 |
|||
 |
 |
|
|
|
Scientists speak out on endocrine disruptors
Those promoting agrochemicals often portray their opponents as misinformed and over-emotional. However, increasing numbers of experts and scientists are speaking out both about proven dangers and about uncertainties associated with pesticide use. Last year saw scientists launching the Paris Appeal, an ‘international declaration on diseases due to chemical pollution’, which advocated for greater precaution with regard to chemicals including adoption of the EU’s REACH initiative. Now another group of scientists have spoken out, concerned about the impact of endocrine disruptors on human and environmental health.
On 10-12 May 2005 international experts and scientists representing many different disciplines came together in Prague for a workshop on hormone disrupting chemicals. The workshop was convened to discuss the results of recent EU funded research linked together through the cluster for research on endocrine disruptors (CREDO). Results obtained have reinforced long-standing concerns about the consequences to humans and wildlife of exposure to endocrine disruptors. The scientists were sufficiently concerned to issue a joint statement to the press, the Prague Declaration. In their statement the scientists pointed to the high prevalence of reproductive disorders in European men and young boys (low sperm count, undescended testes, hypospadias, cryptorchidism) and of cancer of reproductive organs, such as the breast, prostate and testes. They also stressed the significant role of hormones in the development or progression of these disorders (or diseases) making it entirely possible that endocrine-disrupting compounds (including some pesticides) could contribute to disease initiation or progression. They also pointed to a number of other processes which could be affected by endocrine-disrupting compounds, such as brain development and aging. The scientists expressed concern that environmental contamination was playing a role in the development of these disorders. They articulated the inherent difficulties of proving the link between exposure to a chemical and its effects, particularly in humans. They emphasised that the existing safety assessment framework for chemicals is ill-equipped to assess endocrine disruptors and currently does not assess the effects of simultaneous exposure to a number of chemicals. The scientists expressed the view that the current uncertainty over the role of endocrine disruptors in human disease would continue in the immediate future but stressed ‘we strongly believe that scientific uncertainty should not delay precautionary action for risk reduction’. The scientists outlined research strategies that would improve understanding of the impact of endocrine disruptors but advocated that in the meantime regulators take precautionary steps including
To date over 200 scientists have signed the Prague Declaration. |
|||
 |
 |
||
|
|||
