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Thomas H. Hutchinson,¹ Rick Brown,² Kristin E. Brugger,³ Pamela M. Campbell,⁴ Martin Holt,⁵ Reinhard Länge,⁶ Peter McCahon,⁷ Lisa J. Tattersfield,⁸ and Roger van Egmond⁹

¹AstraZeneca, Brixham Environmental Laboratory, Brixham, Devon, United Kingdom
²Exxon Biomedical Sciences Inc., East Millstone, New Jersey, USA
³Du Pont, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
⁴Procter & Gamble, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
⁵ECETOC, Van Nieuwenhuyse, Brussels, Belgium
⁶Schering AG, Berlin, Germany
⁷Aventis, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
⁸ZENECA Agrochemicals, Jealott's Hill Research Station, Bracknell, United Kingdom
⁹Unilever Research, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, United Kingdom

Abstract

The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals proposes a tiered approach for the ecological risk assessment of endocrine disruptors, integrating exposure and hazard (effects) characterization. Exposure assessment for endocrine disruptors should direct specific tests for wildlife species, placing hazard data into a risk assessment context. Supplementing the suite of mammalian screens now under Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) validation, high priority should be given to developing a fish screening assay for detecting endocrine activity in oviparous species. Taking into account both exposure characterization and alerts from endocrine screening, higher tier tests are also a priority for defining adverse effects. We propose that in vivo mammalian and fish assays provide a comprehensive screening battery for diverse hormonal functions (including androgen, estrogen, and thyroid hormone) , whereas Amphibia should be considered at higher tiers if there are exposure concerns. Higher tier endocrine-disruptor testing should include fish development and fish reproduction tests, whereas a full life-cycle test could be subsequently used to refine aquatic risk assessments when necessary. For avian risk assessment, the new OECD Japanese quail reproduction test guideline provides a valuable basis for developing a test to detecting endocrine-mediated reproductive effects ; this species could be used, where necessary, for an avian life-cycle test. For aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, data from existing developmental and reproductive tests remain of high value for ecological risk assessment. High priority should be given to research into comparative endocrine physiology of invertebrates to support data extrapolation to this diverse fauna. Key words: ecological risk assessment, endocrine disruptor, environment, hormone mimic, screening, testing. Environ Health Perspect 108:1007-1014 (2000) . [Online 4 October 2000]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p1007-1014hutchinson/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to T. Hutchinson, AstraZeneca, Brixham Environmental Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham, Devon TQ5 8BA, UK. Telephone: 44-1803-882882. Fax: 44-1803-882974. E-mail: tom.hutchinson@brixham.astrazeneca.com

The members of the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals Wildlife Working Group are R. Länge, R. Brown, K. Brugger, P.M. Campbell, S. Einarson, M. Holt, T.H. Hutchinson, P. McCahon, O. Oppen-Berntsen, L.J. Tattersfield, R. van Egmond, and S. Zok.

We thank our colleagues in the Chemical Manufacturers Association and the European Crop Protection Association for their helpful comments on this paper.

Received 13 December 1999 ; accepted 16 June 2000.