IN THE NEXT
SLIDE.
IT WORKED.
IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE AT LOWER
CARDIOVASCULAR RISK.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONE --
COMPONENT?
CAN WE LOOK AT YOUR SERUM AT
COMPONENTS PRE AND POST.
SHE SAID YES.
THAT'S THE PAPER THAT I'LL TALK
ABOUT NOW.
IT'S RIGHT HERE IF YOU WANT TO
CHECK IT OUT.
MY MED STUDENT STEPHANIE MORGAN
IS FIRST AUTHOR.
SAMPLE OF 719 ADULTS, RISK
FACTORS, 78% OBESE, OVERWEIGHT,
ALREADY HAD TWO OR MORE
CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS,
PROBABLY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,
HIGH LIPIDS.
WHAT THEY DID WAS A 12-WEEK
HEART-HEALTH INTERVENTION, USING
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE DIET,
DECREASE STRESS, INCREASE
EXERCISE AMONG MANY OTHER
THINGS.
AND WE HEARD ABOUT THESE HEALTHY
EATING INDEXES, THAT WAS A MAIN
ENDPOINT AS WELL.
WHAT THEY SAW, THEY SAW THIS
INTERVENTION INCREASED THEIR
HEALTHY EATING INDEX BY 8%, AND
IF YOU DIAL DOWN WHAT WAS
CHANGED, SO THEY HAD HIGHER
TOTAL FRUIT, WHOLE FRUIT, TOTAL
VEGETABLES, LEGUMES, ORANGE AND
GREEN VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAIN,
MILK INCREASED, HEALTHY INDEX
BUT WITHIN THAT DIFFERENT
INDEXES, TEASING OUT WHAT
CHANGED.
IMPORTANTLY THIS INTERVENTION
DECREASED SATURATED FAT CALORIES
FROM SOLID FATS, ALCOHOL, SUGAR.
SO ACROSS THE BOARD SEEMED TO
INCREASE THEIR DIET.
AND OF COURSE IMPORTANT FOR THE
CARDIOVASCULAR ENDPOINTS TOTAL
CHOLESTEROL, BLOOD PRESSURES,
AND HEMOGLOBIN A1c DECREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THIS
INTERVENTION.
AGAIN, HOW CAN WE COME INTO
PLAY?
MAYBE MEASURE PFOS COMPOUNDS?
SO THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.
I WANTED TO GIVE MORE ABOUT THE
BIOBEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION AND
ALL OF THIS IS INSIDE THE
PUBLICATION AS WELL.
BUT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SMALL
GROUP, SO 10 OR FEWER PEOPLE AT
THE TIME, THEY HAD TRAINED
INDIVIDUALS BY THE NURSING
FACULTY THAT WENT INTO THE
COMMUNITY, VERY BIDIRECTIONAL
IDEA.
12 BIWEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS.
YOU CAN READ THE DIFFERENT
THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT.
BUT THIS IDEA OF NOT JUST
FOCUSING ON ONE RISK FACTOR BUT
MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS.
AND SO WHAT WE DID, WE MEASURED
PFOS IN THIS COMMUNITY, THESE
PARTICIPANTS PRE AND POST.
THIS WAS MY MENTOR, WE'VE
MEASURED PFOS WITH OTHER
COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
JUST TO SHOW THERE ARE HOT SPOTS
FOR PFOS IN KENTUCKY,
INTERESTING.
PFNA, PFHxS, ONE HOT SPOT NEXT
TO A MILITARY BASE, MAYBE NOT
INTERESTING BUT MAYBE YOU CAN
EXPECT THAT.
AND SO THERE'S REGIONAL
DIFFERENCES WHICH WAS
INTERESTING, THIS IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT TABLE.
AND SO WHAT WE SHOW IS ALONG
WITH TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
DECREASED, PRE AND POST
INTERVENTION, ATHEROGENIC LDL
CHOLESTEROL PRE AND POST, WE SEE
MULTIPLE PFOS ALSO DECREASED.
A SHORT TIME FRAME.
WE SEE PFOS, WE SEE PFOA,
PFHxS AND SOME SHORTER CHAIN
AS WELL.
AND SO THIS WAS VERY EXCITING
FOR US.
A HUMAN -- WE'RE NOT GIVING
THESE PEOPLE STATINS OR
PHARMACOLOGICAL THINGS.
WE'RE CHANGING BEHAVIOR AND
LOWER PFOS.
ALONG WITH CHOLESTEROL WE'RE
SEEING PFOS.
THIS IS THE ONLY MODEL THAT I'M
GOING TO SHOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
MODELS IN THE ACTUAL PAPER, BUT
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING.
SO WHAT WE DID IS GROUPED PEOPLE
BY RESPONDERS, NON-RESPONDERS,
LOOKED AT MEDIAN TOTAL
CHOLESTEROL, PUT THEM IN TWO
BINS.
INTERESTINGLY, WE ONLY SAW A
SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION WITH
PFOS AND TOTAL CHOLESTEROL IN
THE RESPONDERS GROUP.
SO THE MORE THAT YOU LOST, YOU
HAD A STRONGER ASSOCIATION WITH
CHOLESTEROL.
WHICH COUNTERINTUITIVE OR ARE WE
SAYING IF YOU LOWER YOUR
CHOLESTEROL IT'S BAD FOR YOU,
NO, WE THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY
INTERESTING THINGS WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT ABOUT THE KINETICS
OF PFOS HERE, AND THIS IS ALL IN
THE MANUSCRIPT WE WON'T GET
INTO.
SINCE DIET WAS AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THE PREVIOUS TALK, HERE IS
SOME OF THE ACTUAL SCORES FOR
THE DIET.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE SAW INCREASE IN
TOTAL FRUITS, INCREASE IN TOTAL
VEGETABLES, SO ON.
THE REASON TO BRING THIS UP SOME
TIE -- SOME DIETARY MAY BE A
SOURCE OF PFOS, BUT ALSO THE
RESVERATROL, OMEGA-3 FATTY
ACIDS, BIOCOMPONENTS MIGHT HAVE
COME INTO PLAY.
SO I'LL SUMMARIZE HERE.
THE HEART-HEALTHY INTERVENTION
DECREASED CIRCULATING
CHOLESTEROL AND PFAS, IS THERE A
INTERESTING ASSOCIATION BETWEEN
CHOLESTEROL AND PFOS?
MAYBE.
AND THEN MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE
DONE TO DETERMINE IF SPECIFIC
COMPONENTS OF THE INTERVENTION
ARE KEY.
IS IT THE DIET?
IS IT THE EXERCISE?
IS IT A SYNERGISM OF ALL THESE
HEALTHY THINGS AT PLAY?
THAT'S THE NEXT STEP FOR THAT
FOR SURE.
I'LL STOP THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE REASONS
TO EAT A HEALTHY DIET.
NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK DR. BIRKHOLZ
TO ZINN.
TO -- TO BEGIN.
>> I'M LOCATED IN EDMONTON,
ALBERTA, CANADA.
I DID THIS WORK WITH DR. STEVE
INGENIS, A CLINICIAN, WHO FELT
HE WAS OVERWHELMED WITH
CHRONICALLY ILL PATIENTS.
WE HEARD THAT THIS MORNING
ALREADY.
STEPHEN PUBLISHED OVER 21
PAPERS, IN WHICH HE FELT THAT
CHRONIC DISEASE WAS THE RESULT
OF EXPOSURE TO TOXICANTS,
EDCsS, DIETARY DEFICIENTY
INTERACTING WITH THE GENOME.
HE HAS RETIRED AND
UNDERSTANDABLY DECLINED TO SPEAK
AT THIS CONFIDENCE, SINCE I'M A
CO-AUTHOR OF STUDIES, HE
APPROACHED ME, I'M GLAD TO
PRESENT HIS WORK.
NEXT SLIDE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR READING BUT I'VE
BEEN TOLD TO KEEP THIS TO
EXACTLY 12 MINUTES.
I'M LECTURED FOR A LIVING.
WE'RE THE FIRST GENERATION
EXPOSED TO WIDESPREAD CHEMICALS,
WE'VE HEARD THAT.
MANY ARE UNTESTED FOR HUMAN
EXPOSURE, PROBABLY A LOT OF
UNKNOWN EDCs.
WE HAVE OVER 204 MILLION
SUBSTANCES REGISTERED WITH
UNIQUE NUMBERS.
ROUGHLY 300 MILLION TONS OF
MAN-MADE CHEMICALS ANNUALLY
INTRODUCED AND USED IN INDUSTRY
AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS, UP TO
5.9 MILLION TONS OF PESTICIDES
USED IN AGRICULTURE AND A MYRID
OF SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS FOUND IN
OUR FOODS, AIR, WATER, BODIES.
LIFE EXPECTANCY IMPROVED OVER
THE LAST CENTURY IN DEVELOPED
NATIONS, EXPANDING PREVALENCE OF
CHRONIC AND DEGENERATIVE ILLNESS
OF LATE IS DEBILITATING MANY
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, EXPOSURE TO
UNWANTED CHEMICALS MAY WELL BE
THE CAUSE.
NEXT.
THERE'S NUMEROUS STUDIES
CONDUCTED FOR SEVERAL DECADES
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THAT HAVE
BASICALLY SHOWN THAT ADULTS AND
CHILDREN HAVE ACCUMULATED TOXIC
CHEMICALS.
WE HAVE STUDIES BY ENVIRONMENTAL
WORKING GROUP, BODY BURDEN OF
POLLUTION OF NEWBORNS OF 2005,
CDC HAS GENERATED REPORTS IN
2005 AND 2009 SHOWING HUMAN
EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL
CHEMICALS, IN CANADA OUR FIRST
REPORT CAME OUT IN 2010 THAT
DEALT WITH HUMAN BIOMONITORING
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS.
WE PUBLISHED TWO STUDIES IN 2008
AND IN 2010, CHEMICALS IN THE
SERUM OF PREGNANT WOMEN, ALSO IN
THEIR CHILDREN.
NEXT.
AT MINUTE LEFTS COMPOUNDS AFFECT
FUNCTION IN MANY WAYS SUCH AS
HORMONE DISRUPTION, IMMUNE
DYSREGULATION, CELL DAMAGE,
GENETIC INFLUENCE, ALLERGY
INDUCTION, LIVER COMPROMISE,
CONNER IS PROMOTIONS, SUCH --
TOXICANTED CAN EXPERT INFLUENCE
AT LOW CONCENTRATIONS.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT BLOOD,
URINE, SWEAT STUDIES PUBLISHED
BY DR. GENIS TO REVIEW
BIOACCUMULATION OF CHEMICALS AND
EXPLAIN AND DISCUSS RESEARCH
FINDINGS ON THE HUMAN EXCRETION
OF THESE CHEMICALS BY MEASURING
BLOOD, URINE, SWEAT LEVELS.
WE'RE ADDRESSING EXCRETION OF
METALS, PTHALATES, FLAME
RETARDANTS, PESTICIDES AND
PERFLUORO CHEMICALS.
STEPHEN AND I ARE ADJUNCT
PROFESSORS AT UNIVERSITY OF
ALBERTA AND GOT PERMISSION FROM
THE HEALTH RESEARCH ETHICS BOARD
OF THE UNIVERSITY TO CONDUCT
THIS STUDY.
WE BASICALLY USE NINE MALES,
ELEVEN FEMALES, TEN PARTICIPANTS
WERE PATIENTS IN STEPHEN'S
CLINICAL PRACTICE, TEN OTHERWISE
HEALTHY ADULTS, MEAN AGES OF THE
MALES WAS 44.4, FEMALES 45.6.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PER
FLUORINATED CHEMICALS.
I WON'T SPEND TIME ON THIS.
FINDINGS WERE PFCs ACCUMULATE
IN HUMAN BLOOD AND TISSUES,
LINKED TO ASSORTED HEALTH
CONCERNS.
THESE PROVIDE COMPELLING
EVIDENCE ORAL CHOLESTRYA LINE IS
EFFECTIVE AT HASTENING PFCS.
SAUNA DEPURATION IS NOT
EFFECTIVE MEANS.
NOT DETECTED IN SWEAT AND URINE.
PCBs ARE ANOTHER GROUP
BASICALLY MANUFACTURED BACK TO
1929, FOUND THEIR WAY IN A HOST
OF PRODUCTS.
YOU CAN READ ALL THE THINGS
ABOUT THEM HERE.
THERE'S ONE QUICK SLIDE ON DATA,
I DON'T HAVE MUCH SLIDES TO SHOW
YOU ON DATA BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TIME.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SIMPLE THINGS
LIKE URINE-TO-BLOOD RATIO,
SWEAT-TO-BLOOD RATIO, SHOWING
VERY HIGH SWEAT-TO-BLOOD RATIO.
OUR CONCLUSIONS OF CONGENERS
TESTED FOR, MANY ARE YOUR --
UBIQUITOUS.
WE FIND SOME DETECTED AT HIGH
LEVELS IN URINE AND SWEAT,
SUGGESTING PERSPIRATION MAY BE
MORE EFFECTIVE THAN URINARY
ELIMINATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT URINE AND BLOOD
AND SWEAT RATIOS.
INDUCED
INDUCED PERSPIRATION DOES APPEAR
TO HASTEN SOME.
PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN BANNED IN THE
UNITED STATES, IN CANADA FOR USE
IN BABY BOTTLES.
NOTABLE FINDINGS, THE DATA
SUGGESTS THAT IT BIOACCUMULATES
IN SUPERVISORS, AND RETAINED IN
TISSUES, LIKELY ADIPOSE EXCRETES
IN SWEAT.
CONSIDERABLE LEVELS FOUND IN
SWEAT SUGGEST BIOMONITORING MAY
NOT PROVIDE RELIABLE INDICATION
OF BPA TOXICANT BURDEN.
ANOTHER GROUP OF COMPOUNDS IS
PESTICIDES, IT'S INTERESTING
THAT A LOT OF THESE HAVE BEEN
BANNED IN NORTH AMERICA YET EVEN
TODAY IN 2024 IN SAMPLES WE
STILL FIND PEOPLE EXPOSED TO
DDT, DDE, HAVE YOU COUNTRIES
LIKE CHINA AND EASTERN EUROPE
THAT STILL PRODUCE PESTICIDES.
WE GET EXPOSED BECAUSE OF LONG
RANGE AIR TRANSPORT.
KEY FINDINGS IS DDT AND
METABOLITES WERE FOUND IN NEARLY
EVERY PARTICIPANTS REGARDLESS OF
AGE, SUGGESTING EXPOSURE IS
COMMON EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
BANNED.
PESTICIDES AND PARENT COMPOUNDS
WERE DETECTED IN PERSPIRATION
SUGGESTING SWEATING MAY DIMINISH
BODY BURDEN.
SOME PARENT ORGANOCHLORINE
PESTICIDES AND SOME METABOLITES
THAT WERE NOT READILY EXCRETED
IN PERCENT TRYINGS.
LIPO THERE'S PHILICITY IS A
MAJOR FACTOR INSURE FLUSSING
EFFICACY OF TRANSDERMAL
ELIMINATION.
ANOTHER GROUP OF COMPOUNDS WE
TALKED ABOUT WAS POLY BROMINATED
DIPHENY ETHERS.
THE CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY
IS NONE OF THE TESTED PBDE
CONGENERS WERE FOUND IN URINE,
PARTICIPANTS WHO INDUCED
PARTICIPATION THROUGH EXERCISE
EXCRETED GREATEST PROPORTION OF
PBDE 28.
THOSE WHO USED STEAM SAUNA
EXCRETED THE MOST PBDE 153.
CURRENT FINDINGS DRAW ATTENTION
TO THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING
BOTH BLOOD AND PERSPIRATION.
MANY PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED
EVIDENCE IN PERSPIRATION WITH
ABSENCE IN SERUM.
RATES MAY BE RELATED TO
CONCENTRATION OF SEBACEOUS
GLANDS.
STUDY PROVIDES BASELINE EVIDENCE
FOR INDUCED PERSPIRATION AS ONE
APPROACH FOR LEM -- ELIMINATIO.
AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A
MODALITY TO DIMINISH BODY
BURDENS.
PTHALATES IS ANOTHER GROUP OF
COMPOUNDS.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THEM TODAY AS
WELL.
THE KEY FINDINGS THAT WE HAD,
FOUND IN ALL PARTICIPANTS
SUGGESTING EXPOSURE TO TOXIC
COMPOUNDS IS COMMON, SOME
EXCRETED IN SWEAT, OTHERS NOT.
IN SOME FOUND IN SWEAT BUT NOT
SERUM SUGGESTING SOME DEGREE OF
PTHALLATE RETENTION AND
BIOACCUMULATION.
SOME METABOLITES SUCH AS MONO
ETHYL HEXOPTHALLATE WERE
ELIMINATED WELL IN SWEAT.
SEVERAL EVIDENCE IN UNIT, NO
EVIDENCE OF PARENT COMPOUNDS IN
EITHER SERUM OR SWEAT.
ANOTHER GROUP WERE TOXIC
ELEPHANTS, INDUCED SWEATING MAY
HAVE POTENTIAL AT CLINICAL
INTERVENTION.
CLUSTERS OF PEOPLE SUCH AS
FIREFIGHTERS, WELDERS, MAY BE
ADVISED TO REGULARLY UNDERTAKE
INDUCED SWEATING.
SOME TOXIC ELEMENTS SUCH AS
CADMIUM, AND TIN ARE FREQUENTLY
NOT DETECTED IN SERUM BUT MAY BE
FOUND IN SWEAT FROM THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL.
IN CONCLUSION, DETERMINING BOLD
BURDEN OF TOXIC ENVIRONMENTAL
CHEMICALS IS ESSENTIAL IN
DETERMINING POSSIBLE CAUSES OF
CHRONIC DISEASE.
WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHETHER
MITIGATION IS APPROPRIATE.
ANALYZING BLOOD AND URINE ALONE
MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR SOME
CHEMICALS.
SWEAT ANALYSES IS ESSENTIAL.
FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON
SWEAT, IN OTHER WORDS BODY
PARTS, SEBACEOUS GLANDS, SAUNA,
EXERCISE, HOW MUCH TIME
MITIGATIONS TAKE PLACE, HEALTH
AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS WE'VE
HEARD ABOUT TODAY SEVERAL TIMES
IS ESSENTIAL AND MAY EXPLAIN
RESPONSES.
>> CAN YOU CONCLUDE?
THANK YOU.
>> JUST A SEC HERE.
THERE'S MY COORDINATES IF ANYONE
NEEDS TO CONTACT ME BECAUSE WE
HAVE LIMITED TIME AT THIS
MEETING.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I KEPT ON TIME.
>> OKAY.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I HAVE A QUESTION.
A QUESTION/COMMENT FOR MICHAEL.
BACK TO THE SLIDE SHOWING
MARKERS, LOOKING FOR
CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS.
ONE WAS A GLARING OMISSION, WHEN
I'M NOT IN THE LAB I'M AN
EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN ON
WEEKENDS, AND ANIMALS LIKE
HUMANS OFTEN PRONE TO GETTING
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, WE'RE
FACED WITH RADIO GRAPHS,
PULMONARY EDEEMA CARDIOGENIC OR
NOT CARDIOGENIC, WE TEST
PEPTIDE, HUMANS AND ANIMALS, ONE
HEALTH APPROACH, WONDERING WERE
YOU DIDN'T LOOK AT BNP BECAUSE
IT IS SO COMMON.
>> WE FOCUSED ON CHOLESTEROL,
IT'S THE STRONGEST PREDICTOR OF
CARDIOVASCULAR RISK RELATED TO
ATHEROSCLEROSIS, MAYBE FOR
CARDIAC FUNCTION THE BNP IS, WE
WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE IN THIS
COHORT BUT THERE'S VERY LIMITED
SERUM AVAILABLE.
>> WE'LL TAKE LIVE QUESTIONS
FOR.
>> JOANNE COURTNEY, OFFICE OF
DISEASE PREVENTION.
I HAD A COUPLE COMMENTS, MAYBE
QUESTIONS IF THIS IS APPLICABLE.
IN TERMS OF CR BOX AND BUILD A
BOX, CURIOUS IF THAT WAS BEING
DISSEMINATED TO LIKE HOAs,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PUBLIC
HOUSING, HOW THAT'S GOING, AND
THEN IN GENERAL FOR PEOPLE WHO
DO LIFE COURSE WORK SPECIFICALLY
IN WOMEN, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT
BIRTH RATES AND STILLBIRTHS,
LOSS OF CHILDREN, WONDERING IF
PEOPLE ARE ALSO SURVEYING
FIBROIDS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF INFORMATION ON FIBROIDS
AND EDCs, I THINK IF WE START
SURVEYING IT WE CAN CHANGE THE
LANDSCAPE OF WHAT'S GOING ON
THERE.
THANKS.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.
>> DR. BRAUN.
>> YES, SURE.
YES, WE'RE TRYING.
RIGHT NOW IT'S A ONE-PERSON
SHOW, THAT'S ME.
I SOMETIMES GET UNDERGRADUATE
SUPPORT BUT REALLY NEED -- WE'RE
TRYING TO DO MORE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT SO IT'S A MATTER OF
FINDING SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THIS,
10, 20 HOURS A WEEK TO BEAT
BUSHES, RUN EVENTS.
ONE DONE ONE EVENT IN LOW INCOME
HOUSING, ANOTHER AT A BOYS AND
GIRLS CLUB.
WE'RE DOING WORK IN JACKSON,
MISSISSIPPI, WHERE MY COLLEAGUE
ERICA WALKER WORKS, WOOD PELLET
PLANTS, CORSI ROSENTHAL BUILD A
BOX EVENTS THERE, NICE TO DO IT
SYSTEMATICALLY, FRAGMENTATION OF
HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY WHO WE
CAN REACH OUT TO BUT IT'S A
GREAT IDEA TO GET IT OUT TO
HOAs AND OTHER LARGER GROUPS
THAT WE CAN DISSEMINATE TO A
BIGGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
>> HAVE YOU -- ARE YOU PART OF
THE PARTNERSHIPS FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
THAT'S AN NIEHS ORGANIZATION
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGED RESEARCHERS
WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE
THIS INFORMATION?
>> I CAN REACH OUT TO LIAM
ACTUALLY.
>> DR. PETERSON, DID YOU WANT TO
ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT
UTERINE FIBROIDS AND OTHER --
>> I CAN ALSO ADDRESS THIS.
OH.
>> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT,
RITA.
THANK YOU.
>> NO, I DON'T MIND AT ALL.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION ABOUT
THE GYNECOLOGIC HEALTH IN WOMEN,
IT'S REALLY BEEN UNDERSTUDIED.
THERE'S SOME RESEARCH AROUND OUR
EDC EXPOSURES, THE BIGGEST ISSUE
WITH THE FIBROID, MOST WOMEN
DON'T COME IN UNTIL THEY HAVE A
BURDEN, PAIN AND GYNECOLOGIC
ISSUES.
THEY HAVE FIBROIDS BUT DON'T
HAVE SYMPTOMOLOGY.
WE DON'T QUITE KNOW THE
PREVALENCE, THERE HAVE BEEN
GREAT STUDIES COMING OUT OF
DETROIT, NIEHS, FIBROIDS AND EDC
EXPOSURE, SUGGESTING WE SHOULD
BE LOOKING CLOSER AT FIBROIDS
AND GYNECOLOGIC DISORDERS AND
PAIN.
SO ABSOLUTELY WE SHOULD BE DOING
MORE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT BUT WE NEED
MORE.
>> I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION FROM
AN ONLINE PARTICIPANT AND THIS
IS FOR DR. PETRIELLO ABOUT THE
WORK YOU DID GEOGRAPHIC
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PFOS AND
HEART DISEASE IN KENTUCKY.
WERE YOU ABLE TO LOOK AT
FENCELINE COMMUNITIES, YOUR
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS OR
INDUSTRIAL SITES TO MANUFACTURE
SUBPOPULATIONS WHO MIGHT BE AT
HIGHER RISK?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
WE PARTNERED WITH GAS FOLKS AT
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY TO DO
GIS AND THEY DID SPATIAL
ANALYSES, IT'S IN THE
MANUSCRIPT.
WE WERE ABLE TO SEE ASSOCIATIONS
WITH AIRPORTS AND SOME THINGS
AND HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES,
INDUSTRY, BEFORE.
WE WERE WORKING AT ZIP CODE
LEVEL SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN
THINKING OF THESE BARRIER
FENCELINES AND ALL THAT.
WE'D LOVE TO DO ANOTHER STUDY
WHERE WE HAVE ACTUAL ADDRESSES
FOR SURE.
THE FOLKS AT MICHIGAN STATE ARE
EXCELLENT AT THIS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY.
MY QUESTION FOR DR. PETERSON,
SURPRISED THE EDC SEEMED TO
REDUCE PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE
PRODUCTION, WHETHER YOU THOUGHT
WHETHER THEY WERE
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE AND HOW THAT
MIGHT AFFECT RESPONSE TO
INFECTION IN THAT COMMUNITY?
>> WE HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THE
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BUT I THINK
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
I GUESS THE OTHER THING THAT
ALWAYS -- AS WE SAY IN MEXICO
CITY, CROSS-SECTIONAL DATA,
THINGS WE THOUGHT WERE TRUE
ORIGINALLY, TRUE IN THE LONG
RUN, IN THAT SENSE, YEAH, I WISH
I HAD AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION
BUT I DON'T.
>> OKAY.
>> THE OTHER IS I MENTIONED
WE'RE WONDERING WHETHER EDC
EXPOSURE IS ASSOCIATED WITH
REDUCTION IN RISK FACTORS FOR
INFLAMMATION AND METABOLIC
SYNDROME AND/OR THE TIMING OF
THE MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION.
SO THAT THERE'S SOME UNDERLYING
PHYSIOLOGY WHICH WE'RE ABOUT TO
LOOK AT THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THAT,
MY TRUE ANSWER WOULD BE IT'S A
CROSS-SECTIONAL SNAPSHOT.
>> I WAS WONDERING IF YOU SAW
GENETIC PREDISPOSITION BETWEEN
RESPONDERS AND NON-RESPONDERS,
DOING GENT PROFILING OF PATIENT
POPULATIONS?
>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE NOT
PUBLISHED ANY OF THAT.
WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT.
>> OKAY.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION SENT IN,
AND IT'S ADDRESSED TO DR. BRAUN
BUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAS A
COMMENT, THE QUESTION IS ABOUT
GENETICS, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE
WHO ARE HOMOZYGOUS OR
HETEROZYGOUS FOR METABOLIZING
ENZYMES AND WHETHER YOU'VE
LOOKED AT THAT.
>> WELL, FOR PFAS, THE PFAS WE
KNOW OF IT WON'T MATTER BECAUSE
THEY ARE EXCRETED UNALTERED FROM
THE BODY.
THERE'S NO METABOLISM OF THEM.
I SAY THAT WITH POTENTIAL
EXCEPTIONS FOR NEW EMERGING PFAS
WITH ETHER LINKAGES THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY BIOLOGICALLY BREAK
DOWN BUT CARBON FLUORIDE CHAIN
DOESN'T GET BROKEN DOWN,
EXCRETED LARGELY UNALTERED.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST ONE
STUDY WHERE SOMEONE LOOKED AT
GSTM, AND PFAS BIRTH WEIGHT
RELATIONSHIP, BUT LEGACY PFAS
WOULD BE THEIR METABOLISM OR
EXCRETION WOULD BE ALTERED BY
THOSE PHASE 2 ENZYMES.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT LIMITS
EXCRETION IS THE FACT THEY HAVE
LOW RENAL IN HUMANS.
THAT WOULD BE THE OTHER
POLYMORPHISM IN TERMS OF
EXCRETION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
MODERATORS PROGRESS TO ASK FINAL
QUESTION BEFORE LUNCH.
I'M FASCINATED BY YOUR
FILTRATION FAN BOX.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GIVEN IT
A SPECIAL NAME, BUT HOW LONG DO
YOU THINK THAT BOX CAN LAST
BEFORE THE FILTERS NEED TO BE
CHANGED, HAS ANYONE BEEN LOOKING
TO SEE AT WHAT POINT YOU SHOULD
GET NEW, YOU KNOW, FILTERS FOR
THOSE?
>> YES, SO THE FIRST POINT,
OFFICIAL NAME IS CORSI ROSENTHAL
BOXES, WHAT JIM AND RICHARD
DECIDED TO CALL THEM.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SHORTER
NAME.
>> I CALL THEM CORSI BOXES BUT I
FEEL BAD BECAUSE ROSENTHAL --
>> WHAT ABOUT THE BRAUN BOX?
>> I'M NOT TAKING CREDIT.
>> JUST KIDDING.
>> FILTER REPLACEMENT, IT
DEPENDS.
IT REALLY DEPENDS ON AIR QUALITY
THEY ARE OPERATING IN.
IF YOU'RE LIVING THROUGH A
WILDFIRE EPISODE RIGHT NOW YOU
MAY NEED TO REPLACE THEM IN A
WEEK OR TWO BECAUSE THEY WILL
GET SO CLOGGED UP.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I
EMBARRASSEDLY JUST REPLACED MINE
AFTER 18 MONTHS BUT THEY ARE NOT
THAT DIRTY.
MY HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF
DUST.
THEY WORK BETTER THE MORE
CLOGGED THEY GET WITH DUST
BECAUSE YOU'RE FILTERING BUT THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE FAN DECREASES
TO PULL HARDER.
