If you eat packaged food, wash your clothes with regular detergent, and apply daily moisturizer and cosmetics, you're likely inadvertently exposing yourself to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
Unlike well-known poisons such as lead and arsenic, EDCs have not been phased out of commonly used consumer products, and as a result surround us in our daily lives, interfering with your delicate and vulnerable hormone systems.
Endocrine-disrupting chemical researcher Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington and an investigator at the Seattle Children's Research Institute, told Everyday Health:1
"The endocrine system is really controlling almost all major processes in the body — blood pressure, metabolism, those kinds of things that are just essential for everyday function… These chemicals can mimic or antagonize or interfere with hormone signaling or hormone production. They disrupt the normal hormone processes in the body."
Given the numerous environmental pollutants and other toxic exposures many face on a daily basis, it's difficult to directly link EDCs in household goods to specific illnesses (which may occur after years or decades of exposure).
However, as noted by Leonardo Trasande, MD, an endocrinologist and associate professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at the NYU School of Medicine, in Everyday Health:2
"Over the past couple of decades, increasing and emerging evidence suggests that chemicals may disrupt the function of hormones in our bodies... [and] that disruption of those hormones can produce a broad array of conditions across the life course — birth defects, obesity, diabetes, even certain cancers."
A 2013 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) further noted there is "mounting evidence" for effects of EDCs on thyroid function, brain function, obesity and metabolism, insulin and glucose homeostasis, as well as adverse reproductive outcomes such as infertility, cancers, and malformations.3
The report further noted, "disease risk due to EDCs may be significantly underestimated."4 The greatest risks appear to come from exposure during prenatal or early postnatal development, which is when organs and neural systems are forming.5
Some of the effects, however, may not show up until decades later, and it's being increasingly suggested that many adult diseases actually have fetal origins.6 According to the report:
"The diverse systems affected by endocrine-disrupting chemicals likely include all hormonal systems and range from those controlling development and function of reproductive organs to the tissues and organs regulating metabolism and satiety.
Effects on these systems can lead to obesity, infertility or reduced fertility, learning and memory difficulties, adult-onset diabetes or cardiovascular disease, as well as a variety of other diseases."
If you want to learn more, check out the film "The Human Experiment," which tells the personal stories of people who believe their lives have been affected by chemicals (and also delves into some of the corruption behind the powerful chemical industry).7
Higher exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, have been linked to decreased fertility, which could be in part because the chemicals may mimic your thyroid hormones.9
Previous research has suggested PBDEs can lead to decreases in TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).10 When present with normal T4 levels, low TSH is typically a sign that you're developing hyperthyroidism, which can have significant ramifications both for you and your unborn child if you're pregnant.
One type of PBDE (decaBDE) is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while the others remain largely untested.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley also revealed that both in utero and childhood PBDE exposures were associated with neurodevelopmental delays, including poorer attention, fine motor coordination, and cognition in school-age children.11
Yet another study also found that children whose mothers were exposed to flame retardant chemicals during pregnancy have lower IQ and are more prone to hyperactivity disorders.12
PBDEs are widely used in furniture and other household goods, and studies have shown that an estimated 90 percent of Americans have flame-retardant chemicals in their bodies.
How often are you likely to be exposed to these toxic chemicals around your home? Probably far more often than you think. Epoch Times recently compiled 10 common sources of endocrine disruptors:15
1. Personal Care Products
Shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, cosmetics, and other personal care products often contain endocrine disruptors, including (but certainly not limited to) phthalates.
2. Drinking Water
Your drinking water may be contaminated with atrazine, arsenic, and perchlorate, all of which may disrupt your endocrine system. Filtering your water, both at your tap and your shower/bath, using a high-quality water filtration system can help protect you and your family.
