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Richard Trubo

JAMA. 2005;294:291-293.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

San Diego—For the last 60 years, humans have been exposed to an increasing number of synthetic compounds in the environment. In fact, more than 80 000 chemicals are used commercially in the United States, found in products ranging from toys and detergents to pesticides and food packaging. Accumulating evidence that some of these widely used chemicals may have hormonelike effects on the body is heightening concerns about their potential long-term health risks, particularly when developing fetuses and neonates are exposed.

At a day-long symposium at the Endocrine Society meeting here in June, leading investigators shared the latest findings on the effects of these synthetic chemicals—as well as of naturally occurring substances such as phytoestrogens—that have been reported to have hormonelike activity and may be associated with an increased susceptibility to disease and dysfunction. The potential danger is greatest for "the fragile fetus" (a term coined more than a . . . [Full Text of this Article]

EXPOSURE TO PHTHALATES