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An Epistemological Inquiry into the Endocrine Disruptor Thesis
Author(s) -
KRIMSKY SHELDON
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03994.x
Subject(s) - endocrine disruptor , endocrine system , engineering ethics , field (mathematics) , epistemology , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , discipline , psychology , sociology , medicine , social science , engineering , philosophy , hormone , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics
A bstract : For about a decade the term endocrine disruptor has become synonymous with a new research initiative that has been investigating the effects of hormonally active xenobiotics on biological systems. The scientific thesis behind the new research initiative is discussed and it is argued that there is a need for more emphasis on theory development and conceptual clarification that will give coherence to a field experiencing a rapid growth of empirical studies. Reflections on scientific methodology in this field will also help clarify whether endocrine disruptors symbolize a new etiology of chemically induced disease or represent variations of traditional chemical toxicology.