Why Is There Controversy?

By Tabitha Fletcher

The controversy behind endocrine disrupters lies in the severity of the problem. The majority of publications and reports all say that testing is inconclusive and further studies need to be done. In the time period before the reports are conclusive some down play the severity of the problem while others over exaggerate the fears of people.

Another reason for controversy behind endocrine disruptors is the list of potential problems. For instance many reports state that sperm counts have been decreasing, yet others say there has been no change. The facts behind the debate are not concrete and can easily be swayed to support one side or the other. Because of this, scientific foundations such as The American Council on Science and Health, are cautioning the public to not over react. They believe that there needs to be hard evidence that endocrine disruptor exposure is dangerous before reacting.

Those that believe that there are serious risks want action, removal of products or strict regulations until the safety of a product is known. Whichever side you are on one thing is known continued research and funding for that research is necessary. Without a clear answer both sides will continue to fight.