Nonyl Phenol Confirmed as an Environmental Hormone for the First Time

Japan's Ministry of the Environment has confirmed that nonyl phenol, contained in industrial detergents is a endocrine-disrupting substance (environmental hormone), and that it caused female characteristics to appear in male fish. Although many substances are suspected of being environmental hormones, this is the first time in the world that a substance is confirmed to be an environmental hormone through an actual experiments on animals.

The Ministry announced that the effects of this substance on humans is small, but that nonyl phenol may have an impact on ecosystems such as the feminization of male fish in the wild. A national study conducted by the former Environment Agency in 1998 detected nonyl phenol at 617 out of 1,574 locations tested.



Posted: 2002/08/24 03:03:09 PM
Japanese version