RESEARCH NEEDS FOR THE RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH-EFFECTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL-EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS - A REPORT OF THE US-EPA-SPONSORED WORKSHOP

The hypothesis has been put forward that humans and wildlife species h ave suffered adverse health effects after exposure to endocrine-disrup ting chemicals. Reported adverse effects include declines in populatio ns, increases in cancers, and reduced reproductive function. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsored a workshop in April 1995 to bring together interested parties in an effort to identify research ga ps related to this hypothesis and to establish priorities for future r esearch activities. Approximately 90 invited participants were organiz ed into work groups developed around the principal reported health eff ects-carcinogenesis, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunot oxicity--as well as along the risk assessment paradigm--hazard identif ication, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk chara cterization. Attention focused on both ecological and human health eff ects. In general, the group felt that the hypothesis warranted a conce rted research effort to evaluate its validity and that research should focus primarily on effects on development of reproductive capability, on improved exposure assessment, and on the effects of mixtures. This report summarizes the discussions of the work groups and details the recommendations for additional research.