Abstract
A benchmark dose (BMD) approach has been evaluated us a replacement for the traditional NOAEL methodology currently being wed to assess the noncancer effects of toxicants. The endocrine disrupt-ing effect of endosulfan which showed decrement of sperm count and testicular testosterone level in animals, was currently reported. The amount of endosulfan used as pesticide in the country has been continuously increased. The aim of this study was to suggest the permissible intake level (PIL), corresponding to Accept-able Daily Intake (ADI), based on endocrine disrupting effect wing BMD. Various animal data were collected by consideration of critical effect showing endocrine disruption and an animal data for reproductive toxicity was selected. The Power model from BMD software for induction of $BMD_10$ having meaning which is the dose at the 95% lower confidence limit on a 10% response was used due to that the form of selected dose-response animal data was continuous data. The $BMD_10$ was estimated to be 0.393 mg/kg/day based on reproductive toxicity showing decrement of sperm count. The permissible intake level (PIL) was calculated by dividing the $BMD_10$ by the uncertainty factors of 100 with consideration of from animal to human and human variability. The PIL as 0.004 mg/kg/day was compared with traditional ADI as 0.006 mg/kg/day based on the incidence of marked progressive glomerulonephrosis and blood vessel aneurysm in males.
