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APPENDIX
Summary of the Interim Report by the Advisory Committee on
Health Effects of Endocrine Disruptor (December 1998)
Food Chemistry Division, Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry
of Health, Labor and Welfare
1. Historical
The Advisory Committee on Health Effects of Endocrine Disruptors
was established in April 1998 in order to sum up the knowledge
of the endocrine disruptor issue and discuss future tasks. It
reported to the Director of the then Environmental Health
Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. President
Nobuyuki Ito of Nagoya City University was nominated as the
chairman.
The Committee met six times for literature review and hearing of
persons concerned in foreign countries and international
organizations about their approach to the endocrine disruptor
issue. The Committee concluded November 9, 1998 with the
publication of the Interim Report.
2. Overview of the Interim Report
The Interim Report consists of four parts: Introduction,
Understanding the endocrine disruptors, For solving the
endocrine disruptor issue, and Conclusion, plus an Appendix.
(1) Introduction
This section presents the general background and major focuses
of the endocrine disruptor issue, and describes the situation
which prompted preparation of the Interim Report. It reminds the
suggestion that some chemical substances possibly affects human
health by disrupting the endocrine system even at very low
levels, and recommends a stepwise approach to countermeasures
according to the order of urgency.
(2) Understanding the endocrine disruptors
This section first describes in detail the actions of hormones
in the human body as an introduction to the endocrine disruptor
issue. The endocrine disruptors are defined as exogenous
substances or mixtures that affect the endocrine system causing
effects deleterious to humans, their populations (or some
subpopulations) and offspring, according to WHO IPCS.
Possible mechanisms of action of the endocrine disruptors so
defined are described. Data from publications are presented
concerning health effects of the substances, including those on
the female reproductive system (uterine cancer, endometriosis,
breast cancer, etc.), male reproductive system (reduced sperm
count, prostatic cancer, testicular cancer, hypospadias, etc.)
and thyroid system. These data are evaluated as follows.
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