As Canada recognizes endocrine disruptors in environmental protection laws and integrates them into their risk assessment protocols, researchers in Canada and abroad continue to discover new endocrine disruptors and demonstrate the complexity of their mechanisms of action. Thus, a growing number of studies support the particular nature of endocrine disruptors in human and environmental toxicology, and advocate more appropriate legislation, based on endocrine mechanisms.
The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) quickly recognized the importance of this issue and the urgency to act. It was in May 2020 that INRS recognized our research network with the granting of funding to research professors Valérie Langlois and Isabelle Plante, Director and Co-Director of ICEDA.
“I am confident that the interdisciplinary research from ICEDA will, in an innovative way, help to find concrete solutions to several priority issues for society, including human health, environmental health and water treatment.”
Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Director General of Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Important Events in the Study of Endocrine Disruptors
1940s – 1960s
Large-scale use of chlorinated pesticides & above-ground nuclear weapons testing.
1950s – 1960s
Environmental toxicology becomes a recognized discipline.
1962
Publication of Silent Spring. This book helped to inspire an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
1970s
Acid rain, global transport of POPs & Artic contamination.
1972
DDT banned; US Clean Water Act; Canada-US agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality.
1976
Creation of US Toxic Substances Control Act.
1977
PCBs banned.
1979
SETAC – Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry is formed.
1997
Publication of Our Stolen Future. It ultimately influenced government policy through congressional hearings and helped foster the development of a research and regulation initiative within the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
2000s
Increased interest in studies on microplastics in the marine environment.
2006
European Union promulgates REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
2020
Creation of ICEDA. Intersectoral Centre for Endocrine Disruptors Analysis.