Endocrine disrupters

Several studies show that there is an increased frequency of hormone-dependent cancer forms (breast, prostate and testis cancer), malformed sex organs in boys, as well as poor sperm quality in young men and early puberty onset in girls. This indicates that human reproductive health – the ability to have children - is suffering.

In order to meet the urgent need for elucidating the causal connection between chemical exposures and declining human reproductive health, the research at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark is focussed on these isssues.
 
The unique approach of the National Food Institute integrates experimental studies in animal, cell and computational models and is centered on:

• Comprehensive rat studies including fetal exposure and effects of reproductive health and behaviour in male and female offspring
• Mechanistic studies of chemicals in vivo and in vitro including hormone, biomarker, gene, and metabolite analyses,
• Mixture effects of endocrine disrupters

Besides research the National Food Institute is advices the authorities and participate in test guideline development.  

Collaboration

Copenhagen University  Hospital, Department of Growth and   Reproduction
Danish Environmental Protection Agency, DK
DTU Systems Biology
DTU Informatics
Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, DK
International partners in the EU projects Contamed and ChemScreen
University of Southern Denmark - Odense
University of Brunel, UK
University of Aarhus, DK