Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology Also Govern Effects of Chemicals on the Endocrine System

Abstract

The present debate on chemicals with Hormonal activity, often termed 'endocrine disruptors', is highly controversial and includes challenges of the present paradigms used in toxicology and in hazard identification and risk characterization. In our opinion, chemicals with hormonal activity can be subjected to the well-evaluated health risk characterization approach used for many years including adverse outcome pathways. Many of the points arguing for a specific approach for risk characterization of chemicals with hormonal activity are based on highly speculative conclusions. These conclusions are not well supported when evaluating the available information.

Keywords: endocrine disruptors; endocrine toxicology; regulatory/policy; risk assessment.