SCOPE/IUPAC report on endocrine active substances to be published

A report from the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) project on Endocrine Active Substances, a major project looking at these potentially harmful substances from a world-wide perspective, will be published in a double issue of the IUPAC Journal, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 75 (11/12), 2003, edited by J. Miyamoto and J. Burger. An Executive Summary is available on the IUPAC website at http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2003/7511/. The Executive Summary will be sent to the IUPAC National Adhering Organizations, Associate National Adhering Organizations, and Company Associates, as well as major chemical societies and other interested organizations throughout the world.

The SCOPE/IUPAC project Environmental implications of endocrine active substances: Present state-of-the-art and future research needs was initiated during 2000 and culminated at a Symposium held 17–21 November 2002 in Yokohama, Japan, where 408 individuals from 31 countries gathered. Scientists, managers, and public policy-makers presented papers on human effects, wildlife effects, exposure assessment, and testing for Endocrine Active Substances and Endocrine Disruption effects. At the meeting, a range of needs was identified that applies to all aspects of the study of Endocrine Disruption and Endocrine Active Substances. The in-depth, comprehensive, authoritative review of Endocrine Active Substances and their environmental and health effects by this project will facilitate risk assessment and assist governmental and intergovernmental authorities, industry, and the wider public in framing policies and establishing research directions to address these issues.

We have learned during the past decade that the global effects attributed to Endocrine Active Substances are not as all pervading or fearsome as some have asserted. There are, however, sufficient examples and biological plausibility to leave little basis for complacency in the research community. Future well-designed research will elucidate the magnitude of the problem, identify target substances of concern, and advance our knowledge of human and wildlife health. In addition to overall conclusions regarding the present state of knowledge, a series of more than 40 specific research recommendations was developed to assist future efforts.

This is a SCOPE/IUPAC project. IUPAC was formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia. For over eight decades, the Union has succeeded in fostering worldwide communications in the chemical sciences and in uniting academic, industrial and public sector chemistry in a common language. IUPAC is recognized as the world authority on chemical nomenclature, terminology, standardized methods for measurement, atomic weights and many other critically evaluated data. More information about IUPAC and its activities is available at www.iupac.org. More information about SCOPE is available at http://www.icsu-scope.org/.

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