There has been concern for a number of years that that certain man-made and naturally occurring substances which are commonly released into the environment can have endocrine disrupting potential. Attention to date has generally focused on chemicals which can mimic natural or synthetic oestrogens and which can be described as having a feminising or oestrogenic effect. The relative importance of the many groups of chemicals which show oestrogenic effects has yet to be established. Some recent research suggests that the concern with oestrogen-mimicking chemicals is significantly less than was previously suspected.
One of the principal suspected endocrine disrupters is the group of chemicals known as alkylphenols or alkyphenol-ethoxylates, such as nonylphenol or nonylphenol-ethoxylates. These substances are used, for example, in the metalfinishing industry and as industrial, but not domestic, detergents. Parcom Recommendation 92/8 on nonylphenol-ethoxylates indicates that, while no environmentally negative effects have been observed, the contracting parties, including Ireland, agreed to study all uses of such substances and to phase out their use as cleaning agents by 2000.
There is no evidence of the presence in water supplies in Ireland of alkylphenols or alkylphenol-ethoxylates and these substances are not the subject of systematic monitoring. The Environmental Protection Agency commissioned a number of research projects on dangerous substances, including oestrogen-mimicking chemicals such as alkylphenols. The reports from these projects will provide a basis for consideration of what further action may be appropriate including the identification of additional priority substances for monitoring purposes.