3. Canned Foods
In an analysis of 252 canned food brands, 78 are still using bisphenol-A (BPA) in their canned goods, even though it's a known endocrine disruptor.16
4. Conventionally Grown Produce
Pesticides, herbicides, and industrial runoff may coat your conventionally grown fruits and vegetables in endocrine-disrupting chemicals. As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to endocrine-disrupting pesticides and fertilizers.
5. CAFO Meat, Poultry, and Dairy Products
Animals raised on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) also typically contain antibiotics, hormones, and other industrial chemicals that may disrupt your endocrine system. Look for animal products that are free-range, organic, and raised on small, local farms that avoid the use of such chemicals.
6. High-Mercury Fish
Fish contaminated with high levels of mercury and other heavy metals are problematic because such metals also disrupt hormonal balance. Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, and tilefish are among the worst offenders here, but even tuna has been found to be contaminated with dangerously high levels. Farmed fish (the "CAFOs of the sea") also tend to be higher in contaminants and are better off avoided. When eating seafood, smaller fish like sardines, anchovies, and herring tend to be low in contaminants and high in omega-3 fats.
7. Kitchen Products
Plastic containers and non-stick cookware common in many kitchens are another type of hazards. The plastic containers may contain BPA or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can leach into your food, especially if the plastic is heated. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used to create non-stick, stain-resistant, and water-repellant surfaces are also toxic and highly persistent, both in your body and in the environment.
When heated, non-stick cookware releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), linked to thyroid disease, infertility, and developmental and reproductive problems.
Healthier options include ceramic and enameled cast iron cookware, both of which are durable, easy to clean (even the toughest cooked-on foods can be wiped away after soaking it in warm water), and completely inert, which means they won't release any harmful chemicals into your home.
8. Cleaning Products
Commercial solutions used to clean your floors, toilets, oven, windows, and more typically contain industrial chemicals that may throw your hormones out of whack. It's surprisingly easy to create your own cleaning products at home using different combinations of vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and even coconut oil. Find simple tips for greener cleaning here.
9. Office Products
Ink cartridges, toner, and other solvents common in office environments are another common source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Handle such products with care and minimize your exposure as much as possible.
10. Cash Register Receipts and Paper Currency
Thermal paper has a coating that turns black when heat is applied (the printer in a cash register applies heat to the paper, allowing it to print numbers and letters). It also contains BPA, and research shows that handling this type of paper is enough to increase your bodily levels. A study in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry found that of 13 thermal printing papers analyzed, 11 contained BPA.17
Holding the paper for just 5 seconds was enough to transfer BPA onto a person's skin, and the amount of BPA transferred increased by about 10 times if the fingers were wet or greasy (such as if you've just applied lotion or eaten greasy food). Finally, because receipts are often stored next to paper currency in people's wallets, paper currency may also be contaminated with BPA. In a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers analyzed paper currencies from 21 countries for the presence of BPA, and the chemical was detected in every sample.18
So, seek to limit or avoid carrying receipts in your wallet or purse, as it appears the chemical is transferring onto other surfaces it touches. It would also be wise to wash your hands after handling receipts and currency, and avoid handling them particularly if you've just put on lotion or have any other greasy substance on your hands, as this may increase your exposure. If you're a cashier or bank teller who handles such papers often, you may want to wear gloves, especially if you're pregnant or of child-bearing age.
Laundry detergent is now being sold in single-use "pods" that contain a pre-measured dose you can simply toss into your machine. They're convenient, but they also resemble brightly colored candies, making them tempting for young children to put in their mouths.
In the first six months of 2015 alone, more than 6,000 calls were made to US poison-control centers after young children either ingested the pods or got the concentrated detergent on their skin or eyes. Consumer Reports, which has been warning about the pods since 2012, does not recommend their use and strongly urges households with children under 6 to avoid them.19
Aside from the ingestion risks, many commercial laundry detergents contain toxic ingredients you're better off avoiding even for laundry usage – like nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), which are banned in Europe and known to be potent endocrine disrupters causing male fish to transform into females.20 Seek out natural alternatives whenever possible.