Waste Site Studies May Not Adequately Address Endocrine Disruptors

摘要

At least one state waste official is questioning whether regulators have adequate tools to address the long-term risks posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals at hazardous waste sites after evidence from numerous studies from around the world has shown the chemicals pose developmental risks even long after cleanups are deemed complete. Nancy Bettinger, an environmental analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, told delegates to the annual meeting of the Association of State & Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) Oct. 24 that endocrine disrupters can be persistent and harmful even after sites have been cleaned up to meet regulatory standards. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic or block normal functioning of hormones, inducing a variety of