RECOMMENDED EVERY 6 TO 12 MONTHS
TO CHANGE THEM.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD.
>> ONE COMMENT WITH PFAS, OVER
15,000 OF THEM, WE'RE MEASURING
A SMALL SUBSET, WE'RE FINDING
THAT ON ACTUALLY ONCE THEY ARE
ULTRA SHORT CHAINS, C2 AND
C3s, MAYBE THE MAJORITY OF
EXPOSURE AND NOBODY IS MEASURING
THEM.
>> ON THAT POSITIVE NOTE,
THANKS, DR. BIRNBAUM.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT MORNING, IT'S
BEEN A LONG ONE, I HOPE YOUR
INTEREST HAS BEEN HELD BY THESE
FANTASTIC PRESENTATIONS
ESPECIALLY THIS LAST SESSION.
LET'S GIVE ONE LAST ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO OUR LUNCH
BREAK, MUCH-NEEDED LUNCH BREAK.
I HOPE EVERYONE RETURNS AT 1:30
EASTERN TIME.
THANK YOU.
WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR LUNCH
BREAKS.
WE HAVE MORE GREAT SESSIONS AND
SPEAKERS AND Q&A OPPORTUNITIES
THIS AFTERNOON.
WE PROMISE WE'LL GIVE A BREAK SO
IT'S NOT ONE BIG STRETCH THIS
AFTERNOON.
WE'RE STARTING WITH OUR NEXT
SESSION, WHICH IS FOCUSING ON
MICROBIOME AND METABOLOME
MODERATED BY HYE-SOOK KIM FROM
NCCIH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M A PROGRAM OFFICER AT NCCIH.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO
THIS SESSION ON THE MICROBIOME
AND METABOLOME, EXCITING AND
TIMELY WORKSHOP.
IN THIS SESSION WE'LL TAKE YOU
TO THE WORD OF THE MICROBES
LIVING IN OUR BODY, PARTICULARLY
OUR GUT.
WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS ABOUT HOW
THEY ARE AFFECTED BY ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING CHEMICALS AND ALSO
THE CHANGES IN MICROBES
IMPACTING OUR HEALTH.
AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN, WE HAVE
FOUR SPEAKERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO REVIEW THE PROGRAMS TO READ
MORE ABOUT THEIR BACKGROUNDS.
TO BEGIN OUR TALKS WE WILL KICK
OFF WITH DR. CHERYL ROSENFELD OF
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI,
FOLLOWING THAT WE'LL HEAR FROM
DR. VARYKINA THACKRAY,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN
DIEGO.
THEY WILL PRESENT MICROBIOME,
PARTICULARLY GUT MICROBIOME.
AND HEALTH IM -- IMPLICATION AND
THEN DR. JORDAN BISANZ AND DIANA
ROOPCHAND, WITH THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE DR. ROSENFELD TO
KICK US OFF.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR
THIS AMAZING CONFERENCE OF THE
WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE
ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
AFFECT THE MICROBIOME, THE
PERILS AND PROMISE.
I DON'T NEED TO GO INTO
DIFFERENT ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS, THIS IS FROM THE NIH
SITE.
WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS,
RETARDANDS, PTHALATES,
THYROESTROGENS, WHAT WE'VE HEARD
IS HOW THEY AFFECT -- WE HAVE
THEM COMBINING, TARGET EFFECTS
ON DIFFERENT ORGANS, SHOWN HERE.
WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IN US, WE
HAVE A HUGE GUT FERMENTING,
DIGESTING, ABSORPTION, IN CASES
THAT HOUSE MANY, MANY BACTERIA,
MANY GOOD FOR US.
BUT THE BACTERIA IN THE GUT, IT
WAS KNOWN THEY CAN BE INFLUENCED
BY MANY THINGS.
DIET, PHARMACEUTICALS, WHERE YOU
LIVE, LIFESTYLE CHANGES,
BIRTHING PROCESS, INFANT,
STRESS, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT
BACK TO FRANCIS COLLINS' POINT,
SEX DIFFERENCES.
THIS IS WHAT WE CAME INTO.
I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS MICROBIOME.
I TALK ABOUT TERMINOLOGY.
MICROBIOME REFERS TO THE BASE OF
THE GENES, MICROBIOTA A
DENIZENS, CITIZENS, RESIDENTS OF
OUR GUT.
I'LL SUMMARIZE NUMBERS.
ABOUT 90% OF DISEASES ARE
ATTRIBUTED TO CHANGES IN THE
MICROBIOME.
THEY ARE SMALL BUT HAVE
3.3 MILLION GENES COMPARED TO
22,000 IN THE HUMAN GENOME.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING THEY CAN
HAVE HUGE INFLUENCES ON US.
99.9% GENTSICS SIM LAR BUT IN
THE GUT THEY DIFFER.
THIS IS WHERE PRECISION MEDICINE
IS IMPORTANT.
GOING BACK TO SEX DIFFERENCES,
WHERE YOU LIVE, THIS CAN PLAY ON
GUT MICROBIOTA.
GUT MICROBIOTA CAN INFLUENCE
LIVER, BRAIN, LUNG, PANCREAS,
INTESTINE, KIDNEY, NOT ALL THE
ORGANS KNOWN TO DATE.
WE CAN AFFECT COUNT AND
RESISTANCE AND INFLAMMATORY
INFLAMMATORY
RESPONSE AND METABOLITES.
IT WAS WELL KNOWN YEARS AGO FOR
PRODUCTION OF VITAMIN B 1, MANY
METABOLITES ARE DEPENDENT.
WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON OUR GUT
MICROBIOTA.
THEY MAKE UM NEUROTRANSMITTERS,
THE GERM-FREE MICE DON'T HAVE
MICROBIOTA.
THOSE MICE THAT LACK GUT
MICROBIOTA HAVE NUMEROUS
DIFFERENCES.
YOU CAN SEE CHANGES IN STRESS
RESPONSE, ACETYLCHOLINE,
GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTORS, YOU
CAN SEE DIFFERENCES IN
ANXIETY-LIKE BEHAVIOR, COGNITIVE
DEFICITS, ULTRA SOCIAL WITH
SOCIAL TESTING, INCREASED
STEREOTYPIC OR REPETITIVE
BEHAVIORS SIMILAR TO
AUTISTIC-LIKE BEHAVIORS.
AGAIN, CHANGES IN
NEUROTRANSMITTERS INCLUDING ONE
THAT I'M INTERESTED IN,
SEROTONIN MA METABOLISM.
THEY CAN AFFECT OUR METABOLISM.
AGAIN, THIS IS IMPORTANT, WE
HAVE THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER,
THE MIKE ROW BIOTA CAN AFFECT
THAT AND MAKE US MORE PRONE TO
GENETIC DISEASES.
I SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE WAYS
THESE GUT MICROBIOTA CAN AFFECT
US, THE HOST, NEUROTRANSMITTERS,
PRODUCTION OF INFLAMMATORY
CYTOKINES AND MICROBIOTA, SHORT
CHAIN FATTY ACIDS BIKE BUTYRIC
ACID THAT CAN INDUCE EPIGENETIC
CHANGES IN US.
WITH THIS IN MIND, I DON'T KNOW
WHY, PREVIOUS TO OUR STUDY
PEOPLE HADN'T CONSIDERED
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
THEY CONSIDERED STRESS, DIET.
WHY DON'T WE SEE, WE HAD BEEN
DOING THIS WITH BPA, GENESTINE,
ESTRADIOL, HOW THEY CAN AFFECT
SELF BEHAVIOR, AND WE HAD
GENESTINE, LOW AND HIGH DOSE
BPA.
YOU CAN SEE CALIFORNIA MOUSE
MODEL, DID AFFECT SOCIAL BEE
HAINES, GENESTEIN HAVING EFFECT
THERE, VOCALIZATIONS, CHANGES IN
REARING AND HEAD DIPPING
RESPONSE.
THAT WAS ONE ASPECT.
BUT BPA CAN DIRECT EFFECTS ON
THE BRAIN.
YOU WANT TO COME INTO IT TO SEE,
WELL, DOES IT INDUCE DIFFERENCES
IN THE GUT MICROBIOTA, AND ARE
THEY SEX DIFFERENT?
THIS IS ONE STUDY IN FEMALES.
AT THE TOP, MALES AT THE BOTTOM.
GENESTEIN AND BP AEROBICS.
WHAT'S THE KEY SUMMARY FROM
THIS, WE DID GET CHANGES IN GUT
MICROBIOTA FOLLOWING
DEVELOPMENTAL EXPOSURE TO
GENESTEIN AND BPI.
COLLECTING THE FECAL BOLI, IT
WAS ADULTHOOD, NOT EVEN AT
BIRTH, THIS IS ADULTHOOD.
SO CHANGES IN THE GUT MICROBIOTA
ARE PERSISTENT AND LIKELY LONG
TERM.
YOU CAN SEE NOT ONLY DOES THE
ESTROGEN, WHETHER GENESTEIN OR
BPI, SEX PLAYS A ROLE, AS TO
WHAT TYPE OF MICROBIOTA CHANGES
WE'RE SEEING.
WE CONSIDERED METABOLITES.
I'M GOING TO SHOW FOR
ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES THIS IS
ONE, LOW DOSE BPA FEMALES,
VERSUS ESTROGEN FREE, HE CAN SEE
LOTS OF METABOLITE DIFFERENCES
IN THESE GUYS WHETHER THEY BE
EXPOSED TO THE BPA, SOME WITH
GENESTEIN AND HIGH DOSE BPA.
YOU CAN SEE MANY CHANGES.
THESE METABOLITES, ARE THEY ALL
BACTERIALLY DERIVED OR HOST?
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORK
ON FURTHER.
NOW WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, THIS
IS MORE COMPLICATED, INTEGRATE
ALL OF THESE RESULTS TOGETHER.
SO, WE'VE GOT GUT MICROBIOTA
CHANGES, METABOLITE CHANGES, AND
IN THIS CASE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES.
YOU CAN DO THIS FOR ANY STUDIES
IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING HOW THE
GUT MICROBIOTA MIGHT INFLUENCE
PHENOTYPE.
WE HAVE THE VOCALIZATION
BEHAVIOR AND SOCIALIZATION, A
MIX OMICS ANALYSIS.
NOT JUST COMPARING TWO TWO
CATEGORIES, YOU COMPARE MANY
CATEGORIES AND YOU CAN SEE HOW
DO THEY CORRELATE.
THIS CORRELATION IS NOT
CAUSATION.
POSITIVE CORRELATION IN RED,
INVERSE IN BLUE.
CLEARLY, THE MICROBIOME IS
HAVING INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH
CHANGES IN THE METABOLOME AND
WITH CHANGES IN THE BEHAVIOR.
THESE CAN BE FURTHER PURSUED
INTO CAUSATION BY OTHER MOUSE
MODELS, SPECIFICALLY WITHOUT
MICROBIOME OR COLLECTIVE FECAL
TRANSFER.
IF WE TAKE THE FECAL SAMPLES
FROM ONES EXPOSED TO BPA OR
GENESTEIN AND PUT THEM IN
WILDTYPE CONTROL WOULD THE
PHENOTYPE CARRY ALONG IN A THAT
WOULD BE CAUSATION.
MAINTAINING THOSE MICE IS NOT
EASY BUT YOU CAN ESTABLISH
CAUSATION.
WITH MIX OMICS ANALYSIS WE CAN
ESTABLISH CORRELATION IN
MICROBIOME CHANGES AND OTHER
ONES AS WELL.
PHENOTYPE AND METABOLITE
CHANGES.
SO, THIS IS -- IF I CONSIDER IT
THE TRIAD, ENVIRONMENTAL
CHEMICAL EXPOSURES, A HOST, US,
WITH GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC, AND
YOU HAVE THE GUT MICROBIOME, GUT
MICRO BIOTIC CHANGES.
I WOULD PROPOSE WE DON'T CONCERN
JUST ENDOCRINE CHEMICALS.
TO BE INCLUSIVE THERE SHOULD BE
HOST-MICROBIOME DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS, IT'S NOT JUST
AFFECTING US AND NOT JUST THE
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM.
GUT MICROBIOTA UNFORTUNATELY ARE
ALSO EXPOSED TO THESE CHEMICALS
WE'RE EXPOSED TO.
SO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING I DO WHEN I'M NOT IN
THE LAB, TO PHOTOGRAPH ALL
10,000 BIRDS IN THE WORLD.
10,000, I'M AT 1400.
I'VE GOT A WAYS TO GO.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE.
THIS IS THE CUBAN TOTE 'EM.
IT'S A VERY CUTE LITTLE BIRD THE
SIZE OF A HUMMINGBIRD.
MY BEST IMITATION, THIS IS NO
HUMMINGBIRD, SIR DAVEN ATENBORO.
WOULD HIS STEALTH SMALL SIZE AND
BEAK HAD ALMOST 100% ACCURACY IN
GETTING ANY INSECT.
>> WE HAVE SPANISH TRANSLATORS
WHO WOULD LIKE US TO SLOW DOWN
SPEAKING.
>> OKAY.
MY APOLOGIES.
SO BASICALLY THE CUBAN TOTE 'EM,
HE'S SMALL, VERY CUTE.
HE HAS ABILITY TO CATCH INSECTS,
USING STEALTH AND CHOPSTICK
BREAKS TO GET ANY INSECT HE
WANTS.
THIS COULD PUT YOUR BIG TIGERS,
LIONS TO SHAME.
THEY ONLY HAVE 10% ACCURACY TO
GET PREY.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU HERE
TODAY WE NEED TO STOP THIS TOOTH
AND CLAW APPROACH TRYING TO DEAL
WITH ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS AND TRY REPROGRAM A
BRAIN OR LIVER.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO LIMIT ALL
EXPOSURES AND DIFFICULT TO
REPROGRAM ORGAN AFTER ITS
ALREADY GONE THROUGH ALL THAT.
BUT WE CAN TAP INTO THE FACT WE
HAVES THEY GUT MICROBIOTA,
WORKING WITH US, LET'S UTILIZE
THAT.
EMILYIC DICKINSON, HOPE IS A
THINGS WITH FEATHERS.
NO OFFENSE, HOPE IS A THING WITH
A GUT MICROBIOME.
WALT WHITMAN, I AM LARGE, I CAN
USE MULTITUDES.
WE UTILIZE SMALL ORGANISMS THAT
CAN HAVE HUGE INFLUENCES ON ALL
OF OUR ORGANS TO TRY TO IMPROVE
OUTCOMES, GOING BACK TO THE
PREVIOUS SESSION OF HOW DO WE
DEAL WITH ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS AFTER THE FACT.
I'M NOT THE FIRST AND WON'T BE
THE LAST TO PUT THIS FORWARD.
WHAT WE CAN DO, BASICALLY LIKE
THE LEAF CUTTER HANDS, THEY
COLLECT LEAVES, THEY JUST BRING
THEM BACK TO THEIR AREA TO
CULTIVATE THE FUNGI AND THEN EAT
THE FUNGI.
WE CAN ACT ON THAT PRINCIPLE,
BASICALLY ALTER OUR PRE-BIOTICS,
THAT WOULD THEN HELP IN TERMS OF
NOURISHMENT OF GUT MICROBIOTA
AND PROVIDE BETTER BACTERIA FOR
US.
WE CAN ALTER GUT MICROBIOME
THROUGH PROBIOTICS.
OR ANOTHER OPTION, WE CAN USE
THE FACT SOME GUT METABOLITES
CAN INDUCE DISEASE CHANGES SUCH
AS BEHAVIOR AND OTHER RESPONSES,
AND THAT WOULD BE A POST-BIOTIC
APPROACH, GIVE PEOPLE BACK
METABOLITES IN DEFICIT.
WE CAN PUT FORWARD IDEA OF FECAL
MICROBIAL TRANSFER FROM HEALTHY
INDIVIDUALS TO THE DISEASED
INDIVIDUALS.
FECAL MICROBIAL TRANSFER, SARGE
THERAPY, ENGINEER BACTERIA,
MAYBE PUT BACK GENES IN DEFICIT
IN MICROORGANISMS TO HELP WITH
THE HOSTS THEMSELVES AND LASTLY
MIGHT CONSIDER LIVE
BIOTHERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS.
I'M SORRY IF I WENT FAST.
I DO APOLOGIZE.
I'D LIKE TO -- I DO TALK FAST.
I THANK ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
I WANT TO POINT OUT ACTUALLY
THIS IS MORE INCREDIBLE TO YOU
GUYS, THE ONES I'M LISTING HERE,
FIRST AUTHORS ON THOSE PAPERS,
WEREN'T GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES,
THEY WERE UNDERGRADS.
MY FORMER STUDENT, A RESIDENT
NOW IN INTERNAL MEDICINE, SHE
WON, BECAUSE OF THIS WORK,
OVERTOOK GRADUATE STUDENTS AND
POSTDOCS AND WON OUR INTERNAL
AWARD THAT YEAR SHE PRESENTED
IT.
MANY OF THESE ARE UNDERGRADUATES
FIRST AUTHORS AND BY THEIR OWN
INITIATIVE PUSHING ME, WE GOT
THESE STUDIES DONE.
I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLABORATORS, GENOMICS CORE
FACILITY AT UNIVERSITY OF
MISSOURI, AND THE FUNDING AT THE
TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M A SUPPORTER OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO HOLD QUESTIONS TO
THE END.
NOW I'M ASKING DR. THACKRAY TO
BEGIN HER PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE THE SPANISH TRANSLATORS,
BE MIND, GO SLOW DOWN THE
SPEAKING.
>> ONE THING THAT WILL HELP ME
SLOW DOWN, I'LL SAY NEXT SLIDE
TO ADVANCE SLIDES INSTEAD OF
ADVANCING MYSELF.
THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TRANSITION
TO TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE GUT
MICROBIOME AND IMPLICATIONS FOR
EDC MED GAGES -- MITIGATION.
I'M GOING TO GET INTO THE
IMPLICATIONS AT THE END.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
GREAT.
THERE'S NOW -- TWENTY YEARS
SINCE THE HUMAN MIGHT BE --
MICROBIOME STARTED AT NIH,
NOTING SEX DIFFERENCES IN MEN
AND WOMEN IN THE PROJECT,
INCLUDING THE GUT MICROBIOME BUT
DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT IT.
SO FOR MANY YEARS PEOPLE WHEN
TALKING ABOUT THE MATURATION OF
THE GUT MICROBIOME WOULD TALK
ABOUT RAPID MATURATION OCCURRING
AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN, WHOLE
BUNCH OF THINGS HAPPENING, AND
WOULD SAY, OH, ROUGHLY WHEN THEY
GET TO 3 TO 4 YEARS OF AGE THEIR
MIGHT BE -- THE MICROBIOME LOOKS
LIKE AN ADULT MICROBIOME.
WHAT ABOUT PUBERTY?
WHAT ABOUT SEXUAL MATURATION,
HOW IS THAT AFFECTING THE
MICROBIOME?
OVER THE YEARS, FOLKS HAVE
LOOKED IN RODENT MODELS, ALSO
LOOKED IN HUMANS, THERE'S NOW A
PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE SUGGESTING
THAT THERE ARE SEX DIFFERENCES
IN THE GUT MICROBIOME.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FROM A
REVIEW RECENTLY UP ON THE LEFT,
THE LIFE STAGE, VERY EARLY ON IN
CHILDHOOD, AND THEN PUBERTY,
YOUNG AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD, VERY
LITTLE EVIDENCE OF SEX
DIFFERENCES BEFORE PUBERTY.
A COUPLE CITATIONS HERE THAT I
INCLUDED THAT LOOKED AT THIS.
THERE ARE SOME THEN CITATIONS
WITH INDIVIDUALS GOING THROUGH
PUBERTY, SHOWING THERE STARTS TO
BE SEX DIFFERENCES IN BETA
DIVERSITY, WHICH IS THE
BASICALLY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
FECAL SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT
INDIVIDUALS.
SO LIKE THE OVERALL CHANGES IN
MICROBIAL ABUNDANCE ASSESSED BY
16 SRNA SEQUENCING, TOP LEFT, AS
WELL AS METAGENOMICS, WHICH IS
BULK SEQUENCING OF THE DNA OR
METABOLOMICS WHICH CHERYL
ALLUDED TO.
WHEN YOU GET TO YOUNG AND MIDDLE
ADULTHOOD THERE ARE QUITE A FEW
REFERENCES, BUILDING ALL THE
TIME, THAT FEMALES HAVE HIGHER
ALPHA DIVERSITY THAN MALES, SO
THIS SUGGESTS THE BIORICHNESS IN
WOMEN IS HIGHER AS THEY COME
INTO YOUNG AND MIDDLE ADULTHOOD.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SEX
DIFFERENCES IN BETA DIVERSITY,
INDICATED ON THE BOTTOM, LOTS OF
REFERENCES SUGGESTING THIS.
THIS IS OVERALL COMPOSITIONAL
DIFFERENCES, WHETHER IT'S LOOKED
AT BY 16S SEQUENCING OR LOOKING
AT THE METABOLITES ON THE RIGHT.
THERE'S A REFERENCE FOR THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF SUGGESTION
THERE ARE SEX DIFFERENCES NOW.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
LET'S CLICK, ADVANCE IT AGAIN,
YEAH.
WHAT THEN BEING A REPRODUCTIVE
ENDOCRINOLOGIST, THE ROLE OF
SEXUAL MATURATION IN PUBERTY, IT
STARTS TO MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBERTY, CAN YOU
CLICK, ADVANCE ONE MORE.
OH, GO BACK ONE.
SORRY.
THERE, OKAY.
SO, AGAIN, TO REITERATE MOST OF
THESE STUDIES SO FAR LOOKING AT
RODENTS AND HUMANS SUGGESTS THE
MICROBIOMES IN MALES AND FEMALES
IS SIMILAR BEFORE PUBERTY AND
SOME KIND OF DIVERGENCE OCCURS
DURING PUBERTY MAINTAINED IN
ADULTHOOD, WHAT ARE MECHANISMS?
THIS IS WHERE THE FIELD HAS
BASICALLY DROPPED THE BALL.
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
MECHANISMS ARE.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO GRANTS FUNDED
BY THE NIH THAT HAVE ADDRESSED
THESE MECHANISTIC QUESTIONS OF
HOW WE GET A DIFFERENCE IN THE
GUT MICROBIOME.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO WHAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN IS
WE WERE INTERESTED IN ASKING THE
QUESTION, IS THE REPRODUCTIVE
ACCESS REQUIRED FOR THESE SEX
DIFFERENCES.
SO I HAD A GRADUATE STUDENT WHO
USED A HYPOGONADDAL MOUSE MODEL,
SHOWS NORMAL REPRODUCTIVE AXIS
ON THE LEFT, AND MOUSE MODEL
SHOWN ON THE RIGHT, THERE'S A
MUTATION IN THE GnRH GENE,
LEADING TO LACK OF PRODUCTION OF
GnRH, YOU DON'T HAVE
ACTIVATION OF PITUITARY
PRODUCTION OF LEUTINIZING
STIMULATING HORMONE, THEREFORE
HAVE A HYPOGONADDAL MOUSE.
SHE TOOK THIS MOUSE.
YOU HAVE FOUR GROUPS OF MICE,
FEMALES THAT EITHER ARE WILD
TIP, INTACT REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS
OR MUTANTS, HYPOGONADDAL, SAME
WITH THE MALES, WILDTYPE OR MALE
MUTANTS.
SHE LOOKED AT PARAMETERS OF THE
GUT MICROBIOME AND ALONG THE
G.I. TRACT, SHE TOOK SAMPLES OF
FECES, IN THE ACTUAL INTESTINAL
COMMUNITIES WHERE THE ACTUAL
ACTION IS OCCURRING, WHETHER
IT'S IN SMALL INTESTINE OR LARGE
INTESTINE.
I WANTED TO SHOW ONE EXAMPLE, IN
THE SMALL INTESTINE, AND SHE'S
LOOKING AT BETA DIVERSITY, SO
AGAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
SAMPLES, AND CLOSER TWO DOTS
ARE, THAT INDICATES COMMUNITIES
ARE MORE SIMILAR, FARTHER APART
THEY ARE VERY DISSIMILAR.
AND SO WHEN SHE LOOKS AT -- IN
THE GREEN IS MALE WILDTYPE, AND
FEMALE IS PINK WILDTYPE.
SHE'S LOOKING AT THE LUMEN
CONTENTS, MICROBES IN THE LUMEN
OF THE SMALL INTESTINE, THEY ARE
NOT COMPLETELY OVERLAPPING.
THERE'S DIFFERENCES IN OVERALL
COMMUNITIES, WHETHER LOOKING AT
LUMEN ON THE LEFT AND MUCOSA ON
THE RIGHT.
SO THEN WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT IF
YOU THOUGHT REPRODUCTIVE AXIS
WAS REQUIRED FOR SEX
DIFFERENCES?
YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE NOW
OVERLAPPING COMMUNITY WITH VERY
LITTLE DIFFERENCES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE.
INDICATING AT LEAST IN THESE
PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES IN THE
SMALL INTESTINE THAT YOU NEED
THE HPGA IS AND PRODUCTION OF
SEX STEROIDS TO GET
DIFFERENTIAL, SEX DIFFERENTIATED
COMMUNITY.
SHE SAW THESE ARE DIFFERENCES
THROUGHOUT THE G.I. TRACT BUT
NICHE-SPECIFIC, SAME MICROBES
NOT IN THE SAME -- IN DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES, AND SAW NICHE
SPECIFIC CHANGES BUT SEX
DIFFERENCES IN ALMOST EVERY
ENVIRONMENT SHE LOOKED AT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO
INDICATE IS NOT JUST MICROBES
BUT METABOLITES THEY ARE
PRODUCING AS WELL.
IN THIS STUDY, THIS IS HER
UNPUBLISHED FINAL THESIS CHAPTER
WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON
PUBLISHING, SHE THEN LOOKED AT
MICE BEFORE PUBERTY AND ALSO
LOOKED AT MICE AT 10 WEEKS, SO
ADULTS.
SO, AGAIN, IF YOU ARE EXPECTING
EXPECTATION THAT THE
REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS IS REQUIRED
FOR SEX DIFFERENCES, YOU WOULD
EXPECT THAT PRE-PUBERTY WHETHER
SHE'S LOOKING AT MUTANT MICE,
WHICH IS THE TOP, SO THE MALE
MUTANTS AND IN THE BROWN AND
FEMALE MUTANTS IN THE BLUE, OR
THE WILDTYPE ANIMALS, THE FEMALE
IN PINK AND MALE IN GREEN,
THERE'S NOT THAT MANY -- DOESN'T
NOTCH EVIDENCE SEX DIFFERENCES
IN THIS OVERALL MICROBIAL
COMPOSITION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
IN CONTRAST WHEN YOU LOOK
POST-PUBERTY YOU DO SEE A
SEPARATION OF THESE COMMUNITIES,
IN THE WILD TYPE, ON THE BOTTOM
RIGHT.
QUITE A BIT OF SEPARATION.
YOU DON'T SEE THAT SEPARATION IN
THE MUTANTS.
AGAIN, SUGGESTING THAT THE SEX
DIFFERENCES IN ADULTHOOD ARE
DRIVEN BY ACTIVATION OF
REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS DURING
PUBERTY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, TO SUMMARIZE THEN CHANGES IN
THE GUT MICROBIOME ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOGONADISM OR
HYPERGONADISM.
GUT MICROBIOME OF WOMEN
POSTMENOPAUSAL HAS BEEN SHOWN TO
DIFFER FROM PRE-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
AND INTERESTINGLY A APPEARS TO
BE MORE SIMILAR TO GUT
MICROBIOME, A HYPO GONADAL
STATE.
IN PCOS WOMEN ARE OFTEN
DIAGNOSED WITH HYPER GONADISM.
AND GONADECTOMY IN RODENT MODELS
RESULTS IN CHANGES IN GUT
MICROBIOME, SHIFTS IN OVERALL
COMPOSITION IN TYPES OF MICROBES
THERE.
LAST, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS
ALTHOUGH PEOPLE HAVE NOT DONE
THIS FOR MALES AND FEMALES,
THERE'S BEEN STUDIES WHERE THEY
HAVE DONE GONADECTOMY WITH
STEROID REPLACEMENT, RESULTS IN
GUT MICROBIOME SIMILAR TO IMPACT
MICE THAN GONAD ECTOMIZED MICE.
STUDIES ARE SUGGESTING THAT
THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN WHEN
STEROIDS GO UP OR DOWN, THERE
POTENTIALLY ARE CHANGES IN THE
GUT MICROBIOME THROUGH
CONDITIONS WHERE IT'S A
PATHOLOGY OR DURING --
MENOPAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, ALSO
THERE ARE CHANGES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE GUT MICROBIOME.
NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS BACK TO WHAT FOLKS HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT, TO REMIND
FOLKS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEX
STEROIDS AND GUT MICROBIOME,
EDCs THAT MIMIC ON THE LEFT OR
BLOCK STEROID ACTION, WHETHER IN
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALLY OR IN
THE MATURE INDIVIDUAL, HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO DIRECTLY AFFECT THE
MICROBIOME THROUGH THE SAME
MECHANISMS THAT SEX STEROIDS
REGULATE THE GUT MICROBIOME AND
RESULT IN SEX DIFFERENCES.
NEXT SLIDE.
I JUST WANTED TO CONCLUDE, WHAT
DOES THIS IMPLY IN TERMS OF EDC
MITIGATION?
