Safeguarding Female Reproductive Health Against Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals—The FREIA Project

Abstract

Currently available test methods are not well-suited for the identification of chemicals that disturb hormonal processes involved in female reproductive development and function. This renders women’s reproductive health at increasing risk globally, which, coupled with increasing incidence rates of reproductive disorders, is of great concern. A woman’s reproductive health is largely established during embryonic and fetal development and subsequently matures during puberty. The endocrine system influences development, maturation, and function of the female reproductive system, thereby making appropriate hormone levels imperative for correct functioning of reproductive processes. It is concerning that the effects of human-made chemicals on the endocrine system and female reproductive health are poorly addressed in regulatory chemical safety assessment, partly because adequate test methods are lacking. Our EU-funded project FREIA aims to address this need by increasing understanding of how endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can impact female reproductive health. We will use this information to provide better test methods that enable fit-for-purpose chemical regulation and then share our knowledge, promote a sustainable society, and improve the reproductive health of women globally.

A Pragmatic Approach to Adverse Outcome Pathway Development and Evaluation

“…This work received funding from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency as a project under the Centre on Endocrine Disrupters (CeHoS); the Swedish Chemicals Agency and the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development FORMAS (grant number 2020-01621); the European Union’s Horizon 2020 FREIA ( Duursen et al, 2020 ) under grant agreement No. 825100 (FREIA).…”

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Current Understanding, New Testing Strategies and Future Research Needs

“…Three projects within the EURION focus on improved testing strategies for thyroid hormone disrupting chemicals: ERGO [ 19 ], ATHENA [ 20 ], and SCREENED [ 21 ], while three other projects focus on integrated approaches for the testing and assessment of metabolism disrupting chemicals: OBERON [ 22 ], EDCMET [ 23 ] and GOLIATH [ 24 ]. In addition, the FREIA project develops new tests for effects of EDCs on female reproduction [ 25 ] and the ENDpoiNTs project focusses on developmental neurotoxicity [ 26 ] and methods for elucidating EDC effects.…”

Endocrine Disruptors Driven Female Reproductive Ailments

“…Advance and effective screening methods are needed for this purpose. In this regard, the FREIA project (funded by EU) designed human relevant advanced test methods for the identification purpose of EDCs (van Duursen et al 2020). Based on the screening test if chemicals are identified as endocrine disruptors, then certain precautions must be taken either by limiting their uses or by searching out for safer alternatives.…”