Short review
- Endocrine disruptors disrupt normal development and reproduction and can seriously affect the neurological and immune systems.
“These chemicals are very common in personal care products, detergents, non-stick cookware, plastics, and more.
“In addition, endocrine-disrupting substances are often found in canned foods, pesticides, and even cash register receipts.
From Dr. Mercola
Endocrine disruptors disrupt normal development and reproduction and can have serious effects on the neurological and immune systems.
The disorders occur because these chemicals mimic the body's hormones, including the female sex hormone estrogen, the male sex hormone androgen and thyroid hormones.
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Endocrine-disrupting substances block hormonal signals in the body or disrupt the way hormones or receptors are produced or controlled.
Your normal hormonal balance or the way these hormones circulate in your body may change. As the Natural Resources Conservation Council (NRPC) notes:
“The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulates many body functions, including growth, development and maturation, as well as the functioning of various organs.
As you might guess, changing this exact system is like playing with fire, but it still happens every day when you use “normal” everyday goods at home. In part, the danger of endocrine disruptors stems from their ubiquity and the fact that most of us are exposed to several of these chemicals every day.
Endocrine Disruptors Tied To Cancer, ADHD And More
A variety of health problems associated with exposure to these common chemicals include:
| Undescended testicles in boys | Developmental disorders of the nervous system in children | Prostate cancer in men |
| Developmental disorders of the nervous system in children | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children | Thyroid cancer |
Children and pregnant women are at risk, but the consequences appear decades later
The greatest danger appears to arise from exposure during prenatal or early postpartum development, that is, when the nervous system and organs are being formed.
Some of the consequences, however, may not appear until decades later, and it is increasingly suggested that many diseases in adults are rooted in impaired fetal development.
One of the most shocking examples of this is diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic analogue of estrogen that was widely prescribed to pregnant women until the 1970s. in order to prevent miscarriage and stimulate fetal growth.
This endocrine disruptor has proven to be incredibly dangerous and has caused reproductive problems and vaginal cancer that manifested itself after puberty.
It's not just people who suffer. Endocrine disruptors are ubiquitous in contaminated water, air and food, which means there is a risk for wildlife too.
Fish in the Great Lakes have been found to suffer from reproductive problems and abnormal thyroid tumors due to exposure to endocrine disruptors, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
In one region of Florida, the population of alligators sharply decreased after a pesticide spill, which caused a decrease in reproductive organs and a decrease in successful reproduction. Both alligators and their eggs have been found to be contaminated with endocrine disrupting chemicals.
10 common sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals
The Epoch Times recently compiled a list of 10 common sources of endocrine disruptors and what you can do against them.
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Personal Care Products Shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, cosmetics, and other personal care products often contain endocrine disruptors, including (but of course not limited to) phthalates. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that make males in many species look more like females.
These chemicals disrupt the endocrine system of fauna, causing testicular cancer, genital deformities, low sperm counts and infertility in a number of species, including, for example, bears, deer, whales and otters.
Another endocrine-disrupting chemical, triclosan, is even found in some brands of toothpaste. Switching to natural and / or homemade personal care products will help to avoid such exposure. You can also try to reduce the number of personal care products you use every day.
- Drinking water. The water you drink can be contaminated with atrazine, arsenic and perchlorate, all of which can disrupt the endocrine system. A quality water filtration system will help protect you and your family - both in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
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Canned food. Analysis of 252 canned food brands found that 78 of them still use bisphenol A (BPA), despite being officially recognized as an endocrine disruptor. BPA has been linked to a number of health problems, especially in pregnant women, fetuses and young children, and in adults, including:
Structural damage to the brain Changes in gender behavior and abnormal sexual behavior Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness and learning difficulties Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, impaired reproductive cycles and ovarian dysfunction, infertility Increased fat formation and risk of obesity Stimulation of prostate cancer cells Immune function changes Increased prostate size and decreased sperm count - Products grown in a traditional way. Pesticides, herbicides and industrial effluents coat conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Whenever possible, buy and eat organically grown and sourced foods to reduce your exposure to endocrine disrupting pesticides and fertilizers.
- Meat and dairy products of animals and birds raised in restricted conditions. Animals raised in restricted-containment environments (CAFOs) also tend to be loaded with antibiotics, hormones and other industrial chemicals that can disrupt the endocrine system. Look for livestock products from small local farmers who practice grazing and avoid the use of chemicals.
- Fish high in mercury. Fish contaminated with high levels of mercury and other heavy metals are also best avoided because these metals also disrupt hormonal balance. Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin and combheads sin the most, but it turns out that even tuna is polluted at dangerously high levels. Farmed fish (“marine CAFO”) also tend to be high in contaminants and are best avoided. When it comes to eating seafood, small fish like sardines, anchovies, and herring tend to be lower in pollutants and higher in omega-3 fats.
