Read the full article by Kimberly Garrett (Environmental Health News)
“Oklahoma Senate Bill 1812 was introduced in January 2024 and proposes wastewater monitoring requirements for urinary metabolites of nine chemicals: benzophenone, bisphenol A (BPA), estrone, ethinylestradiol, musk ketone, pregnanediol, testosterone, tonalide and mifepristone.
Some of these are endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with plastics, cosmetics and food additives. Most are naturally-produced steroid hormones. Ethinylestradiol, for example, is a common hormonal birth control and mifepristone is a safe and effective abortion drug.
Bill 1812 is an attempt to hijack environmental concerns about endocrine- disrupting chemicals to control Oklahomans’ health choices, extending beyond abortion to include birth control, gender-affirming pharmaceuticals and endogenous hormones. Environmental justice advocates must think critically about regressive social policy disguised as environmentalism.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are associated with wide-ranging adverse health effects in many models, including humans, and indeed pose a daunting environmental health threat. Industrial chemicals, pesticides and veterinary medicines likely account for most environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals contamination, but popular messaging focuses on birth control. The U.S. government and individual states have taken some steps to prevent endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure, largely by regulating industrial activities and consumer products.” …