False alarms or missed hazards: How should regulators define “endocrine disruptor”? by CPES

EDC regulation will set up a screening system for chemicals much like an airport body scanner The scanner can be made very sensitive, which although produces a lot of false alarms, it does capture a larger proportion of hazardous chemicals. Alternatively, the scanner can be calibrated to pick up only the chemicals we are certain are EDCs – but in this case a greater number of hazardous chemicals will escape the regulatory net. In order to have a strong regulatory net we need a definition for EDCs.

Regulations need definitions because it has to be absolutely clear which objects and activities fall within the bounds of a particular set of laws, and which do not. How these boundaries are drawn is often fiercely debated, and agreeing on the correct regulatory definition of EDCs is no exception.

Find out more about the opportunities, obstacles and sensitivities of setting a definition for EDCs

Please consult this guide from our recently-launched website to access important open-access papers, primary literature introducing topics central to our understanding of how chemicals can affect health.

Originally posted on 11 December 2012