An official website of the United States government
The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
Nominated Substances: Melatonin
Nomination Date: 09/04/1995
Nominator: NIEHS
Rationale: Melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, has become very popular as an over-the-counter hormone supplement as well as being used as a chemotherapeutic agent in cancer. A literature search reveals a lack of toxicity studies. In addition, it has been suggested that melatonin may have the potential to cause ocular toxicity.