Publication Abstract

Hazard identification and epidemiology

Hazard identification/epidemiology

J.C. Lamb, P. Matthiessen, R. Balcomb, C.M. Bens, R.L. Cooper, J.W. Gorsuch, M.M. Peden-Adams and E.O. Voit

There is an urgent need to understand whether and how anthropogenic chemicals might affect the endocrine systems in wildlife. However, the present regulatory testing of chemicals may not be fully sufficient for this task of hazard identification. The limitations of current testing procedures are due, in part, to the fact that they have not all been validated or in some cases even developed. We propose a testing strategy that sets priorities based on production, environmental release, fate and environmental behavior information. This would focus attention on the chemicals which will most probably lead to exposure of sensitive life stages, and then subjects those chemicals to one or more of a series of tests designed to investiaate endocrine effects on wildlife.

While considerable scientific and public attention is being paid to environmental agents that might cause adverse effects on reproduction, development, or endocrine systems, there are significant debates about the findings. Part of the debate is clouded by imprecise use of certain terms, such as estrogens or endocrine disruptors. Surely, the major emphasis of the research to date has concentrated on the potential effects of environmental compounds to disrupt steroid hormone function, especially by an alteration in estrogenic mechanisms. Perhaps because of this emphasis, many investigators and readers have concluded wrongly that any disruption in reproduction or development has to mechanistically alter estrogen regulated physiological processes (which are present in both males and females).

Reference:

J.C. Lamb, P. Matthiessen, R. Balcomb, C.M. Bens, R.L. Cooper, J.W. Gorsuch, M.M. Peden-Adams and E.O. Voit, (1989). Hazard identification/epidemiology. pp17-37, In: In Principles and Processes for Evaluating Endocrine Disruption in Wildlife, R.J. Kendall, R.L. Dickerson, J. Giesy and W.A. Suk, (eds.) SETAC Technical Publication, SETAC Press, Pensacola

J.C. Lamb, P. Matthiessen*, R. Balcomb, C.M. Bens, R.L. Cooper, J.W. Gorsuch, M.M. Peden-Adams and E.O. Voit

pp17-37, In: In Principles and Processes for Evaluating Endocrine Disruption in Wildlife, R.J. Kendall, R.L. Dickerson, J. Giesy and W.A. Suk, (eds.) SETAC Technical Publication, SETAC Press, Pensacola