Chemical dangers transcend borders: Endocrine Disrupters Seen As Possible Threat To Human Existence

Copyright 1998 Nikkei Weekly December 21, 1998

Flames of worry have been widely fanned for the endocrine disrupters, a broad group of chemicals that can mimic the action of certain hormones in the body and interfere with reproductive functions.

There is still no hard evidence linking these chemicals with actual disruptions in humans. But to prevent damage to health, a concerted international scientific effort is urgently required.

In November the Ministry of Health and Welfare released a white paper on the endocrine disrupters, calling them a problem for all of humanity and emphasizing that the danger cuts across both national borders and generations.

Like global warming and ozone destruction, the problem of the endocrine disrupters is an environmental challenge that could endanger the continued existence of the human species.

That, at least, is the worry that has been flamed by a series of reports from around the world about abnormalities in reproductive function in a variety of organisms, including humans.

The endocrine disrupters are not directly toxic. Rather, they work by mimicing the action of real hormones, interfering with normal chemical synthesis and information transfers inside the body. Thus, even in extremely small concentrations they can have an effect.

It is only recently that Japan became worried about the endocrine disrupters. But in Europe and the U.S., large-scale environmental surveys began around five years ago. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating about 15,000 chemicals.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the Environment Agency commissioned a report in 1997 and identified 67 types of potentially dangerous chemicals, including the dioxins and a number of chemicals used for the manufacture of plastics.

Threat of tainted food

Japanese consumers are particularly worried because the list includes bisphenol A, a chemical that resembles female hormone, and styrene dimers and trimers. Bisphenol A is a raw material for polycarbonate, which is widely used for meal utensils, especially for children. And styrene dimers and trimers can leach into food from the polystyrene used for instant noodle cups and bento lunch containers, staples for many people.

Consumer groups are calling for regulations, and some local municipalities have begun changing the materials used for meal utensils at their schools.

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