News
Response to EurActiv’s article on endocrine disruptors linked to infertility
On 11 April 2016, EurActiv published the article “Endocrine disruptors’ link to infertility confirmed”.
ECPI would like to point out that the reliability of the study by A. Hunt et al published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolisms used as the basis for the article is questionable. A close look at the study reveals it does not provide any new scientific evidence concerning the toxicity of any substances per se. Instead, it speculates as to the potential economic and healthcare costs of endometriosis and uterine fibroids in women. It is surprising to see how the authors quantify in a very precise manner the potential cost of these reproductive disorders despite the fact that in both cases it is said that “the strength of epidemiological evidence was rated low.”
This study is highly speculative, and it is not a solid basis for reaching conclusions with respect to the causation of certain reproductive disorders and their costs to EU society. The study is also vague on a number of important points including how the expert panel was appointed and bias excluded.