The Role of Environmental Chemicals in the Development of Diabetes and Obesity
December 14, 2011 @ 10:00am (AKST)
Listen to the discussion. Emerging scientific studies suggest environmental chemicals may be contributing factors to the epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Can a fetus’ exposure to toxic chemicals in the womb cause obesity or diabetes at age 5, 15, or 25? Is part of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. linked to chemical exposures that occur in childhood? A growing number of researchers are exploring how chemicals used in plastics, food packaging, pesticides and cosmetics can corrupt normal function of metabolic hormones and trigger dramatic increases in body fat. Guest presenters University of California, Irvine biologist Bruce Blumberg, PhD, and David O. Carpenter, M.D., leader of the UAlbany Institute for Health and Environment will discuss the cutting-edge science linking chemical exposures to the growing epidemics of diabetes and obesity.
The Obesogen Hypothesis (Collaborative on Health and the Environment)
Big on Obesogens: Biologist Bruce Blumberg believes industrial pollutants are contributing to America’s obesity epidemic
Blumberg Laboratory
Featured speakers
Bruce Blumberg, PhD, Professor in the Departments of Developmental and Cell Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California, Irvine. The Blumberg Laboratory studies gene regulation and intercellular signaling during embryonic development. Dr. Blumberg’s research interests include molecular embryology, molecular biology, developmental biology, functional genomics, endocrinology, pharmacology, and high-throughput screening.
David O. Carpenter, M.D., director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany and Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at UAlbany’s School of Public Health. Dr. Carpenter previously served as director of the Wadsworth Laboratory of the New York State Department of Health. He received his doctorate from Harvard Medical School and has hundreds of publications to his credit. Dr. Carpenter’s area of expertise is human health effects of environmental contaminants, including metals and organic compounds.