[Are environmental chemicals with hormone-like properties a health problem?]

Lately, a hypothesis linking higher frequency of testicular cancer, reduced semen quality and malformation of the male sexual organs with increased embryonic/foetal exposure to oestrogenic chemicals has received wide attention in the media. There are several examples where point-source chemical pollution has been convincingly associated with endocrine-related changes in wildlife. Such changes have also been reproduced in experimental studies. There is very little evidence, however, of such an association in humans. Nevertheless, the findings provide a clear challenge to toxicologists and epidemiologists in order to elucidate possible public health risks from environmental exposure to chemicals with hormone-like effects. Better test strategies and reproductive toxicity test guidelines are needed in order to assess any such risks, and to provide a basis for possible regulatory action.