Washington, DC -- The US Environmental Protection Agency has produced a second list, containing 134 chemicals, that it wants to screen for their potential to disrupt endocrine systems in humans and animals.
The list adds to an initial list of 67 chemicals, mostly pesticide ingredients, that the EPA identified in 2009 for screening as endocrine disruptors.
The new chemicals identified by the EPA include substances used to make solvents, gasoline, plastics, personal care products, pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
Chemicals on the list relevant to the polyurethanes sector include toluene diisocyanate and ethylene glycol. A wide range of common solvents and other raw materials also appear on the EPA's list, including aniline, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, and epichlorohydrin.
Since the 1990s, scientists have suspected that certain chemicals may act as endocrine disruptors in humans and wildlife, according to a page on the EPA website. Endocrine disruptors can cause developmental and reproductive problems, the agency said.
The latest list represents a second step in a three-step approach the EPA is following towards identifying possible endocrine disruptors, the agency website said. The first step is to develop and validate tests, the second to select chemicals for testing and screening, and the third to implement the policies and procedures the EPA will use to require screening, it said.
Information about this programme can be found at http://www.epa.gov/endo/
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