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Sponsored by the National EPA-Tribal science Council and hosted by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

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cience Forum

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Traverse City; Michigan
THEME: Mother Earth: Indigenous Knowledge

and Science to Promote Positive Change

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Title of Priority: Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals
Summary of the Priority and Tribal Request:

In recent years, there has been increasing concern that chemicals (pesticides, commercial chemicals and
environmental contaminants) might be disrupting the endocrine system of humans and wildlife.

Chemicals with the potential to interfere with the function of the endocrine system are called endocrine
disruptor chemicals (EDCs).

Objective/Purpose of the Response:

The objective of EPA's response is to identify potential endocrine disruptors, determine adverse effects,
dose-response, and manage risk under current laws. In general, the tribes assert that tribal populations are
disproportionately affected by chemical contaminants in the environment through their resource use
practices relating to traditional life ways. Tribes are particularly interested in 1) understanding the current
state-of-the science at EPA relating to chemicals that might be disrupting the endocrine system of humans
and wildlife, 2) education, training, and outreach opportunities to provide tribes with an opportunity to
develop tribal capacity and participate in EDC research and 3) tribal-specific EDC research.

Summary of EPA Response to Tribal Request:

EPA has developed the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) to screen pesticides, chemicals
and environmental contaminants for their potential effect on estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone
systems. EDSP is mandated to use validated methods for screening and testing. Although the science
related to measuring and demonstrating endocrine disruption is in its infancy, EPA is working to validate
methods of testing that indicate specific effects of an endocrine disruptor. These methods or assays, once
developed and validated, should allow EPA to identify and characterize the endocrine activity
(specifically, estrogen, androgen and thyroid) of pesticides, commercial chemicals, and environmental
contaminants. While EPA has some data on endocrine-disrupting pesticides, insufficient scientific data
are available on most of the estimated 87,000 chemicals produced to allow for an evaluation of endocrine-
associated risks.

EPA's Office of Research and Development is redoing the EDC multi-year research plan. Key research
goals include 1) reduction in uncertainty regarding the effects, exposure, assessment, and management of
endocrine disruptors so that EPA has a sound scientific foundation for environmental decision-making; 2)
determination of the extent of the impact of endocrine disruptors on humans, wildlife and the environment
to better inform the federal and scientific communities; 3) the EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics is using endocrine disruptors screening and testing assays developed by ORD to create validated
methods that evaluate the potential for chemicals to cause endocrine-mediated effects in order to reduce
or prevent risks to humans and wildlife from exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Suggested Next Steps:

In conjunction with the Tribal Science Council Tribal Caucus, EPA will develop a basic EDC training for
tribes to explain what EDCs are, how they function and why they are important; the science behind the
work that EPA researchers are doing; and the known impacts of EDCs on human health, particularly
tribal, and on environmental well-being. There will be an attempt to identify funding opportunities for
tribally specific EDC research.


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