Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the USA: a population-based disease burden and cost analysis

[en] Background Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) contribute to disease and dysfunction and incur high associated costs (>1% of the gross domestic product [GDP] in the European Union). Exposure to EDCs varies widely between the USA and Europe because of differences in regulations and, therefore, we aimed to quantify disease burdens and related economic costs to allow comparison. Methods We used existing models for assessing epidemiological and toxicological studies to reach consensus on probabilities of causation for 15 exposure–response relations between substances and disorders. We used Monte Carlo methods to produce realistic probability ranges for costs across the exposure–response relation, taking into account uncertainties. Estimates were made based on population and costs in the USA in 2010. Costs for the European Union were converted to US$ (€1=$1·33). Findings The disease costs of EDCs were much higher in the USA than in Europe ($340 billion [2·33% of GDP] vs $217 billion [1·28%]). The difference was driven mainly by intelligence quotient (IQ) points loss and intellectual disability due to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (11 million IQ points lost and 43 000 cases costing $266 billion in the USA vs 873 000 IQ points lost and 3290 cases costing $12·6 billion in the European Union). Accounting for probability of causation, in the European Union, organophosphate pesticides were the largest contributor to costs associated with EDC exposure ($121 billion), whereas in the USA costs due to pesticides were much lower ($42 billion). Interpretation EDC exposure in the USA contributes to disease and dysfunction, with annual costs taking up more than 2% of the GDP. Differences from the European Union suggest the need for improved screening for chemical disruption to endocrine systems and proactive prevention. Funding Endocrine Society, Ralph S French Charitable Foundation, and Broad Reach Foundation. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd

Disciplines :

Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition

Author, co-author :

Attina, T. M.; Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States

Hauser, R.; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States

Sathyanarayana, S.; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States

Hunt, P. A.; School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States

Bourguignon, Jean-Pierre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Département des sciences cliniques

Myers, J. P.; Environmental Health Sciences, Charlottesville, VA, United States

DiGangi, J.; International Persistent Organic Pollutant Elimination Network, Gothenburg, Sweden

Zoeller, R. T.; Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States

Trasande, L.; Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States, Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States, New York University Wagner School of Public Service, New York, NY, United States, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, Department of Nutrition, Food and Public Health, New York, NY, United States, NYU College of Global Public Health, New York, NY, United States

Language :

English

Title :

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the USA: a population-based disease burden and cost analysis

Publication date :

2016

Journal title :

The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology

ISSN :

2213-8587

eISSN :

2213-8595

Publisher :

Lancet Publishing Group

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

996-1003

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

Endocrine Society
Ralph S French Charitable Foundation
Broad Reach Foundation

Available on ORBi :

since 31 December 2020

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158

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133

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