"An international team of experts reported [Tuesday] that evidence linking hormone-mimicking chemicals to human health problems has grown stronger over the past decade, becoming a 'global threat' that should be addressed."

"The report is a joint effort by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to give policymakers the latest information on chemicals that alter the hormones of people and wildlife.

Much has changed since 2002, when the organizations released a report that called the evidence linking the chemicals to human health impacts “weak.”

The panel of 16 scientists from 10 nations in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia found that endocrine-related diseases and disorders are on the rise. There is now “emerging evidence for adverse reproductive outcomes” and “mounting evidence' for effects on thyroids, brains and metabolism, according to the report summary."

Brian Bienkowski reports for Environmental Health News February 19, 2013. [2]