Experts from a number of fields related to endocrine disrupters set up an academic society Tuesday in Tokyo to help the nation combat the chemical substances whose effects on humans remain unknown.
About 150 researchers and government and corporate officials in charge of environmental policies on Tuesday attended the first meeting of the Japan Endocrine Disrupters Society. "The aim of this society is to help ensure public health by providing expertise to environmental policy makers," said Tsuguyoshi Suzuki, head of the society and a professor of emeritus at the University of Tokyo, where the meeting was held.
"Since tackling the issue of endocrine disrupters requires experts from many related fields -- such as chemists, doctors, company officials and government policymakers -- the society will try to be open and flexible," he said. Members set up several subcommittees to deal with specific aspects of the issue. Future plans will be made at following meetings, Suzuki said.
The academic society specifically targeting endocrine disrupters, is the first among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which is also discussing measures to tackle the issue.