8 Endocrine Disruptors That You Should Know About
The endocrine system is one of the body’s most important biological systems. This collection of glands, led by the thyroid, regulate a number of vital body processes, from metabolism and growth/development to sexual and reproductive functions. They regulate our sleep patterns, eating habits, mood, and other important behaviors.
There are a wide range of chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with the body’s ability to create and manage the hormones that control our endocrine system, causing increased cancer risks, birth defects, developmental disorders, and leading to an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more. Below are profiles of the eight most nefarious of these, and what you can do to minimize your risk of exposure:
BPA
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an industrial chemical used in the making of plastic containers, such as water bottles, and in the resins that coat the insides of metal containers, such as food cans. This chemical seeps into the food and beverages we drink, and imitates estrogen in the body. It has been linked to everything from an increased risk for breast and other cancers to reproductive disturbance, heart disease, and early-onset puberty. According to studies, up to 93 percent of Americans have been found to have BPA in their bodies.
What Can I Do?
The easiest solution is to buy fresh instead of canned foods, and use reusable, BPA-free water bottles. If you are buying pre-packaged foods, stick to brands that don’t use BPA in their packaging or resins, or purchase products that have been bottled in glass. You can also avoid plastics that are labeled PC, or polycarbonate, or which have the recycling #7 label. While not all of these products contain BPA, many of them do, and it’s an easy way to weed out potentially-disruptive chemicals.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that form during industrial processes, when chlorine or bromine are burned in the presence of carbon and oxygen. These chemicals, found in in animal products, are long-lived and build up in the body, affecting the immune and reproductive systems and acting as known carcinogens. Research has shown that exposure to even low levels of dioxin in the womb and early in life can affect the sperm count and quality in men later in life, and exposure during reproductive years can disrupt the ways that male and female sex hormones signal processes in the body.
What Can I Do?
Dioxins can be difficult to avoid, since many animal products, including meat, fish, milk, eggs, and milk products (butter and cheeses) can all be contaminated. To minimize your exposure, cut back on your intake of animal products.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of chemicals that make plastics more flexible and harder to break. In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning about the dangers of these chemicals, and led to the passing of the Consumer Product Safety Bill in 2008, banning the use of some phthalates in children’s products. They have been linked to asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, low IQ, behavioral issues, thyroid irregularity, and reproductive issues and male fertility issues.
What Can I Do?
Do your research, and avoid plastic food containers that contain these products, as well as children’s toys which contain them, as well as packaging that contains the #3 recycling label. Many products that contain fragrances also contain phthalates, as do many sex toys, which is a misfortunate irony, given the damage that these additives cause to our reproductive systems.
Perchlorate
When we plan our meals, we rarely consider serving them with a side of rocket fuel, but perchlorate, a component found in rocket fuel, contaminates much of the produce and milk we consume, as well as our drinking water, according to Environmental Working Group data. This chemical competes with the body’s iodine, which the thyroid needs to produce essential body hormones, leading to thyroid dysfunction and imbalance. Because the thyroid regulates so many essential body functions, this can cause a wide range of health problems.
What Can I Do?
One simple way to minimize your intake of this chemical is to install a reverse osmosis filter in your home to treat your drinking water. And while it’s difficult to avoid foods that may be contaminated, you can combat the effects of this chemical by ensuring proper iodine intake in your diet, through the use of ingredients of like iodized salt or through supplements.
Mercury
Sushi exploded on the American culinary scene in the 1970s, and has since grown in popularity with mainstream Americans around the country. However, that sushi that is supposed to be a healthier alternative to fried foods can be hiding toxins – namely, mercury. This natural, but toxic, metal, is a major risk for pregnant women, but it binds with hormones that regular menstrual cycles and ovulation, disrupting reproductive processes. It also interferes with fetal brain development, and has been linked to diabetes.
What Can I Do?
If you love sushi, look for options that are full of healthy omega-3 fats, but are known to be low in mercury. Wild salmon and farmed trout are good options.
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)
Love non-stick cookware? You may not love the chemicals in these cooking devices, which can stick to your food, as well. Perfluorochemicals are so pervasive that, according to Environmental Working Group, an astounding 99 percent of Americans have these chemicals in their bodies. Some of them have been proven to be 100 percent resistant to biodegradation – or, put simply, they never break down. They can decrease sperm quality, cause low birth weight, cause kidney and thyroid disease and lead to cardiovascular issues, such as high cholesterol.
What Can I Do?
Skip the non-stick pans and spend a bit more time scrubbing to avoid these chemicals. You should also avoid stain and water-resistant sprays and coatings for clothing, furniture, and carpets, which also contain these chemicals.
Organophosphate Pesticides
These neurotoxic compounds were produced in mass quantities by the Nazis during World War II for chemical warfare, but were, thankfully, never used in combat. However, they found their way into American pesticides to target insects. They have been known to affect brain development, lead to behavioral issues, and affect fertility, yet they are still commonly used in pesticide treatments for commercial produce operations.
What Can I Do?
Shop organic when it comes to produce, and carefully clean your produce once you have it. Look for natural alternatives to home pesticide treatments.
Glycol Ethers
Glycol ethers are common solvents used in paints, cleaning products, and cosmetics. These chemicals have been known to affect fertility and cause damage during fetal development. Further, according to studies conducted in the European Union, children who were exposed to glycol ethers from paint in their bedrooms were at an increased risk for developing asthma and allergies.
What Can I Do?
Research healthy cleaning supplies, which don’t include these toxic chemicals, including 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME), or use natural cleaning products, such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, or dish soap and water, especially while pregnant. Pregnant women should avoid painting or take proper precautions.
References:
http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/10/phthalates-plastics-chemicals-research-analysis
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