AS CHERYL MENTIONED, THE GUT
MICROBIOME IS HIGHLY MODIFIABLE
BY DIET AND MICROBIAL BASED
THERAPEUTIC INCLUDING
PRE-BIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS.
THIS GIVES A WINDOW INTO
POTENTIALLY ADDRESSING
PATHOLOGIES RISING FROM EDC
EXPOSURE.
AND THEN, AGAIN, GIVEN THAT
CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH
PATHOLOGY MAY BE MITIGATED BY
MODULATION OF GUT MICROBIOME,
THIS COULD -- THESE WHAT WE CAN
LEARN ABOUT THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY BE APPLIED TO EDC
MITIGATION.
AS CHERYL MENTIONED THIS COULD
INCLUDE FECAL MICROBIOME
TRANSPLANT, COULD INCLUDE
PRE-BIOTICS WHICH ARE LIKE THE
FOOD THAT BENEFITS THE
MICROBIOME AND ENCOURAGES SOME
OF THEM TO GROW MORE THAN
OTHERS, IT COULD BE SPECIFIC
PROBIOTICS.
I WOULD SAY THAT PROBIOTICS ARE
A BIT OF A MIXED BAG IN TERMS OF
AFFECTING THE MICROBIOME BUT I
THINK WE ARE JUST TOUCHING THE
SURFACE SO FAR ABOUT WHICH
PARTICULAR PROBIOTICS COULD HAVE
EFFECTS IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC
DISEASES OR CONDITIONS.
SO A LOT OF THE EARLY WORK HAS
BEEN DONE WITH LACTOBACILLUS,
BIFIDO BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM
YOGURT.
THIS CONCEPT OF HAVING NEXT
GENERATION SCREENS FOR POTENTIAL
PROBIOTICS, FOR VERY SPECIFIC
DISEASES OR CONDITIONS, I THINK,
SHOULD BE OUT THERE.
WE'RE VERY INTERESTED, FOR
EXAMPLE, IN SCREENING FOR NEXT
GENERATION PROBIOTICS THAT COULD
BE USED FOR WOMEN SUFFERING FROM
PCOS.
NEXT.
OKAY.
THEN SOME OF THE FUTURE STUDIES,
WE NEED QUITE A FEW FUTURE
STUDIES.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE, YOU
KNOW, A LOT MORE WORKINGS TO
UNDERSTAND BUILDING ON WHAT DR.
ROSENFELD HOW DO EDC MODULATE
COMPOSITION AND FUNCTION, HOW
ARE METABOLITES PRODUCED,
ALTERED, HOW DO CHANGES
INFLUENCE THE HOST, FOR EXAMPLE
GENE EXPRESSION IN THE GUT-LIVER
ACCESS OR HOST TISSUES IN THE
GUT-BRAIN ACCESS, STILL REMAINS
TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
NEXT.
HOW DO EDCs AFFECT GUT
MICROBIOME IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT
TO ETIOLOGY OR PATHOLOGY OF
DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH
SEX BIAS, OF WHICH THERE ARE
MANY, AND/OR SEX CHANGES AND SEX
STEROID LEVELS.
AS DR. ROSENFELD ALLUDED TO,
THERE ARE A LOT OF DISEASES NOW
THAT ARE -- MICROBIOME IS
IMPLICATED IN EITHER ETIOLOGY OR
PATHOLOGY.
NEXT.
YEAH, FINALLY WHICH SPECIFIC
PRE-BIOTICS, PROBIOTICS,
POST-BIOTICS, POTENTIAL
METABOLITES, CAN MITIGATE EDC
EFFECTS.
THIS IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
APPROACH, I BELIEVE POTENTIAL TO
DO INDIVIDUALIZED PERSONALIZED
MEDICINE IN TERMS OF THE GUT
MICROBIOME HAS VAST POTENTIAL IN
TERMS OF HELPING MITIGATE
EDCs.
NEXT.
I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF
MIGHT HAVE LAB THAT ARE INVOLVED
IN THIS PROJECT, COLLABORATORS
AT UCC ON THE RIGHT, SAN DIEGO
STATE UNIVERSITY, FUNDING AT THE
BOTTOM.
THANK YOU.
>> FANTASTIC TALK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. THACKRAY.
NOW WE HAVE -- LET'S SEE.
DR. JORDAN BISANZ, PLEASE COME
UP TO THE PODIUM.
>> PERFECT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, I'M VERY EXCITED TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK I'VE BEEN
DOING ON GUT MICROBES AND THE
ROLE THEY PLAY IN ACTING AS A
BARRIER AGAINST ABSORPTION OF
XENOBIOTICS, AND PARTICULARLY
TODAY EDCs.
OKAY.
WE HAD A GREAT INTRODUCTION TO
THE MICROBIOME EARLIER BUT
THERE'S ONE NUMBER I WANT TO
FOCUS IN ON, WHICH IS THIS IDEA
THE SUM OF ALL THE MICROBIAL
GENES OR FUNCTIONAL POTENTIAL IS
ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE HIGHER THAN
THAT OF THE HUMAN GENOME.
WE PROBABLY UNDERSTAND A
FRACTION OF A PERCENT OF WHAT
MOST OF THESE GENES ACTUALLY DO.
EVEN A LOT OF WHAT WE DO
UNDERSTAND IS NOT REALLY HELPFUL
IF WE THINK ABOUT THIS IN THE
CONTEXT OF TOXICOLOGY.
IF WE UNDERSTAND THAT A GENE IS
A REDUCTASE IF WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT'S REDUCING THAT'S NOT
HELPFUL INFORMATION.
A LOT OF MY SCIENTIFIC CAREER IS
GOING INTO THIS REALM OF UNKNOWN
GENES, TRYING TO FIND NEW
FUNCTIONS.
IN PARTICULARLY A LOT OF THAT
FUNCTION HAS TO DO WITH
METABOLISM OF XENOBIOTICS.
THAT CAN MEAN DRUGS OR TOXINS.
SO, I THINK THE THING THAT GETS
IGNORED IS THAT IF SOMETHING IS
BEING CONSUMED ORALLY IT HAS TO
PASS THROUGH MICROBES BEFORE IT
GETS TO THE HOST.
IF WE LOOK AT THE TOP LEFT THE
HOST EPITHELIAL LINING IN BLUE,
MICROBES IN RED, THEY MUST PASS
THROUGH THAT TO GET TO THE
INTESTINAL LINING.
THE FIRST STEP HAS BEEN IGNORED
TRADITIONALLY IN THESE FIELDS.
SO WE NOW HAVE A SIZEABLE AMOUNT
OF EVIDENCE SHOWING MECHANISMS
THROUGH WHICH GUT MICROBES CAN
INTERFERE IN THE PROCESS,
WHETHER DIRECT METABOLISM OF
COMPOUNDS, TO ACTIVATE OR
INACTIVATE, SEQUESTER THEM OR
POTENTIALLY AFFECT HOW THE HOST
IS GOING TO HANDLE THESE
COMPOUNDS.
AND SO I THINK THIS CREATES A
VERY INTERESTING RATIONALE OR
HYPOTHESIS WHICH IS, IS IT
POSSIBLE WE COULD MANIPULATE
THESE GUT MICROBES TO PREVENT
ABSORPTION INTO THE BLOODSTREAM?
AS A PESSIMIST OR REELIST, PART
OF ME THINKS IT'S A BIG ORDER TO
REMOVE THEM, WHAT IF WE CAN ACT
WHERE IT'S TAKEN UP INTO THE
BLOODSTREAM, KEEP ANYTIME THE
LUMINA, HAVE IT LEAVE THE BODY,
MIGHT AS WELL NEVER HAVE BEEN
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS WOULD BE MICROBES IMPACTING
THE HOST, ONE OF THE INTERESTING
OBSERVATIONS IN THE PAST CULL
COUPLE YEARS MICROBES CAN
MANIPULATE THE HOST TRANSPORT, P
GLYCOPROTEIN, A FAVORITE
TRANSPORTER, BOTTOM LEFT YOU CAN
SEE AN ANIMAL GIVEN A PARTICULAR
MODEL SUBSTRATE, DIGOXIN.
IF IT'S GIVEN A SINGLE ORGANISM,
IT HAS TWICE THE LEVEL OF DRUG,
THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S INHIBITING
THIS HOST EFFLUX TRANSPORTER.
ON THE RIGHT THIS IS LOOKING AT
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, BEST KNOWN
FOR BEING AN ANTI-MALARIAL DRUG
OR IMMUNOLOGICAL THERAPIES, NOT
SO EFFECTIVE FOR COVID.
COMPARE WHO DONORS, GENETICALLY
IDENTICAL BUT GERM-FREE MICE,
FECAL TRANSPLANT IN TWO DONOR
SAMPLES MICE WITH DONOR 1
MICROBIOMES HAVE DOUBLE LEVEL OF
DRUG ABSORBED THAN FROM DONOR 2.
IF WE COMPARE TO GERM FREE
MOUSE, THEY HAVE THE LEAST
AMOUNT OF DRUG GOING IN.
THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
WHERE GUT MICROBES ARE
MANIPULATING HOST OR DRUGS TO
AFFECT HOW THEY ARE TAKEN UP.
TOXIC METALS ARE PERHAPS NOT THE
FIRST EDC THAT COMES TO MIND BUT
ARE ON THE LIST.
THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL FOREVER
CHEMICALS, NOT MAN MADE BUT MAN
RELEASED.
DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE, THEY
CAN BE QUITE HIGH IN THE
ENVIRONMENT.
THEY CANNING QUITE COMMON IN
DIETS, DRINKING WATER, BUT
PERHAPS BEST KNOWN IS SEAFOOD.
TUNA FISH HAS OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF
MERCURY.
MY WIFE BUYS LOW MERCURY, $6 A
CAN, IT'S NOT LOW JUST TESTED TO
BE BELOW THE CUTOFF, MIND
BOGGLING, SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR
FOOD CHAIN FOR THAT TO BE TRUE.
ONE EXCITING THING METALS ARE
JUST AS TOBACCO -- JUST AS TOX.
YOU CAN NOT DESTROY A METAL OR
CONVERT IT BUT CAN CHANGE ITS
FORM, REDOX OR METHYLATION
REACTIONS.
A NUMBER OF MICROS HAVE A GREAT
ABILITY TO PASSIVELY SEQUESTER
THE METALS, WILL BIND TO CELL
WALLS AND YOU CAN SEE IN THIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE IMAGE, GRAY
MICROBES WITH WHITE SPECS,
THAT'S MERCURY PRECIPITATED ON
THE SURFACE, DO THIS WITH
MERCURY, LEAD, CADMIUM.
ON THE RIGHT THEY COMBINED 90%
OF THE MERCURY WHICH GOES BACK
TO THE HYPOTHESIS WHICH IS IS IT
POSSIBLE METALS SEQUESTERED BY
GUT MICROBES COULD BE
ACCUMULATED BEFORE THEY ENTER
THE HOST AND SHED IN THE FECES?
TO TEST THIS, TEN YEARS AGO WHEN
I WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT, I DID
A STUDY IN TANZANIA.
THE REASON FOR DOING THAT IS
LAKE VICTORIA IS POLLUTED WITH
HEAVY METALS, AS BAD AS LAKE
ERIE WHERE I GREW UP.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS PEOPLE
DON'T OFTEN EAT FISH FROM LAKE
ERIE, FISH ARE A MAIN DIETARY
PROTEIN FOR INDIVIDUALS ON THE
SHORES OF LAKE VICTORIA.
WE DID A FOUR-MONTH INTERVENTION
OF PREGNANT WOMEN, ONE-MONTH
INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL CHILDREN,
GIVEN DAILY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH
PROBIOTIC YOGURT.
WE FOUND WE COULD HAVE
SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON LEVEL OF
BLOOD MERCURY AND ARSENIC IN
PREGNANT WOMEN BUT NOT THE
CHILDREN.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS
FOR WHY THAT COULD BE.
PART COULD BE UNDERLYING
PHYSIOLOGY BETWEEN PREGNANT
WOMEN AND CHILDREN BUT A LOT IS
DURATION OF INTERVENTION AND
TIMING.
SO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE
HAVING YOGURT AT SCHOOL,
PREGNANT WOMEN WERE BEING GIVEN
IT AT HOME WITH MEALS.
AGAIN, IF WE THINK OF TRANSIT,
KINETICS, WE WANT THOSE
ORGANISMS TO BE PRESENT AT THE
SAME TIME AS FOOD MATRIX
CONTAINING THE METAL BOUND
BEFORE THE SMALL INTESTINE.
ONE THING LINGERS ON MY MIND,
THIS IS A GREAT START USING
THESE GRAS, GENERALLY RECOGNIZED
AS SAFE, COULD WE MAKE THEM
BETTER?
MICROBES TAKE METHYLMERCURY,
STREP THAT OFF, GIVE US
ELEMENTAL MERCURY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT, METHYLMERCURY
IS WHERE WE FIND IN OUR DIET,
WE'LL ABSORB 95% PLUS, ELEMENTL
MERCURY IS WHAT YOU COULD PLAY
WITH IN YOUR HAND, VERY POORLY
AVAILABLE FROM OUR
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.
THE IDEA AT FIRST COULD WE FIND
PROBIOTIC BACTERIA THAT HAVE
THIS PATHWAY.
FOR REASONS NOT CLEAR, PROBABLY
DOING WITH EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY,
THERE ARE NO KNOWN GRAS
PROBIOTICS.
THE ANSWER BECOMES CAN WE
ENGINEER THEM TO DO THAT?
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WE'VE TAKEN TWO DIFFERENT
CONVENTIONAL PROBIOTIC STRAINS,
AND WEEP ENGINEERED IN THIS
ORGANOMERB, CLEAVING OFF AND
REDUCES BIOAVAILABILITY IN THE
G.I. TRACT.
WE TALKED ABOUT PRO BY PROBIOTG
HIT OR MISS, THEY OFTEN CAN'T
COLONIZE BUT PERFECT HERE.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO COLONIZE.
WE WANT THEM TO SEQUESTER AND
CARRY IT OUT.
ONE GREAT THING BECAUSE THIS
WOULD BE SPECIFIC FOR MERCURY,
WE'RE NOT SO WORRIED ABOUT OTHER
METALS, ESPECIALLY NUTRITIONALLY
IMPORTANT METALS.
AND AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE,
THE GENE WE TOOK IS FROM AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISM, BACILLUS
MAGATERIUM ISOLATED FROM JAPAN,
SITE OF MERCURY POISONING.
WE INSERTED THAT INTO REDUCTASE
GENE TO DO TWO MUTATIONS AT
ONCE, WITH THE IDEA OF
INCREASING ABILITY TO SEQUESTER
MEDALS -- MET METALS AND KEEPT
TRAPPED THERE.
IN COLLABORATION WITH MY
COLLEAGUE AT PENN STATE ANDREW
PATTERSON WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING
VARIOUS PFAS.
ONE THING WE'VE COME TO REALIZE
PFAS EXHIBIT OFF-TARGET EFFECTS
ON HUMAN COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S SHOWN ON THE RIGHT.
IN THESE EXPERIMENTS WE'VE TAKEN
FOUR HEALTHY REFERENCE HUMAN
DONOR FECAL MATERIAL, GROW THEM
UP IN RICH MEDIA, 100 ORGANISMS
GROW OUT AND EXPOSE THEM TO WIDE
RANGE OF PFAS.
DEPENDING ON SPECIES CAN HAVE
VARIETY EFFECTS ON GROWTH.
PERHAPS THE MOST OBVIOUS IS AOF
IN RED.
IN DONOR 1 ALMOST COMPLETELY
KNOCKS OUT ABILITY OF MICROBE TO
GROW.
DONOR 3, THERE'S A DELAY, THEY
CAN RECOVER.
THIS AFFECTS TRANSCRIPTOME
METABOLOME INCLUDING FORMATION
OF BENEFICIAL METABOLITES BUT WE
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHO WAS
AFFECTED BY THIS.
SO THROUGH LARGE SCALE SCREENING
OF HUMAN ISOLATES, WE'VE
IDENTIFIED CORE MICROBES
RESPONSIVE TO COMPOUNDS.
TOXICITY APPEAR TO BE CORRELATED
WITH NUMBER OF FLUORINES IN THE
CHAIN.
A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS.
I'M HAPPY THIS MONITOR SHOWS IT
WELL ENOUGH.
WHAT THIS IS ON THE LEFT IS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE
ACTUAL MICROBE THAT'S BEEN THIN
SECTIONED.
AND THEN NEXT TO IT IS AN
ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS.
THE CENTER COLUMN SHOWS
NITROGEN, SHOULD BE FOUND IN
BACTERIAL CELLS.
NEXT COLUMN SHOWS FLUORINE, NOT
HIGH IN NATURAL SYSTEMS.
YOU CAN SEE MIRRORING THE
OUTLINE OF THE CELL, THE THIS IS
A VERY RAPID PROCESS, SHOWN HERE
IN THE PANEL ON THE RIGHT.
WITHIN HALF AN HOUR THEY HAVE
TAKEN UP 40% OF AOF, THIS PFAS
WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
AND THEN ABOUT 3 HOURS, YOU CAN
SEE IT START TO DISAPPEAR.
ONE EXCITING THING, THAT'S NOT
THEM RELEASING THE PFAS, THEY
ARE CHANGING TO DIFFERENT FORM
BY MESSING WITH THAT HEAD GROUP.
GUT MICROBES CAN ACCUMULATE AND
POTENTIALLY CHANGE FORM.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD, I THINK
MANIPULATION OF GUT MICROBES,
THIS HAS GREAT POTENTIAL.
WE CAN ACT AT THE CRUCIAL MOMENT
FOR DIETARY EXPOSURE WHEN EDCs
ENTER THE BLOODSTREAM.
PROBIOTICS AND FERMENTED FOOD
CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO A DIET,
MANY PEOPLE DO THAT.
THEY CAN BE LOW COST TO PRODUCE.
PROBIOTIC PRODUCTS THAT WE USED
IN TANZANIA WERE PRODUCED IN
COMMUNITY KITCHENS.
IF HAVE YOU MILK YOU CAN
PROPAGATE ORGANISMS THROUGH THAT
IN A HOME KITCHEN.
I THINK TWO OF THE NEXT BIG
STEPS GOING FORWARD, WE NEED TO
DO INTERVENTION STUDIES IN
HUMANS ADEQUATELY POWERED AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT MECHANISMS AND
MICROBE EDC INTERACTION ARE THAT
COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR TARGETED
THERAPIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY LAB AND
ANDREW PATTERSON AT PENN STATE
AND OUR FUNDING SOURCES.
>> FABULOUS TALK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. BISANZ.
LAST IS DIANA ROOPCHAND.
PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
>> OKAY.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
BEFORE I GET INTO MY WORK I'M
GOING TO SUMMARIZE THE WORK OF
MY COLLEAGUE WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO
MAKE THE MEETING, TROY IS A
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGIST IN THE
ANIMAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT AT
RUTGERS.
AND HE STUDIES ORGANOPHOSPHATE
FLAME RETARDANTS.
WE'VE TOUCHED ON THIS ALREADY.
THIS IS A CLASS OF EDCs USED
IN MANY KINDS OF COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS, EVERYTHING FROM FUN
TIRE -- FURNITURE TO FOODS, SHE
EXAMPLES HERE, TCP, TPP, TDCPP.
HE STUDIES ORGANOPHOSPHATES IN
MIXTURES.
THESE ARE -- WE'RE EXPOSED TO
THESE ALL THE TIME.
MAINLY IN DUST THAT WE'RE
INGESTING.
AND EXPOSURE ESTIMATES ARE 1:100
MICROGRAMS PER KILOGRAM PER DAY.
THIS IS ENOUGH TO HAVE
PHYSIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT LEVELS
IN OUR SERUM, BREAST MILK AND
URINE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
RESEARCHERS FOUND OPFRs CAN
INTERACT WITH NUCLEAR RECEPTORS,
AND BOTH E.R. ALPHA AND PPAR
GAMMA ARE REGULATORS OF ENERGY
HOMEOSTASIS.
BALANCING ENERGY HOMEOSTASIS IS
A CAREFUL COORDINATION OF FOOD
INTAKE AND ENERGY EXPENDITURE.
AND SO THIS IS REGULATED BY
PERIPHERAL MARKERS OF ENERGY
STATUS SUCH AS BLOOD GLUCOSE,
FREE FATTY ACIDS, INSULIN AND
LEPTIN.
HOWEVER, A LOT OF THIS
REGULATION IS ACTUALLY OCCURRING
CENTRALLY IN THE BRAIN.
AND SO MOST OF THE REGULATION IS
GOING ON IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS,
AND THIS IS A BLOWUP OF THE
HYPOTHALAMUS, WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING AT HERE IS A RCUATE
NUCLEUS TO SENSE ENERGY STATES
THAT ARE GOING ON PERIPHERALLY
BECAUSE THIS IS IS ADJACENT TO
LEAKY PORTION OF THE BLOOD-BRAIN
BARRIER.
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE IT CAN --
NEURONS CAN INTEGRATE SIGNALS
FROM GLUE COAST BUT THEN ALSO
OTHER HORMONES.
SO SINCE THESE OPFR COMPOUNDS
INTERACT, HIGHLY EXPRESSED,
OPFRs ARE LIKELY DISRUPTING
ENERGY HOMEOSTASIS, THAT'S BEEN
THE HYPOTHESIS.
SO THE ROEPKE LAB PUBLISHED
SEVERAL STUDIES TO INVESTIGATE
EFFECTS OF OPFRs ON OFFSPRING
AFTER MATERNAL EXPOSURE AND IN
ADULT RODENTS WHILE ADULTS.
IN ALL OF THE STUDIES THAT HAVE
BEEN DONE IN THE LAB, HE HAS
USED THIS MIXTURE OF 1 MILLIGRAM
PER KILOGRAM OF EACH OF THESE
THREE COMPOUNDS THAT I
MENTIONED.
THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THIS MIXTURE
IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF
STRAINS OF MICE, USING DIFFERENT
TYPES OF DIETS, THEY HAVE LOOKED
AT A BATTERY OF ENDPOINTS.
THAT'S A TON OF DATA.
I'M SHARING A FEW PIECE ALSO OF
DATA THEY HAVE PUBLISHED.
SO HERE IN A MA TERM EXPOSURE TO
THIS MIXTURE OF OPFRs WHAT
THEY FOUND WAS IT RESULTED IN
INCREASED SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC
BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADULT MALE
OFFSPRING WHETHER THEY WERE ON A
LOW FAT DIET OR WHETHER THEY
WERE ON A HIGH FAT DIET.
THIS WAS NOT OBSERVED IN
FEMALES.
SO THOSE ARE THE ARROWS SHOWING
DIFFERENCES.
IN THIS MATERNAL EXPOSURE TO
OPFRs THEY OBSERVED SEVERAL
OTHER SEX-SPECIFIC EFFECTS IN
THE OFFSPRING.
SUCH AS DIFFERENCES IN ENERGY
AND GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS, CHANGES
IN VARIOUS BEHAVIORS, AND
INTERESTINGLY WHEN THEY LOOKED
AT NEONATAL HYPOTHALAMIC AND
HEPATIC GENE EXPRESSION THEY
FOUND GENE EXPRESSION CHANGES
SUGGESTED AS THE MICE MATURED
THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE
ALTERATIONS IN PUBERTY, HORMONE
SENSITIVITY, AND METABOLISM OF
GLUCOSE AND FATTY ACIDS.
SO, THESE ARE EXPERIMENTS THAT
WERE DONE IN ADULTS NOW.
AND IN THIS CASE EXPOSED TO OPFR
MIXTURE FOR SEVEN WEEKS.
WHAT WAS FOUND WAS THAT THE OPFR
STIMULATED WEIGHT GAIN AND FAT
MASS ACCUMULATION ONLY IN
HIGH-DIET-FED MALES, NO
OBESOGENIC EFFECT IN LOW FAT
MALES BUT THERE WAS IN HIGH FAT
DIE ELSE MALES, NO EFFECT IN
FEMALES.
MALES TEND TO BE MORE SENSITIVE
TO OPFR COMPOUNDS IN THESE
EXPERIMENTS.
IN ANOTHER SET OF EXPERIMENTS TO
DETERMINE IF ER ALPHA OR PPAR
GAMMA WERE REQUIRED THEY LOOKED
AT KNOCKOUT MODELS.
WHAT THEY FOUND WAS IN ADULT
MICE, THE EFFECTS OF THE HIGH
FAT DIET AND COMBINATION OF THE
OPFRs ON BODY MASS, FAT MASS,
ALTERED FEEDING BEHAVIOR WERE
LOST IN ANIMALS WITH A WHOLE
BODY ALPHA KNOCKOUT OR IN
ANIMALS WITH A NEURONAL-SPECIFIC
PPAR GAMMA KNOCKOUT.
SO THIS SUGGESTS IN ORDER FOR
THESE EFFECTS TO BE SEEN YOU
NEED TO HAVE INTACT PPAR GAMMA
TO POTENTIATE EFFECTS.
TO SUMMARIZE THE PRIMARY RISK OF
OPPRs AND EDC EXPOSURES IS
DISRUPTION OF ENERGY HOMEO STAYS
IN THIS -- - HOMEOSTASIS.
THESE MAY CULMINATE IN
DEVELOPMENT OF METABOLIC
DISEASES.
SO OF COURSE THERE ARE MANY
OTHER MOLECULAR TARGETS OF
EDCs, NOT JUST ALPHA AND PPAR
GAMMA, SOME ARE BILE ACID
RECEPTORS.
EDC IS ALSO -- CAN INITIATE
EPIGENETIC MODIFICATIONS AS WE
HEARD AND INDUCE MITOCHONDRIAL
STRESS.
SO, STUDIES HAVE MAINLY BEEN
ADDRESSING SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS OR
CLASSES OF EDCs BUT WE KNOW
REAL WORLD EXPOSURES CONSIST OF
MIXTURE OF EDCs, AND CURRENT
REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESSES DO
NOT REQUIRE SAFETY TESTING OF
PESTICIDE MIXTURES.
WE KNOW EDC EXPOSURE CAN PREVENT
THIS TRIAD OF SYMPTOMS, GUT
DYSBIOSIS, IMPAIRED BARRIER, IN
THE CONTEXT OF FEEDING HIGH FAT
DIET BUT MANY CAN JUST BE
EXPOSED TO EDCs.
IN THE ABSENCE OF EDCs, THE
MOUSE OR RAT WOULD SHOW HEALTHY
GUT, LOW FIRMICUTE TO
BACTEROIDES RATIO, HIGH LEVEL OF
LACTOBACILLUS, NORMAL LEVELS OF
TIGHT JUNCTION EXPRESSION,
INTACT INTESTINAL UP EPITHELIUM,
NORMAT INTESTINAL RESPONSE.
WE FIND DECREASE IN
LACTOBACILLUS IMPORTANT FOR
MAINTAINING INTEGRITY OF
EPITHELIUM, THIS CAUSE WHAT IS
WE CALL LEAKY GUT, WHERE
LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE AND OTHER
BACTERIAL COMPONENTS CAN LEAK
ACROSS EPITHELIUM AND INDUCE
METABOLICS TOXEMIA, THIS IS ALSO
CHARACTERIZED BY INCREASE IN
INFLAMMATION IN THE INTESTINAL
TISSUES AS WELL AS SYSTEMICALLY.
THIS CAN LEAD TO INSULIN
RESISTANCE AND INCREASE IN
GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.
ALL OF THIS HAS FURTHER BEEN
ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERED
PRODUCTION OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS,
GUT PEPTIDES, AND THE AMOUNTS
AND PROFILES OF BILE ACIDS AND
SHORT CHAIN FATTY ACIDS THAT ARE
PRODUCE THE.
SO, ONE THING I SHOULD MENTION,
I MENTIONED THIS IS INDUCED BY
HIGH FAT DIET, THE TRIAD OF
SYMPTOMS IS NOTED IN MANY OTHER
METABOLIC DISEASES.
THEY HAVE THIS COMMON CHRONIC
LOW GRADE INTESTINAL
INFLAMMATION.
AND SO WHAT ARE THE APPROACHES
THAT WE COULD USE TO MITIGATE OR
REPAIR THIS TRIAD?
SO, I WORK IN THIS AREA, MAINLY
LOOKING AT FOODS, DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS, NATURAL PRODUCT
COMPOUNDS THAT CAN MITIGATE
METABOLIC SYNDROME AND OTHER
TYPES OF METABOLIC DISEASE.
PRE-BIOTICS IS FEEDING THE GUT
BACTERIA, DIETARY FIBER AND
DIETARY POLYPHENOLS.
PROBIOTICS DEFINED AS LIVE
MICROORGANISMS OF DEFINED
SPECIES AND STRAIN.
THERE'S SEVERAL THAT ARE ON THE
MARKET, MOST ARE BACTERIA, YOU
HAVE YEAST, AND THEN WE KNOW
THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED
TO HAVE LIVE BACTERIA.
YOU CAN HAVE NON-VIABLE BACTERIA
THAT HAVE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS, OR
BACTERIAL COMPONENTS, OR
METABOLITES.
SO EXAMPLES OF METABOLITES WOULD
BE SHORT CHAIN FATTY ACIDS, THE
RESULT OF FIBRO METABOLISM BY
GUT BACTERIA OR PHENOLIC ACID,
RESULT OF METABOLISM OF DIETARY
POLYPHENOLS.
