Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has increased in prevalence in the past decade. Studies attempting to identify a specific genetic component have not been able to account for much of the heritability of ADHD, indicating there may be gene-environment interactions underlying the disorder, including early exposure to environmental chemicals. Based on several relevant studies, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX) chose to examine bisphenol A (BPA) as a possible contributor to ADHD in humans. BPA is a widespread environmental chemical that has been shown to disrupt neurodevelopment in rodents and humans.
TEDX used the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) framework, a novel systematic review framework, as well as meta-analysis to determine the relationship between early life exposure to BPA and hyperactivity, a key diagnostic criterion of ADHD.
This talk described how, by integrating animal and human data, a hazard conclusion regarding the effects of early BPA exposure on hyperactivity in children can be reached.
Featured Speaker
Jo Rochester, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, and has worked at TEDX since 2012. She has expertise in physiology, endocrine disruption, and systematic review. She currently uses systematic review techniques to explore the relationship between synthetic chemicals and human health. Jo has authored several papers on the health effects of bisphenol A and its alternatives.
As a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Colorado, Jo studied the effects of social cues on brain hormones in rodents, and the implications for human reproductive health. Before that, she studied the effect of endocrine disruptors in birds at the University of California, Davis, where she received her BS, MS, and PhD.
This webinar is one in a monthly series sponsored by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment’s EDC Strategies Partnership. The CHE EDC Strategies Partnership is chaired by Carol Kwiatkowski and Katie Pelch (TEDX), Sharyle Patton (Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center), Jerry Heindel (Commonweal Program on Endocrine Disruption Strategies), and Genon Jensen (HEAL) and coordinated by Maria Williams (Collaborative on Health and the Environment, a Commonweal program). To see a full list of past calls and webinars related to EDCs and listen to or view recordings, please visit our partnership page.
This webinar was moderated by Jerry Heindel, PhD, director of Commonweal’s Program in Endocrine Disruption Strategies. It lasted for 30 minutes and was recorded for our call and webinar archive.