EPA Adds Chemicals in Pesticides and Plastics to Endocrine Disruptor Screening List

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the addition
of 134 chemicals to its second Tier 1 screening list under the Endocrine
Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). Among those chemicals listed are DBCP,
1,4-dioxane, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acrylamide, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene,
chlordane, HCFC-22, perchlorate, PFOS, PFOA, and polychlorinated biphenyls.
Comments are requested by December 17, 2010.

According to EPA, “[t]he list includes chemicals that have been identified as priorities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and may be found in sources of drinking water where a substantial number of people may be exposed. The list also includes pesticide active ingredients that are being evaluated under EPA’s registration review program to ensure they meet current scientific and regulatory standards.” Following public comment and review, “EPA will issue test orders to pesticide registrants and the manufacturers of these chemicals to compel them to generate data to determine whether their chemicals may disrupt the estrogen, androgen and thyroid pathways of the endocrine system.” The agency anticipates beginning to issue test orders in 2011.

EPA cautions that the non-inclusion of a chemical on this list should not be interpreted as meaning that the chemical may not be subject to screening in the future and that “the public should not presume that the listing of a chemical or substance indicates in any way that EPA currently suspects that such chemical or substance interferes with the endocrine systems of humans or other species simply because it has been listed for screening under the EDSP.” See EPA Press Release, November 16, 2010; Federal Register, November 17, 2010.