Combating Threats from Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Utilizing science to promote change

A primary role of WWF's EDCs work is best described as "second order science" - gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing peer-reviewed literature and convening consensus-building work sessions.

WWF focuses on combining the (primary) research results of scientists from across many disciplines to determine how these findings fit together in terms of human and wildlife health and biodiversity. WWF gathers and synthesizes these data through ongoing, intensive analysis of the peer-reviewed literature as well as constant contact and exchange with many researchers as they work.

To mobilize additional funding for research on EDCs, especially from the private sector, WWF has been advocating creation of an independent, international research entity to address crucial research gaps and build scientific consensus. This cooperative research program would be a constructive partnership, in which government and private resources are pooled, appropriate oversight structures are provided, and information is shared widely, thus adding credibility to the results of the research.

Policy and communications activities complement our emphasis on science. WWF identifies domestic, regional, and international fora for advancing policies to prevent and reduce pollution from synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Targeting government officials and industry representatives in Western Europe (nationally and at the EU level), Canada, and the US, WWF strives to raise awareness about the threat of EDCs and promotes sound screening and testing programs. We also seek partnerships with governments, other non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Scientific findings and policy positions are disseminated through a focused communication program that targets scientists, policy makers, the media, and industry.

WWF's principal policy priorities are the creation of a global public-private research initiative on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and adoption of a sound screening and testing program. WWF is also urging expedited phase out of these chemicals where sufficient evidence, coupled with application of the precautionary principle, merits such action.