Event Abstract Back to Event Brain endocrine disruption: enough science for regulation? Jean-Pierre Bourguignon1* 1 University of Liège, GIGA Neurosciences, Belgium Fetal and early postnatal life periods are critical for brain development. Thyroid hormones and neurotransmitters play a crucial role in that process and their alteration could explain some neurodevelopmental disorders. The number of synthetic chemicals present in the environment has increased dramatically during the past decades, as did fetal exposure. Some of those chemicals can alter functioning of the endocrine system (Endocrine Disruptors, EDs) and interfere with brain development. PCBs provide a classical example with a mode of action involving thyroid hormones. A ubiquitous chemical like bisphenol A is another example with a mechanism that could imply disordered GABA neurotransmission. Studies have shown that the cost of health disorders attributable to EDs in the EU is 160 billions Euros per year. Pesticides are the most important EDs and neurodevelopmental disorders including cognitive impairment, autism and possibly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder account for the most important cost. This raises the issue of limiting exposure either by ban on chemicals based on scientific evidence and, in some instances, the precautionary principle. The task is beyond measure: Among 143,000 synthetic chemicals listed in the EU, it is estimated that only few % have been tested for ED properties; 1,036 have been identified as possible EDs based on peer-reviewed literature; 445 pesticides or biocides were screened for ED identification using the EC criteria, resulting in 13 to 31 confirmed as EDs. Raising awareness of the public particularly in critical and vulnerable periods like pregnancy is thus important inasmuch EDs can cause transgenerational effects likely involving epigenetic mechanisms. Résumé en Français: Le développement du cerveau implique des hormones comme celles produites par la thyroïde et des neurotransmetteurs comme le GABA. Les perturbateurs endocriniens (PEs) comme les PCBs et le bisphénol A interférent avec ces processus, d’où un risque de réduction des capacités intellectuelles ou de maladies comme l’autisme. Les PEs entraînent un coût annuel de 160 milliards d’Euros pour l’UE, dont la plus grande partie vient des troubles du neurodéveloppement. Les critères proposés par la Commission européenne pour identifier les PEs sont tels que très peu de substances sont susceptibles d’être réglementées. Dès lors, l’éducation des consommateurs, en particulier les femmes enceintes est essentielle. Samenvatting in het Nederlands: Bij de ontwikkeling van de hersenen zijn hormonen zoals deze die door de schildklier aangemaakt worden en neurotransmitters zoals GABA betrokken. Endocriene hormoonontregelaars (EH) zoals PCB’s en bisphenol A beïnvloeden dit proces en creëren een risico op vermindering van de verstandelijke bekwaamheid of op ontwikkeling van ziektes zoals autisme. Deze endocriene hormoonontregelaars liggen aan de basis van een jaarlijkse kost van 160 miljard euro binnen de EU, het grootste deel ervan veroorzaakt door neuro-ontwikkelingsstoornissen. De criteria die de EU voorstelt om de EH te identificeren zijn van dien aard dat slechts zeer weinig ervan onder deze reglementering zullen vallen. Daarom is de opvoeding van de gebruikers, in bijzonder van zwangere vrouwen, zeer belangrijk. Keywords: Endocrine Disruptors, Thyroid Hormones, Brain Development, Bisphenol-A, Pesticides Conference: 6th Belgian Brain Congress, MONS, Belgium, 8 Oct - 8 Oct, 2016. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Brain and brain diseases: between heredity and environment Citation: Bourguignon J (2016). Brain endocrine disruption: enough science for regulation?. Conference Abstract: 6th Belgian Brain Congress. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnagi.2016.03.00014 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Jun 2016; Published Online: 27 Jun 2016. * Correspondence: Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, University of Liège, GIGA Neurosciences, Liège, 4000, Belgium, jpbourguignon@ulg.ac.be Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jean-Pierre Bourguignon Google Jean-Pierre Bourguignon Google Scholar Jean-Pierre Bourguignon PubMed Jean-Pierre Bourguignon Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.