ABSTRACT

There has been considerable recent interest in endocrine-active chemicals and their po­ tential role in wildlife reproductive problems (1). Several studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of the organochlorine pesticides 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-l,l,ltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) and its degradation product, 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-l,ldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) on reproduction in birds. A recent study (2) has identified p,p'-DDE as an antiandrogen, and this activity may contribute to the observed effects in some highly exposed wildlife populations. It also has been hypothesized that en­ vironmental endocrine disruptors, with estrogenic (xenoestrogens) or antiandrogenic activity may be associated with decreased male reproductive capacity in humans, which includes increased testicular cancer and decreased sperm counts (3, 4). More­ over, a second hypothesis has proposed that xenoestrogens also may play a role in the development of breast cancer in women (5). The validity of both hypotheses have been

questioned (6, 7) and therefore require further investigation; however, the levels of public, scientific, and regulatory concerns regarding endocrine-active environmental contaminants are very high.