Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies
HEEDS is a non-profit coalition of scientists dedicated to improving communication, coordination and collaboration in the field of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). HEEDS is developed by scientists for scientists. There are no membership fees. HEEDS works to move EDC science forward, increase collaborations across scientific disciplines, communicate results and improve policy and regulations.
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Lou Guillette Jr. Memorial SymposiumÂ
Recordings and excerpts of the meeting are now online
NEW: Check out our Timeline of the history of the EDC field!
NEW: Global EDC Network
EDC Policy News
Events
EHN EHN
- EPA backs off stricter PFAS water rules while thousands of others are unregulatedby EHN Curators on May 22, 2025 at 5:35 pm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is walking back water limits for several toxic PFAS chemicals, sparking outcry from scientists and public health advocates. But how much of a difference can limits on individual PFAS compounds make if thousands of others remain unregulated? Joseph Winters reports for Grist.
- Vermont pauses PFAS rules as EPA delays and weakens federal limitsby EHN Curators on May 20, 2025 at 11:46 am
Vermont officials are reassessing their tighter drinking water standards for toxic PFAS chemicals after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rolled back parts of its landmark 2023 regulations and extended deadlines for compliance. Olivia Gieger reports for VTDigger.
- New EPA reorganization may quietly dismantle chemical health watchdogby EHN Curators on May 16, 2025 at 1:08 pm
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to gut its independent chemical risk program, potentially stalling regulation of dangerous substances and handing a long-sought victory to the chemical industry. Molly Taft reports for Wired.
- EPA delays PFAS water deadlines and drops limits for four chemicalsby EHN Curators on May 16, 2025 at 10:50 am
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will retain strict limits for two common PFAS chemicals in drinking water but delay enforcement and rescind standards for four others. Hiroko Tabuchi reports for The New York Times.
- Op-ed: To curb chronic disease in Americans, the FDA needs to assert regulatory control over toxic chemicals in our foodby Frederick vom Saal et. al on May 15, 2025 at 11:08 am
Editor's note: This op-ed was written by Frederick vom Saal and 15 co-authors. The full list of co-authors, their affiliations, and their contact information is included below. As senior environmental health researchers and physicians, we are united in our concern about the escalating prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States. To stop the increase of these chronic disease epidemics, it is essential to change the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s current lack of regulatory oversight of toxic chemicals in food.
EHN EHN
- Webinar: Communicating about EDCs & health: why words matterby Sarah Howard on May 9, 2025 at 6:22 pm
In this July 8 webinar, Drs. Kevin Elliott and Laura Vandenberg will discuss the range of ways in which scientists can frame and present information on research findings. For example, framing an EDC-related health outcome as a disease or disability can help to focus public attention on hazards of toxic chemicals and promote action to protect human health. At the same time, this framing can be used to stigmatize and harm individuals and communities. The speakers will share a range of strategies available to researchers to communicate responsibly and effectively. Sponsored by the Collaborative for Health and Environment (CHE).
- Webinar recording: Changes at NIH: What do they mean for environmental health?by Sarah Howard on April 3, 2025 at 3:34 pm
This May 8 webinar featured Dr. Linda Birnbaum, who discussed the implications of the Trump administration's changes for environmental health and the NIH. Sponsored by the EDC Strategies Partnership.
- Webinar recording: Childhood cancer and the environment: prevention opportunitiesby Sarah Howard on March 11, 2025 at 3:35 pm
This April 24 webinar featured Drs. Mark Miller and Catherine Metayer, and was sponsored by CHE Alaska.
- Recordings of Lou Guillette Jr. Memorial Symposium availableby Sarah Howard on March 1, 2025 at 6:27 pm
The full recording as well as a shorter excerpt are now available to view. This March 2025 symposium featured talks from Lou's students and colleagues, and honored his legacy and research. Sponsored by Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS).
- Webinar recording: Plastics, chemicals and cancerby Sarah Howard on February 11, 2025 at 4:37 pm
This Feb. 27 webinar was sponsored by CHE-Alaska. Researchers at the Silent Spring Institute recently identified more than 900 chemicals that could increase breast cancer risk, and found that 414 of these chemicals are used in plastics. They discussed the findings of this paper, and how the global plastics treaty could help lower breast cancer rates worldwide.
HEED The Call
Your donation will help HEEDS provide education and outreach activities, scientific reports and publications, scientific workshops and webinars as well as other activities and programs to reduce exposure to EDCs and improve health. We are a program of Environmental Health Sciences.
Photo of elk by HEEDS Elder Pete Myers, PhD.