The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a list of pesticides and chemicals that will be screened and evaluated as possible endocrine disruptors. The term "endocrine disruptor" refers to a chemical that can interact with and potentially disrupt the human and/or animal hormones that regulate growth, metabolism and reproduction. Thyroid hormones are a potential target of endocrine disruptors. According to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Endocrine disruptors can cause lifelong health problems -- especially for children. Gathering this information will help us work with communities and industry to protect Americans from harmful exposure.”
During the summer of 2009, the EPA is going to issue test orders to manufacturers of 67 different pesticides and chemicals, mandating that they determine whether their chemicals disrupt the endocrine systems -- including estrogen, androgen and thyroid. Eventually, the test program, called the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP), will be expanded to cover all pesticides.
The list was developed on the basis of exposure potential -- meaning these are pesticides and chemicals that have high potential for human exposure through food and water, residential activity, or agricultural pesticides. The list includes a variety of pesticides, including pyrethroid chemicals included in various commercial insecticides and insect repellents (including Raid, Ortho Home Defense, Capture, Scourge,Anvil) and other chemicals, including acetone (a solvent that is used in nail polish and paint thinners), various phthalates (which are added to many plastic products), toluene (a common solvent).
You can read the complete list of pesticides and chemicals that will be evaluated in the Federal Register Notice regarding the evaluation of the endocrine disruptors. (PDF)
Photo: clipart.com
Gee — the EPA seems to care more about endocrine disruptors than the FDA. If similar chemicals were found in our food and drug supply, the FDA’s response would be nothing. They’ve ignored mercury found in thimeresol and vaccinations, aspartame and other substances which have been shown in studies to cause endocrine problems, etc. Ever wonder why so many diseases (including thyroid disease) are on the rise? Probably due to our contaminated food, drug and environment.
I called the FDA the other day to ask about a drug for osteoporosis. I had many emails returned form lawyers, saying they were taking a drug to court for not telling patients about the bad side effects.I had asked my doctor about my findings. He said, I would give it to my mother,daughter or sister.I said until you have a family member using this drug don’t do the analogy. The FDA finally said to me we can not tell people which drugs are better or worse. They will send you test results and you make the conclusion, at your own cost.How rude is that?
Fortunately there ARE a lot of people who have taken a stand on this issue, and we’re in better shape now than we were one or two years ago. P2C2 (Patients and Professionals for Customized Care) always has information available about when things are being voted on, etc. We’re kind of in a “holding pattern” right now, having had success protecting our rights to estriol (a type of estrogen) in 2008.