The Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation
Interim Report Contents
Last updateF
2006/11/30
Contents
An Interim Report from the Study Group on Health Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
I. Introduction
II. Examining endocrine disruptors
1.Actions of hormones on the human body
(1) What is "endocrine"?
1. Thyroid gland
2. Parathyroid
3. Adrenal gland
4. Ovary
5. Testicle
6. Pituitary gland
7. Hypothalamus
8. Others
(2)Differentiation and formation of gonads
(3)Chemistry of hormones
(4)Regulation of blood hormone concentration
(5)Binding of hormone with hormone receptors
(6)Manifestation of hormonal actions
Summary
2.Action mechanisms of endocrine disruptors
(1)Definition
(2)Action mechanisms
3.Physiochemical characteristics
4.Exposure pathways
5.Effects on humans
(1)Effects on the female reproductive system and mammary glands
1. Uterine cancer
2. Endometriosis
3. Breast cancer
4. Others
(2)Effects on the male reproductive system
1. Decline in sperm count
a.Background of problems with sperm counts
b.Reports concluding that sperm counts are declining
c.Reports concluding that sperm concentrations are not declining but rather rising
d.Reports from Japan e.Problems regarding human sperm studies
e.Problems regarding human sperm studies
2. Prostate cancer
3. Testicular cancer
4. Hypospadias
5. Effects on other male reproductive organs
(3)Effects on the thyroid system
(4)Others
1. Effects on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
2. Effects on wildlife
(5)Evaluation of health effects on humans
III. Strategy for resolving problems of endocrine disruptors
1.Current approaches
(1)Main approach in Japan
(2)Recent approaches in the world
1. The United States
2. European nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
3. The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS)
2. Basic policies
(1)Concept of chemical safety
(2)Development of an information management and distribution system, based on a database
(3)Encouragement of international cooperation
(4)Promotion of comprehensive research
3. Measures to protect human health
(1) Research on chemicals suspected to be endocrine disruptors
1. Gathering information
2. Investigating exposure pathways
3. Studying metabolism
4. Studying multiple-generation reproduction
5. Conducting risk assessments
(2) Other methods of checking chemicals
1. High throughput pre-screening (HTPS)
2. Priority setting
3. Testing
a.Screening
b.Detailed tests
4. Risk assessments
5. Considerations
(3) Other research
1. Exposure
a.Development of elution tests and/or material tests for foods, food packages/containers, and toys
b.Investigation of exposure from foods, food packages/containers, and toys
2. Toxicity studies
a.Studies on individual chemicals
b.Combined effects of multiple endocrine disruptors
c.Phytoestrogens
3. Epidemiological studies
(4) Development of implementation systems for research
1. Structuring of a new framework
2. Training and securing researchers
3. Procurement of instruments for research
4. Efficient performance of research
(5) Development of an information management and distribution system, based on a database
(6) Encouragement of international cooperation
1. The International Programme on Chemical Safety/the World Health Organization (IPCS/WHO)
2. The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
3. The United States
4.Schedule for research
IV. Conclusion
Appendix. Evaluation of individual chemicals and future research
1.Polycarbonate
(1) Elution of bisphenol A
(2) Safety of bisphenol A
(3) Conclusion
(4) Future research
2.Polystyrene
(1) Elution of styrene monomer, dimmer, trimmer
(2) Safety of styrene monomer, dimmer, trimmer
(3) Conclusion
(4) Future research
3.Polyvinyl chloride
(1) Elution of phthalate
(2) Safety of phthalate
(3) Conclusion
(4) Future research
4.Conclusion
References