EPA proposes new technology in chemical tests for hormonal effects

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the use of new technology in screening chemicals for their effects on the endocrine system in the human body, allowing the agency to carry out the necessary tests quicker and more efficiently.

“This is the beginning of a new day for testing chemicals for safety,” EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Jim Jones said. “These new technologies allow us to screen more chemicals in less time, use fewer animals and reduce costs for everyone.”

The new technology is an alternative to out of the EPA’s 11 screening tests, using robots from the federal Toxicology in the 21st Century (Tox21), which is a joint venture undertaken by the EPA, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency also worked with industry and environmental groups to develop the new methods.

The endocrine system relates to the body’s glands, which secrete hormones that can have a range of affects on human health. Chemicals were identified as a potential source for endocrine interference in the 1990s, leading to the need for stringent testing.