Reproductive and Developmental Environmental Health

“An investment in the health of women is an investment in the health of this and future generations”

Duration: 2015 – 2021
Chaired by Dr Linda Giudice, USA

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General enquiries

What is reproductive and developmental environmental health?

One key influencer that women increasingly need to take into account with their health is the environment in which they live.

Over the past fifteen years, an expanding body of evidence has implicated the role of harmful environmental exposures on health, including:

  • Increased rates of cancer
  • Increased neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Increased birth defects
  • Pregnancy complications

Globally, minimising environmental threats to human health and reproduction is a necessity if we are to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination, and therefore progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).

Committee activities

Members are concerned scientists and health care providers who believe that education, advocacy and research are essential to increase awareness of the environment’s impact on our health.

It is about the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the care products we use.

Women need to make healthy choices for their lives, their family’s lives, and for their future generations. BUT, society needs to ensure that healthy choices are possible.

Activities include:

  • Working with regional leaders in obstetrics and gynecology around the globe to identify the important environmental risks that are specific to their countries
  • Identifying best approaches for dissemination of their work, with online education, a virtual university, “Train the Trainers” courses, Global conferences, and a Resource Toolkit for successful dissemination of information
  • Education, Advocacy and Research are the critical unifying themes for all work
  • Collaborating with the World Health Organization, the Endocrine Society, International Federation of Fertility Societies
  • Identifying medical training opportunities to incorporate environmental health into all levels of training
  • Collaborating with existing FIGO committees so that environmental health is considered in each area

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is organised by the UN to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.

Members:

Members 2018-2021:

Dr Linda Giudice - Chair, USA
Professor Ditas D. Ducena - Co Chair, Philippines
Professor Oladapo Ashiru, Nigeria
Professor Jorma Toppari, Finland
Professor Mori, Japan
Professor Maria Dolores Gomez Roig, Spain
Dr Tracey Woodruff, USA
Professor Elaine Maria Frade Costa, Brazil
Dr Jeanne Conry - Ex officio
Dr Ivonne Diaz - Ex officio
Ms Genon Jenson - Ex officio
Ms Natacha Congotti - Ex officio

Associate Members :

Richard Anderson (UK)
Anna-Maria Andersson (Denmark)
Riana Bornman (South Africa)
Jose Cordero (Puerto Rico/US)
Nathaniel DeNicola (US)
Robert Gould (US)
HN Ho (Taiwan)
Jaideep Malhotra (India)
Katharina Main (Denmark)
Susan Nagel (US)
Elisabeth Ruffinengo (France)
Sheryl van der Poel (Switzerland)
Marya Zlatnik (US)
Santosh Pandipati (US)
Michael Velarde (Philippines)