Revisions for Home Testing for Endocrine Disruptors
| 18 CURRENT | xavcc |
December 20, 2021 15:48
| about 3 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. In a recent review, Vandenberg et al (2010) concluded: We believe that human biomonitoring data clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA ubiquitously, including significant internal exposures to unconjugated BPA. More important, animal studies suggest that fetuses and children are particularly vulnerable to BPA exposures and, at the same time, are exposed to higher levels of unconjugated BPA. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. More Information
Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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Revert | |
| 17 | fongvania |
June 17, 2021 05:18
| over 3 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. In a recent review, Vandenberg et al (2010) concluded: We believe that human biomonitoring data clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA ubiquitously, including significant internal exposures to unconjugated BPA. More important, animal studies suggest that fetuses and children are particularly vulnerable to BPA exposures and, at the same time, are exposed to higher levels of unconjugated BPA. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. More Information
Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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| 16 | liz |
October 17, 2012 18:20
| about 12 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. In a recent review, Vandenberg et al (2010) concluded: We believe that human biomonitoring data clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA ubiquitously, including significant internal exposures to unconjugated BPA. More important, animal studies suggest that fetuses and children are particularly vulnerable to BPA exposures and, at the same time, are exposed to higher levels of unconjugated BPA. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. More Information
Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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Revert | |
| 15 | Shannon |
January 31, 2012 23:11
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. In a recent review, Vandenberg et al (2010) concluded: We believe that human biomonitoring data clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA ubiquitously, including significant internal exposures to unconjugated BPA. More important, animal studies suggest that fetuses and children are particularly vulnerable to BPA exposures and, at the same time, are exposed to higher levels of unconjugated BPA. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. More Information
Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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| 14 | holstius |
December 22, 2011 21:08
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. In a recent review, Vandenberg et al (2010) concluded: We believe that human biomonitoring data clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA ubiquitously, including significant internal exposures to unconjugated BPA. More important, animal studies suggest that fetuses and children are particularly vulnerable to BPA exposures and, at the same time, are exposed to higher levels of unconjugated BPA. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. More Information
Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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| 13 | holstius |
December 22, 2011 20:59
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. In a recent review, Vandenberg et al (2010) concluded: We believe that human biomonitoring data clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA ubiquitously, including significant internal exposures to unconjugated BPA. More important, animal studies suggest that fetuses and children are particularly vulnerable to BPA exposures and, at the same time, are exposed to higher levels of unconjugated BPA. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. Excellent Place to Start in learning about this issue: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/estrogens.html Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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| 12 | holstius |
December 22, 2011 20:55
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides; chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics; and some flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human and ecological healthThere is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health. Endocrine disruptors act like hormones---unlike other toxins, they are biologically active even (often, especially) at low doses. This is cause for concern in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens at such doses. BPA, for example, is one of the highest-volume chemicals in production worldwide. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. Endocrine disruptors have potentially harmful effects on non-humans as well. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. New screening and measurement toolsBecause of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these new tests is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. Excellent Place to Start in learning about this issue: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/estrogens.html Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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| 11 | sara |
December 22, 2011 20:16
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides, chemicals such as BPA and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics, and some flame retardants. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. There is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health particularly in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. Because of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. Excellent Place to Start in learning about this issue: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/estrogens.html Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
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| 10 | sara |
December 22, 2011 20:15
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides, chemicals such as BPA and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics, and some flame retardants. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. There is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health particularly in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. Because of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. Excellent Place to Start in learning about this issue: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/estrogens.html Applications and example usesWe aim that this tool be useful in testing tap water, bottle water, water ways and other water sources for the presence of environmental estrogens. We aim to generate an archive of findings from public lab researchers around the country to help document and generate public, scientific and regulatory attention to this issue. How to make your ownWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. How to use itWe are currently in the earliest stage of development on this tool. Get involved!
