Framework for Federal Research Needs

Dear Colleague:

I am pleased to introduce the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) report "The Health and Ecological Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals." In response to the need to coordinate the Federal government's response to issues relating to endocrine disrupting chemicals and their potential adverse effects on human heath and wildlife, the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources formed a Work Group on Endocrine Disruptors.

This document, which is the first product of this Work Group, establishes a framework for considering the issue of endocrine disruptors. It categorizes major research activities into three groups: methods development, model development, and laboratory and field data acquisition. The next phase of the CENR effort will match these needs against current Federally funded research efforts to develop a coordinated interagency research plan.