Publication on EDC mixtures in Science!
Our largest study within the former H2020 project EDC-MixRisk (https://edcmixrisk.ki.se/) has been published in Science (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe8244). Combining epidemiological and experimental data, we show that in a large Swedish mother-child cohort, 54% of pregnant women are exposed to mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) above levels that may impair their unborn children’s brain development. These mixtures include EDCs to which we are exposed constantly, such as bisphenol A, phthalates, and PFAS, at levels experienced in day-to-day life.
Using 2000 mother-child pairs in the SELMA cohort (http://www.selmastudien.se/), we identified an EDC mixture measured in pregnant women that was associated with language delay in their children.
This same mixture, at levels found in the general population, disrupted gene networks that are causally linked to autism and intellectual disability in brain organoids (human 3D cell models). It also disrupted hormonal signaling and behavioral responses in animal models.
Finally, based on these experiments, we determined exposure levels of concern, and 54% of the investigated women exceeded these levels. Notably, exposure levels were all (far) below the current acceptable limits for the single compounds contained in the mixture.
The results emphasize the need to take mixtures into account for chemical testing and risk assessment, and provide an integrative framework to guide risk assessment strategies. Importantly, they also show the value of multidisciplinary collaborations to tackle challenges in science and society.
Link to the publication: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe8244
Animation video summarising the main results of this study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJh9c-pyeYo
Film on the main results of EDC-MixRisk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XumDwTEDcl0
Joëlle Rüegg’s professor installation lecture on EDCs and mixtures:
Article in the Environmental Health News:
Article in LeMonde:
Artwork by Secret Molecule, www.secretmolecule.com
Junior Academy Workshop (JAWS) 2022, hosted at Stockholm University on August 25th and 26th!
This event is held by the Swedish Academic Consortium on Chemical Safety (SWACCS) organized by PhD students from SU and KI. The JAWS workshop offers a full day of exciting presentations on the theme “Steps toward a toxic-free environment” followed by a one-day workshop on science communication and how to use social media channels to spread your research. The event is free-of-charge, fika and lunch will be provided.
For more information please click here.
Application is now closed for the Postdoctoral position in Epigenetic and multi-OMICs data analysis at Uppsala University!
ETox 