background In
recent years there has been a growing interest in the significance of
reported declines in human fecundity. Since many chemicals have been
shown experimentally to mimic the activities of reproductive hormones,
the potential exists that exposure to environmental chemicals has an
influence on human reproductive endpoints. A particular aspect that has
received relatively little attention is the possible impact of chemical
exposure on human fecundity. In particular, it is unknown to what
extent food, acting as a vector of synthetic endocrine disrupters,
impacts on fecundity.
So far, studies have focused mainly on the conventional priority
endocrine disruptors: pesticides, heavy metals, and toxic environmental
contaminants of industrial origin. One large class of chemical that has
received little attention is that of pharmaceutical products (PPs),
which are used in quantities comparable with those of agrochemicals.
Currently, very little is known of the occurrence, fate and effects of
PPs in the environment. Our understanding of the possible transmission
of PPs into the food chain is also very rudimentary, and even less is
known on how such food affects human fecundity. Part of the problem
arises from the scarcity of simple and efficient methods for cleaning
up and concentrating PPs from environmental and food samples, and from
the lack of diagnostic assays that can handle large numbers of samples
rapidly and inexpensively.
content and objectives In
this project we intend to integrate research groups from diverse
disciplines (risk assessors managers, clinical epidemiologists,
endocrinologists, biochemists, as well as experts in biochemical and
chemical diagnostics) to achieve a better understanding of the extent
of the problem. The strategic approach of the project is to develop and
employ validated methods for screening and testing PPs that pose high
risk to human fecundity, to determine their adverse effects and their
origins and fates, as well as their mechanisms of action, to assess the
risks they pose, and to propose risk-management policies. These
methods, once developed and validated should enable us to identify and
characterize the endocrine activity of PPs, to highlight PP compounds
that affect fecundity (high-priority PPs), to present the information
to the public via knowledge pools, and should help us to devise
strategies to eliminate or minimize these effects and risks.
role of the Austrian partner factline factline Webservices GmbH has specialized in internet platforms
for virtual knowledge management (Knowledge Communities). With that
we mean communities (leaning, project, expert groups, etc.), whos
members want to connect by means of virtual working space with the
goal to exchange, gather and impart knowledge. For that factline
develops software solutions, and offers consulting services.
"Knowledge Management and Dissemination"
The
main task of factline is to establish a vital network of international
experts by establishing a web based information and communication
platform. The experts will use the platform as their main communication
tool, therefore a central knowledge pool will be established. A special
focus will be put on demonstrating the dependencies between the
different kinds of information. This will be accomplished by the
ability to create dynamic links between information.
In addition factline will establish an-easy-to-use dynamic Web Site
that will include a detailed description of the project, summarize the
results in graphics and pictures, provide hyperlinks to literature
associated with the project as well as easy to download reports and
publications, provide an e-mail address for questions, phone numbers
for direct consulting and pricing. The information that will be gained
in the course of the project will be integrated into a Knowledge Pool
that will enable interaction between the various groups involved in the
project as well as Public access.
project coordinator and partners
BEGLEITMAßNAHMEN (ACCOMPANYING MEASURES):
project partner
country
Analyst Research Laboratories Ltd. COORDINATOR
Israel
BEGLEITMAßNAHMEN (ACCOMPANYING MEASURES):
The Volcani Center, ARO
Israel
BEGLEITMAßNAHMEN (ACCOMPANYING MEASURES):
The National Institute for Public Health
Netherlands
BEGLEITMAßNAHMEN (ACCOMPANYING MEASURES):
Aarhus University Hospital
Denmark
BEGLEITMAßNAHMEN (ACCOMPANYING MEASURES):
INRA-CNRS
- Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements
France
BEGLEITMAßNAHMEN (ACCOMPANYING MEASURES):
Centre Universitaire-UFR Biomédicale
