It’s very important for women to know about Endocrine Disruptors. There are almost 85,000 human-made chemicals worldwide and over1 1,000 of these can interfere with our hormones2. We are exposed to them every day through a variety of sources such as skincare products, makeup, perfumes17, sanitary products16, food products, food packaging, cleaning products, clothing, furniture, mattresses, carpets (flame retardant chemicals are also known carcinogens and neurotoxins), and air pollutants. Knowing about these chemicals can help women stay healthy by allowing us to make better choices for our health and the health of future generations.
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What is the Endocrine System?
The endocrine system is the name for the group of glands that make hormones. Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers that send information and instructions. These hormones help control our moods, growth and development, they control the way our organs work, our metabolism, and our reproduction.
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So, what are Endocrine Disruptors?
Endocrine disruptors, or endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), are chemicals that interfere with our body’s hormones. They can mimic natural hormones or interfere with how hormones communicate within the body.
In the last 70 years, over 80,000 chemicals have been released into our world, but, over 85% of them have never been assessed for their effects on human health3. This is a big worry, especially for our reproductive health.
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How do Endocrine Disruptors affect women’s hormones?
Endocrine Disruptors can prevent hormones from doing what they are intended to do within the body or stop hormones from being produced altogether. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines them as “an exogenous agent that interferes with synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action, or elimination of natural blood-borne hormones that are present in the body and are responsible for homeostasis, reproduction, and developmental process.”
Endocrine Disruptors have been linked to disorders such as, fibroids 10, PCOS. Studies show they can cause irregular periods or problematic periods like menorrhagia (heavy periods) or prolonged bleeding, thyroid disfunction, difficulties conceiving, and miscarriages. Up to 21% of pregnancies might be affected5. Chemicals like phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA), DDT, and PCBs are known to be harmful and cause cancers4.
| Endocrine Disruptors | Potential Effects |
| Phthalates | Linked to pregnancy loss, decreased fertility, and PCOS |
| BPA | Associated with breast cancer risk and hormonal imbalances. BPA Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly used in some plastic products such as sports bottles, baby bottles, and to the linings of canned food and infant formula. |
| DDT | An insecticide used in the UK until banned in 1984 but DDT’s health effects can persist for at least three generations12. Potential reproductive health issues, breast cancer, diabetes, decreased semen quality, spontaneous abortion, and impaired neurodevelopment in children13. |
| PCBs | Disrupt human hormones and may impact fertility |
| PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are flame retardants | Linked to thyroid disease, hormonal imbalance, breast cancer and other cancers, neurological problems, fetal development problems. |
| First and Second-hand Cigarette smoke | Cigarette smoke contains hundreds of chemicals, including some hormone disruptors. More research is needed however the following links to Foetal developmental problems, obesity, osteoporosis are already well known. |
| Vaping? | Do we know enough about the unregulated chemicals in vaping? |
| Phthalates | Phthalates are a family of compounds used as a plasticizer (a substance added to make materials more flexible) in PVC (vinyl), cosmetics, fragrance and medical devices. Linked to abnormalities such as endometriosis, early puberty (menarche before 9yrs), asthma and obesity14, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioural issues in children, reproductive system problems, and fertility issues. |
| Flame Retardants | PBBs Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) were used as a flame retardant in electrical appliances, textiles, plastic foams and other products. PBBs are now banned in the UK however because they are abundant in the environment, human exposure is likely to continue for decades10. From the 1970s organic flame retardants have been used but cancer and health concerns regarding their usage persists11. |
| Dioxins | Dioxins are the byproducts of some manufacturing and residential waste incineration processes; amounts are also found in cigarette smoke and motor vehicle emissions. Dioxins are found in the environment throughout the world, and they accumulate in the food chain, mainly in the fatty tissue of animals. More than 90% of human exposure is through food, mainly meat and dairy products, fish and shellfish. Many national authorities have programmes in place to monitor dioxin levels in the food supply. Laboratory tests have shown dioxins to be endocrine disruptors known to reduce fertility, causes adverse developmental effects and cause cancers15 |
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Health Impacts of Endocrine Disruptors for Women
It’s important for women to know about endocrine disruptors. They can interfere with hormones, cause infertility, menstrual problems or early menopause6, they can also cause metabolic disorders and cancers8. Pesticides and chemicals like BPA can affect growth and lead to problems later in life7. Prolonged exposure to certain pesticides can increase the risk of miscarriage and other reproductive issues in women6. They can also lead to obesity and heart disease.
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Mitigating Risks and Reducing Exposure
Women can take steps to reduce risks from endocrine disruptors by eating organic food, avoiding plastic food packaging or containers, and using fewer chemicals in personal care products. Knowing what products are safer to use will help us to make better choices for our health.
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Key Takeaways
- Endocrine disruptors can significantly affect women’s hormones and reproductive health.
- Nearly 85,000 human-made chemicals exist, with only 1% studied for safety.
- Common sources of exposure include plastics, cosmetics, sanitary products, skincare, haircare and certain pesticides.
- Choosing organic foods can help reduce exposure.
- Check makeup, skin, sanitary products and haircare ingredients for harmful chemicals like phthalates and parabens. Choose organic and natural products to avoid these and other disruptive chemicals.
- Avoid heating or storing food in plastics.
- Reduce the consumption of canned goods (the inside of cans are lined with plastic).
- Reduce the purchase of foods that are packaged in plastic.
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Conclusion
Although we are surrounded by endocrine disruptors, we still have the power to maintain our health by making safer choices. Select pesticide-free organic foods, read product labels, and educate yourself about potential health hazards.
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Source Links
- Endocrine Disruptors – https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine
- What to Know About Endocrine Disruptors – https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-to-know-about-endocrine-disruptors
- Hormone Disruptors and Women’s Health – https://prhe.ucsf.edu/sites/g/files/tkssra341/f/Hormone Disruptors.pdf
- Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals & Reproductive Health – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6701840/
- Understanding the Link Between Endocrine Disruptors and Women’s Health – Thinkbefore.eu – https://thinkbefore.eu/en/the-link-between-eds-and-womens-health/
- Exposure to endocrine disruptors during adulthood: consequences for female fertility – https://joe.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/joe/233/3/R109.xml
- Endocrine Disruptor Compounds in Environment: Focus on Women’s Reproductive Health and Endometriosis – https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/6/5682
- Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726844/
- Are brominated flame retardants endocrine disruptors? – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160412003001041
- The role of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in uterine fibroid pathogenesis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8240765/
- Breast Cancer UK https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/app/uploads/2019/08/Background_Briefing_Flame_retardants_21.9.17_IS_nw.pdf
- Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/consequences-of-ddt-exposure-could-last-generations/
- Human Health Consequences of DDT Use https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737010/
- Phalates and their effect on humans https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S153204562300100X
- Public Health England https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7db28ae5274a5eb14e6a2a/Dioxins_General_Information_phe_v1.pdf
- Science Daily: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in menstrual products https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231215140214.htm
- Scent of Danger: Are There Toxic Ingredients in Perfumes and Colognes? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/toxic-perfumes-and-colognes/
