• Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR)
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
• National Toxicology Program (NTP)

Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR) – Environmental Signaling Research & Endocrine Disruption
http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/

CBR at Tulane/Xavier Universities has been leading a program called 'Environmental Signaling Network' that aims to foster communication and promote scientific advancements in this field. The e.hormone web site run by CBR has been undertaking a central role in the program providing educational resources in this innovative research.

Endocrine disruption is one of the most studied areas in the environmental signaling research, as humans and animals are exposed to endocrine disruption chemicals through food, water, and air and can experience health effects ranging from subtle changes in blood hormone levels to overt reproductive abnormalities, infertility, and cancer. Facing the most risk are women of childbearing age, due to increased exposure through lifestyle choices, and infants and children, due to their small size, higher exposure, and fast growth.

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans
http://monographs.iarc.fr/

As part of the World Health Organisation (WHO), IARC's mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control. One of the outstanding parts of its research is IARC Monographs, which identify environmental factors that can increase the risk of human cancer. These include chemicals, complex mixtures, occupational exposures, physical and biological agents, and lifestyle factors. National health agencies use this information as a scientific base for their actions to prevent exposure to potential carcinogens.

National Toxicology Program (NTP)
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/

The NTP was established by the Department of Health and Human Services of the US in 1978 as a cooperative effort to face increasing scientific, regulatory, and Congressional concerns about the human health effects of chemical agents. The NTP's focus areas include:

• Coordinating toxicology testing programs within the federal government;
• Strengthening the science base in toxicology;
• Developing and validating improved testing methods; and
• Providing information about potentially toxic chemicals to health, regulatory and research agencies, scientific and medical communities and the general public.

As far as the main areas of research, NTP currently puts more emphasis on synthetic industrial chemicals, pesticides, various pharmaceuticals, metals, and food additives.

  Back to Top