Curious about endocrine disruptors? This presentation will introduce the phenomenon of endocrine disruption, the inference of normal hormonal processes in the human endocrine system by chemicals and pollutants in our environment. Participants will learn about historical discoveries and recent scientific findings. Approaches to address the issue, including chemical avoidance and political advocacy, will be discussed.

Guest speaker: Susan Buchanan, MD, MPH

Susan Buchanan, MD, MPH is the director of the Great Lakes Center for Children’s and Reproductive Environmental Health and a clinical associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UIC School of Public Health.  Buchanan is an expert in health problems related to toxic substances and other environmental hazards in the workplace or community. Her research interests include the health of minority, low-income, and immigrant workers; of children; and reproductive environmental health. She has published studies on the impact of fish consumption and mercury exposure in the Asian communities in Chicago; the use of protective gear among Latino day-laborers; and lead exposure among Chicago’s children.