EPA's Endocrine Disruptor Peer Review Process & Listserv

Jul 13: U.S. EPA provided formal notice in the Federal Register [72 FR 38577-38580] of the approach it intends to take for conducting peer reviews of the Tier 1 screening assays and Tier 2 testing assays that are being validated by the Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP), as well as EPA's approach for conducting the peer review of the Tier 1 battery. EPA also announced the availability of a listserver (Listserv) that will allow interested parties to sign up to receive e-mail notifications of EDSP peer review updates, including information on the availability of peer review materials to be posted on the EDSP website. The materials may include the documents to be peer reviewed, background documents, the charge to the peer reviewers, and reports that summarize the results of peer reviews.

In recent years, some scientists have proposed that certain chemicals might be disrupting the endocrine system of humans and wildlife. A variety of chemicals have been found to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals in laboratory studies, and compelling evidence shows that endocrine systems of certain fish and wildlife have been affected by chemical contaminants, resulting in developmental and reproductive problems. Based on this and other evidence, Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act in 1996, requiring that EPA initiate EDSP to screen pesticide chemicals and environmental contaminants for their potential to affect the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife.

Endocrine disruptor screening is currently proceeding on three fronts: 1) Performing scientific and technical testing needed to validate the endocrine disruptor screens and tests; 2) Setting priorities for selecting chemicals for initial screening and testing; and 3) Developing the policies and procedures the Agency will use to require testing. In June 2007 [See WIMS 6/11/07], EPA published a Pre-Publication Federal Register Notice announcing the draft list of initial pesticide active ingredients and pesticide inerts to be considered for screening under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The list includes 73 chemicals to be screened under Tier 1 of the program. Comments are due to EPA by September 17, 2007.

Access the FR announcement (click here). Access information on the Listserv (click here). Access information on the peer review process (click here). Access the FR announcement of the list of 73 chemical (click here). Access EPA's EDSP website for further information (click here). [*Toxics]