European Commission tables scientific criteria for endocrine disruptors

The European Commission has set out the world’s first regulatory system for identifying and classifying endocrine disruptors which can have adverse effects on humans, animals, and the environment in draft legislation published last week.

The hormone altering chemical substances are present in many everyday items ranging from paint and pesticides to toys and computer keyboards. It has been suggested that they can mimic, block, or interfere with hormones that regulate key biological functions, including brain development, reproduction, metabolism, and growth. They have been linked to various illnesses, notably cancer, obesity, diabetes, and infertility.

The World Health Organization defined endocrine …