Heritable Hazards of Smoking Workshop, September 19, 2019

Smoking for three: pregnancy smoking can affect early germ cells developing within the embryo and fetus. Other periods of germline vulnerability will also be discussed at the workshop.

Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society Conference Workshop
September 19, 2019, 8:45am to 3.30pm
Washington, DC

Abstract: Mounting evidence indicates that toxicant exposures to germ cells can impair the health and development of offspring in a variety of ways.  Despite this, today’s regulatory paradigms focus on somatic impacts, with little consideration for the perturbation of the genetic and epigenetic features of germ cells or the heritable consequences thereof. This workshop will use the example of tobacco smoke as a case study to apply a modern next-generation testing paradigm, i.e., the Clean Sheet approach, in which we will encompass both somatic and germinal genomic damage in human risk assessment [Dearfield et al., Next Generation Testing Strategy for Assessment of Genomic Damage: A Conceptual Framework and Considerations. Environ Mol Mutagen 58:264-283, 2017].  The workshop consists of four parts: (1) background information about the Clean Sheet Initiative, tobacco toxicity, and germline vulnerabilities; (2) overview of evidence for germline impacts in humans and other mammals; (3) regulatory perspective; and (4) discussion geared toward consensus regarding needs for research and regulation.
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Webpage: https://www.emgs-us.org/p/cm/ld/fid=394
Registration: www.emgs-us.org/p/cm/ld/fid=386

Heritable Hazards of Smoking: Applying the “Clean Sheet” Framework to Further Science and Policy
Co-Chairs: Francesco Marchetti, Health Canada, Jill Escher, Escher Fund for Autism

Organizing Committee: Abigail Bline, UCLA, Kerry Dearfield, Retired (formerly at USDA and EPA), David DeMarini, US EPA, Jill Escher, Francesco Marchetti, Carole Yauk, Health Canada

8:45-9:00 AM
Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Introductions
Jill Escher, Escher Fund for Autism

9:00-9:20 AM
The Clean Sheet Initiative and Its Potential to Identify the Risks of Heritable Consequences of Tobacco Smoke Exposures
Kerry L. Dearfield, Retired (formerly at USDA and EPA), Burke, VA

9:20-9:40 AM
Rationale for This Workshop: Growing Concern Regarding Heritable and Intergenerational Effects from Environmental Exposures 
Carole L. Yauk, Health Canada

9:40-10:00 AM
The Potentially Vulnerable Periods of Exposure to the Male and Female Germline 
Jacquetta Trasler, McGill University, Montreal, ON, Canada

10:00-10:20 AM
Coffee Break

10:20-10:50 AM
Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Hazardous Components of Tobacco and Related products; Broad Overview of Known Health Effects; Tobacco-Induced Male Germ Cell and Heritable Effects
Francesco Marchetti, Health Canada

10:50-11:10 AM
Male-Mediated Heritable Epigenetic Effects 
Jacquetta Trasler, McGill University, Montreal, ON, Canada

11:10-11:30 AM
Overview of Asthma and Allergy Epidemiology: Epigenetic Studies of Transgenerational Effects of Smoking
John Holloway, University of Southhampton, UK

11:30-11:50 AM
Multigenerational Transmission of Hyperactivity/ADHD
Pradeep Bhide, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

11:50-12:10 PM
The RHINESSA Cohort, a Three-Generation Study on the Association of Tobacco Smoking with Asthma 
Cecillie Svanes, University of Bergen, Norway
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12:10-12:30 PM
Panel Discussion of the Evidence

12:30-1:30 PM
Lunch (provided)

1:30-2:00 PM
Regulatory Perspectives: Overview of Current Regulatory Approaches
Laurent Huber, Executive Director, ASH, Washington, DC

2:00-3:30 PM
Directed Discussion and Consensus Opinion 
Methods and data to study intergenerational effects of these products and how to apply the Clean Sheet Framework. Is there a need for regulatory policy to emphasize germ cell risk in addition to somatic cell risk? Next steps?

Closing Remarks
Jill Escher, Escher Fund for Autism