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Proposals for Research on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Requested
Release Date: 04/28/2004
Contact Information:
Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819/ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov
(04/28/04) To better understand the dose-response relationship for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), EPA is requesting research proposals that characterize EDC exposure and resulting health effects during critical periods of development, including in utero or early postnatal exposure. Endocrine disruptors or EDCs are chemicals in environmental pollutants that are believed to cause adverse effects in humans and wildlife through interference with hormonal systems. Some 1990’s research observed greater effects at lower EDC levels (the low-dose effect hypothesis), which contradicts the scientific assumption that the incidence or severity of toxic effects increase in proportion to the quantity/dose of a contaminant. Yet these low-dose findings have been difficult to replicate. The requested research will help EPA understand factors that influence biological response over a range of dose levels, including environmental levels. This research could potentially change dose selection in toxicological studies and how the resulting data is applied to risk assessments. Institutions of higher education, non-profit U.S. institutions, and tribal, state and local governments, are eligible to apply. EPA expects to make up to 11 awards for an average of $200,000 per year for three years of research under its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program. The deadline for submitting proposals for these research grants is June 1. For more information on this request for applications, see: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2004/2004_low_dose.html . For more information about the EPA STAR program, see: http://es.epa.gov/ncer .
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