III.
III. Strategy to resolve problems of endocrine disruptors
1. Current approaches(1)(1) Main approach in Japan
In Japan, the discussions on the issue of endocrine disruptor has begun primarily
in the administrative organizations concerned. In particular, since 1996, researchhas been actively conducted. In 1996, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW)
established a project team to discuss health effects on humans. Also, the Ministryof International Trade and Industry and the Environment Agency individually
started research from the viewpoints of industrial activity and environmentalconservation, respectively. In 1997, a liaison meeting was set up to develop acooperative discussion system among the Ministry of Health and Welfare, theEnvironment Agency, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, theMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Labor. Afterthat meeting, the “Inter-Ministerial Directors’ Conference on Endocrine
Disrupting Chemical Problems” was established, consisting of nine ministries (seethe chart below). These ministries are working together to promote research, toactively exchange information, and to conduct other various related activities. InApril 1998, the MHW established the “Study Group on Health Effects of Endocrine
Disrupting Chemicals” to discuss this issue comprehensively and to formulate
Japanese policies to protect human health, based on the international situation. InMay of the same year, the Environment Agency compiled policies for its future
approach.
In industry, corporations have started to carry out various activities. They aregathering information on the safety of individual chemicals and their products andconducting evaluations based on elution tests and toxicity tests. Also, consumer
groups are separately approaching problems from their standpoints. They areconducting elution tests for food containers and surveying consumer recognition ofendocrine disruptors.
In the academic field, studies have been begun on endocrine disruptors, based on
new understanding of the issue. Academic societies are making efforts to resolve
the problems with these chemicals, such as holding symposia beyond the academic

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Figure Inter-Ministerial Cooperation on Endocrine Disruptor Problems

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boundaries in cooperation with all related sections: consumers, universities,industries, and government. For example, in June 1998, the Japanese Society ofFood Chemistry held the “International Symposium on Endocrine Disruptors andHuman Life, Focusing on Food Safety” to clarify a comprehensive profile of theissue of these chemicals. The society invited experts from various fields including
foreign guests from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). These experts gave presentations from their own
positions as researchers, consumers, manufacturers, and administrators. Matters
discussed include the findings of research and studies, international cooperation,
administrative approaches, and consumer views and awareness.
As mentioned above, a full-scale system for tackling the issue is being organized.
Under the system, it is necessary to further strengthen measures to prevent
adverse effects on human health.

(2)(2) Recent approaches in the world
Endocrine disruptor problems are a global issue. International organizations andtheir member nations are conducting various activities from their own standpoints
in cooperation with each other. The 1997 session of the Inter-governmental Forumon Chemical Safety (IFCS) indicated the potential human and ecological effects ofendocrine disruptors. In the same year, the 50th World Health Assembly of theWorld Health Organization (WHO) adopted a resolution (WHA 50.13 1997). Theresolution called on the WHO to take the necessary steps to reinforce its
leadership in conducting risk assessment on problems of endocrine disruptors andin promoting research on the potential health effects of exposure to them. The
International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) and the Organization ofEconomic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are playing leading roles ininternational work on endocrine disruptors. The IPCS’s activities include:
Collecting findings on these problems worldwide; compiling understandings on
potential health effects by the year 2000; and producing a database of information
on ongoing research. The OECD’s activities include; discussing basic strategies fortackling these problems globally and developing standard testing methods.
The United States is conducting assessments and analyses on the effects of43

endocrine disruptors based on the “Special Report on Environmental Endocrine
Disruption: An Effects Assessment Analysis” published by the US EPA inFebruary 1997. The United States also is implementing a comprehensive strategyscheduled to end in the first quarter of the year 2003, based on reports by theEndocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC). The
following section outlines historical backgrounds and future activities forindividual nations and organizations.
1.

