The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Office on Women’s Health (OWH), is awarding the 15 winners for Phase 1 of the HHS Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) Innovator Award Competition. This competition was developed to identify gaps in knowledge and innovative solutions to improving women’s health by reducing EDC exposure risk.
“For far too long, Black women have been overexposed to harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care products. We created this competition to help find innovative solutions to meet this challenge, and I want to congratulate all the winners for their incredible ideas,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We will continue to prioritize the health of Black women by addressing the exposure risks caused by this environmental justice issue.”
Many chemicals, both natural and human-made, may mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones, known as the endocrine system. Called endocrine disruptors, these chemicals are linked to developmental, reproductive, brain, immune, and other problems. Endocrine disruptors are found in the environment, food, and everyday consumer products. Some of the major known EDCs, such as bisphenols and phthalates, are in plastics. Others, including those found in cosmetics and pesticides, can pollute community water supplies…read more