Environmental scientists are preparing for a massive chemical hunt. This month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizes plans for its endocrine disrupter screening program, which will require companies to spend millions of dollars to test thousands of chemicals for their potential to wreak havoc on the hormonal systems of people and wildlife.
Studies have shown that synthetic chemicals found in many common products--from pesticides to plastics--can mimic the behavior of estrogen and other hormones in wildlife, disrupting everything from sexual development to immune resistance. But it's not clear if the substances pose a threat to people. To find out, in 1996 Congress asked the EPA to identify the riskiest compounds.
The effort, to start later this year, won't provide all the answers, but Tufts University physician Ana Soto says screening is "an important first step."