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Kitchenware. The plastic containers and non-stick cookware found in every kitchen are another hazard. Plastic containers may contain BPA or other endocrine disrupting chemicals that can enter food, especially when the plastic is heated. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used to form non-stick, dirt and water-repellent surfaces, are also toxic and very persistent, both in the body and in the environment.
When heated, the non-stick coating releases perfluoro-caprylic acid (PFCA), which is associated with thyroid disease, infertility, developmental problems and reproductive disorders. The safer options are cast iron cookware with ceramic and enamel coating - it is durable, easy to clean (even from the most burnt food, just soak it in warm water) and completely inert, that is, it does not release any harmful chemicals into your home.
- Cleaning products. Commercial solutions for cleaning floors, toilets, stoves, windows and more tend to contain industrial chemicals that can make hormones go bad. For example, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), a common ingredient in detergents and all-purpose products, are banned in Europe because they have been found to be a powerful endocrine disruptor that transforms male fish into females. You might be surprised, but it’s not difficult to make detergents at home using various combinations of vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and even coconut oil.
- Office products. Cartridges, toner and other solvents common in the office are another source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Handle them with care, where possible, minimizing their impact.
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Cashier's checks. Thermal paper has a coating that turns black when exposed to heat (the printer in the cash register generates heat, which causes numbers and letters to appear on the paper). It also contains BPA, and research shows that working with this type of paper can increase levels in the body. A study conducted by the Journal of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry showed that out of 13 analyzed types of thermal paper, BPA is contained in 11.
Holding this paper for only five seconds is enough for BPA to get on human skin, and if your fingers are wet or oily (for example, if you just used lotion or ate fatty foods), the amount of BPA from the paper increases 10 times.
Finally, given that people often put checks in their wallets next to banknotes, banknotes are also contaminated with BPA. In a study published in the Science and Technology for the Environment, scientists tested bills from 21 countries for BPA and found the substance in every sample.
Therefore, try not to put checks in your wallet or wallet as they appear to carry the chemical to other surfaces they come into contact with. In addition, it is a good idea to wash your hands every time you handle checks and bills, and try not to handle them if you have just applied lotion or other oily substances, as this can increase your BPA exposure. If you work as a cashier at a bank or in a store and constantly deal with such paper, you may need to wear gloves, especially if you are pregnant or of childbearing age.
19 more tips to reduce your home exposure to chemicals
- Whenever possible, buy and eat organically grown and sourced foods to reduce your exposure to hormones, pesticides, and fertilizers. Try to avoid milk and other dairy products containing genetically modified recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST).
- Instead of traditional farmed or farmed fish, which are often contaminated with PCBs and mercury, opt for supplements with quality refined krill oil, or eat small fish or fish that have been laboratory tested for purity from the sea. For these reasons, sea-caught Alaskan salmon is the only fish I eat.
- Buy food in glass bottles or jars, not plastic or tin containers, as chemicals from plastics can get into the contents.
- Store food and drinks in glass rather than plastic containers, and avoid using plastic wrap.
- Use glass bottles for babies rather than plastic sippy cups.
- Eat mostly raw, fresh food. Processed, prepackaged foods (of all kinds) are a common source of chemicals such as BPA and phthalates.
- Replace non-stick pans and pans with ceramic or glass ones.
- Filter your tap water for drinking and bathing. If you can afford it, filter your bathing water as your skin absorbs pollutants. To remove the endocrine disrupting herbicide atrazine, make sure the filter is properly certified. Perchlorate can be filtered using a reverse osmosis unit, according to the Environmental Protection Working Group.
- Look for products made by companies that use land, animal and plant safe, non-toxic or 100% organic technologies. This applies to everything from food and personal care products to building materials, carpets, paint, baby products, upholstery and more.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove dust from your home, which is often contaminated with traces of chemicals.
- When shopping for new items such as furniture, mattresses, or carpet backing, ask what type of flame retardant they use. Be careful and / or try to avoid products containing PBDEs, antimony, formaldehyde, boric acid, and other bromine-containing chemicals. When you get rid of these toxic elements in your home, choose those that contain natural, less flammable materials such as leather, wool and cotton.
- Avoid clothing, furniture, and carpets with dirt and water repellent coatings to help keep perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) away.
- Minimize the use of plastic toys for kids - go for natural wood or fabric instead.
- At home, use only natural or homemade cleaning products. Avoid products containing 2-butyl glycol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME), two toxic glycol ethers that can interfere with fertility and harm the embryo.
- Switch to organic brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants, and cosmetics. Many of these can be replaced with coconut oil and baking soda, for example. The EPWG has compiled an extensive database of personal care products free of phthalates and other potentially hazardous chemicals. I also offer one of the finest quality lines of organic skin care products, shampoos, conditioners and body oils that are completely natural and safe.
- Replace feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads and tampons with safer alternatives.
- Avoid artificial air fresheners, antistatic agents, fabric softeners, and other synthetic fragrances.
- Look for odorless products. A single artificial scent can contain hundreds - if not thousands - of potentially toxic chemicals.
- Replace your vinyl shower curtain with a textile one.
