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A RESEARCH AGENDA FOR RISK MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS
Citation:
Sayles*, G D. A RESEARCH AGENDA FOR RISK MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS. Presented at In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation: The Seventh International Symposium, Orlando, FL, 06/02-5/2003.
Description:
To date, research on suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has focused on determining health effects in humans and wildlife and on occurrence of these chemicals in the environment. There is strong evidence that certain chemicals are causing endocrine-related effects in wildlife, and it is clear that humans and wildlife are routinely exposed to suspected EDCs. However, much work is still required to construct detailed risk assessments of EDCs in the environment.
Environmental decision makers must often implement risk management strategies without complete knowledge of the risk posed by a chemical or mixture of chemicals in the environment. Decision makers working on EDC problems need risk management strategies at their disposal. To make the best decisions possible, these professionals require effective strategies to minimize release of EDCs into the environment and technologies to remove EDCs from the environment.
Research and development of risk management approaches for EDCs involves the evaluation of currently available technologies for their effectiveness on EDC-related problems, and, as needed, the development of new tools. This effort should be focused only on known or highly suspected EDCs. This research should be aimed at sources of these EDCs to the environment that appear to be significant, and on these chemicals in the environment that may be causing significant exposure to wildlife or humans.
There are several sources of suspected EDCs that are not well characterized and may require the develop of strategies to reduce releases from the sources. These sources include sewage treatment systems (POTWs, septic systems, constructed wetlands, etc.), concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and combustion processes.
Some suspected EDCs released into the environment may result in significant exposure to humans and wildlife. Research is needed to develop strategies to minimize exposure to suspected EDCs in contaminated aquatic/marine sediments and in drinking water sources such as ground and surface waters.
Some suspected EDCs are chemicals still produced by industry. Pollution prevention research is needed to develop tools that can recommend or design substitutes for these chemicals that meet the technical criteria required by the chemical product, but pose lower endocrine activity.
This presentation will summarize the current state of risk management research of suspected EDCs and provide research questions that the author believes should be tackled in the near future.