AND SO JUST AN EXAMPLE FROM MY
OWN WORK WE'RE INTERESTED MAINLY
IN COMPOUNDS WE EXTRACTED FROM
GRAPE THAT CAN PROMOTE METABOLIC
HEALTH AND RESOLVE SYMPTOMS IN
OUR MODELS.
GRAPE POLYPHENOLS ARE POORLY
ABSORBED COMPOUNDS.
SO STAY IN THE LUMINA OF THE GT
AND THEY CAN ACT, HYPOTHESIS HAS
BEEN THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO
IMPROVE METABOLIC HOMEOSTASIS BY
HOST DERIVED METABOLITES TO
SIGNAL TO THE HOST CELLS.
WHEN WE WORK WITH THEM WE
EXTRACT IT FROM WASTE PRODUCT
AND FROM CONCORDE GRAPE HUMMUS
AND TAKE THAT AND BIO CHEMICALLY
CHARACTERIZE AND QUANTIFY THE
POLYPHENOLS AND THIS PROTEIN IS
NOT A HIGH SOURCE OF PHYTO
ESTROGENS WE SPOKE ABOUT IT'S A
PURIFIED PROTEIN.
WE TAKE THIS COMPLEX GRAPE POLL
PHENOL ISOLATES AND WE KNOW
THEY'RE STABLE AND BIO
ACCESSIBLE AND SHOW EFFICACY IN
OUR ANIMAL MODELS.
I SHOULD MENTION THIS IS A
PATENTED PROCESS AND LICENSED TO
NUT
NUTRISORB IN TERMS OF INDUCING
METABOLIC IMPROVEMENTS WE TESTED
IT IN SEVERAL ANIMAL MODELS.
I'LL SHOW TWO.
ONE IS THE HIGH-FAT FED WILD
TYPE MOUSE MODEL AND THE OTHER
IS DBDB MOUSE MODEL WITH A
MUTATION IN THE LEPTIN RECEPTOR
AND IN EITHER CASE IF YOU
SUPPLEMENT THE DIET WITH 1%
GRAPE POLYPHENOLS YOU GET AN
IMPROVEMENT IN GLUCOSE TOLERANCE
AND SEE A CHANGE IN THE GUT
MICROBUY -- MICROBIOTA AND WHILE
THE CHANGES ARE IN COMMON HOW WE
GET TO IMPROVE THE GLUCOSE
TOLERANT IS DIFFERENT DEPENDING
ON THE MODEL.
IN THE WILD TYPE ANIMALS WE SEE
A DECREASE IN ENDOTOXEMIA AND
SEVERAL INFLAMMATORY MARKERS.
IN THE DBDB MICE WE DON'T SEE A
CHANGE IN THE MARKERS OF
INFLAMMATION BUT WHAT WE SEE IS
A CHANGE IN BIO ACID PROFILE.
SPECIFICALLY INCREASE IN PRIMARY
BILE ACIDS AND INCREASE IN
CYP7A1 FOR SYNTHESIS AND
INCREASE IN R ACTIVE BASED ON A
DECREASE IN THE TARGET GENES.
AND WE KNOW FROM THE LITERATURE
THAT INHIBITION OF THE EFFECTS
IMPROVES GLUCOSE TOLERANCE IN
OBESE OR DIABETES MICE.
SO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS DOING
THIS WE COMPARED THE GRAPE
POLYPHENOL EXTRACT WITH THE
STANDARD IN WILD TYPE MICE JUST
FED LOW FAT DIET.
THE ANIMALS HAD THE EXTRACT OR
THE STANDARD FOR A SERIES OF
DAYS AND COLLECTED FECAL SAMPLES
BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT AND
YOU CAN SEE BY 10 DAYS AFTER
TREATMENT THE GRAPE POLYPHENOL
EXTRACT AS WELL AS THE PURIFIED
COMPOUNDS CAN BOTH INCREASE THIS
IN THE FECAL SAMPLES AS WELL AS
IN THE MICROBIOTA.
>> TWO MINUTES.
>> I'LL WRAP UP.
>> SO IT'S AN INTERESTING
MICROBE.
IT'S UP TO 4% OF THE GUT
MICROBIOTA IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS
AND IN A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED
TRIAL OF PASTURIZED COMPOUNDS IT
COULD REDUCE THE SYMPTOMS
WITHOUT THE LIVE MICROBE.
THE WAY IT SEEMS TO DO THAT IS
AT LEAST PART OF THE MECHANISM
IS IT CREATES P9 A PROTEIN TO
STIMULATE GOP1 THAT INCREASES
INSULIN SECRETION FOR IMPROVED
HOMEOSTASIS.
INTERVENTIONS THAT PROMOTE MAY
PROMOTE METABOLIC HEALTH.
WE DID A CLINICAL STUDY TO
ANSWER THE QUESTION DO ANY OF
THESE DATA TRANSLATE TO HUMANS
AND HOW DO THE GRAPE POLYPHENOLS
AFFECT THE HUMAN MICROBIOME AND
PROTEOME AND METABOLITES?
THIS WAS A SINGLE-ARM
LONGITUDINAL STUDY WHERE WE GAVE
EITHER THE PROTEIN ISOLATE TO
ACCLIMATE PEOPLE TO THE PRODUCT
OR THE ISOLATE FOR 10 DAYS OF
DAILY DOSING.
THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE
ENRICHED FOODS DURING THE STUDY
PERIOD AND COLLECTED SERUM,
BLOOD AND FECES AND WE FOUND THE
CHANGES TO THE GUT PROTEOME WERE
TRANSIENT.
AND ANY CHANGES BY DAY 2 OR 4
REVERTED A BASELINE SUGGESTING A
RAPID ADAPTATION AND WE SAW THE
SUPPLEMENTATION REDUCED FASTING
GLUCOSE IN THESE SUBJECTS AND WE
SAW AN INCREASE IN A BILE ACID
THAT ALSO INDUCES GLP-1
PRODUCTION AND TO SUMMARIZE THIS
IS THE FIRST STUDY SHOWING THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE AND
FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE AND NEEDS
TO BE CONFIRMED IN LAYERING
STUDIES WITH SUBJECTS WITH
IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE.
FOOD IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF EDCs
ITSELF.
I THINK WHAT'S KEY IS TO
MINIMIZE ULTRA PROCESSED
PACKAGED FOODS PROBABLY MORE
EXPOSED TO THESE CHEMICALS AND
EMPHASIZE WHOLE FOODS THAT FEET
THE GUT MICROBIOTA AND
DELIVERING PREBIOTICS AND
PROBIOTICS AND POST BIOTICS AND
AND AN ORGANICALLY GROWN CROPS
SHOWED HIRE POLYPHENOL LEVELS
AND THEY DON'T HAVE INCENTIVE TO
MAKE THESE DEFENSE COMPOUNDS.
AND SO I'LL END WITH THIS.
THIS WAS A STUDY DONE IN
U.S. CHILDREN AND ADULTS
REPLACING CONVENTIONALLY MANY
PRODUCED FOOD WITH ORGANICALLY
FOOD AND SAW A DECLINE OF 60% TO
90% OF THE PESTICIDES,
HERBICIDES AND ME METABOLITES.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
CURRENT AND FORMER LAB MEMBERS
AND COLLABORATORS WHO HELPED DO
ALL THIS WORK AND NCCIH FOR
FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING YOUR WORK AND ALSO THE
BACTEROIDETES WORK.
I'M SORRY WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE
BIT LATE AND ONLY HAVE ABOUT
FIVE MINUTES FOR THE Q&A.
CAN WE START THE QUESTIONS FROM
THE ROOM?
IF NOT WE CAN START FROM THE
QUESTIONS ONLINE AND HOW DID THE
EXPOSURE THAT LEADS TO THE
MICROBIOME IS THAT CORRECT OR
DIFFERENCE FROM SIMILAR TOXICAN
EXPOSURE AFFECTED BY THE
MICROBIOME AND IN OTHER IN OTHER
WORDS DOES THE EXPOSURE IN FETAL
DEVELOPMENT PROMOTE RESILIENCE
OR INCREASE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
DISEASE IN LATER LIFE?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I'M THE BEST
TO ANSWER THIS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK WE DON'T REALLY KNOW BUT
AS OTHER SPEAKERS ALLUDED TO THE
MICROBIOME COULD PROVIDE
PROTECTIVE EFFECTS IN REGARDS TO
CERTAIN EVCs.
ONE OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE
MENTIONED WAS THE RODENT MODELS
IF THEY CAN BE DONE IN A
GERM-FREE OR ANTIBIOTIC DEPLETED
MODELS USING THEM AS TOOLS TO
UNDERSTAND ARE WHICH COMPONENTS
OF THE EXPOSURE DEPEND OR
INFLUENCE BY THE MICROBIOME?
I THINK WE NEED TO START DOING
AS MANY STUDIES AS WE CAN
BECAUSE WE'RE THOUGHT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM CORRELATION
TO CAUSATION WOULD THOSE TYPES
OF STUDIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT
ANSWER.
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS WANT TO CHIME
IN?
OKAY ANY QUESTION FROM THE ROOM?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION QUESTION
PROBABLY FOR DIANE IS IT ONLY
RED GRAPES WHO HAVE THE HIGH
LEVELS OF POLYPHENOLS OR GREEN
GRAPES TOO?
>> THE RED IS DUE TO THE
ANTHROCANADAN ARE DUE TO THE
COLOR BUT YOU CAN FIND THEM IN
MANY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION FROM THE
ROOM?
>> A QUICK QUESTION AS WELL ALL
OF YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT
SEX DIFFERENCES, WHERE YOU LIVE,
ETCETERA, ETC. CAN INFLUENCE THE
GUT MICROBIOME AND ETHNICITIES
AND THEN TALK GENERAL ABOUT THE
PROBIOTICS AND THE PREBIOTICS
THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY
SPECIFICITY TO WHICH PROBIOTICS
WORK FOR WHO AND WHEN ETCETERA?
>> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK WE'RE STILL IN THE
NASCENT STAGE OF UNDERSTANDING.
I DIDN'T MENTION IN MY TALK BUT
THERE WAS A STUDY IN 2024 WHERE
THEY EXPOSED THE MALE RODENTS TO
BPA AND A PROBIOTIC MOSTLY
LACTOBACILLUS AND WITH ADDITION
OF THE PROBIOTICS IT REVERSED
MANY OF THE EFFECTS OF THE BPKO
AND I'M NOT SEEING ANY -- I WAS
SEARCHING TO SEE IF THERE WAS
ANY ONE STUDY THAT LOOKED AT
FEMALE SPECIFICALLY AND LOOKED
AT THAT ASPECT OF WHICH PRODUCT.
SO YOUR QUESTION IS VERY GOOD.
I JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF I CAN ADD, I THINK A
CHALLENGE WITH PROBIOTICS IS
SOME TRAITS WILL BE
GENERALIZABLE WITH METAL LINING
SOME WILL DO THAT WELL BUT OTHER
FUNCTIONS CAN BE SO SPECIFIC TO
THE ORGANISM THE GENOME IS
DIFFICULT TO DRAW COMPARISONS SO
A GREAT EXAMPLE IS IF YOU LOOK
AT E. COLI YOU CAN PREVENT
DIARRHEA OR E. COLI COULD BE A
BAD CAUSE OF DIARRHEA.
UNTIL THE PROBIOTICS RESEARCH IS
DONE AT THIS HIGHLY REVOLVED
STRAIN LEVEL SCALE, WE WON'T
REALLY BE ABLE TO ASSESS THAT.
>> THANKS, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT TALK AND
DISCUSSION AND ALL THE SPEAKERS
FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING UP.
>> SO SORRY TO BE THE -- I JUST
WANTED TO KEEP US ON TIME
BECAUSE WE HAVE STILL A LOT OF
GREAT SESSIONS COMING UP AND
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR
TIME FOR BREAK.
THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE CAN MAYBE ASK
FOR QUESTIONS SO FOR THOSE JUST
TUNING IN I'M SEKAI CHIDEYA AND
THIS IS THE SESSION ON
SUPPLEMENTS AND NATURAL
PRODUCTS.
WE HAVE TWO GREAT SPEAKERS TO
PRESENT THEIR FASCINATING WORK.
BEFORE WE GO TO THEIR
PRESENTATIONS I WANT TO SPEND A
FEW MINUTES TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT
OF BACKGROUND ABOUT HOW AND WHY
NATURAL PRODUCTS COULD PLAUSIBLY
HELP WITH ECD EFFECTS.
WHEN I SAY NATURAL PRODUCTS I
WANT TO SAY IT'S AN UMBRELLA
TERM THAT INCLUDES PRO AND
PREBIOTICS AND BOTANICALS AND
VITAMINS AND MINERALS AND OMEGA
3 FATTY ACIDS, ETCETERA.
HOW CAN IT HELP WITH EDC
MITIGATION?
HUMANS EVOLVED IN CONJUNCTION
WITH NATURAL PRODUCTS AND MANY
HAVE CHEMICAL STRUCTURES THAT
INTERACT WITH OUR BIO
CHEMISTRIES AND SO VITAMINS,
MINERALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
ARE REQUIRED FOR HORMONE
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN OUR
BODIES AROUND MEDIATE BIO
CHEMICAL REACTIONS.
AND SOME VITAMINS AND MINERALS
ARE ESSENTIAL FOR HORMONE
FUNCTION SUCH AS VITAMIN D AND
IODINE AND VITAMIN B6 ARE
ESSENTIAL FOR THE TRUCK
STRUCTURE OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS
AND THE OTHER THING TO THINK
ABOUT IS VITAMINS AND EDCs OFTEN
COMPETE FOR THE SAME RECEPTORS
ON OUR CELLS.
WHEN THAT'S THE SITUATION WHEN
YOU HAVE HIGH EDC LEVELS, THAT
CAN PREVENT THE VITAMINS FROM
BEING ABLE TO BIND SUCCESSFULLY
TO THE CELL RECEPTORS AND CAN
LEAD TO VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES AND
THERE'S INDEED EVIDENCE OF THAT
WITH PFAS AND VITAMIN D AND
CALCIUM AND OTHER EXAMPLES AS
WELL.
ON THE FLIP SIDE WHEN YOU HAVE
HIGHER VITAMIN LEVELS THAT CAN
COMPETE WITH AND BLOCK THE
BINDING AND THE UPTAKE OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
THERE ARE OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES
THAT SHOW THIS INTERACTION WHERE
THE EFFECTS OF EDCs SEEM TO BE
WORSE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE LOWER
VITAMIN LEVELS AND SOME EXAMPLES
VITAMIN D AND BERTH OUTCOMES AND
FOLATE, BPA AND FERTILITY
OUTCOME.
SOME NON-VITAMIN PRODUCTS CAN
ALSO BLOCK ACCESS.
SOME ARE THE MANY CARBAMATE
PESTICIDES AND WHEN THEY BIND
THEY OVERACT IT WHICH CAN LEAD
TO INCREASED RISK OF CANCER AND
DIABETES AND SOME HEALTH
CONDITIONS.
THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW WHEN
MELATONIN IS SUPPLEMENTED IN THE
BODY THAT CAN BLUNT THE EFFECTS
OF THE PESTICIDES AS WELL AS
OTHER.
OTHER FUNCTIONS OF NATURAL
PRODUCTS, SOMETIMES THEY JUST
PHYSICALLY BIND TO OR BLOCK EDC
ABSORPTION WE JUST HEARD A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF THAT AND THEY JUST
TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH HEAVY
METALS AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT
CAN DECREASED BIO ACCUMULATION
IN THE BODY AND EVEN WHEN
NATURAL PRODUCTS DON'T DIRECTLY
INTERACT WITH EDCs, THE NATURAL
PRODUCTS MAY HAVE EFFECTS TO
COUNTER THE DOWN STREAM EFFECTS.
MANY NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE
ANTIOXIDANTS AND
ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES AND CAN
NORMALIZE METABOLIC FUNCTION.
AND THERE'S PRELIMINARY TRIALS
THAT SHOW SOME NATURAL PRODUCTS
CAN ENHANCE SECRETION, DECREASE
BIO ACCUMULATION, DECREASE EDC
ASSOCIATED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND
REDUCE HORMONE DYSFUNCTION ALL
ASSOCIATED WITH EDCs.
MANY STUDIES HAVE BEEN IN
RODENTS AND IN ANIMALS.
AND WHILE IT'S GREAT TO SEE SUCH
PROMISING RESULTS WE KNOW THERE
ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ANIMAL
MODELS AND HUMAN MODELS AND SO
SOME EFFECTS IN ANIMAL MODELS
END UP NOT BEING CONFIRMED.
WHEN THEY'RE REPEATED IN HUMANS.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT SOME
GREAT STUDIES TODAY WHICH HAVE
BEEN DONE IN HUMANS BUT IN
GENERAL HUMAN TRIALS HAVE BEEN
KIND OF SMALL AND OFTEN TIMES
OBSERVATIONAL.
AND SO THERE'S A NEED TO
TRANSLATE THE MOST PROMISING
ANIMAL STUDIES INTO
INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE
APPROPRIATE FOR HUMANS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
EFFICACY, IT'S ALSO ABOUT
SAFETY.
DOSE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THIS
MORNING.
SOMETIMES THERE IS TOO MUCH OF A
GOOD THING AND WHAT WAS ALSO
MENTIONED IS SOME NATURAL
PRODUCTS THEMSELVES ARE
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS SUCH AS
PHYTOESTROGENS WE DON'T WANT TO
ASSUME ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE
GOOD AND OVERDO IT BUT THEY NEED
TO BE STUDIES TO SHOW US THE
RIGHT WAY OF DOING THINGS.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE DR. MELISSA MELOUGH
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
TO PRESENT ON HER GREAT
RESEARCH.
>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED STUDYING
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS CAN WE WORK
ON AVOIDANCE OF EDCs RATHER THAN
FOCUSSING ON MITIGATION AND
KNOWING MANY EDCs HAVE A PRIMARY
ROUTE OF EXPOSURE THROUGH DIET I
WANTED TO FOCUS ON LEARNING MORE
WHAT DIETARY STRATEGIES CAN
PEOPLE IMPLEMENT TO REDUCE THEIR
EXPOSURES AND HOW WELL WOULD
THEY WORK.
SORRY ABOUT THE VIDE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO SHOW YOU
STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE LEARNED
ABOUT OR UNCOVERED FROM 13 SMALL
INTERVENTION STUDIES THAT HAVE
TESTED OUT DIFFERENT DIETARY
INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE
EXPOSURES TO EDCs.
SUMMARIZED IN THE REVIEW WE
FOUND THE STRATEGIES MOST COMMON
AND MOST EFFECTIVE ACROSS THESE
INTERVENTIONS WERE TO INCLUDE
MORE FRESH OR MINIMALLY
PROCESSED FOODS AND INCLUDE
ORGANIC FOODS WHEN POSSIBLE AND
AVOID MORE HIGHLY PROCESSED
FOODS AND THOSE THAT HAD PLASTIC
PACKAGING AND HAD BEEN MORE
PROCESSED.
BUT THESE INTERVENTION STUDIES
HAD A LOT OF LIMITATIONS.
SOMETIMES SMALL SAMPLE SIZES AND
LACK OF SUSTAINABILITY.
SOME OF THE SMALL INTERVENTIONS
INVOLVED COMPLETE DIETARY
REPLACEMENT WHERE RESEARCHERS
SUPPLIED EITHER SPECIALIZED TEST
KITCHEN A DIET FOR THE
PARTICIPANTS TO FOLLOW.
SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT
SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG TERM.
I WONDERED TAKING THE FINDINGS
THE NEXT STEP HOW FEASIBLE IS IT
FOR PEOPLE TO REDUCE THEIR EDC
EXPOSURE BY FOLLOWING HEALTHY
DIETARY PATTERNS?
HERE I'VE SHOWN THREE DIFFERENT
DIETARY PATTERNS, THE DASH DIET,
U.S. DIETARY GUIDELINES AS
DEPICTED IN THE MY PLATE CHART
IN THE CENTER AND MEDITERRANEAN
DIET AND THEY HAVE SOME
CONSISTENCIES BECAUSE THEY
EMPHASIZE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
AND PLENTIFUL WHOLE GRAINS AND
LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR THE
PROCESSED AND OFTEN PACKAGED
FOODS LIKE SWEETS AND SNACKS.
I WANTED TO INVESTIGATE HOW
FOLLOWING THESE HEALTHY DIETS
WOULD BE REGULATED TO EDC
EXPOSURE.
AND I WAS ABLE TO GET A SAMPLE
OF ALMOST 7,000 PEOPLE FROM
ACROSS THE U.S. SO WE COULD LOOK
AT HOW PEOPLE ARE EATING IN THE
UNITED STATES AND HOW THEY'RE
IMPLEMENTING THE HEALTHY DIETARY
GUIDELINES WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO.
USING RECALL DATA WE WERE ABLE
TO CLASSIFY PEOPLE'S CONFORMANCE
WITH THESE THREE DIFFERENT
DIETARY PATTERNS USING THE HEI
FOR CONFORMANCE TO THE
U.S. DIETARY GUIDELINES AND DASH
AND MEDITERRANEAN SCORE AND WE
USED MEASUREMENTS IN URINE.
WE SELECTED A PANEL OF EDCs
ING
INGESTED THROUGH THE DIET AND
WERE ABLE TO MEASURE AND WHAT WE
SAW IS THERE ARE SOME CASES
WHERE INCREASING ADHERENCE TO
THESE DIET PATTERNS WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH MODEST DECREASES
IN EXPOSURE TO THESE COMPOUNDS
BUT FOR THE MOST PART THESE
ASSOCIATIONS WERE NOT
STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUT
CAN SEE WITH THE P VALUES SHOWN
ON THE SLIDE HERE.
AS A STAND ALONE STRATEGY ADD
HEARING TO THE EVIDENCE-BASED
NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
DOESN'T GUARANTEE REDUCED
EXPOSURES TO MANY ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTORS.
I THINK IT'S DUE TO WIDESPREAD
CONTAMINATION IN OUR FLOOD
SUPPLY THOSE HEALTHY AND NOT
HEALTHY FOR US BEYOND DIET.
SO ULTIMATELY I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO NEED CHANGES IN FOOD
PRODUCTION PRACTICES TO REDUCE
CONTAMINATION BUT THIS IS ALSO
DEMONSTRATED THE NEED FOR THE
MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY BECAUSE A
HEALTHY DIET ON ITS OWN MAY NOT
DO IT DEPENDING ON HOW YOU
DEFINE THE HEALTHY DIET.
I TURNED TO ONE KEY QUESTION I
HAVE ABOUT MITIGATION WHICH IS
HOW COULD WE MITIGATE THE
OBESOGENIC AFFECTS OF PRENATAL
PHTHALATE EXPOSURE?
I CAN SKIM THROUGH THIS QUICKLY
BECAUSE WE HEARD A LOT OF THIS
HOW OBESITY IS ONE OF OUR KEY
HEALTH WORRIES ASSOCIATED WITH
EDC EXPOSURE.
SO PHTHALATES PARTICULARLY IN
THE PRENATAL PERIOD AND EARLY
CHILDHOOD, DEVELOPMENTAL PERIODS
HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH INCREASED ADIPOSITY AND ONE
EXAMPLE IS IN THE A MULTI-SITE
COHORT IN THE UNITED STATES AND
HERE YOU ARE SEEING ASSOCIATIONS
OF PRENATAL PHTHALATE EXPOSURE
AND FOUR DIFFERENT METABOLITES
AND BMIZ SCORES ACROSS VARIOUS
PERIODS IN EARLY LIFE.
A TREND IS WITH SOME OF THE
METABOLITES THEY'RE ASSOCIATED
WITH LOWER ADIPOSITY AT BIRTH
BUT THEN HIGHER ADIPOSITY BY AGE
3 OR 4.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THIS
POINT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD IT'S
SHOWN TO TRACK INTO ADULTHOOD.
IT'S RATHER STUBBORN AND SO THIS
IS HARD TO REVERSE.
SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE
MECHANISMS BY WHICH THE
PHTHALATES ARE PRODUCING THIS
EFFECT.
ONE WAY IS BY ALTERING THE PPAR
SIGNALLING AND THEY CONTROL
GLUCOSE AND LIPID METABOLISM AND
SECONDLY A MECHANISM OF GREAT
INTEREST TO ME IS THEY MAY BE
PROMOTING OXIDATIVE STRESS WHICH
THEN CAN LEAD TO CHANGES IN OUR
FAT TISSUE, INCREASING
PROLIFERATION, INCREASING THE
SIDE OF OUR MATURE ADIPOCYTES.
YOU SAW I'M INTERESTED IN
WORKING ON THIS THROUGH FISH
OIL.
LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN
WHY IT'S A DESIRABLE TARGET.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, SEAFOOD IS THE
KEY SOURCE OF PORNO MEGA 3 FATTY
ACIDS, DHA AND EPA.
THEY'RE UNDER CONSUMED BY WOMEN
DURING THEIR PREGNANCY LIKELY
BECAUSE WOMEN MAY BE UNCERTAIN
ABOUT HOW TO INCLUDE SEAFOOD IN
THEIR DIET SAFELY DURING
PREGNANCY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THESE NEWT
REPRESENTS HAVE IMPORTANT
BIOLOGICAL BENEFITS.
SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY INVOLVED IN
THE ACTIVATION AND FATTY ACID
OXIDATION BUT IMPORTANT TO
ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITY AND
INFLAMMATION.
I WANT TO SHOW BACK TO DATA HOW
FISH OIL MAY BE RELATED TO
OXIDATION AND PRENATAL
PHTHALATES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ASSOCIATIONS
WITH A MARKER OF OXIDATIVE
STRESS MEASURED AT THE SAME TIME
IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER OF
PREGNANCY.
YOU CAN SEE THESE POSITIVE
ASSOCIATIONS BUT FOR WOMEN WHO
CONSUMED FISH OIL IN THE GRAY
BARS THIS ASSOCIATION WAS
DIMINISHED.
IT SUGGESTS THE PROTECTIVE
EFFECT OF FISH OIL
SUPPLEMENTATION THE OXIDATIVE
STRESS INDUCED BY PHTHALATES IN
THE PRENATAL PERIOD.
AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
THIS OXIDATIVE STRESS IN
PREGNANCY BECAUSE TO FURTHER
ILLUSTRATE THE POINT, THIS
OXIDATIVE STRESS BIOMARKER IN
THE THIRD TRIMESTER HAS ALSO
BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ADIPOSITY OUTCOMES IN THE
CHILDREN IN THE STUDY.
WE CAN SEE HERE THAT THIS
OXIDATIVE STRESS BIOMARKER WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED WEIGHT Z
SCORES AT THE TIME OF BIRTH BUT
LIKE WE SAW BEFORE, HIGHER BMI-Z
SCORES AT AGE 4.
I WANT TO SHOW THE ASSOCIATION I
JUST SHOWED FROM THE TIDE STUDY.
WE SAW PRENATAL PHTHALATE
EXPOSURE IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH
INCREASED ADIPOSITY AT ABLE 4
AND SAW LINKS BETWEEN THE
EXPOSURE AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN
THE PRENATAL PERIOD.
I SHOWED HOW IT IS MITIGATED BY
FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTATION.
WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF
FORMALLY TESTING THE MEDIATING
ROLE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND
HOPING TO SHOW ALSO THE
IMPORTANCE OF FISH OIL IN
MITIGATING THIS OBESO GENIC
EFFECT IN CHILDREN AND WANT TO
GIVE A TEASER FOR WORK UNDERWAY
IN OUR LAB TO EXPAND BEYOND THE
TIDE STUDY TO LOOK AT A LARGER
AND MORE DIVERSE SAMPLE OF
CHILDREN IN THE ECO CONSORTIUM
LOOKING AT EARLY CHILDHOOD
OBESITY AND TESTING ADDITIONAL
MODIFIERS INCLUDING FISH
CONSUMED IN PREGNANCY AND
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING
MORE RESULTS SOON AND THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DR. MELOUGH.
OUR SECOND AND TIME SPEAKER FOR
THIS SHORTER SESSION IS DR. YU
ZHANG FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, I'M EXCITED TO BE
HERE AND SHARE ON THE TOPIC OF
FOLATE AS A POTENTIAL POTENTIAL
MEASURE FOR ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
CHEMICALS.
THIS IS THE OUTLINE.
I'LL START WITH A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION OF WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT AND REVIEW CURRENT
EVIDENCE ON FOLATE AND THE
POTENTIAL ARE PROTECTIVE
EXPOSURE TO FEPHENOLS AND
PHTHALATES AND SHARE PRIMARY
EVIDENCE ON THE INTERACTION OF
PFAS AND END IN CONCLUSIONS
AROUND FUTURE DIRECTION.
FOLATE IS CRUCIAL IN REPAIRS
AROUND FOUND IN SPINNISH,
FRUITS, BEANS, NUTS AND WHOLE
GRAINS AND FOLIC ACID WHICH CAN
BE FOUND IN FLOUR AND ACID
SUPPLEMENTATIONS.
THE RECOMMENDED INTAKE OF
NATURAL FOLATE IS 400 MICROGRAMS
PER DAY AND FOR PREGNANT PERSONS
THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL INCREASES
TO 600 OR 400 FOLIC ACID.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN EVIDENCE
SUPPORTING THAT FOLATE COULD
PROTECT FROM PHENOLS AND
PHTHALATE EXPOSURE AND THEIR
FERTILITY IMPACT.
