Risk Assessment of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Objective/Intended Use

Research in this project area will support consistent approaches within EPA for risk assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), as well as support domestic and international assessment approaches. This work provides a background for future projects in assessment of EDC including developing an analytical framework and, subsequently, guidelines for evaluating health and ecological impacts of reported EDC.

Abstract

The passage of the Safe Drinking Water and Food Quality Protection Acts requires EPA to develop a program for screening and testing of chemicals for their potential to produce adverse effects on the endocrine systems of humans or wildlife. When tests for estrogen, androgen and thyroid activity proposed by the Agency's EDSTAC program are instituted, the new information generated by this testing will require appropriate evaluation in Agency chemical assessments. This task supports the examination of hazard and risk assessment approaches for identifying potential endocrine effects of chemicals, with special emphasis on hazardous air pollutants identified in the Clean Air Act. This includes the evaluation of current testing protocols, and of new protocols recommended by the Agency to support the proper application of current hazard assessment methods, or to identify any modifications needed to current methods. This project will include development of an internal review document will include development of an internal review document (report) and may include an NCEA/interagency workshop, and/or an external expert workshop, to discuss hazard and risk assessment of EDC's and research needed to develop or improve hazard and risk assessment methods for EDC (APG 27).

Project Status

Completed. Background support document prepared to support internal workgroup on development of an analytical framework (FY04 in EDC MYP) for the proposed guideline development (FY06 in EDC MYP).

Project Start Date

02/01/2002

Project Completion Date (Actual/Projected)

01/31/2004

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