To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens-bibliography|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 9 | sara |
December 22, 2011 20:06
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to enable people to test sources of water for the presence of environmental estrogens. An increasing number of structurally diverse chemicals encountered in the environment and common household items have been identified as environmental estrogens, compounds that can mimic many of the effects of natural estrogens. Well-studied examples include DDT and several other pesticides, chemicals such as BPA and nonylphenol that leach from polycarbonate and certain other plastics, and some flame retardants. Pharmaceutical estrogens used for birth control and hormone replacement therapy in humans, as well as hormones used in commercial animal feedlot operations, end up in wastewater effluents that discharge to surface waters. Once studied and discussed mainly by specialists in academic labs and regulatory agencies, the past several years have seen an enormous increase in public awareness and interest in the sources, routes of exposure, and potential impacts of environmental estrogens on human health and biodiversity. There is growing concern that developmental exposures to such chemicals may have significant adverse effects on human health particularly in light of the ubiquity of exposure to environmental estrogens. Wildlife is also susceptible to environmental estrogens through exposures to pesticide runoffs from farmlands, excretion of synthetic estrogens by humans and farm animals, and estrogenic surfactant by-products of many compounds used in manufacturing. It is believed that environmental estrogens are contributing to the large rise in the numbers of feminized fish seen in this country and elsewhere and may be a factor in biodiversity losses worldwide. Because of the magnitude of concern over potential impacts of environmental estrogens, and the lack of basic information about possible estrogenic activities of most of the 80,000+ chemicals registered for use, there have been mounting efforts to develop simple laboratory assays for estrogenic activities of individual chemicals, environmental water samples, and chemicals that migrate from consumer products such as water bottles, baby bottles, food containers, children’s toys and plastic-based resins. One of the simplest of these is the yeast-based YESassay, in which a standard lab yeast strain has been engineered to contain (i) a human ER (hER) and (ii) a gene that, when bound by activated hER, produces the enzyme β-galactocidase (β-gal). In the absence of estrogen, no β-gal is produced. When estrogen or an estrogenic chemical like BPA is added, it induces synthesis of β-gal, which is then detected by a simple colorimetric assay in which β-gal converts one chemical (yellow) into a modified form (red), a reaction that is readily detected by simple visual inspection. While more sensitive and complex yeast-based assays have since been developed, those demand more expensive chemicals and instrumentation. As described in more detail later, the original YESassay is simple, robust and inexpensive enough to make it feasible as an assay for community-based education and testing. Thus, we plan to develop materials and protocols for this assay in a version that is suitable for community-based testing for environmental estrogens. Applications and example usesWe're using it here .... for detecting... It looks like this... (photos) How to make your ownShort blurb
If this is too long, link to another page... How to use it
If this is too long, link to another page... Get involved!
If need be, link to the mailing list so people know where to go to get in touch. This is a research project that the Public Lab Toxics and Health working group is kicking off over the next couple of months. We are collaborating with Joan Ruderman from Harvard University and Gary Wessel from Brown University. Research on the project is sited at a lab at Brown. We would love to have any public laboratory people help us out in this research process, email the public lab list if you're interested in joining in! [[http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/home-testing-endocrine-disruptors|Home Testing for Endocrine Disruptors]] We are currently doing background readings on the human and environmental health impacts of environmental estrogens. Here is our reading list so far. Excellent Place to Start in learning about this issue: http://e.hormone.tulane.edu/learning/estrogens.html General literature on well characterized common environmental estrogens: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens-bibliography|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 8 | sara |
December 22, 2011 19:55
| almost 13 years ago
PurposeThis tool is being developed to... Currently, to do this, people have to... Our approach is better than what exists because... Applications and example usesWe're using it here .... for detecting... It looks like this... (photos) How to make your ownShort blurb
If this is too long, link to another page... How to use it
If this is too long, link to another page... Get involved!
If need be, link to the mailing list so people know where to go to get in touch. Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens-bibliography|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 7 | warren |
December 15, 2011 19:26
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens-bibliography|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 6 | sara |
December 15, 2011 19:02
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 5 | sara |
December 15, 2011 19:00
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 4 | warren |
December 15, 2011 18:31
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 3 | mara |
December 13, 2011 22:46
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] [[http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/mara/10-27-2011/possible-estrogen-culture-vessels|possible vessel for estrogen cultures]] |
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| 2 | sara |
December 13, 2011 22:41
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) [[http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/hometesting-environmental-estrogens|Bibliography for Estrogen Screen project]] |
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| 1 | sara |
December 13, 2011 22:34
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie To Do List before January 23rd grow week!
Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) |
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| 0 | sara |
December 13, 2011 22:24
| about 13 years ago
Image: Description of project: We are attempting to develop a testing kit for environmental estrogens using yeast that contain the human estrogen receptor as described in this paper. List the bibliography. Draw a diagram how the YES assay works. Contributors: Avery Louie at Olin College RISD Yuyu and Mara Sara Wylie Link to related posts (Mara tag earlier post) |
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