Problems In Assessing Low Dose Effects Of Endocrine Disrupters

Abstract

SummaryThough endocrine disrupters and their effects in wildlife and human health have been the objects of intensive scientific research for almost fifteen years, a conclusive concept for risk assessment and risk reduction of this group of chemicals is still lacking. In many cases non-linear or biphasic dose response relationships are observed when endocrine disrupters are tested in toxicology and ecotoxicology. This means that effects of low doses of these chemicals cannot be predicted from experiments with high doses and thus the central paradigm of regulatory toxicology becomes questionable. As the risk assessment of endocrine disrupters remains to be a field characterised by a high degree of uncertainty. Political bodies like the European Parliament request immediate regulation on the basis of the precautionary principle.