An endocrine active substance has a hormonal or hormone-like activity. For two decades much effort has been put into research in this area. Various concepts on how to categorize these substances are being developed and discussed.
An overview of the German chemical industry association (VCI, Verband Chemischer Industrie) on endocrine active substances starts off with basic concepts and definitions. It explains test methods and the current situation as well as proposed criteria and assessment concepts for regulation and what is known about combination effects and the question of adverse effects in the low-dose range.
The overview was first published for wider audiences in 2002 and has been regularly updated ever since, most recently in early 2012.
