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Basic Information
In the last decade, the scientific community has become increasingly concerned that humans experience health problems and wildlife populations are adversely affected following exposure to chemicals that interact with the endocrine system. The endocrine system is made up of glands throughout the body, hormones which are synthesized and secreted by the glands into the bloodstream, and receptors in the various target organs and tissues which recognize and respond to the hormones. The function of the system is to regulate a wide range of biological processes, including control of blood sugar, growth and function of reproductive systems, regulation of metabolism, brain and nervous system development, and development of an organism from conception through adulthood and old age. Disruptions in hormonal balance at critical life stages may have long-lasting effects.
Because of the potential global scope of the Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) problem, the possibility of serious problems in humans and wildlife, and the persistence of some suspected EDCs in the environment, research on EDCs is a high priority in EPA's Office of Research and Development's (ORD). Research & Development's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) is conducting research to investigate sources of suspected EDCs that impact the environment. Risk management strategies are being developed to minimize exposure of humans and wildlife to suspected EDCs. Risk management EDC research efforts focus on areas such as waste water treatment, drinking water treatment, and pollution prevention making it the only such program in the world. The program's overarching research questions are:
- Using current available approaches, can the risk of EDCs be managed in a cost-effective manner in cases where the known or highly suspected EDCs appear to be causing impacts on the environment?
- As more information is generated from effects, exposure and assessment research, what new tools are needed to manage likely and unacceptable risk associated with EDCs?