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ATA Spring Meeting
Thyroid Health and the Environment: Threats
and Effects |
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Jointly
sponsored by Boston University School of Medicine
and the American Thyroid Association |
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The ATA Spring Meeting
is being held in cooperation with the American Association
of Clinical Endocrinologists |
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March 24, 2006
Hamilton Crowne Plaza
Washington, DC
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This activity has been planned and implemented
in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of
the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
(ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Boston University
School of Medicine and the American Thyroid Association.
Boston University School of Medicine is accredited by
the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for
physicians.
Boston University School of Medicine designates this
educational activity for a maximum of 8 category 1 credits
toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each
physician should claim only those credits that he/she
actually spent in the activity.
AMERICAN THYROID ASSOCIATION (ATA)
The ATA provides outstanding leadership in thyroidology
by promoting excellence and innovation in clinical care,
research, education, and public advocacy.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGISTS
(AACE)
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
is a professional medical organization devoted to the
enhancement of the practice of clinical endocrinology.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Professionals and citizens interested in the impact of
the environment on the thyroid, including pediatric, adult,
and reproductive endocrinologists; perinatologists and
neonatologists; epidemiologists and public health professionals,
especially those interested in the impact of the environment
on the health of the American population; basic and clinical
scientists primarily interested in the assessment of environmental
contaminants; federal, state, and local organizations
involved with setting environmental standards; and citizens
concerned about the effects of the environment on the
health of the American population.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This symposium will focus on the effects of the environment
on the thyroid, especially those factors that might adversely
affect thyroid function. There will be introductory lectures
concerning the physiology and pathophysiology of the thyroid
and the biochemical and molecular events within the thyroid
that can be affected by environmental chemicals and radiation.
The major impact of iodine nutrition on the thyroid will
be carefully reviewed, especially the current situation
in the United States as well as the growing concern about
mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency in women during their
reproductive age and during pregnancy and the post-partum
period, with emphasis on iodine nutrition in the nursing
infant. There will be an in-depth discussion of environmental
agents that could inhibit the concentration of iodine
by the thyroid and the effects of environmental perchlorate
on thyroid function in pregnant women, nursing mothers,
children, and adults in the United States and South America.
The effect of thiocyanate, a byproduct of smoking, on
the concentration of iodine by the thyroid and by the
breast into breast milk, will also be discussed, as will
the environmental contaminants — nitrates and PCBs
— on thyroid function. The radiation exposure of
children and young adults in the Chernobyl area following
the nuclear accident in 1986 will be discussed in-depth
as well as the effect of radiation on gene mutations and
the development of thyroid cancer and the role of radiation
in the induction of autoimmune thyroid disease. Key areas
for study and research will be discussed as a conclusion
to the conference
GOALS:
1. To bring to the attention of various health care workers
and professionals, as well as the general public, to the
potential adverse effects of environmental agents on thyroid
function.
2. Provide to the attendees a balanced and appropriate
evaluation of these environmental factors.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Following this program, the participant should be able
to:
1. Determine and differentiate the mechanisms of various
environmental agents on thyroid function.
2. Evaluate and distinguish the various environmental
effects on thyroid function in a balanced and careful
approach.
3. Recognize and interpret the recommendations by various
national and state agencies on the regulation of the potential
environmental factors affecting thyroid health.
4. Relate and report to their colleagues and the public
a critique and summary of the effects of the environment
on thyroid function.
SUPPORT
This program is being supported in part by unrestricted
educational grants from Abbott Laboratories and Genzyme,
Inc. |
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