AS DR. CHIDEYA MENTIONED AT TO
THE BEGINNING.
IN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE WERE
THROUGH OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES
AND THEY FOUND EXPOSURES TO
PHENOLS AND PREGNANCY WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER
PROBABILITY OF IDF SUCCESS AND
LONGER TIME TO PREGNANCY AND
HIGHER RISK OF AUTISM IN
CHILDREN.
AND THERE'S FOLATE CONSUMPTION
IN THE PERIODS AND FOUND
SUFFICIENT FOLATE CONSUMPTION
THERE WERE IN GENERAL WEAKER OR
NO EFFECTS FROM THE TWO CHEMICAL
EXPOSURES.
THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ALSO
SUPPORT THAT FOLATE COULD
PROTECT FROM PHENOLS AND
PHTHALATE HEALTH IMPACT INDICT
WITH FOLATE MITIGATED BPA WITH
INDUCED STRESS AND EPIGENETIC
CHANGES IN ANIMALS.
AND IN MY RESEARCH I AM
INTERESTED IN PFAS WHICH IS A
CLASS OF CHEMICALS I WON'T GO
DEEPER IN THE CHEMICAL BECAUSE I
THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THE
CHEMICAL.
BECAUSE IT'S PERSISTENT IN THE
ENVIRONMENT AND HAS LONG HALF
LIFE IT'S CALLED FOREVER
CHEMICAL AND OVER 99% OF THE
U.S. POPULATION CAN BE DETECTED
WITH THIS CLASS OF CHEMICALS AND
THERE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT
EVIDENCE SUGGESTING THAT
EXPOSURE TO PFAS IS RELATED TO
LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT AND LOWER
ANTIBODY RESPONSES AMONG
CHILDREN.
BECAUSE OF THE PERSISTENT NATURE
OF PFAS AND THE LONG HALF LIFE
OF LONG-TERM PFAS WE WERE WONDER
IF THERE'S MODIFIABLE FACTORS TO
REDUCE PFAS BECAUSE AFTER HUMAN
BEINGS ARE EXPOSED TO THE
CHEMICAL IT'S HARD FOR US TO
EXCRETE THEM.
WE CONDUCTED SOME EXPLORATORY
ANALYSIS USING THE NHANES DATA
AS WAS INTER-DUFFED --
INTRODUCED AND LOOKED AT THE
PFAS CONCENTRATION AND FOLATE
STOOD OUT TO BE CONSISTENTLY
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER PFAS
CONCENTRATION IN NHANES DATA
WHICH IS THE U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
POPULATION DATA.
AND ALSO AFTER READING THE
LITERATURE WE ALSO IDENTIFIED
THOUGH THE CURRENT COMMON
TRANSPORTERS THAT MAY COMPETE
AND END UP IN POTENTIAL
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TWO
CHEMICALS.
WE FURTHER CONDUCTED THREE
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES TO
UNDERSTAND IF FOLATE COULD BE
USED AT THE POTENTIAL MITIGATION
MEASURE FOR PFAS EXPOSURE AND
ADVERSE OUTCOMES.
SO IN STUDY 1 WE EXAMINED THE
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN FOLATE AND
PFAS EXPOSURE USING NHANES DATA
AND FURTHER IN STUDIES TWO AND
THREE WE EVALUATED IF FOLATE CAN
MODIFY THE PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PFAS
EXPOSURE AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES
AND ALSO LOWER ANTIBODY LEVELS
IN THE UNITED STATES POPULATION.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU EVIDENCE
FROM ALL THESE THREE STUDIES
RESPECTIVELY AND NOW I'M GOING
TO FIRST TALK ABOUT THE FIRST
STUDY WHERE WE EXAMINED THE
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN P FOLATE
AND AND PFAS USING THE NHANES
DATA.
AND IT'S IN RELATION TO
CONCENTRATIONS AMONG ADOLESCENTS
AND ADULTS.
SPECIFICALLY THE FOLATE
BIOMARKER IS REGARDED AS THE
LONG-TERM INDICATOR FOR
LONG-TERM FOLATE INTAKE.
THIS TABLE PRESENTS THE RESULTS
FROM ADOLESCENTS.
WE FOUND HIGHER FOLIC INTAKE IN
CELLS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER
PFAS AND CONCENTRATIONS AMONG
2,800 ADOLESCENTS AND FOUND
INVERSE ASSOCIATION FOR ARE
SERUM FOLATE WITH PFAS
CONCENTRATIONS AMONG
ADOLESCENTS.
AND REGARDING RESULTS AND IN
GENERAL AND THEY WERE STRONGER
THAN ADOLESCENTS IN THIS TABLE
SHOWS THE RESULTS FOR ADULTS AND
FOUND HIGHER FOLATE LEVELS WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER
CONCENTRATIONS OF ALL FOUR PFAS
CONCENTRATIONS.
AND ALSO WE FOUND HOW SERUM
LEVEL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH
CONCENTRATIONS IN ADULTS.
AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
STRUCTURE THAN WHAT WE FOUND IN
ADOLESC
ADOLESCENTS.
ADDITIONALLY INTERESTED IN THE
DOSES OF FOLIC ACID
SUPPLEMENTATION INTAKE AMONG
SUPPLEMENT USERS AND THESE
RESULTS WERE ALSO FROM THE
NHANES DATA.
HERE WE EXAMINED PER 100
MICROGRAMS PER DAY INCREASE IN
FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IN
RELATION TO PFAS CONCENTRATIONS.
WE FOUND HIGHER DOSES OF FOLIC
ACID SUPPLEMENTATION INTAKE WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH SLIGHTLY LOWER
CONCENTRATIONS OF PFAS AND
CONCENTRATIONS ONLY AMONG ADULTS
NOT ADOLESCENTS BUT THE SAMPLE
SIZE FOR ADOLESCENTS WAS SMALLER
THAN ADULTS.
IN SUMMARY OF THE FIRST STUDY WE
DO HAVE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE THAT
FOLATE MIGHT PROTECT FROM PFAS
EXPOSURE AND PEOPLE WITH HIGHER
FOLATE LEVELS HAD HIGHER
BIOMARKER OR ACID INTAKE LEVELS
HAD LOWER PFAS CONS TRIGSES.
-- CONCENTRATIONS.
IN THE SECOND STUDY WE FURTHER
AIMED TO EXAMINE IF FOLATE CAN
MODIFY THE PREVIOUSLY ADVERSE
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PFAS AND
LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT.
THESE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PFAS
AND LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT HAS BEEN
RECORDED FROM MULTIPLE STUDIES
AND HERE IN OUR STUDY WE
INCLUDED COMPARATORS FROM A
COHORT OF THE UNITED STATES AND
EXAMINED AND PFAS EXPOSURE IN
RELS TO BIRTH WEIGHT AND HERE WE
FIRST DIVIDED THE TOTAL
POPULATION INTO FOUR FOLATE
GROUPS AND EQUIVALENT OR BY
QUARTILES OF FOLATE LEVELS FROM
QUARTILE 1 THE LOWEST TO
QUARTILE 4 AND EXAMINED THE
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PFAS AND
BIRTH WEIGHT AND CONSISTENT WITH
PREVIOUS STUDIES IN DATA WE ALSO
FOUND THAT HIGHER EARLY
PREGNANCY PFOA CONCENTRATION WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER BIRTH
WEIGHT BUT THE INVERSE
ASSOCIATION WAS ONLY AMONGED
MOTHERS IN THE LOWEST QUARTILE
GROUP OF FOLATE LEVELS AS PLASMA
FOLATE INTAKE BUT DO NOT FIND A
SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION FOR PFAS
AND BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG MOTHERS
WITH HY FOLATE LEVELS AND ALSO
CONSISTENT IN FINDING SUPPORT
THAT PFAS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH
LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT ONLY AMONG
MOTHERS IN THE LOWEST GROUP OF
FOLATE LEVELS.
IN SUMMARY THE SECOND STUDY WE
DO FIND FOLATE MAY MODIFY THE
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PFAS AND
LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT AND MOTHERS
IN THE LOWEST FOLATE LEVEL WERE
IMPACTED BY PFAS BUT MOTHERS
WITH HIGHER FOLATE LEVELS WE
DON'T FIND ADVERSE ASSOCIATION
BETWEEN PFAS AND BIRTH WEIGHT.
>> WE FORTH -- FURTHER LOOKED AT
THE LOWER LEVELS AND INCLUDED
ADOLESCENTS FROM THE POPULATION
ALSO USING THE NHANES DATA AND
EXAMINED THE ASSOCIATION MUCH
THE TOTAL PFAS MIX YOU'RE IN
RELATED TO ANTIBODIES IN THE
TOTAL POPULATION IN THE LOWER
AND UPPER GROUPS AND DEFINED BY
THE LOWER QUARTILE LEVEL AND
FOUND HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF
PFAS MIXTURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH
LOWER ANTIBODY LEVELS IN THE
TOTAL POPULATION AS WELL AS IN
THE LOWER FOLATE GROUP BUT NOT
IN THE UPPER FOLATE GROUP.
SO IN SUMMARY OF ALL THESE THREE
STUDIES WE CONDUCTED, WE FOUND
HIGHER FOLATE LEVELS IS
ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER PFAS
CONCENTRATIONS AND PEOPLE WITH
HIGHER FOLIC LEVELS WERE LESS
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PFAS
RELATED ADVERSE OUTCOMES
INCLUDING ANTIBODY LEVELS AND
LOWER BIRTH WEIGHT.
IN SUMMARY, BASED ON OUR STUDIES
AND PREVIOUS STUDIES, FOLATE
SHOWS PROMISE AS A POTENTIAL
MITIGATION MEASURE FOR EDCs BUT
THE POPULATION IN THESE
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES WERE
MAINLY FROM THE UNITED STATES
POPULATION AND OF HIGHER SOCIO
ECONOMIC STATUS.
MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO
VALIDATE THE STUDIES IN DIVERSE
POPULATIONS AND TO DETERMINE THE
OPTIMAL RANGE OF FOLATE INTAKE
REGARDING THE IMPACT TO MITIGATE
EDC EXPOSURE BECAUSE CURRENTLY
WE'RE NOT CLEAR THE OPTIMAL
RANGE FOR HEALTH IMPACT.
LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK MY
MENTOR FOR SUPPORTING AND
SUPERVISING ME IN THE WORK AND
THE HARVARD CHAN SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS AND HAVE A QUESTION
FROM AN AUDIENCE MEMBER ONLINE
FOR DR. MELOUGH.
THE QUESTION IS COMPARE AND CO
CONTRAST FISH OIL WITH ALGAE OIL
IN ITS ABILITY TO BE ABSORBED AN
BENEFITS IN TERMS OF OMEGA 3
CONTENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VEGAN
AND DO NOT WANT TO CONSUME
ANIMAL PRODUCT.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTATION WILL
HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OMEGA
3 PROFILE AND I DON'T BELIEVE
ALGAE OILS WILL BE A PERFECT
SUBSTITUTION BUT COULD BE A GOOD
WAY TO GET SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL
OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS.
>> I'LL ASK A FOLLOW-UP BECAUSE
I PUT FLAX SEED MEAL ON
EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT HAS OMEGA
3s.
I GUESS THE ANSWER IS THE SAME
IT'S NOT A ONE TO ONE.
>> THE PLANT-BASED SOURCES LIKE
FLAX SEED STILL ARE OMEGA 3
FATTY ACIDS BUT HAVE LIMITED
ABILITY TO CONVERT THROWS TO
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS WE FIND IN
SEAFOOD PRODUCTS.
>> HMM, OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
DR. SHOOK.
>> MY QUESTION IS FOR
DR. MELOUGH.
SO I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED YOU
WERE SUGGESTING THE WASHING
VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AND USING
LESS PROCESSED FOOD WOULD NOT
REALLY CHANGE YOUR EDC UPTAKE
HEAVILY.
THIS MORNING IT WAS SUGGEST THE
THE OPPOSITE.
JUST WONDERING THE DETAILS OF
THE STUDY MORE IF YOU COULD
COMMENT ON THAT AND WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ARE.
>> CERTAINLY.
SO WHAT I SHOWED IN THE
BEGINNING AND ESPECIALLY IN THE
SLIDE THAT DIDN'T SHOW UP
COMPLETELY, THERE HAVE BEEN
NUMEROUS STUDIES SMALL
INTERVENTION STUDIES THAT TEST
OUT DIFFERENT DIETARY
STRATEGIES.
SO REPLACING CONVENTIONALLY
GROWN PRODUCE WITH ORGANICALLY
GROWN OR BEING SURE TO WASH
PRODUCE BEFORE CONSUMING OR
SIMPLY REPLACING MORE PROCESSED
FOODS WITH MINIMALLY PROCESSED
FOODS.
THOSE ARE ALL STRATEGIES THAT
CAN WORK AND HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN
THOSE SMALL INTERVENTIONS TO
HELP REDUCE EXPOSURE.
THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE
IS THAT SOME OF THESE
INTERVENTION STUDIES WERE
UNSUSTAINABLE.
SO RESEARCHERS SUPPLYING A
COMPLETE MEAL REPLACEMENT ISN'T
FEASIBLE FOR ALL GROUPS.
NEXT, IF PEOPLE IMPLEMENT
HEALTHY DIETARY GUIDELINES AND
EAT ACCORDING TO THE MY PLATE
MODEL AND FILLING HALF THE PLATE
WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND
IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT ON ITS OWN
IN MY STUDY.
I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE
ABLE TO CONSUME WE IN CA GET OUR
SPINACH FROM A CAN AND THAT'S A
GREAT WAY FOR SOME PEOPLE TO GET
VEGETABLE AND FRUITS AND MAY
STILL COME WITH RISK OF
CONTAMINATION.
THE CONTAMINATION WITH EDCs CAN
HAPPEN IN OUR OWN KITCHENS THE
WAY WE PROCESS FOODS.
TO GETTING BACK TO YOUR
QUESTION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
MY MINDINGS AND WHAT -- FINDINGS
AND OTHERS COULD BE THE
POPULATIONS EXAMINED AND LOOKING
AT NHANES AND MY STUDY WE'RE
ABLE TO SEE A DIFFERENT SURVEY
OF DIETS, HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY
PUT INTO PRACTICE EATING FRUITS
AND VEGETABLE AND WHAT'S IT LOOK
LIKE COMPARED TO OTHER STUDIES
FROM THIS MORNING WHICH I
BELIEVE HAVE BEEN PREGNANT
POPULATIONS WHO MAY BE EATING
DIFFERENTLY OR HAVE OTHER
CONCERNS ON THEIR MIND.
IT'S A CHALLENGE TO FUND STUDIES
AND STRUGGLED WITH THAT IN THE
PAST YOUR FORMER P.I. HAD A WELL
FUNDED STUDY.
>> SOME OF THOSE INTERVENTIONS
TOO HAD UNEXPECTED FINDINGS AND
SOME EXPOSURES WE THINK WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SOME SO
IT'S CHALLENGING.
>> I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE POINT
WHEN YOU WERE PRESENTING YOUR
FINDINGS THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN
YOU'RE NOT EATING ULTRA
PROCESSED FOODS THAT PEOPLE EAT
NOW VEGGIE PATTIES AND ANYWAY, I
THINK IT'S JUST NOT A GREAT
MEASURE OF YOUR EDC INTAKE
CLEARLY.
BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE
FISH OIL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU
WERE FOCUSSED ON NON PERSISTENT
EDCs BUT BUT THE PERSISTENT EDCs
CAN BE CONCENTRATED IN THE FISH
OIL LIKE PCBs.
>> FISH OIL MAY BE AN ATTRACTIVE
INTERVENTION STRATEGY OVER FISH
BECAUSE AT LEAST WITH FISH OIL
WE HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER
REMOVING THE INADVERTENT
CONTAMINANTS.
THAT'S WHY I'M INTERESTED IN
FISH OIL AND WHY WE PURSUED IT
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT IT CAN HAVE
CONTAMINATION.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SESSION,
DR. ZHANG.
THE NEXT SESSION WILL BE
MODERATED FROM DR. JENNIFER
BAUMGARTNER FROM NCCIH AND I'LL
INTRODUCE HER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I KNOW IT'S LATE IN THE DAY AND
I'M JENNIFER BAUMGARTNER AND I
HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING
OUR SPEAKER, DR. ERIC LOUCKS A
LEADER AND INNOVATOR IN THE
RESEARCH ON MINDFULNESS AND
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
HE'S GOING TO SHARE A FRAMEWORK
TO GUIDE ADAPTATIONS OF
MINDFULNESS PROGRAMS FOR
SPECIFIC POPULATIONS IN CONTEXT.
USING THIS FRAMEWORK IN HIS OWN
RESEARCH WE CAN BEGIN TO
APPRECIATE AND TALK ABOUT THE
RIGOROUS PROGRAM THAT
INTERROGATES THE ROLE OF
MIND/BODY APPROACH INCLUDING
MINDFULNESS IN PREVENTING AND
MITIGATING THE CONSEQUENCES OF
EDC EXPOSURE.
SO DR. LOUCKS I BELIEVE YOU'RE
ON ZOOM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
AND I TURN THE FLOOR TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THIS IS HOW IT CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED AND ASKED IF I MIGHT
LOOK WITHOUT HOW IT MAY BE
ADAPTED TO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING
CHEMICAL MITIGATION AND GO
THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK AND WORK
THROUGH IT WITH YOU TO SEE HOW
WE MIGHT ADAPT IT TO EDC
MITIGATION.
IN MY FIELD A POPULAR MODEL WAS
DEVELOPED BY AN INITIATIVE AND
RESEARCH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
IN THE FIELD FOR MINDFULNESS
INNOVATORS REFERENCED IN THE
BOTTOM RIGHT.
THERE'S A QUOTE THERE'S NO SUCH
THING AS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE
PROBLEM.
THEY'RE VERY PATIENT AND WILL
WAIT A LIFE TIME FOR YOU AND
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THE FOREVER CHEMICALS.
THEY REALLY WILL WAIT A LIFE
TIME FOR US AND SO IF WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO
CONSIDER HOW MINDFULNESS CAN BE
USED TO HELP WITH PREVENTION OR
MITIGATION OF EDC EXPOSURE, IT
CAN BE HELPFUL TO THINK ABOUT
THE PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO
SOLVE.
ASK YOURSELF WHEN YOU THINK OF
THE EXPOSURE WHAT PROBLEM ARE
YOU TRYING TO SOLVE OR AND WHAT
MAKESI WHAT MAKES THIS A PROBLEM
AND WHAT ASSUMPTIONS ARE YOU
MAKING IN THE STAGE AND WHAT
CHANGE OR IMPACT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CREATE.
AND SO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO
COME UP WITH A SPECIFIC PROBLEM
RELATED TO EDCs THAT MATTERS TO
YOU THAT YOU WONDER IF IT CAN BE
SOLVED BY MINDFULNESS AND MAY
HELP THIS PRESENTATION BE A BIT
MORE MEANINGFUL AND INVITE YOU
TO JOT IT DOWN AND IF I CAN HEAR
IF ONE OR TWO OF THEM IT WILL I
CAN WRAP THIS PRESENTATION
AROUND SOME EXAMPLES TOO.
I'D INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT
FOR A MOMENT AND IF ANYONE WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE VERBALLY ON THE
MIC OR FOR THOSE IN THE ROOM OR
OR I THINK AS THE 22 OF US IN A
ZOOM ROOM SO IF ANYONE WANTED TO
PUT THAT IN THE CHAT BOX AS WELL
YOU'D BE WELCOME TO GIVE AN Z
EXAMPLE.
>> I'M WONDERING IF THE NOTION
THAT THESE EDCs ARE ALL AROUND
AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO
ABOUT THEM AS YOU SAID THE IN
YOUR FIRST SLIDE, THEY'LL WAIT
FOR US.
MAYBE THERE'S A MINDFULNESS
APPROACH TO NOT BE STRESSED OVER
THAT.
ARE WE NOT ADDING TO OUR STRESS
LEVELS IN HAVING TO READ EVERY
LABEL AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT
EVERYTHING WE PUT IN OUR HOUSE
AND TOUCH, MAKE OUR NEW FILTER
BOXES.
IS THAT NOT ADDING TO OUR STRESS
LEVEL AND PERHAPS ADDING TO THE
DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS?
>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
I'M SURE OTHERS HERE FEEL THE
SAME WAY.
>> I HAVE ONE I'D LIKE TO SHARE.
THINKING HOW EDCs IMPACT US
SILENTLY.
OUR AWARENESS IS LIMITED TO THIS
AND HOW CAN WE DEEPEN OUR
LISTENING AND A LOT OF TIMES THE
PROBLEMS BEING CREATED BY THE
CHEMICALS ARE ALSO FELT VERY
DEEPLY IN THE PLANET BUT WE
DON'T OFTEN HEAR.
>> WONDERFUL.
YEAH, THANK YOU.
SO HERE'S A COUPLE EXAMPLES.
>> DR. LOUCKS, ONE MORE.
>> JUST WONDERING HOW THINKING
FROM A BIO LODGICAL PERSPECTIVE
HOW CAN YOU USE MINDFULNESS FOR
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS IN
EXPOSED OFFSPRING?
>> I SEE GOOD IDEAS AND
QUESTIONS COMING UP HERE TOO.
SO HOW WOULD WE USE MINDFULNESS
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS?
PART OF THE FRAMEWORK -- SORRY
SOME FONT CAME THROUGH TOO
SMALL.
IF WE LOOK AT THE MINDFULNESS
PROGRAM FUNDAMENTAL AND ACTIVE
INGREDIENTS.
WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT
DEVELOPING A MINDFULNESS
INTERVENTION AND ADAPTING IT YOU
WANT TO HAVE THESE FIVE
COMPONENTS OR CIRCLES WITHIN
OURSELVES OR USUALLY SOMEONE ON
THE TEAM TO HAVE DEEP
UNDERSTANDING.
TO HAVE SOMEONE ON THE TEAM WITH
DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
MINDFULNESS IS AND AMINDFULNESS
INTERVENTIONS ARE AND IT MIGHT
BE FOR EXAMPLE HAVING A STRONG
TRAINING IN THE ABILITY TO LEAD
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION PRACTICES
AND UNDERSTAND ELEMENTS OF THE
APPROACH ORIENTATION WE USE WITH
MINDFULNESS MOVING TOWARDS
DIFFICULTIES THROUGH A
TRAUMA-SENSITIVE WAY AND UTILIZE
SAFETY CENTERING AND TAKING A
STEP BACK FROM OUR THOUGHTS,
EMOTIONS, PHYSICAL EMOTIONS
KNOWING THEY'RE JUST THAT,
EMOTIONS AND DON'T NEED TO ACT
ON THEM AS WE CHOOSE TO AND
HAVING SOMEONE ON THE TEAM WITH
MINDFULNESS INTERVENTIONS CAN BE
IMPORTANT.
AND THE ET YOL IOLOGY OF OUTCOM
HOW EDCs IMPACT OUTCOMES TO
BETTER TARGET ALONG THE CAUSAL
PATHWAY AND BETTER APPROACHES AT
TIMES WHEN THEY'RE APPROPRIATE
TO INTERVENE.
THE BOTTOM CIRCLE SAYS EXISTING
AFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR THE
TARGET HEALTH OUTCOME.
WHAT ALREADY WORKS?
THERE'S BEEN SOME INTERESTING
PRESENTATIONS TODAY ON THAT.
WHETHER IT'S ELEMENTS AROUND
SUPPLEMENTS OR FOLATE LIKE WE
JUST HEARD ABOUT OR HEALTH
PATTERNS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
AND INTERVENTIONS AT THE POLICY
LEVEL AROUND REGULATION.
SO MINDFULNESS CAN INTEGRATE IN
AND BE COMPLIMENTARY TO OTHER
EXISTING EVIDENCE-BASED
APPROACHES THAT CAN BOOST THE
EFFECTS OF THOSE APPROACHES.
FOR EXAMPLE IF WE'RE WORKING
WITH POLICIES IN NEIGHBORHOODS
AROUND MILITARY SITES THAT MAYBE
HAVE EDCs BEING EXPOSED TO
MILITARY PERSONNEL?
HOW CAN WE WORK WITH THE
COMMUNICATION PATTERNS OF THE
MILITARY PERSONNEL VERSUS
WORKING WITH FOLKS THAT ARE
PARTICULAR RACIAL ETHNIC GROUP
IMPACTED CAN WE CREATE PROGRAMS,
CO-CREATED WITH THEM AND BEING
LED BY THEM SO WE'RE SPEAKING IN
TERMS OF LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL
VALUES CONCORDANT WITH THE
GROUPS WE'RE INTEGRATING WITH
AND THE TOP ONE SAYS THE
DELIVERY SETTING.
THE INTERVENTIONS BEING OFFERED
IN PERSON OR ONLINE OR IN
CLINICS TO WOMEN PREGNANT FOR
EXAMPLE OR ARE THEY TAKING PLACE
IN WORKPLACES MAYBE IN
INDUSTRIES THAT ARE PROMOTING
THE PRODUCTION OF ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING CHEMICALS AND WANT TO
WORK FROM THE INSIDE TO CREATE
POLICIES AND UNDERSTAND THE
DELIVERY SETTING THAT WILL
MATCH.
IF WE HAVE ALL THOSE ELEMENTS
PRESENT IN THE ROOM AND THE TEAM
DEVELOPING IT IT INCREASES THE
CHANCE THE PROGRAM WILL BE
EFFECTIVE.
WITH SUPPORT FROM NCCIH FUNDING
I HAD THIS SERIES OF CLINICAL
TRIALS IN THE BLOOD PRESSURE
REDUCTION PROGRAM AND THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE HOW TO USE THE FRAMEWORK
TO DEVELOP THE MINDFULNESS
INTERVENTION AND KNOW A LOT
ABOUT THE ETIOLOGY OF
HYPERTENSION AND THERE'S BIG
DETERMINATES SUCH AS OBESITY AND
ALCOHOL USE AND STRESS
REACTIVITY AND THERE'S GOOD
MEDICATIONS TO BRING BLOOD
PRESSURE DOWN TOO AND HALF THE
PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THEM AS
RECOMMENDED.
AND HOW COULD MINDFULNESS
INFLUENCE THE PATHWAYS?
WITH MEDITATION WE'RE ENHANCING
OUR EMOTIONS IN A NON-JUDGMENTAL
WAY AND CAN ADDRESS THAT TO THE
DRIVERS OF HYPERTENSION.
HOW DO WE FEEL FOR EXAMPLE WITH
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?
THERE'S ABOUT AS MANY WAYS TO
MOVE AS THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD.
WHEN WE'RE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE HOW
DO WE MAXIMIZE ENJOYMENT?
IT MAY BE THROUGH SOMETHING
PRACTICAL LIKE YARD WORK OR
HOUSEWORK BUT FOR OTHERS MAY BE
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CONNECTING
WITH A FRIEND AND GOING FOR A
WALK AND HOW DO WE ADAPT TO OUR
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS AND ADAPT
TO THE SAFETY OF OUR LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE CAN START TO USE MINDFULNESS
TO HOSPITAL MISTHE EXPERIENCE OF
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND AFTER IT'S
DONE JUST ABOUT OVER FEELS
BETTER THAN BEFORE OFTEN FOR
HOURS.
AND SIMILARLY WE CAN BRING THAT
SELF-AWARENESS AROUND TO
DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOODS LIKE
PROCESSED FOODS THAT HAVE BEEN
TALKED ABOUT OR SWEET FOODS OR
SALTY OR SAVORY FOODS ALL SHOWN
TO INFLUENCE BLOOD PRESSURE.
HOW CAN WE BRING OUR
SELF-AWARENESS TO HOW WE FEEL
BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER EATING
DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOODS.
SAY IF WE'RE EATING A HEALTHY
DIET THAT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH IN
THE WAY OF PROCESSED FOODS AND
HAS A LOT OF WHOLE FOODS AND
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WE OFTEN
FEEL BETTER AFTERWARDS FOR A
WHILE.
THAT IS SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW WE
CAN USE SELF-AWARENESS TO HELP
US POTENTIALLY HAVE INSIGHTS
AROUND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
DRIVERS OF HYPERTENSION.
SO IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE AN
INSIGHT.
LIKE MOST OF US KNOW HOW WE
COULD BE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
OR EAT HEALTHIER OR MODULATE OUR
STRESS REACTIVITY AND THAT'S
WHERE THE ATTENTION COMES IN AND
WE'RE TRAINING PEOPLE TO PLACE
OUR MINDS WHERE WE'RE CHOOSING
ON THE BREATH AND WE GET BETTER
AT PLACING OUR MIND WHERE WE
CHOOSE TO AND THE MIND WANDERS
WHERE IT ALWAYS WILL.
WHERE'S IT GO?
TO THE FUTURE, THE PAST?
STARTING TO GIVE US MORE
SELF-AWARENESS WHO WE ARE AND
WHERE WE ARE IN THE MOMENT AND
COME BACK TO WHERE WE CHOOSE TO
PLACE IT.
