Health & Chemicals

Strategic Programs on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors '98 (SPEED '98)

May 1998
Japan Environment Agency

Preface

I. The problem of Exogenous Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

  1. What are exogenous endocrine disrupting chemicals?
    • (1) Problems associated with exogenous endocrine disrupting chemicals
    • (2) Estrogenic substances
  2. Hormones
    • (1) Roles of hormones
    • (2) How hormones work
  3. Mechanisms for the chemical disruption of hormone function
    • (1) Mechanisms of endocrine disruption
    • (2) Phytoestrogens
  4. Reports of adverse effects of endocrine disruptors on humans and wildlife
    • (1) Reports of adverse effects on humans and wildlife
    • (2) Uncertainties and gaps in scientific knowledge
    • (3) Specific issues to be taken into consideration in tackling the problem of endocrine disruptors
  5. 67 chemicals suspected to be endocrine disruptors
    • (1) Environmental laws and regulations concerning potential endocrine disruptors
    • (2) Monitoring of environmental pollution by potential endocrine disruptors
  6. International approaches to the problem
    • (1) Approaches in other countries
    • (2) The approach of international organizations

II. The Environment Agency's Basic Policy on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors

  1. Basic position
  2. Specific approaches to the problem
    • (1) Promotion of field investigations into the present state of environmental pollution and of adverse effects on wildlife of endocrine disrupting chemicals
    • (2) Promotion of research and screening and testing method development
    • (3) Promotion of environmental risk assessment, risk management and information dissemination
    • (4) Strengthening of international networks

List of References

Table-1
The main functions of hormones in humans and the diseases which can result from the overproduction and shortage of hormones
Table-2
The report concerning the influences on wildlife
Table-3
Chemicals Suspected of Having Endocrine Disrupting Effects
Figure-1
The site of main human endocrine organs
Figure-2
The structure and mechanism regarding the function of representative hormones
Figure-3
The mechanism of the function of endocrine disrupting chemicals

Please contact the address below for any inquiries you may have on this document.
Environmental Health and Safety Division,
Environmental Health Department, Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan
ADDRESS: 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975
TEL: +81-3-3581-3351 (ext.) 6352
FAX: +81-3-3580-3596
E-mail: ehs@env.go.jp