Endocrine Disruptors: A Brief Introduction
If you are marketing chemicals, and especially biocides, you have surely heard of this classification. But what are endocrine disruptors? Why are they so important? What can we do about them?
What are endocrine disruptors?
Essential functions in the body, such as growth, development, immunity, metabolism, reproduction, and behavior are related to the nervous system through a set of biochemical messengers known as hormones. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the hormonal system and can have adverse effects on humans and the environment.
Why are they so important?
In recent years, important organizations such as the WHO, ECHA, EFSA, FDA, and EPA have shown a high degree of concern about these substances and have reinforced research on them, restricting their use and publishing documentation for their identification.
This type of substance with endocrine disruption capacity has been used in a multitude of products, processes, and materials used in our daily lives. The identification and regulation of these substances has been a slow process that is still ongoing. These substances are classified as «hormonally active substances» when they interact with the hormonal system but do not cause adverse effects. Other substances, on the other hand, in addition to interacting may generate adverse effects. These are what we know as endocrine disruptors.
Distinguishing hormonally active substances and endocrine disruptors is highly complex since the effects are not always evident in the short term.
What can we do about them?
Since 2017, the European Commission has taken a set of measures to control these substances. These include a joint effort between ECHA and EFSA to develop a harmonized guide for the evaluation of biocides and pesticides. As a result of these measures, any application for authorization of a biocidal product submitted today must include an endocrine disruption assessment for all co-formulants contained in the product.
In the context of the REACH Regulation, we can consider a substance identified as an endocrine disruptor as extremely worrying. If this were the case, it would be necessary to apply for an authorization to be able to continue using the substance.
Other regulations such as the BPR (biocides) indicate that we can consider a substance identified as an endocrine disruptor as a candidate for substitution. This means that any authorization granted for biocidal products that contain it will not be for a period of more than 7 years.
In any case, the documentation to be submitted is much more complex since the safety of the product/substance must be justified despite the inherent danger of these substances.
Contact us if you need more information about endocrine disruptors and the different regulations that regulate them.