AND AS A RESULT WE START TO GET
BETTER AT PLACING OUR MIND WHERE
WE USED TO WHERE WE HAVE INSIGHT
THAT ARISES AROUND BEHAVIOR
CHANGE IF WE'RE BETTER AT
PLACING OUR MIND WHERE WE TO THE
THEORY WOULD GO WE'LL THEN BE
ABLE TO ACT ON IT AND IF WE'RE
IN THE GROCERY STORE WE'LL ACT
ON OUR VALUES AROUND WHAT KIND
OF FOOD WE WOULD CHOOSE TO
SELECT FOR EXAMPLE OR TO PUT ON
OUR SHOES AND LACE THEM UP TO GO
FOR A WALK THOUGH IT MAY BE
CHILLY OUTSIDE, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND THIRD PIECE IS AROUND
REGULATION AND EMOTIONAL
TRAINING CAN GIVE AN EARLY
STRESS DETECTION SYSTEM AS WE
BECOME MORE SELF-AWARE AND
STRESSORS THAT MAY BE ARRIVING
AND NOTICING EMOTIONS THAT ARISE
AND LEARN PRACTICES SUCH AS
ATTENTION REDEPLOYMENT AND
LOVING, KINDNESS PRACTICES THAT
HELP US REGULATE OUR EMOTIONS IN
HEALTHY WAYS COMPARED TO LESS
HEALTHY WAYS SUCH AS STREAMING
SOME KIND OF VIDEO TO HAVE A
BREAK RATHER THAN GETTING A
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OR GRABBING A
PINT OF ICE CREAM OR NEEDING A
DRINK AFTER WORK TO RELAX.
SO THAT'S THE THEORY OF JUST HOW
IT CAN INFLUENCE BLOOD PRESSURE
AND THINK ABOUT IT AROUND
DETERMINATES OF EDC EXPOSURE.
>> DR. LOUCKS, THE SPANISH
INTERPRETER REQUESTS WE SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT LOWER.
>> LET ME KNOW IF I'M GOING TOO
SLOW OR STILL GOING TO FAST.
SORRY THE FONT SIZE GOT SMALL IN
TRANSLATION TOO.
WE USED THIS FRAMEWORK WHERE WE
PICKED THREE PRIMARY OUTCOMES
ONE IN THE SELF-REGULATION
CATEGORY AND SELF-AWARENESS AND
PICKED ONE PRIMARY OUTCOME IN
TERMS OF THE DASH DIET AND THE
THIRD BEING BLOOD PRESSURE.
AND SO AND TESTED THOSE AND
FOUND IMPROVEMENTS AND FOUND
IMPROVEMENTS IN DASH DIET FOR
THOSE GOING THROUGH THE
REDUCTION PROGRAM COMPARED TO
CONTROL AND THEN DID MEDIATION
ANALYSES THAT WERE EXPLORATORY
AND STILL FOUND ABOUT 30% OF THE
EFFECT OF THE INTERVENTION
IMPACTS ON THE DASH DIET FOR
OPERATING THROUGH AWARENESS AND
ALSO 33% OPERATED THROUGH
MINDFULNESS LEVELS.
AND THEN THE DISTAL OUTCOME OF
BLOOD PRESSURE WITH NICE
REDUCTIONS ABOUT A 6 MILLIMETER
DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE
STATISTICALLY RELEVANT IT
TRANSLATES TO A DROP IN
CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS LIKE
HEART ATTACK AND STROKE AND THIS
IS A FIGURE THAT WE PROBABLY SAW
EARLIER TODAY, JOE BRAUN AND A
POSTDOC DEVELOPED THIS GRAPHIC
AND SO WE LEARNED A LOT AND SEEN
A LOT WHERE PFAS COMES FROM AND
WHAT PRODUCES IT AND END UP IN
APPLICATIONS AND CAN GET IN FIRE
FIGHTING FOAMS AND AIR AND
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AND AIR,
DRINKING WATER, WILDLIFE AND SO
FROM THE MINDFULNESS PERSPECTIVE
HOW COULD THIS ALL OPERATE?
SO JUST AS LIKE AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT FRAMEWORK THE TOP TWO BOXES
MINDFULNESS TRAINING AND
SELF-REGULATION WAS DEVELOPED
AND BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW
IT CAN HELP SELF-REGULATE
BETTER.
IF WE THINK CAN IT HELP US
SELF-REGULATE IN RELATIONSHIP TO
SAY THE SOURCES OF EDCs OR TO
THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF
EDC EXPOSURE.
AND SO SAY FOR EXAMPLE ONE OF
THE PARTICIPANTS MENTIONED UP AT
THE MICROPHONE IT COULD BE
PRETTY STRESSFUL TO THINK ABOUT
ALL THE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF EDC
EXPOSURE AND SO CAN MINDFULNESS
HELP WITH THE EMOTION REGULATION
SIDE OF THINGS SO WE CAN FOCUS
OUR ATTENTION MORE SPECIFICALLY
IN AREAS THAT ALLOW US TO ACT
RATHER THAN TO HAVE SAY ANXIETY
ABOUT IT OR WASTED ENERGY
THROUGH STRESS FOR EXAMPLE.
SAY WITH THE PERSON YOU
MENTIONED CAN IT ALLOW US TO
MORE DEEPLY LISTEN TO OURSELVES?
THAT SELF-AWARENESS PIECE.
THAT'S SELF-AWARENESS 6 OUR
THOUGHTS, EMOTION AND PHYSICAL
SENSATION THROUGH SIGHT OR SMELL
AND TASTE AND TOUCH.
IF WE'RE THERE TO SEE THE IMPACT
OF EDCs ON WILDLIFE FOR EXAMPLE
AND TO ALLOW THAT TO COME IN AND
TO SEE HOW THAT OPERATES ON OUR'
MOTIONS AND THOUGHTS AND
PHYSICAL SENSATIONS AND SEE WHAT
INSIGHTS ARISE AND MAYBE SOME
THAT ARISE WILL BE AROUND TAKING
ACTION AND MAYBE ACTIVISM AND TO
WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND
INDUSTRIES OR POLICY MAKERS OR
EVEN WITHIN OURSELVES OR OUR
FAMILIES OR COMMUNITIES TO BE
ABLE TO PREVENT IT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE, SHIFT POLICIES OR TO
USE TREATMENTS WHETHER IT'S SOME
THINGS WE'RE EXPLORING WHETHER
THROUGH DIET OR PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY OR FOLATE FOR EXAMPLE
OR REDUCING PROCESSED FOODS.
THOSE CAN BE SOME EXAMPLES.
AND THEN ANOTHER PIECE THE
ATTENTION CONTROL SIDE TO
POTENTIALLY ALLOW US TO MAYBE
HAVE MORE FOCUSSED ACTION
WHETHER ON POLICY OR TO BE ABLE
TO LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF CLOTHING
OR FURNITURE WE PICK AND DOES IT
HAVE FLAME RETARDANT OR CAN WE
SELECT THE ORGANIC FOODS AND CAN
WE STORE OUR FOOD IN GLASS
CONTAINERS RATHER THAN PLASTIC
AND SOMEBODY TALKED ABOUT
DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES SAY IF IT
INFLUENCES OUR ABILITY TO PAY
ATTENTION SUCH AS THROUGH EDHD.
SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE REVERSE
CAUSATION IMPACT OUR CONTROL
CAPACITY AND CAN WE LOOK AT
MINDFULNESS INTERVENTION AND
SOMETIMES LOOKING AT IT FROM A
PARENT'S LEVEL AND HAVE A CHILD
WITH ADHD AND MAYBE IT'S
EXPOSURE TO EDCs AND CAN WE DO
WHAT WE CAN TO PREVENT AND PRE
MOVE THEM FROM THE HOUSEHOLD AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE THOUGH IT'S
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REDUCE ALL
OF THEM AND MINDFULNESS TRAINING
DOES HAVE BENEFIT.
I'VE SEEN META-ANALYSIS REVIEW
ON MINDFULNESS TRAINING FOR ADHD
CAN HELP WITH CONTROL AND
EXPOSURES FROM EDCs AND KNOWING
IT'S 1.0 OF THE FRAMEWORK AND I
THINK IT WOULD BE MOST SKILLFUL
IF WE DEVELOPED IT TOGETHER SO
THERE'S A VERSION 2.0 AND 3.0.
WHEN WE LOOK AT QUESTIONS FOR
REFLECTION WE INCLUDE IN THE
FRAMEWORK AROUND IF WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT ADAPTING A
MINDFULNESS PROGRAM TO A
PARTICULAR HEALTH OUTCOME OR
POPULATION.
ONE QUESTION IS WHY ISN'T
ADAPTATION NEEDED FOR THE
CURRENT MINDFULNESS PROGRAM NOT
HELP THE POPULATION BEING SERVED
AND AROUND THE STRESS PATHWAYS
LIKE STRESS REDUCTION THAT IT
COULD BE BOOSTED IF WE'RE ABLE
TO REALLY BRING IN AWARENESS
AROUND ALL THE DIFFERENT SOURCES
AND TREATMENTS FOR EDC EXPOSURES
TO HARNESS MINDFULNESS TO
DIRECTLY LOOK AT OUR
RELATIONSHIP OF THE DIFFERENT
FACTORS.
WE'D WANT TO DEVELOP SOME
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE END USERS
INCREASINGLY WE'RE USING AN
APPROACH CALLED INTEGRATIVE
KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION.
AND FOR EXAMPLE WE INVOLVE
POLICY MAKERS AND HEALTH
INSURERS IN OUR DECISIONS.
WE INCLUDE CLINICIANS AND
PATIENTS, MINDFULNESS
INSTRUCTINSTRUCTS
ERS -- INSTRUCTORS AND FROM THE
IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE SIDE IT'S
MORE LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE AND
SCALED UP IF WE HAVE THE END
USERS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF
DEVELOPING IT.
TO THINK WHAT KIND OF
ADAPTATIONS ARE NEEDED AND LOOK
AT THE BENEFITS OUTAWAY -- OUT
WEIGHING THE COSTS AND IF IT
LOOKS WORTHY TO MOVE FORWARD WE
ENCOURAGE THE EIGHT STEPS.
ONE IS DETERMINE IF THE WORK IS
NEEDED AND BE SPECIFIC AROUND
THE AIM AND INTENTION OF THE
ADAPTATION AND THEORETICAL BASIS
OF WHY A MINDFULNESS PROGRAM MAY
BE HELPFUL.
THEN WE START TO GENERATE AND
DEVELOP IDEAS FOR THE NECESSARY
ADAPTATIONS WITH KEY INFORMANTS.
THE FOLKS MOST IMPACTED BY THE
USE, POLICY MAKERS, MAYBE
MEMBERS OF INDUSTRY FOR EXAMPLE.
AND TO START TO EVALUATE THE
FEASIBILITY WITH A WISE GROUP OF
PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALL THE AREAS
OF KNOWLEDGE TO INTERSECT AND
ITERATIVELY GO THROUGH THE
FEASIBILITY TESTING MAYBE
THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS OR EARLY
SINGLE-ARM STUDIES WITH MIXED
METHODS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND START
TO DEVELOP A THEORETICAL
POTENTIALLY SAFE ADAPTATION
READY FOR PILOT AND THEN DO
PILOT S.
AND IF THOSE START TO LOOK GOOD
INCLUDING QUALITATIVE AND
QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE THEN WE
CAN START TO SHIFT TO AN
ADEQUATELY POWERED RANDOMIZED
CONTROL TRIAL AND SO THOSE ARE
SOME EXAMPLES OF STEPS WE'VE
TAKEN.
WE'VE BEEN DOING QUITE A BIT OF
WORK WITH NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL
NATIONS.
A LOT OF THIS IS LED BY A
PROFESSOR AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
AND NATIVE AMERICAN HIMSELF,
HE'S MOHAWK AND HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE NARRAGANSETT
TRIBAL NATION AND WORKING WITH
FOLKS IN CLIMATE FALLS IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN
OREGON TO CO-CREATE MINDFULNESS
PROGRAMS PARTICULARLY IN THIS
CASE FOR MANAGING DIABETES AND
REDUCING BLOOD PRESSURE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN
FINDING FOR EXAMPLE THAT HAVE
COME THROUGH WITH WORKING WITH
ELDERS AND MEDICINE PEOPLE AND
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES IS TO BRING IN
INDIGENOUS MINDFUL MOVEMENTS.
MORE SO THAN SOME OF THE
MOVEMENTS THEY MAY HAVE DONE
BEFORE LIKE YOGA FOR EXAMPLE.
TO BRING IN PRE-COLONIAL FOODS
BECAUSE A LOT OF BERRIES AND
LEAN MEATS AND PLANTS THAT WERE
AROUND AND UTILIZED BEFORE
COLONIAL TIMES ARE REALLY GOOD
FOR CARDIO METABOLIC HEALTH.
TO BRING IN TRIBAL LANGUAGE TO
MEDICATIONS.
MANY ARE CONTINUING TO TRANSMIT
THEIR LANGUAGE FROM GENERATION
TO GENERATION.
WHEN WE DO A BODY SCAN WE'RE
UTILIZING THE NATIVE LANGUAGE
AND SO IT COMES UP DIFFERENTLY.
SO SAY IT'S A MEDITATION ON THE
BREATH A LOT OF NATIVE AMERICAN
WORDS FOR BREATH IS WIND.
THAT'S A MUCH DIFFERENT FEELING,
CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
CAN WE BRING IN INDIGENOUS
TEACHING STORIES?
THERE'S A LOT OF MINDFULNESS
PRESENT IN INDIGENOUS CULTURES
AND CAN WE ALLOW THOSE STORIES
TO COME IN AND WE'RE SEEING A
LOT OF WORK IN AFRICAN
AMERICAN --
>> WE NEED TO TRANSITION TO THE
Q&A SOON.
>> YEAH, THANKS, GOOD.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF SHIFTS THAT
WE'RE SEEING LIKE IN AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO USE AFRO
CENTRIC WAYS IN YOGA AND UTILIZE
ELEMENTS OF CULTURE AND STORIES
AND HISTORY TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
SO I THINK AS A WHOLE LOOKING AT
ADAPTING MINDFULNESS PROGRAMS
HAPPENS NOT ONLY BY RESEARCHERS
AND DEVELOPERS TRYING TO IMPACT
THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AND
HOPING THIS CAN EXPLORE IF, WHEN
AND HOW TO ADAPT MINDFULNESS
INTERVENTIONS TO MAXIMIZE
BENEFIT INCLUDING FOR THE
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICAL
EXPOSURES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS AND
NCCIH WHO FUNDED QUITE A BIT OF
THIS WORK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
DR. LOUCKS?
I SEE ONE IN CHAT BUT WOULD LIKE
TO ASK.
WE ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE IT
LOOKS LIKE?
>> THE QUESTION IN CHAT FROM
DR. MARK WILLIAMS FROM THE DOD.
HE WANTS TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
MINDFULNESS CAN ASSIST IN
MITIGATE BEING OR DAMPENING THE
AFFECTS OF ALLOSTATIC LOAD IN
POPULATIONS AND LOOKING AT
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE SEEN IN
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN.
IF YOU HAVE INSIGHTS INTO THAT
AND WE'LL HAVE TO GET TO THE
REST OF THE QUESTIONS IN CHAT.
>> CAN I PIGGY BACK ON THAT
BECAUSE I THINK THE QUESTION IS
ALIGNED WITH DR. MARK WILLIAMS
QUESTION.
DR. LOUCKS, I THINK A WEEK OR
TWO AGO I FORWARDED A COUPLE
ARTICLES ABOUT STRESS SEEMINGLY
TO IMPACT THE EFFECTS OF PFAS
AND EDCs AND LEADING TO
ALLOSTATIC LOAD AND WEATHERING
AND WHETHER MINDFULNESS COULD BE
HELPFUL FOR MITIGATING STRESS OR
MANY HELPING TO REDUCE STRESS
AND WHETHER THAT COULD PLAY A
ROLE IN DAMPENING THE EFFECTS OF
EDCs.
>> GREAT QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE
INTERESTING WORK SEEING WHETHER
PFAS EXPOSURE EXPOSURE IMPACTS
BIRTH WEIGHT AND SHOWING
POTENTIAL SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS
AND WITH ALLOSTATIC LOADS
THERE'S HORMONES AND THERE'S A
WHOLE HEALTH MEASURE OF WELL
BEING AT THE BIOLOGICAL LEVEL.
SO WITH MINDFULNESS
INTERVENTIONS I THINK BIO
LOGICALLY WE ARE SEEING THEM
INFLUENCE NOT ONLY MENTAL HEALTH
OUTCOMES BUT ALSO A GOOD NUMBER
OF PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.
I WORK IN THE CARDIO METABOLIC
DOMAIN AND LOOKING AT BLOOD
PRESSURE AND WE SEE CHANGE IN
BODY MASS INDEX THAT COULD BE
MEASUREMENTS OF ALLOSTATIC LOAD.
I THINK MINDFULNESS IN MANY WAYS
CAN INFLUENCE HEALTH OUTCOMES IF
WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THE PAST BY
WHICH THEY ENGAGE AND TO TRAIN
PEOPLE IN THOSE PATHWAYS.
AND SO SAY IF WE WERE LOOKING AT
ALLOSTATIC LOAD AND HOW TO
FOSTER WHOLE PERSON HEALTH SAY
THROUGH DIET OR PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY OR LOOKING AT EXPOSURE
TO SAY SUBSTANCE USE OR ALCOHOL
OR ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS, STRESS
ALL THOSE CAN FEED INTO
ALLOSTATIC LOAD AND WITH OUR
RESEARCH AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING
WITH OTHERS IS IF WE CAN
DEMONSTRATE THE PATHWAYS AND TO
ENGAGE WITH PARTICIPANTS HOW
MINDFULNESS CAN HELP WITH THE
SELF-AWARENESS OF ALL THE
DIFFERENT HEALTH BEHAVIORS CAN
MAKE US FEEL LIKE BEFORE, DURING
AND AFTER AND TO UTILIZE
WHATEVER INSIGHTS ARISE TO ACT
ON THEM EVEN THOUGH IT CAN BE
CHALLENGING AND USE THE EMOTION
REGULATION STRATEGIES TO BE ABLE
TO HELP US STAY FWROGROUNDED AN
WORK THROUGH CHALLENGES, IT HAS
THAT POTENTIAL TO IMPACT
ALLOSTATIC LOAD OR THINK HOW
STRESS CAN INTERACT WITH
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING EXPOSURE
AND THERE MAY BE SYNERGISTIC
EFFECTS FROM STRESS AND
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP
DISENTANGLE THOSE EFFECTS.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. LOUCKS.
I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME TO
DISCUSS THIS.
THERE'S A TON OF GAP AREAS BUT
WE NEED TO KEEP TO OUR AGENDA.
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE
WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE A
BREAK FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
COME BACK AT 4:10 P.M. FOR OUR
LAST TWO PRESENTATIONS OF THE
DAY.
WE HAVE THE LAST TWO SESSIONS OF
THE TODAY AND THEY'RE BOTH
POWERFUL PRESENTATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST
PRESENTATION OR PERSPECTIVE BY
MS. HORMIS BEDOLLA AND HER
COLLEAGUE SHARING A PERSPECTIVE
AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE FARM
INDUSTRY AND EXPOSED TO EDCs
OCCUPATIONALLY.
>> SHE'LL BE PRESENTING IN
SPANISH AND I'LL BE INTERPRETING
AND I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL
INTERPRETER BUT JUST SO SHE CAN
COMFORTABLY PRESENT IN SPANISH.
>> CAN YOU HEAR HER?
>> I'M HORMIS BEDOLLA AND LIVE
IN NEW YORK BUT ORIGINALLY FROM
MEXICO.
AND I WAS A FARM WORKER FOR 20
YEARS WORKING IN APPLE FARMS.
>> MY EXPERIENCE AS A FARM
WORKER I WAS NEVER PROVIDED
TRAINING ON HOW TO APPLY OR
SAFETY TRAINING ON PESTICIDES.
I TOOK INITIATIVE TO DO A
TRAINING MYSELF AND I TAUGHT IT
TO MYSELF AND WAS ABLE TO THEN
TEACH IT TO MY CO-WORKERS IN THE
FIELDS.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> LIKE MANY PRESENTERS HAVE
SHARED THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPE OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
AND AS A FARM WORKER I'M EXPOSED
TO DIFFERENT PESTICIDES
INCLUDING INSECTICIDES AND
HERBICIDES AND OTHER TYPES OF
PESTICIDES APPLIED IN THE
FIELDS.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> AND AGAIN LIKE OTHERS HAVE
MENTIONED, THERE IS EXPOSURE
AROUND US AS A FARM WORKER WOMAN
I'VE BEEN EXPOSED IN
CONCENTRATED AMOUNTS
SPECIFICALLY IN THE FIELDS AND
ALSO LABOR CAMPS.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> AND AS I'M SURE MOST OF US
KNOW PESTICIDES ARE A TYPE OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> AS A FARM WORKER FOR BOTH MEN
AND WOMEN WE EXPERIENCE
DIFFERENT HEALTH EFFECTS FROM
THE EXPOSURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CHRONIC
PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND WITH THAT
COMES DIFFERENT TYPES OF
IMPACTS.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> I ALSO LEARNED THAT IN
ADDITION TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF
EXPOSURE FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PESTICIDES WE WERE EXPOSED
THROUGH OUR REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.
>> AND OUR EXPOSURE IS
UNFORTUNATELY OFTEN TIMES
DIRECTLY MEANING SOMETIMES WE
HAVE PHYSICALLY BEEN SPRAYED BY
PESTICIDES.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> AND THIS A HIGH PERFORM OF
EXPOSURE AND THE TOXICITY IS
HIGH AND HIGH AMOUNTS AND
AGGREGATE SO DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PESTICIDES ARE AFFECTING US OVER
TIME.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> AND EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT BEING
PHYSICALLY SPRAYED BY DIFFERENT
PESTICIDES IN THE WORKPLACE WE
STILL HAVE CONTACT AND EXPOSURE
TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTORS BECAUSE OF THE DRIFT.
WE ARE WORK IN THESE FIELDS FOR
VERY LONG HOURS WHICH MEANS
WE'RE EXPOSED FOR UP TO 14, 16,
18 HOURS IN ONE DAY.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE
SYMPTOMS WE FEEL THROUGH OUR
EXPOSURE.
THEY'RE OFTEN CONFUSED WITH
OTHER HEALTH IMPACTS WE
EXPERIENCE AS FARM WORKERS.
SOMETIMES WE'RE TOLD IT'S HEAT
STRESS OR HEAT EXPOSURE VERSUS
THE PESTICIDE EXPOSURE.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> SOME OF THE OTHER SYMPTOMS
THAT WE HAVE I'M ADDING THIS
FROM HER SLIDE IS HEADACHES,
FEELING DIZZY OR LIGHT HEADED,
FEELING WEAK, NAUSEA, BEING
SENSITIVE TO SMELLS, SKIN
RASHES, VISION PROBLEMS AND AS
PREGNANT WOMEN OR WOMEN IN
GENERAL WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RISKS
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY --
OUR HEALTH IS MORE VULNERABLE
BUT AFFECTS OUR CHILDREN WE'RE
PREGNANT WITH.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> SO WHEN YOU THINK OF HOW
WOMEN ARE BEING AFFECTED MORE
BECAUSE THEY ARE AT RISK OF
EXPOSING THEIR CHILDREN WHILE
PREGNANT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW
CAN WE BE BETTER PROTECT AND
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT
REGULATED BY HEALTH AGENCIES.
IT'S REGULATED BY THE EPA OR
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES
DEPENDING ON THE STATE.
I LIVE IN NEW YORK AND THE
REGULATIONS ARE ENFORCED BY A
CONSERVATION AGENCY FOR THE
STATE.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> SO OTHER EFFECTS I'VE SEEN ON
PREGNANT WHEN WHEN THEY'RE
EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES IS
MISCARRIAGES IN THE WORKPLACE,
INFERTILITY AND OTHER PREGNANCY
RISKS BUT THERE'S ALSO WAYS THAT
ENTIRE FAMILIES ARE BEING
EXPOSED FOR FAMILY MEMBERS NOT
WORKING IN THE FIELDS.
SO IF YOU LIVE NEAR A FIELD,
YOU'LL BE EXPOSED TO THE
RESIDUAL PESTICIDE DRIFT.
IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME WITH
SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN A FIELD
THEY TYPICALLY CARRY HOME
RESIDUAL PESTICIDE PARTICLES.
IF UNKNOWINGLY YOU DO LAUNDRY AS
SOMEONE THAT'S A FARM WORKER
YOU'RE CONTAMINATING EVERYBODY'S
CLOTHES AND EXPOSING THE ENTIRE
FAMILY.
IT'S EASY TO CARRY THE PESTICIDE
EXPOSURE TO THE FARM WORKER AND
ENTIRE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> SO I HAVE SOME PICTURES HERE
TO SHARE ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MY STORY.
THESE ARE PICTURES FROM MY LIFE.
SOME GOT FLIPPED AROUND ON HERE
BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I FEEL I AM
AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO
DIRECTLY EXPERIENCED THE
CONSEQUENCES OF ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTOR EXPOSURE THROUGH THE
PESTICIDES.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> FOR EXAMPLE IN ALL THREE
PREGNANCIES I HAD DIFFICULTIES.
I HAD PREECLAMPSIA AND ALL
THROUGH MY PREGNANCIES ALL THREE
OF MY CHILDREN WERE ALSO
PREMATURE AND UNDER WEIGHT AND
ALL THREE HAVE HAD CHALLENGING
HEALTH ISSUES FOR THEIR LIVES.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE OF A
BABY IN THE CAR SEAT THAT IS MY
YOUNGEST OF MY THREE.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE DAY HE
WAS ABLE TO COME HOME AFTER
BEING IN NICU FOR TWO MONTHS
WHEN HE WAS BORN HE WAS ONLY
THREE POUND AND AFTER TWO MONTHS
HE CAME HOME WEIGH FIVE POUNDS.
>> AND
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT YOU'LL
SEE A PICTURE OF A HAND WITH
SOME WELTS.
THAT'S A PICTURE OF MY HAND.
THIS WAS A PICTURE OF WHAT MY
HAND LOOKED LIKE WHEN I WENT TO
THE DOCTOR TO GET SOME HELP.
I WAS -- THIS WAS THE REACTION I
HAD AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO
PESTICIDES.
THE PERSON THAT I WAS SEEING AT
THE CLINIC DIDN'T ASK ABOUT MY
OCCUPATION AND DIDN'T KNOW I WAS
IN CONTACT WITH ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTORS AND PESTICIDES AND
WAS TOLD I HAD A SKIN ALLERGY.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> THE PICTURE IN THE TOP RIGHT
IS A PICTURE OF MY SECOND BORN
SON.
HE'S THE MIDDLE SON.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF HIM AFTER
HE HAD TO GET HEART SURGERY
BECAUSE HE WAS BORN WITH SOME
SORT OF HEALTH DEFECT RELATED TO
HIS HEART AND HAD TO GET HEART
SURGERY BUT THAT'S JUST ONE
AMONG SEVERAL HEALTH ISSUES HE'S
HAD TO FACE.
>>
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> WHILE I'VE SHARED A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF
I'M ONE OF MANY STORIES LIKE
THIS IN MY COMMUNITY.
I'M CONSTANTLY MEETING
CHILDREN'S, MOMS AND OTHER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUFFERING
DAILY FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS FROM
PESTICIDES.
>> SOME OF THE OTHER HEALTH
ISSUES THE FARM WORKER WOMEN IN
MY COMMUNITY FACE AND YOU CAN
SEE SOME OF US WORKING HERE IN
THE APPLE FARM IS THAT A LOT OF
THE WOMEN DEAL WITH CYSTS IN
THEIR REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS,
TUMORS, OTHER AUTO IMMUNE
DISEASES AND OTHER DISEASES
RELATED TO THEIR REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> A LOT OF THE TIMES MY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T EVER GET
A DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DON'T GET
SPECIALIZED FOLLOW UPS OR FOLLOW
WITH REFERRALS BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND
CAN'T AFFORD THE HEALTH CARE AND
TYPICALLY WE'RE ONLY IMMIGRANTS
AND ONLY RETURN HOME TO DIE.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> SO PART OF THE REASON WE FIND
OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION
OUTSIDE THE FACT THERE IS A LOT
OF PESTICIDES BEING APPLIED VERY
HEAVILY IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF PROTECTIONS WE NEED ON
THE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT SIDE IT
DOESN'T EXIST.
A LOT OF THE LABOR LAW OR
REGULATION PROTECTIONS WE NEED
OUR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ARE
EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL LABOR LAWS
AND IN TERMS OF PESTICIDE
REGULATIONS A LOT OF PESTICIDES
ARE BEING LOOSELY REGULATED AND
OFTEN TIMES THOSE REGULATIONS
ARE NOT ENFORCED AND THE
EXISTING REGULATIONS ARE PRETTY
WEAK BUT WHEN THEY ARE ENFORCED
IT'S TYPICALLY A SMALL FINE FOR
AN EMPLOYER TO HAVE INCORRECTLY
OR MISUSED A PESTICIDE.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> THE REGULATION THAT IS THE
FEDERAL PESTICIDE ONE IS A
FEDERAL PROTECTION STANDARD AN
EPA REGULATION AND IT IS PEOPLE
FROM THE EPA THAT ARE IN CHARGE
OF DOING THE INSPECTIONS AND THE
WORKPLACE FOR HOW PESTICIDES ARE
BEING APPLIED, THE TYPES OF
WARNINGS PEOPLE GET, THE TYPES
OF PROTECTIONS THE WORKERS ARE
BEING GIVEN.
