Two Collaborative Long Distance Learning Workshops Held in February
The Ribbon

Margaret Carey, M.P.H. BCERF Environmental Health Educator Margaret Carey coordinates BCERF's EnviroCancer Connections - Long-Distance Learning Programs

BCERF was very excited to offer two long-distance learning workshops this past February in collaboration with New York State Breast Cancer Support and Education Network (NYSBCSEN). On February 3, the topic was Biomonitoring and on February 10, the topic was Endocrine Disruptors. The NYSBCSEN, with twenty-three member organizations across New York State chose both topics and worked with BCERF in the planning of the workshops.

Dr. Suzanne Snedeker, BCERF Associate Director for Translational Research, led both of these workshops from the Cornell-Ithaca campus to Cornell Cooperative Extension facilities in New York City and Albany. Most participants were able to attend both workshops, with a total of 41 individual participants. Dr. Snedeker presented several mini-talks at each workshop, each followed by lively discussions between the three viewing sites. Laura Weinberg, President of the Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, assisted BCERF by facilitating the session at the New York City site.

First workshop focused on Biomonitoring.

Biomonitoring is the direct measurement of chemicals or metabolites found in humans. Dr. Snedeker presented results from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 'Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals,' published in 2005. The study includes an assessment of exposures to 148 chemicals in a cross-section of the U.S. population. The report included the results of blood and/or urine levels across different age ranges (6-11, 12-19 and 20 years and older) and three different ethnic groups (Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites). As Dr. Snedeker explained, this type of environmental health tracking programs helps identify the chemical body burden from all sources of exposure, track trends in exposure, identify at-risk populations, establish 'reference ranges' for chemicals for which we have little or no data, helps evaluate whether prevention efforts work, and provides direction on further research and monitoring efforts.

Next, the Biomonitoring workshop covered approaches currently being used to study emerging environmental contaminants. The 'Sister Study,' funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, is an ongoing study that will follow 50,000 sisters of women with diagnosed with breast cancer to explore linkages between genetics, biology, and the environment (see the article in Volume 9, Number 4, Fall 2004 issue of The Ribbon and www.sisterstudy.org). Dr. Snedeker also presented new data on levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which have been detected globally in wildlife. This class of chemicals, used extensively as flame retardants, have been detected in human breast milk, blood, and fat samples in humans. Recent evidence suggests rising levels in the U.S. population. Data on possible health effects is emerging. Animal models have identified areas of concern, including effects on cancer risk and neurological development.

Second workshop addressed endocrine disruptors.

Endocrine disruptors, which may be synthetic or from natural sources, may interfere with a variety of endocrine functions and can cause adverse health effects. This includes effects on sexual development; fertility; cancer incidence; limb, bone and organ development; cognitive development; or neurological development. Some types of endocrine disruptors are "estrogen mimics," and include certain pesticides, plasticizers, and industrial chemicals.

Dr. Snedeker explained the importance of timing of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. There are critical windows of susceptibility in the human breast, especially during early phases of breast development. She presented animal model data on how atrazine (a herbicide) and dioxin can affect early development of the mammary gland, and ongoing work to assess how early exposures may influence breast cancer risk later in life. Dr. Snedeker reviewed how the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Centers (BCERC), funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, have utilized biomonitoring pilots in their efforts to understand if particular chemicals are detectable in young girls, and plans to study whether interactions between genetics and environmental chemicals may affect the onset of puberty in young girls.

Workshops received positive feedback.

Participants were very pleased with the information that was provided both during the presentations and as handouts. As one participant reported, the workshop was "worthwhile for the excellent materials, alone!" The discussions among all the participants were informative to all, they reported, and many asked for additional resources. We are pleased that the feedback was so positive, and that the topics requested by the NYSBCN were so pertinent to current activities in breast cancer research.

Web sites of interest regarding biomonitoring and endocrine disruptors:

http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/ for the CDC's Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/factsheets.htm for Fact Sheet list for the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)

http://www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendo/edspoverview/primer.htm for the Environmental Protection Agency's web site on Endocrine Disruption

http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/presentations/endocrine.cfm for BCERF's slide show on "Breast cancer - Is there a link to endocrine disrupting chemicals?"

http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/Bibliography/cENDOCRINE.cfm for BCERF's Endocrine Disruption Bibliography Collection

http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/FactSheet/cENDOCRINE.cfm for BCERF's Endocrine Disruption Fact Sheet Collection

Back to the top

Two Collaborative Long Distance Learning Workshops Held in February The Ribbon

Two Collaborative Long Distance Learning Workshops Held in February
The Ribbon