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EMERGING RISKS
Description:
Evidence has been accumulating that humans as well as domestic and wildlife species have suffered adverse health effects resulting from exposure to environmental chemicals that interact with the endocrine system. These chemicals are referred to as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Effects, which include cancer, reproductive disorders, neurologic impairment and immune dysfunction, have been observed in experimental animals exposed to specific chemicals in the laboratory, in wildlife populations in several broadly contaminated ecosystems (e.g., Great Lakes), and, to a more limited extent, in humans exposed to some organochlorine compounds. Legislation passed in 1996 (FQPA) requires that the Agency screen all pesticides for potential estrogenic effects in humans. Based upon the recommendation of an advisory group (EDSTAC), a decision was made to expand the scope of this screening to include additional hormone systems (androgen and thyroid) and wildlife species. This created a need for additional testing protocols as well as models designed to predict the likelihood that a given chemical would be an EDC. NOTE: A more detailed description of the endocrine disruptors research program, including recent NHEERL accomplishments, is available at www.epa.gov/ord/publications under Research and Development 1997-98 Research Accomplishments.
NHEERL research is providing the screening and testing methods needed by the Agency to meet the endocrine-related requirements of the FQPA. Research to determine the nature and extent to which environmentally relevant exposures to chemicals are producing adverse effects in humans and wildlife species is conducted in this research area.