Aberdeen scientists are part of an international collaboration given €10M to investigate the potential impact of chemicals and pollutants on reproductive health.
The University of Aberdeen is leading one of three major studies examining what are known as endocrine disruptors – chemicals that interfere with normal hormone function.
These are natural and man made substances - such as compounds produced naturally by plants and synthetic compounds used in plastics and pesticides, together with heavy metals - to which we are exposed every day and which can mimic or interfere with our hormones.
Experts from the city's Macaulay Institute are also playing a major role in one of the European Union-funded projects.
Scientists and doctors involved in all three studies meet in Copenhagen on Thursday and Friday (May 22, 23) to formally launch their projects.
The University of Aberdeen and Macaulay Institute, together with the University of Nottingham; the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in France; Martin Luther University, Germany and the University of Milan will be discussing their study, REEF – Reproductive Effects of Environmental Chemicals in Females.
Dr Paul Fowler, Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Physiology at the University of Aberdeen and REEF Principal Investigator, said: "For more than 60 years there has been increasing concern over the impact of chemicals in the environment that may interfere with the development of the male and female baby in the womb.
"These chemicals are derived from a variety of industrial, commercial and agricultural sources and they have the potential to affect the development of the male and female reproductive system.
"In domestic and wildlife species there is considerable evidence that male and female reproductive development is affected by hormone-like chemicals prior to birth and that this affects reproductive function in the adult. There is also increasing evidence of this in the humans, although the weight of evidence so far concerns male reproductive development.
Furthermore, in humans, the incidence of some cancers, especially testicular and breast cancer is increased by exposure to these chemicals.
"Although less is known about the effects of environmental chemicals on the developing female fetus, the consequences for reproductive development in females may be greater than in males. For example, females exposed to chemicals in the womb may have reduced fertility, poorer health and, potentially, an earlier onset of menopause.
"Our study will focus on the impact of low environmental concentrations of hormone-like chemicals on female reproductive development in both humans and animals."
The Macaulay Institute's Dr Stewart Rhind will be investigating the accumulation of these chemicals - which not only has implications for animal physiology, but also for the human food chain – by studying sheep.
"This is an exciting opportunity, and demonstrates how Aberdeen is at the forefront of this fast-moving and internationally important area of research," he added.
The other projects are:
- DEER – Developmental Effects of Environment on Reproductive Health. Researchers will examine the potential effects of chemicals on fetal development, sexual maturity and obesity.
- CONTAMED – Contaminant Mixtures and Human Reproductive Health – novel strategies for health impact and risk assessment of endocrine disruptors.
Scientists will try to quantify how a mix of chemicals could be impacting on reproductive health.
Dr Fowler added: "We have evolved through many millions of years of being exposed to natural chemicals from plants, forest fires, volcanic activity and so on. But what is new is the unparalleled numbers of synthetic chemicals that we are exposed to nowadays and some of these are very difficult for the body to break down.
"The developing fetus is particularly sensitive to chemicals so what we hope to do is determine whether, these are linked, to a greater or lesser extent, to our exposures to environmental chemicals, particularly in the light of declining sperm counts and an increase in breast cancer."