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REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF CONTAMINANTS IN OVIPAROUS VERTEBRATES: WORKSHOP SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Citation:
Benson, W H., R. T. Di Giulio, D. E. Tillitt, L S. Birnbaum, P. deFur, J. Gooch, E. M. Mihaich, AND C. Tyler. REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF CONTAMINANTS IN OVIPAROUS VERTEBRATES: WORKSHOP SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Description:
The workshop was successful in advancing the state of the science, as well as in bringing together a broad base of experience and viewpoints to advance integrations of approaches to understanding basic chemical and physiological processes, toxicological effects and mechanisms, ecological principles, and risk assessment issues related to reproductive and developmental effects of environmental contaminants. It was clear that the demographic attributes of life-history strategies influence life-cycle characteristics, chemical exposure, and toxicity in a manner affecting characteristics that define the risk to chemical exposure.
Traditional approaches of toxicity testing methods and biological and chemical monitoring have contributed greatly to our current knowledge of reproductive and developmental effects and to our ability to assess and regulate the impacts of environmental contaminants. It was the intent of the workshop organizers to focus on reproductive and developmental effects of contaminants on those oviparous vertebrates that hold promise for use in ecological risk assessments. By providing this focus, the organizers intended to bring additional clarity
to areas in which new research can provide the tools needed to better manage and protect ecological resources. A mechanistic understanding of environmental fate and reproductive and developmental effects of contaminants is attainable, but it must be considered a long-term goal. Continued progress toward this goal will enable researchers to demonstrate the link between contaminant exposure, basic physiological processes, toxicological effects, ecological consequences, and assessment of risk. Additional fundamental knowledge is essential to explain the mechanisms of reproductive and developmental effects and the processes governing the chemical fate and bioavailability of causative agents. As costs associated with compliance to regulations increase, regulators, as well as the regulated community, must make the most effective use of funds allocated for preventing or reducing deleterious impacts on environmental quality. Decisions based on a more complete mechanistic understanding of cause-and-effect relationships will be less likely to vary with technological trends
and will be more defensible, while allowing economic growth to occur in a climate of ecologically meaningful environmental stewardship and maintenance of environmental quality.