don't use hairspray. Simple solution.
Here is a link to a number of reports and papers:
Endocrine disrupters
It is a bigger issue than hairspray.
Think about all the women on birth control pills peeing into the water supply.
From what I remember from my biochemistry class, there are a huge number of man-made chemicals, or xenobiotics that have a very similar structure to oestrogen (actually all of the steroid hormones are similar), and a lot of them are considered to be endocrine system disrupting: paint, petrol, chemical thinners, organophosphates (fertilisers).........
Endocrine Disrupters and Drinking Water
Endocrine Disrupters and Drinking Water
The endocrine system in humans controls the production and release of hormones within the body. There are many different hormones with different functions in the body, for example, hormones regulate growth, metabolism and sexual development and function. The major glands in the body involved in hormone control are the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary and the Thyroid glands.
There are many substances, both natural and synthetic which have the potential to mimic or interfere with the functioning of the human endocrine system. These are collectively known as Endocrine Disrupters (EDC’s) - a general, non scientific, term used to describe all kinds of substances thought to be able to act in this way. The “phenomenon” was first identified in the 1980’s as a consequence of observations of gender changes in fish in some rivers. Not surprisingly research into the phenomenon has led to concern that some of these substances could enter our drinking water supplies.
Research has shown that EDC’s are present in some of our rivers. However the amounts are exceptionally small and tend to occur only in immediate proximity to industrial and wastewater discharges. Many of these substances are unstable in river water and break down naturally and quite rapidly. This means that they are not detectable in the river water at the points where it is abstracted at the intakes to water treatment works. This has been demonstrated by research where sampling was done at locations specially chosen to represent the highest perceived, theortetical risk. European Commission funded studies have shown that conventional treatment of both sewage and water is very effective at removing EDC’s to levels below those that can be detected by the most sophisticated method of analysis currently available.
There is one one group of substances that attracts above average media attention, namely the components of the Birth control Pill (oestrogens), therefore, these have been studied in detail and we can now be very confident that that ordinary water treatment is effective at removing these substances. It is a popular media story to identify London’s water supply as being at particular risk, however, this ignores the fact that the major supplies to London are protected very well by large impounding reservoirs, where natural purification takes place during the 90 days storage.
It is not questioned that EDC’s can be a hazard to some wildlife and marine studies by Defra (EDMAR) have shown that there may be a significant effect on wildlife from these chemicals particularly under drought conditions. However these environmental concerns are quite separate from, and should not be related to, our drinking water supplies - unfortunately much that is written in the popular press does not make this important distinction between environmental and human health concerns.
In conclusion, it is correct that EDC’s are an environmental issue which continues to be researched with a view to the protection of wildlife. However, there is no evidence whatsoever that EDC’s are a potential risk to human health through our drinking water supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate continues to monitor the ongoing research in this field.
Times Higher Education - Endocrine disrupters: Commission's answer to parliamentary question
Endocrine disrupters: Commission's answer to parliamentary question
10 April 2003
Strasbourg, 9 April 2003
Verbatim report of proceedings, 8 April 2003, Part 1
Pregunta nº 37 formulada por Torben Lund (H-0179/03):
Asunto: Alteradores endocrinos y métodos de ensayo
Wallström, Commission. - In June 2001 the Commission adopted a follow-up communication to the Council and European Parliament on the implementation of the Community strategy for endocrine disrupters - that is, hormone-disturbing substances. This communication set out the actions that would be undertaken to address the potential environmental and health impacts of endocrine disruption, in line with the Commission's obligation to protect the health of the people and the environment within the European Union.
In this context, the availability of agreed test strategies and methods to identify and assess endocrine-disrupting chemicals is a basic requirement for comprehensive legislative action.
The Commission participates in the OECD Endocrine Disrupters Testing and Assessment Task Force (EDTA) which was set up in 1998. The main duties of this task force are to develop an internationally harmonised testing strategy and to coordinate and oversee the work of different sub-groups charged with developing new test guidelines, or revise existing ones to assess the potential endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals.
The task force has reached a consensus on the development of a conceptual framework. This will provide the opportunity for sorting and prioritisation of chemicals of concern based upon existing information rather than on new data to be generated as part of the assessment process. This framework generates information on mechanistic data in vitro, in vivo, and/or on other adverse effects from endocrine and other mechanisms.
In addition the task force has defined a set of methods to be developed and validated: a comparison of sensitivity, relevance and reliability of the tests for testing the effects of endocrine disrupters on human health and/or the environment.
The latest estimates are that agreed test methods for some environmental effects are expected from this year to 2005 while some test methods relevant for human health risk assessment are expected to be finalised between this year and 2004. New validated and agreed tests for endocrine disruption will help a clearer identification of endocrine disrupters and allow informed judgements to be made on the likelihood of adverse effect manifestations.
As part of the Community strategy for endocrine disrupters the Commission launched a dedicated call for research proposals in 2001. A total of EUR 20 million was allocated to this initiative and, together with further funding under the Fifth European Research and Development Framework Programme, approximately EUR 59 million is currently being spent on research into the potential impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on human health and the environment. This research includes the development of novel testing methods.
It is important to recognise that endocrine disruption is not a toxicological end point per se, as is cancer or allergy, but that it is a mechanism of action that may lead to adverse toxic effects. By the nature of their effects most of the endocrine disrupters would normally qualify as CMRs - carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction. Such chemicals will have to undergo authorisation under the REACH system foreseen in the White Paper on the Future Chemicals Policy.
Furthermore, adverse affects on the endocrine system of wildlife species have been causally linked to certain persistent biocumulative and toxic substances which will also be subject to authorisation.
The Commission is currently considering whether to include in the draft proposal for the REACH regulation a provision to the effect that substances characterised as persistent biocumulative and toxic, or very persistent and very biocumulative - and, on a case-by-case basis, those substances of equivalent level of concern, such as endocrine disrupters not already caught by the CMR criteria - should be subject to authorisation.
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