The Environment Ministry will hold Thursday the fifth joint symposium on environmental hormones with Japan at the Marriott Hotel in Busan.

Some 20 officials and experts will discuss the problem of endocrinal disruptors or environmental hormones.

Seoul and Tokyo will also decide on a joint research plan for this year based on their environmental hormone agreement signed in April 2001.

The ministry will finalize the list of tasks for research on dioxin, DDT and other residual organic pollutants, and closely monitor the pollutants after deciding on a priority action list.