HOWEVER, THESE INSPECTIONS ARE
NOT RANDOM.
THE INSPECTORS COORDINATE WITH
THE EMPLOYERS WHAT DATE THEY'LL
BE THERE AND WHAT TIME AND THEY
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STUFF OR SAY
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STUFF TO
DO RANDOM INSPECTIONS WHICH IS
WHY THEY HAVE TO COORDINATE AND
THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY
THE ENFORCEMENT IS SO WEAK.
>>
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> I MENTIONED I NEVER RECEIVED
TRAINING WHILE THERE IS A
REQUIREMENT FOR PESTICIDE
HANDLERS TO RECEIVE A TRAINING,
IT'S NOT REQUIRED ALL FARM
WORKERS RECEIVE THE TRAINING AND
EVEN THOSE REQUIRED TRAINING ARE
SHOWED A 10-MINUTE VIDEO WHICH
IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO KNOW THE
RISKS AND THE HARM AND A LOT OF
EMPLOYERS ARE STILL NOT WILLING
TO GIVE UP THE 10 MINUTES.
THEY'LL HAVE FARM WORKERS SIGN A
PIECE OF PAPER WITH THEIR
SIGNATURE TO SAY LIKE YOU'RE
AGREEING YOU RECEIVED TRAINING
AND THEN USE THAT SIGNATURE TO
SHOW WEPS THEY GAVE A TRAINING
AND CONSENTED TO IT.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> WHEN WORKERS QUESTION THE
TRAINING OR LACK OF TRAINING OR
WHY THEY'RE SIGNING THE DOCUMENT
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND OR MAYBE A
BLANK DOCUMENT THEY'RE MET WITH
RETALIATION AND THREATENED WITH
LOSING THE JOB AND MOST PEOPLE
CAN'T AFFORD THAT SO THEY
TYPICALLY DON'T RECORD WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
WHERE I LIVE THE CONCENTRATED
PESTICIDES HAVE TO BE APPLIED
EARLY SPRING BUT THE TRAININGS
DON'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL APRIL AND
IT'S COMMON THE PEOPLE APPLYING
THEM AREN'T WEARING PROTECTIVE
GEAR AND DON'T KNOW THEY SHOULD
BE WEARING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT GIVING THE TRAINING THAT
WOULD EDUCATE THEM ON THE
DANGERS OF THE PESTICIDES
THEY'RE APPLYING.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> ANOTHER REASON THESE THINGS
ARE TAKING PLACE IS BECAUSE A
LOT OF FARM WORKERS DO NOT HAVE
A TYPE OF PERMANENT IMMIGRATION
STATUS.
SOME HAVE STATUS BUT THEY'RE
MIGRANT VISAS SO PEOPLE ARE
TERRIFIED OF BEING DEPORTED OR
HAVING SOME SORT OF IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT CALLED ON THEM.
THERE'S A BAD POWER DYNAMIC IN
THE WORKPLACES WHERE EMPLOYERS
HAVE POWER TO THREAT TO FIRE
SOMEONE OR DEPORT THEM AND THAT
CONSTANT FEAR IS WHAT KEEPS
WORKERS IN THIS OPPRESSIVE
SITUATION.
ANOTHER WAY EMPLOYERS EXERT
POWER OVER THE WORKFORCE IS
LABOR WORK CAMP IN THE FARM OR
FIELDS WHERE THEY'RE WORKING AND
THE HOUSING CONDITIONS ARE OFTEN
INADEQUATE MAKING THE EXPOSURE
EVEN MORE EXASPERATED.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> I ALL RIGHT MENTIONED A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T DO NECESSARY
TREATMENT OR CARE BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE
BUT ALSO DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE
IMMIGRATION STATUS.
PEOPLE AREN'T ENROLL IN HEALTH
INSURANCE BECAUSE OF LACK OF
STATUS.
WHEN PEOPLE DO HAVE INSURANCE OR
GO OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO
SEEK MEDICAL CARE, A LOT OF
CLINICIANS OR PROVIDERS DON'T
HAVE THE TRAINING ON THE AFFECTS
THE PESTICIDES HAVE ON US AND
AREN'T GIVEN THE INFORMATION TO
PROTECT OURSELVES AND BY THE
TIME WE FIND OUT MOST HAVE
IMPACTS AND THINGS LIKE CANCER.
>> THIS IS A PICTURE OF ME DOING
COMMUNITY WORK AS PART OF A
GROUP I HELPED START IN NEW YORK
CALLED DIVINE WOMEN.
AND I WAS TRAINING A GROUP OF
CHURCH YOUTH ON WHERE THEIR FOOD
COMES FROM AND YOU CAN SEE NONE
OF THEM ARE DRESSED SAFELY.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
HEAR THE WRONG MESSAGE ABOUT
FARM WORKERS BUT WE'RE THE ONES
FEEDING THE NATION AND HELPING
PRODUCE THE FOODS YOU EAT AND
WE'RE NOT BEING SEEN OR
RECOGNIZED.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> AND WORST OF ALL ON TOP OF
THE FACT WE'RE NOT OFTEN VISIBLE
IS WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY FACING
THE HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF
PESTICIDE EXPOSURE.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> ANOTHER THING WE DO IS DO
ADVOCACY AND RAISE AWARENESS IN
ISSUES AND ENGAGE IN ORGANIC
FARMING IN OUR GARDENS AND RAISE
AWARENESS WITH OUR POLICY MAKERS
AND THAT'S A PICTURE OF US WITH
CORY BOOKER AND EDUCATE PEOPLE
ON HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND
WEAR SAFE CLOTHING WHEN WORKING
OR BE AWARE OF THE RISKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING
THAT IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE.
IT BRINGS UP A WORRY I'VE HAD
WITH THE ISSUES AND THINKING HOW
TO MITIGATE THE EXPOSURES WE
PLAY BE UNWITTINGLY GIVING THE
MANUFACTURERS AND EMPLOYEES AN
OUT SAYING THAT'S NOT A TOXIC
PESTICIDE, YOU DIDN'T EAT ENOUGH
FIBER.
PFAS IS NOT DANGEROUS.
YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH EXERCISE.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY
CAUTIOUS AND CAREFUL ABOUT HOW
WE MESSAGE THESE THINGS AT THE
SAME TIME WE'RE PUTTING PRESSURE
ON THE MANUFACTURERS AND
EMPLOYERS LIKE HERS TO MAXIMIZE
PEOPLE'S SAFETY TO THE DEGREE
POSSIBLE AND THE OTHER
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES COME ON
TOM TOP OF THAT BECAUSE THAT'S
THE CONCERN THE COMPANIES WILL
USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO ENGAGE
IN THIS VERY UNACCEPTABLE
BEHAVIOR.
I WANT TO OFFER MY APPRECIATION
ABOUT YOU SPEAKING ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT AND
VERY LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
>> THANKS FOR COMING AND SHARING
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE
FOR ALL OF US.
HOW CAN WE BEST ADVOCATES FOR
FARM WORKERS?
WHAT SHOULD WE DOING IN
COMMUNITIES WITH
REPRESENTATIVES?
HOW CAN WE BE HELPFUL TO YOU?
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
OUTSIDE OF JUST BEING IN THIS
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY YOU'RE
IN, ANYBODY AS A CONSUMER HAS A
LOT OF POWER.
I INVITE EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE
OF HOW THEY'RE CONSUMING FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES.
THERE IS I THINK IT'S PEOPLE
FOCUS ON BUYING ORGANIC OR
TRYING TO EAT AS MUCH AS
PESTICIDE-FREE PRODUCE AS THEY
CAN BUT WE SEE WASTE.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BUY AN
APPLE WITH A BRUISE OR MARK AND
PUTS PRESSURE ON PRODUCERS TO
ONLY PICK THE BEST FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES MAYBE WHEN THEY'RE
READY AND PUTS PRESSURE ON US
HOW QUICKLY WE PICK AND FOR MORE
HOURS.
HAVE REALISTIC STANDARDS OF WHAT
FOOD IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE
AND THAT NATURAL PERSPECTIVE.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE FOOD
WASTE WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE
STRENUOUS LABOR CONDITIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF
THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WHAT YOU SAY REMINDS ME OF
MICHAEL POLLEN'S BOOK TALKING
ABOUT FOOD.
ONE WAS OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA AND
TALKED ABOUT ORGANIC CERTIFIED
AND ALL OF US NOW BEFORE I READ
THAT BOOK I WAS IMPRESSION USDA
ORGANIC WAS GOOD AND NOW I
UNDERSTAND FROM HIS BOOK AND
ONES SIMILAR IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY GUARANTEE SAFETY TO
YOU OR ORGANICS.
THE BOOK MENTIONS THERE'S
LOOPHOLES THEY CAN STILL GET
ORGANIC CERTIFIED.
>> WHAT IS THE QUESTION?
>> I GUESS -- SO BESIDES LIKE
NOT WASTING FOOD ON -- WHAT
ABOUT -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU
OUT AS A WORKER BUT THE TAKE IS
WE SHOULD GO TO LOCAL FARMER'S
MARKETS AND GETTING OUR FOOD
THAT WAY BUT IF WE DO THAT IT
PUTS YOU OUT OF A JOB.
ARE THERE WAYS TO FIND HARMONY
AND IN TERMS OF KNOWING OUR FOOD
SOURCE, HOW THE WORKERS ARE
TREATED, POLICY DECISIONS ARE
GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AND WHAT
OTHER MEASURES BESIDES THAT JUST
WASTING FOOD AND REPLYING ON
ORGANIC CERTIFIED BECAUSE THAT'S
NOT WHAT WE'RE GETTING
NECESSARY.
-- NECESSARILY.
>> SHE'S GOING TO THINK AND
MAYBE WE CAN TELL YOU LATER BUT
THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE
ZOOM CHAT.
SHE SAID MS. BEDOLLA YOUR STORY
IS POWERFUL.
I WISH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE
THE STEPS YOU RECOMMEND TO
DECREASE EXPOSURES.
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS WHAT DO YOU
THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO EDUCATE
AND PROTECT FARM WORKERS?
>> BIG QUESTION.
>> YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THAT IF
YOU NEED TO.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD
COMES FROM.
IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION WHERE
YOU'RE ABLE TO LOOK UP WHAT FARM
YOUR FOOD IS COMING FROM YOU CAN
USUALLY SEE THE BIG PRODUCE
NAMES AND GOOGLE THEM AND A LOT
OF THEM HAVE COME UP WITH LABOR
VIOLATIONS IN THE INDUSTRY BIG
ONES ARE PERDUE FOR EXAMPLE.
ON THE LOCAL LEVEL BEING AWARE
OF WHAT YOUR LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVES ARE DOING.
RIGHT NOW A LOT OF STATES ARE
CONSIDERING PREEMPTION LAWS AND
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN EDUCATE
YOURSELVES ON AND GET INVOLVED
AND EDUCATE THE LEGISLATORS ON
HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS TO OUR
HEALTH.
>> I MAY HAVE ANOTHER BIG
QUESTION MAYBE FOR THE SPEAKERS
AS WELL AS FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE
ROOM AND ON ZOOM.
SO, WE HEARD FROM OUR
FIREFIGHTER SPEAKER EARLIER THE
QUESTION WAS POSED TO HIM ARE
THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR FLAME
RETARDANTS THAT AREN'T SO TOXIC.
ARE YOU OR ANYONE IN THE ROOM
AWARE OF ANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT
COULD BE USED FOR PESTICIDES
THAT WOULDN'T PRESENT AS HARMFUL
EFFECTS AS WE'RE SEEING NOW?
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> THERE ARE PRODUCERS
TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC AND
TYPICALLY THE PROFIT IS PRETTY
SIMILAR IF NOT THE SAME.
THE APPLE FARM I WORK ON IS
TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC AND OUR
HOURS REMAIN THE SAME.
ANOTHER THING WE DO OTHER
ALTERNATIVES IS ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF COMMUNITY
GARDENS IF THEY CAN OR THEIR OWN
PERSONAL GARDENS.
I'M PART OF A PROJECT CALLED THE
MOTHER EARTH PROJECTS WE
ENCOURAGE FARM WORKER WOMEN TO
GROW THEIR OWN FOOD IN WHATEVER
CAPACITY THEY HAVE AND WE HAVE
ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES NOT BEING GROWN WITH
PESTICIDES AND ALSO MEANS WE CAN
AFFORD TO HAVE FRESH FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES SINCE PEOPLE IN FOOD
DESERTS CAN'T AFFORD IT.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION.
>> I THINK YOU KIND OF ANSWERED
MY QUESTION BUT DO YOU THINK
COMING FROM A CONVENTIONAL
SYSTEM AND KNOWING HOW THAT
WORKS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR
MANY FARMS TO TRANSITION TO
ORGANIC OR A REGENERATIVE
SYSTEM?
I THINK IT IS BASED ON WHAT I
HEARD FROM OTHER FARMERS BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU
THINK.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
>> I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE.
LIKE I MENTIONED THE FARM I WORK
AT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IT AND
OTHERS AS WELL.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOME
PRODUCERS WHO COMMIT FRAUD AND
PUT THE ORGANIC LABEL ON THE
PRODUCE WHEN IT'S NOT AND I
THINK THAT'S MADE IT DIFFICULT
FOR THE ONES WHO ARE DOING IT
CORRECTLY BECAUSE THE RESEARCH
OR THE DATA COMES OUT ENDS UP
SHOWING ORGANIC DON'T USE
PESTICIDE SPRAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
>> WE WENT A LITTLE OVER TIME
BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH IT TO
HAVE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS AND
THAT WAS VERY POWERFUL.
OUR LAST PRESENTATION OF THE DAY
IS DR. MESSERLIAN FROM HARVARD
UNIVERSITY WHO IS GOING TO BE
GIVING A VERY IMPORTANT
PRESENTATION ON HOW TO REDUCE
OUR EXPOSURE AND HOW IMPORTANT
THAT IS FOR MITIGATION AND THE
EVIDENCE BEHIND THAT.
DR. MESSERLIAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
INVITATION.
I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE IN
PERSON I HAD OTHER TRAVEL
ARRANGEMENTS THAT IMPEDED FROM
BEING IN PERSON.
FIRST AN IMPORTANT POINT RELATED
TO THE PREVIOUS TALK, I
APPRECIATE THE HONESTY AND THE
TRUE HUMANITY BEHIND THAT STORY
HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO
MOTIVATE US TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH HERE.
WE'VE HAD DECADES OF RESEARCH
THAT'S SHOWN US THESE CHEMICALS,
PESTICIDES, PHTHALATES, PHENOLS,
WHATEVER THE CHEMICAL CLASS IS
IS HARMING HUMAN HEALTH AND
GENERATIONAL HEALTH AND HARMING
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR
POPULATION.
THERE'S SO MUCH WE CAN DO.
WE'RE AT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
AND THE GOAL OF MY PRESENTATION
IS TO MOTIVATE, INSPIRE AND
PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK SO YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND FROM A VERY BIG
PICTURE WHAT IT IS WE'RE AFTER
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SOLVE
FOR THIS PROBLEM IN A REAL
SIGNIFICANT WAY AND IT SOUND
LAUDABLE, IT SOUNDS LOFTY, IT
SOUNDS LIKE WE CAN NEVER GET
THERE BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE
CAN DO.
EXAMPLE, THE THINGS THIS LADY
JUST DESCRIBED TO US ARE THINGS
I MENTION IN MY TALK AND IT'S SO
BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THE ALIGN MANY
BETWEEN WHAT THAT PRESENTATION
TALKED ABOUT AND THE STRATEGIES
THAT WERE PROPOSED AND WHAT I
SEE AS THE FUTURE FOR HOW WE'RE
GOING TO REDUCE THE BURDEN OF
DISEASE IN THE POPULATION AND IN
PARTICULAR TO DESCRIBE A PATHWAY
TO GENERATIONAL HEALTH.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
DISCLOSURES.
I'M FOUNDER OF A COMPANY CALLED
B SCIENCE INC. I'LL TALK ABOUT
MORE LATER AND ON THE BOARD OF A
COMPANY THAT'S PART OF THIS TALK
AND I'M A SCIENTIFIC ADVISER FOR
PRESCRIPTIVE FERTILITY.
I WANT TO SUPPRESS HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND TO MERGE
THOSE TWO WORLDS.
HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO SOLVE POR
POPULATION HEALTH AND KEEPING
OURSELVES IN SILOS AND AVOIDING
WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR
TO BE ABLE TO CREATE SOLUTIONS
AND TECHNOLOGIES TO ALLOW FOR
POPULATION HEALTH TO BE ACHIEVED
AND TRANSLATING THE EVIDENCE WE
GENERATE THROUGH THE NIH FUNDED
STUDIES IN HOUSE AND THROUGH
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS TO SOLVE
FOR THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY FOR
THE FUTURE OF HOW WE'LL GET TO
GENERATIONAL HEALTH.
WHY ARE WE FOCUSSING ON
GENERATIONAL HEALTH?
WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN
WE'RE BRINGING IN THE WORLD AND
THE HEALTH OF THOSE CHILDREN
WHICH GUIDES THE HEALTH OF THEIR
CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN.
THAT'S CRITICAL TO SOLVING FOR
POPULATION HEALTH.
WE HEARD A HOST OF TOPICS AND
STUDIES PRODUCED BY HEATHER AND
OTHERS THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT CHEMICALS ARE TO
REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS.
AFFECTING EPIGENETICS AND
METABOLOMICS AND AFFECTING
GENOME TOXICITY AND METABOLIC
HEALTH.
THEY IMPACT OUR CHILD'S HEALTH
AND ABILITY TO HAVE A HEALTHY
LIFE SPAN.
HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE GENERATIONAL
HEALTH?
WE NEED POPULATION-BASED
STRATEGIES.
THAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL FOR EACH
AND EVERY STUDY TO THINK BIG
PICTURE ON SOLVING FOR
POPULATION HEALTH FOR NOT JUST
THIS GENERATION BUT FOR MULTIPLE
GENERATIONS AHEAD.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
WE KNOW THE DEVELOPMENT AND
ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
THEORY IS WIDESPREAD IN THE EDC
COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THE FIGURE THAT
SHOWS US THE EXPOSURES OF WOMEN
AND MEN ORE COUPLES TRYING TO
HAVE BABIES TODAY IMPACTS THE
HEALTH OF THEIR GRANDCHILD.
WHAT A COUPLE IS DOING IN THE
PRECONCEPTION WINDOW OF
VULNERABILITY IMPACTS THEIR
GRAND CHILD'S HEALTH SPAN AND
LIFE SPAN IS POWERFUL.
THUS, OUR GOAL IS TO EMPOWER
COUPLES AND INDIVIDUALS TRYING
TO GET PREGNANT BEFORE THEY
ACHIEVE PREGNANCY TO ALLOW THEM
TO DECREASE THEIR BODY BURDEN
EXPOSURE AND ENHANCE HEALTH AND
NUTRITION TO CREATE THE BEST
EGGS AND SPERM TO FORM THE
OFFSPRING THAT CREATE THE EGGS
THAT CREATE THEIR GRANDCHILD.
THIS A POWERFUL THOUGHT.
MOTIVATION FOR HEALTH GOALS.
WILL CONCEPTION BEGINS IN YOUR
GRANDPARENTS AND POSSIBLY
BEFORE.
EARLY LIFE ENVIRONMENTS ARE
GENERATIONAL.
THE SOCIAL, NATURAL AND BUILT
ENVIRONMENTS COMBINE AND
INTERSECT TO IMPACT REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN AND
THE COMPLEX EXPOSOME IMPACT THE
HEALTH SPAN OF THAT CHILD AND
THE LIFE SPAN HOW LONG THEY LIVE
AND HOW HEALTHY THEY LIVE.
THIS IS AN INTEGRATIVE FRAMEWORK
FOR GENERATIONAL HEALTH I CAME
UP AT HARVARD AND IT'S
IMPORTANT.
IT'S A SIMPLIFIED FRAMEWORK BUT
FOCUSSED ON PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION.
WHERE WE FOCUS ATTENTION IS
THROUGH PREVENTION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION IN EARLY LIFE.
THAT WINDOW OF VULNERABILITY IN
COUPLES TRYING TO GET PREGNANT
BEFORE THEY GET PREGNANT AND THE
PRECEPTION WINDOW IS WHERE WE
CAN IMPACT THE HEALTH OF FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
IT'S A WINDOW OF VULNERABILITY
AND OPPORTUNITY.
THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT INTERSECT
AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IS A
COMBINATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND
BIOLOGY, E TIMES G IS WHAT MAKES
US HEALTHY OR UNHEALTHY.
WE SPEND DECADES STUDYING THE
GONE OME AND MAPPING OUT THE
GENOME AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO
ENGINEER THE GENOME AND HAVEN'T
INVESTED IN ENGINEERING OR
TAILOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR
ENVIRONMENT IS WHAT CREATES
PRODUCTIVE SUCCESS THROUGH
MECHANISMS OF SURVIVAL AND
EXPRESSION OF THE GENOME THROUGH
EPIGENETIC MARK PERCENT.
THERE'S REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS
THROUGH ABERRATION OR
ADAPTATION.
THIS IS THE TOTAL EXPOSOME
BEHAVIOR AND LIFESTYLE AND WHAT
YOU'RE BORN WITH, YOUR GENETIC.
HEALTH AND DISEASE ACROSS LIFE
SPAN.
THE MORE OR LESS EXPOSED YOU ARE
WILL IMPACT YOUR LONGEVITY AND
VARIOUS MECHANISMS INCLUDING
REPRODUCTIVE AGING OR BIOLOGICAL
AGING WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN
TOUCHED UPON.
WHY MITIGATE EDCs FOR
GENERATIONAL HEALTH?
WE HEARD TODAY A HOST OF STUDIES
AND PUBLISHED DATA ACROSS THE
GLOBE THAT TELLS US THERE'S
REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS AND
DEVELOPMENT EFFECTS AND
METABOLIC EFFECTS AND THIS HAS
BEEN ESTABLISHED.
WE DON'T NEED MORE EVIDENCE TO
KNOW THESE CHEMICALS AND THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOCRINE
DISRUPTING CHEMICALS HARM HUMAN
HEALTH.
WE NEED TO SOLVE FOR THAT.
I HAVE A PROPOSED IDEA WHICH IS
IN ADDITION TO GENERATING
RESEARCH, GENERATING EVIDENCE
AND LOOKING AT MECHANISMS AND
CAUSAL PATHWAYS THEY'RE ALL
IMPORTANT BUT WHAT WE REALLY
NEED TO DO IS FOCUS ON TOP-DOWN
AND BUT OM-UP APPROACHES AND
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MITIGATION.
WE KNOW WHAT THESE LOOK LIKE.
THEY'RE INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES
OR EPA GUIDELINES ABOUT
ADVANCING POLICY THROUGH
DIFFERENT MECHANISMS WE HAVE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH
INTERNATIONAL BODIES.
LOOKING AT OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS
THE POND IN EUROPE AND WHAT
THEY'RE DOING AND STUDYING AND
HOW REGULATIONS THERE MIGHT
IMPACT HEALTH AND HOW COULD WE
BORROW AND UNDERSTAND THE
RESEARCH AND PROPOSED POLICIES
THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED AND HOW CAN
WE BORROW SOME AND BRING IT INTO
THE UNITED STATES.
WE NEED TO KEEP INVESTING AND
NIH NEEDS TO HELP INVEST IN
STUDIES TO HELP US UNDERSTAND.
BOTTOM-UP.
WE NEED TO FOCUS CRITICALLY ON
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR.
ON STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY
RESILIENCE AND INVESTMENT AND
PRIVATE SECTOR AND NEW
TECHNOLOGY AND THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER COVERED ALL THESE THREE
THINGS I FOUND INCREDIBLE SHE
WAS ABLE TO TAP ON CONSUMER
BEHAVIOR.
WE HAVE CONSUMER POWER.
USE THAT POWER.
WE CAN STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AT
RISK AND VULNERABLE.
HOW DO WE DO THAT AND EDUCATE
THEM?
HOW DO WE BRING THE COMMUNITIES
TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY TO
SOLVE FOR THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
ISSUES?
AND CRITICALLY, INVESTMENT IN
PRIVATE SECTOR AND NEW
TECHNOLOGIES.
STRENGTHENING TIES WITH
COMPANIES ALREADY DEVELOPING
THROUGH START-UPS, PRODUCTS,
SOLUTIONS, TECHNOLOGIES,
INNOVATIONS TO HELP SOLVE FOR
PROBLEMS IN WAYS WE'VE NOT
THOUGHT OF IN THE ACADEMIC
SETTING.
SWOT ANALYSIS INCLUDES
STRENGTHS.
THEY INCLUDE INCREASE PUBLIC
AWARENESS ON THE SCIENTIFIC
UNDERSTANDING OF THE PUBLISHING
OF PAPERS IN JOURNALS.
HOW DO WE GET THAT EVIDENCE TO
PEOPLE'S HANDS TO HEAR IT, SEE
IT, DIGEST IT THROUGH MEDIA AND
OTHER S DISTILLED DOWN TO
SIMPLIFIED FORMS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO AVOID EXPOSURE
AND MANAGE EXPOSURE WHEN THERE'S
SO MANY CHEMICAL GROUPS.
WE'RE EXPOSED TO A MULTITUDE OF
THINGS ACROSS THE DAY.
HOW DO WE INVOLVE FOR THIS AND
REDUCE OUR BODY BURDEN TO REDUCE
THE TOTALITY OF WHAT WE'RE
EXPOSED TO INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING
ON ONE CHEMICAL AT A TIME WHICH
IS WHERE THE STUDIES HAVE LIED.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO DEVELOP
STRICTER POLICIES ANDFIDE HINES,
TO DO THINGS SUCH AS ADVOCATE AT
YOUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
FOR BILLS IN ACTION TODAY THAT
CAN HELP IN YOUR COMMUNITY
CHANGE WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE
EXPOSED TO AND I'LL GIVE
EXAMPLES LATER.
SOME THREATS IS TO KEEP
PRODUCING THESE IN MILLIONS OF
TONS PER YEAR.
WE'RE SO MRIMLIMITED OF HOW WE
THESE BACK OUT AND WHAT CAN WE
DO AS PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE THAT
ARE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THIS.
CHALLENGING LANDSCAPE, THE
GLOBAL BURDEN OF THESE CHEMICALS
IS WIDESPREAD.
IT'S ACROSS THE GLOBE AND HARD
TO SOLVE FOR AND FEELS SO
LIMITING.
THE ROOTS OF EXPOSURE ARE
ABUNDANT AND HOW TO SOLVE FOR
THIS AND THEN THINK ABOUT THE
POPULATION AND THE VULNERABLE
HIGH-RISK GROUPS.
WE NEED A POPULATION-BASED
APPROACH SO THAT'S BASED ON THE
STRATEGIES THAT PREVENTIVE
MEDICINE BY JEFFERY ROSE
TARGETING THE WHOLE POPULATION
AND LOOKING AT THE HIGH RISK
GROUPS AND HOW DO WE TRIAGE TO
IDENTIFY STRATEGIES SPECIFICALLY
FOR THE SPECIFIC GROUPS.
I'LL LOOK AT CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
AND AGENCY OF CONTROL.
THIS IS A PLACE WE HAVE POWER.
EVERY ONE OF US HAS THE POWER TO
CHOOSE EVERY DAY WHAT WE PERFECT
AND BUY AND BRING INTO OUR
HOMES.
OOPS, SLOWER, I GOT THE MESSAGE.
EVERY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY
WHETHER YOU'RE RICH OR POOR
MAKES CHOICES.
SADLY AND TRUTHFULLY INDIVIDUALS
THAT HAVE LESS RESOURCES HAVE
LIMITED CONTROL OVER THEIR
ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN TYPES OF
CHOICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND
SOME STUDIES BY COLLEAGUES OF
MINE AT LAR ADVISORIED HAVE
SHOWN WITHIN LOWER SOCIO
ECONOMIC NEIGHBORHOODS THERE'S
HIRE CHEMICALS.
THESE ARE CONCERNS BUT WE CAN
EDUCATE AND SUPPORT AND GUIDE.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO.
I'LL GET TO THOSE SOLUTIONS IN A
FEW MINUTES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THESE
TODAY HOW CAN WE CONTROL AND CAN
WE CONTROL EDC EXPOSURE IS THIS
POSSIBLE?
WE KNOW THERE'S PLASTICS AND
PHTHALATES AND WE KNOW ABOUT A
LOT OF THESE THINGS ZANE.
CAN WE CONTROL EDC EXPOSURE?
IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO?
DO WE NEED TO TARGET A CLASS OR
LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE AND TRY
TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HOW
THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR BODY
BURDEN ACROSS THE DAY AND
STRATEGIES FOR NA.
-- FOR THAT.
COSMETICS AND PERSONAL CARE ARE
SOME AREAS OF CONTROL AND
HOUSEHOLD AND ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPOSURES AND CLEANING PRODUCTS
AND FURNITURE AND ELECTRONS AND
WATER QUALITY AND THE FOOD WE
EAT AND WATER WE DRINK.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES HERE.
WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS.
CONCERNS AROUND BOTTLED AND
WATER AND SAFE WATER ADVISORIES
ARE THINGS WE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF
EDUCATION INFORMATION WE CAN
CONTROL.
