EU project will safeguard human reproductive health from endocrine disruptors

Hormone signaling is regulating normal sexual development and contributes to how humans become male or female. They control the formation of the reproductive organs, but also all other characteristics we consider masculine or feminine. Disruption to hormone signaling during critical stages of development, from fetus to young children, can therefore have many consequences. This includes exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals from our environment.

A new project, called ‘MERLON’, aims to improve our capacity to better safeguard human reproductive health from potential harm caused by exposure to these endocrine disrupting substances. The goal is to provide chemical risk assessors and regulators with updated knowledge and tools to better identify and regulate chemicals with endocrine disrupting activities. This will contribute to a healthier environment and better protection of reproductive health.

The collaborative project includes 11 partners throughout Europe and will run for 5 years. It is funded by a 7-million-euro EU Horizon Europe-grant. The project is coordinated by Professor Terje Svingen from DTU National Food Institute.