The United States
In June 1991, experts from environmental, medical, and biological fields
gathered at Wingspread in Wisconsin State and addressed the need toundertake detailed research into the effects of endocrine disruptors on wildlifeand humans. In 1995, the Executive Office of the President established theCommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources, and began to promote
and register comprehensive research on endocrine disruptors. In March 1996,Colborn and other authors jointly published a book titled “Our Stolen Future,”
describing environmental issues which were thought to be related to endocrine
disruptors. This book became a trigger, drawing much public attention. InAugust 1996, a new law, the Food Quality Protection Act passed the US
congress and the Safe Drinking Water Act was amended. These Acts required
the US EPA to develop a screening program for chemicals suspected to beendocrine disruptors by August 1998, to implement the program by August
1999, and to report the program’s progress to the Congress by August 2000.
Under such circumstances, the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing
Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) was established in October 1996 to promote theeffective conduct of the EPA’s activities under the Acts. In January 1997, theOffice of Science and Technology Policy of the President’s Executive Office andthe EPA jointly invited experts from foreign countries to the SmithsonianWorkshop, disclosing a policy for future research. In August 1998, the EDSTAC
published a final report consisting of seven chapters: (1) Introduction; (2)Background, (3) Conceptual framework and principles, (4) Priority setting, (5)Screening and testing, (6) Communications and outreach, and (7) Compilationof EDSTAC recommendations. The report also proposed a basic policy for
problems of endocrine disruptors in the United States.

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2.

European nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopmenta)

In January 1995, in the UK, the Medical Research Council and theInstitute of Environmental Health jointly held a Workshop on Research andStudies for Endocrine Disrupters, and compiled a memorandum entitled“Assessment of Environmental Estrogen: Effects on Humans and Wildlife.”
After this, various countries discussed the issue: the Netherlands (1995, 1997),Germany (1996), Italy (1996), and Norway (Arctic problems, 1997).
b)

In December 1996, the European Commission held a European Workshop

on Effects of Endocrine Disrupters on Humans and Wildlife in Weybridge, UKand invited Japanese experts. The workshop was the first international
meeting to propose a definition of endocrine disruptors and to decide future
approaches toward such problems. In the wake of the workshop, the OECD inApril 1997 drew up and peer-reviewed a inventory of testing methods to detect
endocrine disruptors, entitled “Screening and Testing Methods of Endocrine
Disruptors.”c)

In March 1998, the OECD established the Working Group on Endocrine

Disrupters Testing and Assessment (EDTA), based on the OECD program on
endocrine disruptors. The purposes of the OECD program are: To provide
member countries with information and to coordinate their activities; todevelop new testing methods to detect endocrine disruptors; to revise theexisting test guidelines; and to standardize risk assessments of endocrine
disruptors among member countries. The EDTA Working Group is so far
working to accomplish the following:zCompile comments obtained from member countries on “screening andtesting methods of endocrine disruptors,” which were asked for before theWorking Group was established;zEnhance ① the 28-day repeated dose toxicity study (TG407) andstandardize ②the utero-trophic assay and ③Hershberger assay by November
1998, and start a joint study; andz

3.

Make preparations for tests on fish and wildlife.

International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS)

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The IPCS, a venture to evaluate chemicals from a scientific viewpoint, hasestablished a steering committee and decided to conduct the following activites:a)Establish a working definition of endocrine disruptors

The IPCS will establish a concept of endocrine disruptors by reviewing various
proposals on endocrine disruptors, including key documents published (after1995) by the Danish Environment and Energy Department on the male
reproductive function and estrogen-mimetic substances.
b) Develop a global research database
The IPCS agreed to set up a global database of ongoing studies for potential
human- and ecological-effects of endocrine disruptors. The IPCS will clarify
weak areas in the research and suggest points to be strengthened bydeveloping a system in which information is exchangeable.
c)

Conduct science assessment of endocrine disruptors

The IPCS will sort problems of endocrine disruptors into solved and unsolved, andto clarify the direction which future research should take. To that end, it will
publish a report outlining extensive research on human and ecological effects ofendocrine disruptors by the year 2000. It needs urgently to make ready a system
for this publication.

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