Hormones regulate important processes in your body. They are signalling substances produced by the body itself and maintain the necessary balance between all sorts of body processes. Every day we come into contact with chemicals that do not occur naturally in the body. Some of those chemicals can disturb the balance in the hormone system. These are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (often referred to as EDCs).
There are concerns in society about whether exposure to such chemicals is harmful to human health, for instance to unborn babies or infants. Much research has been done to elucidate harmful effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals, however still much remains unknown about the consequences to human health after exposure to these chemicals. Whether such adverse health impacts occur depends on the amount of the chemical that enters your body and phase of life you are in.
Read more about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Research into endocrine disrupting chemicals
The World Health Organization has formulated a definition that helps to determine whether a substance is an endocrine disruptor. Determining this is not easy, because we do not yet have much knowledge about the properties of those chemicals. This is a subject of extensive research, for example on their potential harmful effects. Other studies aim to identify predictive test methods and data that can be used to determine whether a particular substance is an endocrine disruptor.
Read more about the research projects to which RIVM contributes.
The role of RIVM
RIVM is involved in national and international research on the potentially harmful effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals, as well as on improving risk assessment and developing new test methods. We are also working to harmonise hazard assessment. Also, RIVM works on the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of new approach methodologies (NAMs), which may reduce the need for animal testing.
RIVM experts take part in international working groups and committees, contributing knowhow in the fields of hazard identification, testing strategies, and risk assessment for endocrine disrupting chemicals, including at the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN GHS), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In the Netherlands, we have set up a national knowledge network on endocrine disrupting chemicals, which provides a platform for discussions on the topic involving a variety of experts, including risk assessors, scientists and policymakers.
Read more about the role of RIVM.