Exploration of EDSP's Development and Progression Over Time
The Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP), an ongoing initiative launched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1998, aims to identify and assess the potential adverse effects of chemicals on the endocrine system, particularly focusing on estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone systems.
The program's inception can be traced back to the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), a legislative act passed in 1996. The FQPA amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments, granting the EPA authority to screen pesticide chemicals for potential endocrine effects similar to those produced by estrogen in humans.
In October 1996, the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) was chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) by the EPA. Over the course of two years, EDSTAC members reviewed and discussed scientific information, sought the opinion of other experts, and members of the public, and were charged with developing consensus-based recommendations for a scientifically defensible screening program.
The EDSP uses a two-tiered approach for screening pesticides, chemicals, and environmental contaminants. This approach employs validated methods or assays, as mandated by the EDSP, allowing the EPA to identify and characterize the endocrine activity of various substances.
It is important to note that while the FQPA requires the EPA to screen pesticide chemicals for potential endocrine effects, the EDSP does not repeat these requirements. Similarly, the EDSP does not repeat the FQPA's authority for the EPA to screen certain other chemicals and include other endocrine effects.
The EDSP's focus on endocrine activity includes the identification of disruptions in estrogen, androgen, and thyroid systems. The program aims to determine adverse effects, dose-response, assess risk, and manage risk under current laws.
The EDSTAC's Final Report was presented to the EPA in September 1998, providing a roadmap for the EDSP's implementation. The EDSP is outlined in two Federal Register Notices published in 1998, marking the beginning of the program's operational phase.
While the organization chartered by the EPA in October 1996 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide advice for a program to carry out Congress's directives is not explicitly named in the provided search results, it is clear that the EDSTAC played a crucial role in shaping the EDSP.
The EDSP remains an ongoing program, continuing to play a significant role in ensuring the safety of our environment and public health by identifying and managing potential risks associated with endocrine disruptors.
