NEW APPROACHES FOR ASSESSING THE ETIOLOGY AND RISKS OF DEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITIES FROM CHEMICAL-EXPOSURE

Developmental toxicants, insidious in modes of action and effects, str ike the very origin of our lives: the developing embryo, fetus, neonat e, and child; they cause spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, malformat ions, early postnatal mortality, reduced birth weight, mental retardat ion, sensory loss as well as other functional or physical changes, inc luding subclinical effects having far reaching social and economic imp acts. The large majority of developmental defects have unknown etiolog ies. With this uncertainty, EPA and the scientific community world-wid e give high priority to finding new approaches for assessing etiology and risks of developmental effects. The United Nations Conference on E nvironment and Development (UNCED) and Agenda 21 mobilized the interna tional community to focus on risks posed by chemicals in the environme nt, including developmental risks. The international harmonization of test and risk assessment guidelines for developmental effects are prio rities. Lead, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupte rs, and the improvement of quantitative risk assessment methodologies, particularly for children, are priorities. EPA reinvented its researc h agenda to assure wide involvement of the National Science Foundation , other federal agencies, and national experts in research to address the U.S.'s public health and environmental priorities. (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science Inc.