Endocrine disruption: where are we with hazard and risk assessment?

Approaches to assessing endocrine disruptors (EDs) differ across the globe, with some regulatory environments using a hazard-based approach, while others employ risk-based analyses. In session four of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America Focused Topic Meeting: Endocrine Disruption Chemical Testing: Risk Assessment Approaches and Implications (February 4 – 6, 2014), various aspects related to the hazard and/or risk assessment of EDs were explored. The presentations in the session included an overview of the regulatory environments for assessing and managing endocrine disruptors, and scenarios whereby a hazard-based approach might be most appropriate were discussed. Three case studies for ED assessment, one for an industrial chemical, one for a pharmaceutical, and one for a pesticide, were presented. The topics of non-monotonic dose response relationships as well as potency and threshold effects were also presented in this session, since these concepts are important for determining whether a risk or hazard based approach to ED regulation is most appropriate. Session four concluded with an open discussion concerning the issue of hazard and risk as a basis for regulating EDCs. An outcome of session four was the drafting of an outreach statement that summarizes the overarching themes of this session.