The authors wish to thank Laura Vandenberg and Cheryl Schaeberle for their valuable contribution to this article.
The Earth's environment and living species including man, are being increasingly affected by the growing numbers and quantities of chemical compounds produced by various industry. Despite warnings given in the early sixties, the proliferation of polluting agents has continued unabated. One effect has been the alarming rise in obesity, male infertility, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The term “endocrine disruptor” was adopted at the Wingspread Conference to define biologically harmful industrial products. That factor is now a major health hazard on a global scale. It is urgently necessary to screen all chemicals for endocrine disrupting effects before allowing their use or release into the environment.
