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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
08:00
Screening for Endocrine Activity in Water Using Commercially-available In Vitro Transactivation Bioassays
Published on: December 4, 2016
Assessing and managing risks arising from exposure to endocrine-active chemicals
Karen P Phillips1, Warren G Foster, William Leiss
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Karen.Phillips@uottawa.ca
Summary
Managing endocrine-active chemicals (EAC) risks requires updated assessment strategies. New methods like toxicogenomics and hormesis can address scientific uncertainties in EAC hazard identification and dose-response relationships.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Risk Assessment Science
Background:
- Endocrine-active chemicals (EAC) pose risks to human health and the environment.
- Current risk assessment methods face challenges due to EAC complexities, including varied mechanisms, receptors, and nonlinear dose-responses.
- Public concern over environmental health impacts of EAC is significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the risk assessment and management process for EAC.
- To highlight the need for adapting risk assessment to EAC scientific uncertainties.
- To consider international strategies for EAC management.
Main Methods:
- Review of traditional risk management frameworks, emphasizing the National Research Council Framework (1983).
- Exploration of advanced risk science approaches: toxicogenomics and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR).
- Consideration of the biological process of hormesis.
Main Results:
- Existing risk assessment and management principles require adaptation for EAC.
- Scientific uncertainties in EAC hazard identification and dose-response quantification are substantial.
- New methodologies can complement current strategies like those from the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC).
Conclusions:
- Effective management of EAC risks necessitates integrating advanced risk science.
- International strategies (Canada, US, EU) offer insights into EAC management.
- Addressing scientific uncertainties is key to robust EAC risk assessment and policy development.
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