WE HEARD BY MY DOCTORAL STUDENT
AND OTHERS SAYING DIETARY
EXPOSURES, SUPPLEMENTS,
VITAMINS, THINGS WE CAN TAKE IN
THE MICROBIOME WE MAY BE ABLE TO
INGEST THAT MAY FLOURISH OUR
MICROBIOME MAY PROTECT US.
WE HEARD PRIOR LOCAL FOODS MAY
REDUCE EXPOSURE TO CERTAIN
PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE HOW
THE OPPORTUNITIES MAY IMPACT
THEIR HEALTH.
FOOD PREPARATION AND STORAGE ARE
WAYS TO HAVE IMPACT.
THIS IS THE BOTTOM-UP
APPROACHES.
THEY'RE ABOUT PERSONAL CARE
HOUSEHOLD STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN
HELP INFORM, EMPOWER, EDUCATE,
DIFFERENT GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS
IN OUR COUNTRY TO HAVE THE
KNOWLEDGE TO CHOOSE BETTER AND
THEN TELL YOU ABOUT PEOPLE
BUILDING THESE IN THE COMMUNITY
IN START-UPS AND OTHER PLACES.
WE CAN IDENTIFY HARMFUL
INGREDIENTS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO LOOK FOR CERTAIN LABELS.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT NATURE AND
ORGANIC OPTIONS AN TALK ABOUT
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND DIY
METHODS OF MAKING YOUR OWN HOME
CARE AND HOME CLEANING PRODUCT.
THERE'S ECO FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
OUT THERE.
WHAT DO THOSE LABELS AND
PRODUCTS LOOK LIKE?
PROPER VENTILATION.
AS THE WE HOST OF CHEMICALS
BECAUSE IT GETS PICKED UP IN THE
DUST AND THE DUST ENTERS OUR
LUNGS AND BECOMES A SOURCE OF
EXPOSURE.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF HOUSEHOLD
ITEMS AND CLEANING IS A GREAT
STRATEGY, MOPPING YOUR FLOORS IS
A GREAT WAY OF REDUCING DUST.
SELECTING NON-TOXIC MATERIALS
WHEN PURCHASING FURNISHING OR
DECOR AND THINGS IN YOUR
HOUSEHOLD.
AVOIDING PRODUCTS THAT WE KNOW
HAVE PFAS AND FLAME RETARDANTS.
ONE SOURCE ARE THE MATTRESSES
WITH BUY.
THERE'S BETTER SOLUTIONS THAT
ARE AFFORDABLE.
MAYBE NOT PERFECT OR COMPLETELY
CHEMICAL FREE BUT AFFORDABLE AND
HAVE LESS CHEMICALS
CONCENTRATION OF CERTAIN ONES WE
KNOW HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO BE
PROBLEMATIC AND LOOKING AT
SUSTAINABLE CHOICES.
OUR TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER SOURCE
OF EXPOSURE.
THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES WE HOLD
IN OUR HANDS ALL DAY LONG ARE A
SOURCE OF DERMAL EXPOSURE TO THE
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS.
REDUCING YOUR SCREEN TIME IS
HARD FOR SOME BUT HOW DO WE DO
THAT?
AWARENESS OF EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES AND BUILD THAT UP
IN A WAY TO MAKE THOSE PRODUCTS
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE ACROSS
THE POPULATION.
NEXT POLICY AND COMMUNITY
INTERVENTION.
AND THERE'S A VOLUNTEER JOB I
DO.
I TESTIFY FOR BILLS IN THE
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE IN THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY TOWN HALL
MEETINGS ON THINGS LIKE
PESTICIDE USE IN THE BROOKLINE
SCHOOL DISTRICT LAWN CARE.
THEY'RE USING ROUNDUP AND OTHER
PRODUCTS IN THE GARDEN WHERE OUR
CHILDREN GO SCHOOL AND WE
TESTIFY ON THESE TYPE OF BILLS
AND PROPOSALS TO STOP THAT
PRACTICE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DONE
FOR 20 YEARS.
IT TAKES PEOPLE AND A COMMUNED
TO UNDERSTAND THE RISK TO THEIR
CHILDREN AND THEN TO ACT ON THAT
RISK THROUGH ENGAGING WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS LIKE
SCIENTISTS, ACADEMICS AND
PRESENTATION THEM ON BOARD AND
HELP THEM TWO TO THE STATE
HOUSE.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
DIRECT IMPACT TO TRY TO DO A
TOP-DOWN APPROACH AND HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO HAVE WIDESPREAD
POPULATION EFFECTS.
I'M ALMOST SORT OF DONE AND
SLOWING DOWN.
ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
CORPORATIONS AND INVESTIGATORS
AND START-UPS.
I'VE BEEN INVITED TO HOST IN
START-UPS INNOVATING IN THIS
SPACE DEVELOPING NEW
TECHNOLOGIES, REPLACEMENT
PLASTICS, FOR EXAMPLE,
REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS TO FILTER
YOUR WATER.
WAYS TO THINK OUR SCIENCE WE
HAVE GENERATED IN OUR LABS AND
ACADEMIC SETTINGS AND WORK WITH
COMPANIES THAT WANT TO SOLVE FOR
THIS.
YES, THEY WANT TO COMMERCIALIZE
AND MAKE MONEY BUT GUESS WHAT?
THAT I HAVE THE MONEY AND
INVESTORS AT THE TABLE READY TO
PUT MONEY TO SOLVE FOR PROBLEMS.
I'M ENCOURAGE THESE STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENTS I THINK ARE CRITICAL
TO TRANSLATE OVERDOSE TO
MITIGATING THE RI RISK OF EDCs D
WORKING WITH NGOs AND PEOPLE
VOLUNTEERING ON GREAT GROUPS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SILENT
SPRING AND OTHERS TRYING TO
PROPOSE BILLS AND WORKING HARD
WITH LEGISLATORS, THEY NEED US.
THEY NEED US TO SIT AT THE TABLE
WITH THEM AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE
AND USE THAT TO EMPOWER THE
PEOPLE THEY'RE TRYING TO
INFLUENCE.
THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO A
TOP-DOWN APPROACH INFLUENCE EDC
AND MITIGATE THE RISK.
EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS AND
ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES ARE OTHER
ONES.
I HAVE MAYBE 10 MORE MINUTES?
I THINK WE'LL END AT 5:40 AND I
WANT 15 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO SHARE EXAMPLES OF
BOTTOM-UP SOLUTIONS OF THE REAL
WORLD I'VE BEEN A PART OF.
FIRST IS SOMETHING I INCUBATED
AND STARTED AT HARVARD CHAN
THROUGH FUNDING AT THE CHAN
SCHOOL AS WELL AS HOPEFULLY AN
RO1 I HOPE TO RESUBMIT AT SOME
POINT THIS YEAR LOOKING AT
CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH
CLINICAL STAKEHOLDERS.
WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE?
YOU CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
INDIVIDUALS IN CLINICAL SETTINGS
IN PEOPLE WORKING IN PEDIATRIC
SETTINGS AND IN THIS PARTICULAR
CASE PEOPLE WORKING WITH COUPLES
GOING THROUGH FERTILITY
TREATMENTS AT BOSTON IVF TO
DEVELOP AN INTERVENTION PROGRAM
FOR HEALTHY REPRODUCTION.
THIS IS THE TOTALITY OF THE
PROJECT.
WE DIDN'T GET TO THE WHOLE THING
PAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING
BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW
PEOPLE TO SEE OUTCOMES BUT
ENROLLED INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES
INTO A PROGRAM WHERE WE TOOK
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE BEFORE THE
INTERVENTION OF COUPLES TRYING
TO GET PREGNANT AND MEASURED THE
URINE IN MEN AND WOMEN AND
SUPPORTED THE COUPLE THROUGH
INTERVENTION AND FROM THAT WE
PROVIDED PRODUCTS.
YES, NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE CAN'T PROVIDE EVERYBODY
PRODUCTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
BUT TEACHING THIS IS WHAT YOU
LOOK FOR AND WHAT THE LABEL
LOOKS LIKE AND EDUCATING
PATIENTS AND SUPPORTING COUPLES
TO KNOW WHAT TO PERFECT.
WE OFFERED THE PRODUCTS AS A WAY
TO SEE IF THEY SWAPPED OUT THE
CHANGES WOULD WE SEE CHANGES IN
THE PHTHALATES AND PHENOLS AND
THE RESULTS ARE PENDING.
THAT SAID, THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY OF CREATING A HOST
OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES YOU CAN
DOWNLOAD AND TRANSLATED TO
INDIVIDUAL IN NAIL SALONS OR
CLEANING OUR HOMES.
THEY'RE VERY MUCH AT HIGH RISK
THEMSELVES FOR THINGS LIKE WE
HEARD TODAY, INFERTILITY,
MISCARRIAGE, BIRTH DEFECTS,
PREECLAMPSIA AND A HOST OF
ISSUES.
I'VE SEEN IT FROM PEOPLE I CARE
FOR AND I'VE SEEN IT IN OTHER
CHILDREN EVERY DECADE.
EACH HAVE SOMETHING WHERE THEIR
CHILD IS ILL OR SICK AND IT'S A
CHALLENGING PLACE FOR US TO NOT
INTERVENE AND SUPPORT THAT
COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO THE
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND
WORKERS THAT HELP IN OUR HOPE
AND PEOPLE THAT CLEAN OUR
INSTITUTIONS AND BUILDING AND
OTHER HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THOSE
RESOURCES.
I'LL GET TO A FEW MORE.
OTHER INSTITUTES PROVIDING GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE THE
CLINICIAN.
THE COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT
THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM HAVE
DEVELOPED A SERIES TO EDUCATE
CLINICIANS SO CLINICIANS
UNDERSTAND WHEN SOMEONE WHO
COMES TO THEM WHO MAY BE HIGH
RISK BECAUSE THEY WORK IN A
CERTAIN SETTING.
HOW CAN WE EDUCATE THEM IN THE
PLANNING PAGE OR WHEN THEY'RE
PREGNANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
CHEMICALS TO REDUCE THEIR
EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY OR
PRECONCEPTION PERIOD.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ONE IS THIS
COMPANY CALLED SORETTE.
IT'S A LOCAL BOSTON MOM WITH A
COUPLE CHILDREN AND INTERESTED
IN THIS WORK.
SHE WANTED TO CREATE A
MARKETPLACE WHERE MOTHERS
BECAUSE OF HER OWN LACK TO
FINDING PRODUCTS THAT WERE SAFE,
SHE CREATED A MARKETPLACE AND
IT'S POWERFUL BECAUSE IT'S USED
EVIDENCE ACROSS THE WORK WE'VE
DONE FOR 20 YEARS AND CREATED A
PIPELINE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO PUT
EACH AND EVERY PRODUCT IN THIS
MARKETPLACE THROUGH A PIPELINE
TO ASSESS AND EVALUATE ITS
CONTENTS AND THE RISKS AND
INGREDIENTS AND CURATE PRODUCTS
WE CONSIDER SAFE -- OF COURSE
NOT EVERYTHING'S SAFE BUT SAFER.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE THAT IS
AN EMBODIMENT OF HOW ACADEMIC
RESEARCH CAN BE USED IN A
PRIVATE SECTOR SETTING FOR THE
END CONSUMER TO LEVERAGE TO GO
TO ONE PLACE, NOT STRESS ABOUT
WHAT'S IN THE PRODUCT BECAUSE IF
IT HAS THE SEAL OF APPROVAL IT'S
BEEN PUT THROUGH A PIPELINE WE
PUT TOGETHER AND MAKE THINGS
SAFER WITH A LIST OF INGREDIENTS
NOT PERMITTED IN THE PRODUCTS.
IT'S A START-UP AND WILL HAVE
MORE PARTS.
WE HOPE TO HAVE LINES -- AND
SOME THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE
AND SOME ARE PRICIER BUT
SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN
NEED TO HAVE DISCOUNTS AND HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE REDUCED
FEES FOR SOME OF THE PRODUCTS.
OKAY.
ANOTHER ONE IS WELL, THIS IS --
I'M NOT PLUGGING MY COMPANY BUT
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO
SHOW YOU HOW WE CAN TRANSLATE
EVIDENCE THROUGH HEALTH
TECHNOLOGY TO THEN ALLOW FOR
THIS SOLUTION I'M DEVELOPING.
MY COMPANY'S GOING TO BE A
PREMIUM MODEL FOR EVERY
INDIVIDUAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
HAVE ACCESS IN THEIR HANDS ON
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON
WHAT ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL AND
NATURAL AND BUILT HOW TO CREATE
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU'RE
IN THE PRECONCEPTION PERIOD TO
ALLOW FOR OPTIMAL FERTILITY AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
WE FOCUSSED ON SLEEP, WELLNESS,
NUTRITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPOSURES TO NAME A FEW.
WE'RE CAPTURING THE EXPOSOME FOR
COUPLES FROM A MULTI-MODAL DATA
PLATFORM AND PERSONALIZE
INTERVENTIONS BY LOOKING AT
BIOMARKERS TO ENACT ON TO HELP
COUPLES HAVE HEALTHIER
ENVIRONMENTS AND SUCCESS AT
REDUCING EXPOSURE FWURD --
BURDEN TO IMPROVE REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH AND I AND THE TO TALK
ABOUT ONE LAST INTERVENTION
WORKING WITH WOMEN OR
INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO CONCEIVE
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEDIA
COMPANIES AND ONE I'M INVOLVED
WITH ONE HAS HUNDREDS OF
INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT GO ON THE WEBSITE LOOK FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT PLANNING A
PREGNANCY AND HOW DO WE REACH
THE GROUPS.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OR
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND WE HAVE
THE POWER TO EDUCATE THAT
COMMUNITY BY BUILDING A
PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THAT
RELATIONSHIP TO BRING OUR
SCIENCE TO THE FOREFRONT OF
PEOPLE'S HANDS AND MEDIA
COVERAGE AND I CREATED A POD
CAST WITH MY SISTER WHO HAPPENED
TO BE INFERTILE FOR A LONG TIME
AND IT'S ABOUT CLEANING UP YOUR
LIFE STYLE FOR FUTURE GENER
GENERATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND WE TARGETING COMMUNITY
GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS AT HIGH
RISK, BRING OUR SCIENCE TO THE
PUBLIC INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR
THE PUBLIC TO COME TO US AT
HARVARD AND THROUGH VOLUNTEER
AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS.
>> YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
>> I'M DONE.
MITIGATING EDCs IS A PATHWAY TO
GENERATIONAL HEALTH AND THERE'S
NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL STRATEGY
AND WE NEED POPULATION
APPROACHES AND TOP-DOWN,
BOTTOM-UP AND LOOK BEYOND THE
ACADEMIC SETTINGS AND LOOK AT
SECTORS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND
GOVERNMENT AND NGOs TO SOLVE OR
THE PROBLEM AND MITIGATE
EXPOSURES AND LOOK OUTSIDE THE
BOX AND WORK WITH TOGETHER TO
ENGAGE AND INVEST OF
OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT
OF BEFORE AND THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION AND FUNDING AND THANK
YOU TO MY MEMBERS OF MY PROGRAM
AT HARVARD AND NIH FOR HOSTING
THE EVENT.
I WELCOME QUESTIONS NOW.
SORRY, I DO TEND TO TALK FAST.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE
RECORDING AND PRESS SLOW MOTION
OR SOMETHING.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
AUDIENCE?
I SEE SOMEONE COMING UP.
>> HI.
SO YOU MENTIONED THE SORETTE
SEAL OF APPROVAL AND IF I SAW
THAT I WOULD TRUST IT BUT WHAT'S
TO TOP THE SEAL OF APPROVAL LIKE
OTHER SEALS OF APPROVALS LIKE
USDA ORGANICS WHICH ALSO WORK
WITH RESEARCHERS WHICH ARE
SUPPOSED TO DO THE SAME BUT ALSO
STILL FRAUDULENT AND IF
SOMETHING LIKE A SORETTE SEAL
WHICH COMES FROM PRIVATE REVENUE
AND WHAT'S TO STOP IT FROM BEING
CORRUPT?
>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT LIKE
YOU SAID PROFIT.
PROFIT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A BAD
THING.
COMPANIES DO NEED TO BE
PROFITABLE BUT THEY'RE ALSO VERY
APPROPRIATELY POSITIONED TO
SOLVE FOR THE SOLUTION.
IT'S A BIT OF A BREAKING NEWS
-- BALANCE AND THE USDA IS A
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM.
THIS IS A PRIVATE SECTOR SYSTEM.
THERE IS THE ISSUE ARE THEY
USING INFORMATION TO THEN MAKE
MONEY OR ARE THEY THERE TO CARE
FOR US AND PROTECT US?
THAT'S A BALANCE.
COMPANIES PEOPLE GOOD PEOPLE ON
THEIR BOARDS AND WHAT IS SCIENCE
REPLICATABLE USING SCIENCE IN
THE REAL WORLD AND COMPANIES IS
IMPORTANT.
I'VE ENCOURAGED THAT IN MY WORK
WITH SORETTE WHICH IS TO HAVE A
PROTOCOL AND PIPELINE TO
REPLICATE ANYONE CAN TAKE AND
GET A PROCESS THROUGH AND GET TO
THE SAME RESULT.
REPUTATION IMPORTANT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION WE
NEED TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON THE
SOLUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI, NICE TALK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A COUPLE
POINTS AND MAKE ONE OTHER.
STRESSING THE NEED TO INVOLVE
ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
DISCUSSIONS.
OBVIOUSLY COMMUNITIES ARE NUMBER
ONE AND DOES INCLUDE AS YOU HAVE
MENTIONED THE PRODUCERS AND THE
INDUSTRY.
MY CONCERN I HAVE IS I DON'T
HAVE GREAT FAITH IN THE
REGULATORY AGENDA IN GENERAL
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS HIGHLY
CONFLICTED.
THERE WAS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE
OF WHAT GOES ON WITH PESTICIDES
AND HAVE COMMENTS ON HOW TO DEAL
WITH THAT.
>> I DO AND I DON'T HAVE MUCH
CONFIDENCE IN THE REGULATORY
SYSTEM EITHER HOWEVER, AND IN
THINKING ABOUT WORK I'VE DONE
NOT RELATED TO EDCs BUT ANOTHER
TOPIC IMPORTANTLY IS WE NEED TO
USE OUR SCIENCE AND ACT ON
SCIENCE IN THE LITIGATION SYSTEM
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF THAT
AS A PROCESS OF A SOLID STRONG
TOP-DOWN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
WHEN THERE'S CLASS-ACTION SUITS
WHERE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE
FIELD GET TOGETHER AND GET
SUPPORTED BY LAW FIRMS THAT THEN
WANT TO TAKE THE CASES.
YES, THE LAW FIRMS WANT TO MAKE
MONEY, BUT GUESS WHAT?
IT'S A MITIGATION AND WHEN
THERE'S CLASS ACTION SUITS AND
GOES TO THE TOP COURTS AND KNOW
THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE
TAKEN OUT OF THEIR BANK ACCOUNT
WHEN THERE'S WORKERS BEING
HARMED, WE NEED TO USE THAT
LEGAL MECHANISM TO HAVE A STRICT
TOP-DOWN APPROACH AND WE NEED TO
USE THAT IN THE EDC SPACE AND
RELYING ON SCIENTISTS LIKE
OURSELVES TO SIT AND STAND UP
FOR THAT FOR THE WORKERS AND
INDIVIDUALS BEING HARMED AND NOT
BEING AFRAID WHEN A LAW FIRM
IDENTIFIES YOU AS A KEY EXPERT
WITNESS AND WANTS YOU TO FEST
TIE AND WORK ON THE PROJECT ORE
CLASS ACTION IS A CRITICAL WAY
AND THAT'S A BIG TOP-DOWN WAY.
IT'S NOT REGULATION BUT
CONTROLLING THE INDUSTRY TO SAY
NO MORE OF THIS BEHAVIOR.
NO MORE UNLAWFUL, HARMFUL,
DANGEROUS PRACTICE YOU CONTINUE
TO NEGLECT THE HEALTH OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE AT YOUR
FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE AND HOW WE
CAN USE OUR SCIENCE TO BE THE BE
PUT AT THE TABLE IN FRONT OF A
JURY TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
ABOUT THE SCIENCE.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE
HARMS.
AND THEN LAW FIRMS NEED TO LOOK
AT WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR 20
YEARS IGNORING THE PEOPLE THAT
COME TO THEIR DOOR AND THERE'S
ALL THIS EGREGIOUS LIVELIHOOD OF
PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN AND GETTING
THAT OUT THERE HAS BEEN UNDER
UTILIZED IN MY OPINION.
>> MAY I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION
AND BE THE WE HAVE ONE IN THE
AUDIENCE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
HOPING TO HEAR ABOUT CONCRETE
STEPS TO REDUCE THEIR EXPOSURE
THAT IS IMPACTFUL.
YOU'RE DOING YOUR STUDY WHICH IS
STILL IN PROGRESS AND WANT WAIT
TO HEAR THE RESULT BUT OTHER
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN TO REPLACE
PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS LIKE THE
HERMOSA STUDIES AND OTHER ONES.
SUMMARIZE WHAT THE LOW HANGING
FRUIT ARE IN TERMS OF BANG FOR
BUCK REDUCING EXPOSURE FOR
PEOPLE LISTENING WONDERING WHAT
CAN I DO?
I CAN'T AFFORD ORGANIC FOOD.
ARE THERE CERTAIN PRODUCTS I
SHOULD NOT BUY OR NOT BUY
ANYTHING WRAPPED IN PLASTIC BUT
DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR
PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO KNOW WHAT
ARE A FEW THINGS I CAN DO THAT
ARE ACCESSIBLE AND POTENTIAL HI
SUSTAINABLE?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT TOO.
I FEEL HIKE PEOPLE HEARD THIS
MANY SOMETIMES.
THERE'S THINGS YOU CAN DO AND MY
APPROACH IS UNCONVENTIONAL.
WHAT ARE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE
FEEL YOU CAN CHANGE.
NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO SWITCH
FROM PLASTICS TO ANYTHING ELSE
AND YOU MAY NOT BE WILLING OR
AFFORD TO DO.
PICK THE NUMBER OF PRODUCTS YOU
PUT ON YOUR BODY PER DAY.
SAY YOU PUT ON 10 GO TO EIGHT,
SIX, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
PRODUCTS YOU PUT ON YOUR BODY.
THAT'S SIMPLE.
REDUCE THE TIME YOU EAT TAKEOUT.
ANY KIDS EAT OUT OF PIZZA OUT OF
THE BOX AND MAKES THE CRINGE BUT
ONLY A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK AND
START CUTTING DOWN.
A LITTLE IS BETTER THAN NONE.
NONE IS BETTER BUT MOVE THE
NEEDLE DOWN AND CREATE A NEW
HABIT.
THAT'S HOW I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TIMES
THEY'RE EXPOSED.
NOT CARE ABOUT SPECIFIC CHEMICAL
BUT THE CONTACT YOU HAVE WITH
CERTAIN PRODUCTS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT CRITICAL
ONE IS THE VERY IMPORTANT VALUE
OF WATER FILTRATION.
THE VERY IMPORTANT VALUE AND
I'VE ADVOCATED FOR THIS IN
DIFFERENT SETTINGS.
INCLUDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ALLOW FOR SUBSIDIZED LIKE SOLAR
PANELS OR FANCY CARS THAT GET
REDUCTION REBATES.
HOW DO WITH NOT DO THIS IN
LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS GIVING
A REDUCTION FOR WATER FILTRATION
SYSTEMS TO OUT IN THEIR
HOUSEHOLDS.
SOME ARE EXPENSIVE BUT EFFECTIVE
LIKE REVERSE OSMOSIS SYMPTOMS
AND YOU'RE DRINKING THAT
CONSTANTLY.
THAT'S A MAJOR SOURCE OF
EXPOSURE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING
ABOUT.
WE HAVE A SOLUTION.
BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE.
MAKE IT AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE.
>> ARE THERE ANY LOW-COST WATER
FILTRATION UNITS?
NOTE BRITA NOT TO NAME THEM BUT
THING PEOPLE CAN USE WITHOUT
HAVING TO INSTALL IN THEIR
HOMES.
>> I'M A RENTER.
YOU CAN'T PUT FANCY THINGS IN
THE BOTTOM OF YOUR KITCHEN SINK
AND DRILL A HOLE.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY POD CAST.
WE TALK ABOUT WATER FILTRATION
SYSTEMS.
AS THE FREE, DOWNLOADABLE.
YOU CAN LISTEN AND EDUCATE
YOURSELF.
THERE'S LOTS OF HANDS ON TIPS IN
THE PODCAST FOR ANYONE
INTERESTED NOT JUST PEOPLE
TRYING TO GET PREGNANT AND
CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES TO REVERSE
OSMOSIS AND THE FILTRATION
SYSTEMS SOME ARE PRETTY
AFFORDABLE.
SOME DON'T REQUIRE MAJOR
INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF KITCHEN
SINK AND WORKING WITH POLICY
MAKERS AND COMPANIES TO ALLOW
FOR SUBSIDIES FOR PEOPLE WHO
WANT THAT AT AN AFFORDABLE WAY
OR FREE OR FOR A DISCOUNT ARE
SOME THINGS I'M ACTIVELY WORKING
ON TO ENCOURAGE CHANGE ON THE
TOP-DOWN LEVEL.
THE PUBLIC WANTS A BOTTOM-UP
APPROACH.
YOU'LL BE THE CLOSING QUESTION
FOR THE DAY.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION
FOR PEOPLE LISTENING.
>> I'M DR. FURTADDO A NATURE
PATH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION.
I AGREE WE CAN TALK FOR HOURS
WITH THINGS YOU'RE SAYING.
AND RESONATING WITH THE PASSION
YOU FEEL ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY ON
LITIGATION LEVELS BECAUSE I
THINK -- I CAN'T SPEAK I'M
REPRESENTING MY ORGANIZATION IN
THIS COMMENT BUT WITH THE
HEARTBREAK I HEAR FROM THE
PRESENTATION OF OUR COLLEAGUE
WHO HAS BEEN HURT WE GREED AND
DISREGARD BY SCIENCE AND THE
ANALOGY THAT COMES TO MY HEART
WHERE IN MEDIEVAL TIMES WE WOULD
THROW SEWAGE OUT OUR WINDOW
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
MICROBES AND THERE WAS NO
ADVOCACY FOR DOCTORS TO EVEN
WASH THEIR HANDS AND HAD TO BE A
HUGE PARADIGM SHIFT.
I THINK WE'RE IN THAT STABLE
LOOKING BACK AT MEDIEVAL TIMES
LIKE WHAT WERE THEY THINKING AND
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
I PROFESSIONALLY WORK ON THIS ON
A DAY TO DAY BASIS AND SEE
PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE STEPS YOU
RECOMMEND AND STILL SEE HIGH
BODY BURDEN LEVELS WE NEED TO
ADDRESS ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL.
SO HOW DO WE ADVOCATE WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCE TO THE PROCESSES FOR
THE PRODUCTS IN OUR WORLD
HARMING US WITHOUT ADVOCACY?
>> THAT'S A HUGE QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL BE ABLE TO
ANSWER THAT.
MAYBE THAT'S JUST FOOD FOR
THOUGHT FOR ALL OF US AND WE'LL
KIND OF LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GETTING
TO AND LEAVE IT WITH THIS AS
WELL WHICH IS WE HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT HEALTH HOLISTICALLY.
WE CAN DECREASE AND MITIGATE THE
RISK OF EDCs BUT HAVE TO
INCREASE THINGS WE KNOW ARE
HEALTHY.
DO THINGS AND TAKE THINGS IN OUR
BODY AND ENVIRONMENTS WE KNOW
PROMOTE HEALTH.
EXERCISE, SLEEP, VITAMINS,
NUTRITION, ALL THE THINGS --
STRESS MITIGATION, MEDITATION,
THEY HELP AND MAY BE ABLE TO
BLOCK THE EFFECTS OF EDCs.
WE NEED TO MITIGATE THE EDCs BY
ENCOURAGING HOLISTIC HEALTH BY
ENCOURAGING HEALTHY PRACTICES IN
INDIVIDUALS AND ACROSS OUR
POPULATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ON THAT NOTE THANK YOU
DR. MESSERLIAN AND INVITE DR
DR. SCHUG TO SAY PARTING WORDS
TO CLOSE OUT DAY ONE.
>> WHAT A FIRST DAY.
I WANT TO THANK SEKAI AND THE
OTHER ORGANIZERS FOR RUNNING
SUCH A WELL-RUN MEETING AND
KEEPING EVERYONE ON PACE AND FOR
INCLUDING TALKS THERE EXPERTS,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FROM A
WIDE RANGE OF SPEAKERS.
SO WE GOT TO HEAR ABOUT THE
SCIENCE.
A LOT OF ABOUT POTENTIAL WAYS TO
PREVENT AND MITIGATE EDCs, WAYS
TO DAMAGE OUR BODY BUT THERE'S
HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
TOMORROW WE KICK THINGS OFF AT
9:30 AND HOPE THE PARTICIPANTS
THAT WERE AT TODAY'S MEETING IN
PERSON AND VIRTUALLY WILL BE
ABLE TO ATTEND AND I HOPE
EVERYONE HAS A GREAT EVENING AND
HAS A CHANCE TO WALK AROUND THE
BEAUTIFUL NIH CAMPUS AND ENJOY
DINNER.
THANK YOU.