It seems like everywhere we turn, science is telling us hormone disruptors are dangerous, can hurt our health, and can even increase our breast cancer risk. But let’s back up. What exactly IS a hormone disruptor, what are the problems associated with them, and is there anything we can do to really to minimize our exposure?
Let’s break it down.
WHAT ARE HORMONE DISRUPTORS?
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, hormone disruptors (or endocrine disruptors) are “chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine system and produce adverse effects in laboratory animals, wildlife and humans.”
Proper functioning of our endocrine system keeps our bodies in balance, regulates organ function and ensures proper growth and development. When absorbed into the body, endocrine disruptors can actually change, block, mimic and/or alter our natural hormones. (Yikes!)
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
When our endocrine systems are compromised, it puts us at risk for health concerns and diseases including infertility, neurotoxicity, certain cancers, autoimmune disorders, endometriosis and even diabetes and obesity.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HORMONE DISRUPTORS?
These chemicals can be in products that we come in contact with everyday including pesticides plastics, flame-retardants, toys, personal care and cleaning products … even our food and water. Some are even naturally occurring such as those found in soy-derived products. Hormone disruptors can be absorbed through ingestion or through the skin. While it’s impossible to completely avoid hormone disruptors, here are some simple changes you can make to minimize exposure.
- Avoid pesticides and choose organic foods when possible.
- Consider installing a filter for drinking water to remove lead and pesticides
- Ditch the plastic food containers and if you do use them, never microwave in plastic or put in the dishwasher. Avoid plastics containing BPA as well as canned foods (most contain BPA in the lining).
- Wash hands after handling receipts — many of them contain BPA.
- Avoid phthalates. These chemicals are used in plastics and are commonly found in food packaging and toys. They’re used in “fragrance,” which can be found in everything from dish soap to shampoo to air fresheners.
- Read the labels on your personal care products extremely carefully. (Not sure how? Here’s a good place to start.)
It can get complicated because sometimes the effects of exposure may not be apparent until much later in life. In adults, too much exposure to BPA has been linked to cancer, heart disease and hormonal abnormalities, among other things. BPA is a hormone that can be found in plastics, often in the plastic water bottles people use on a daily basis. We opt to use BPA-free products like our favorite stainless steel, BPA-free water bottles from Mizu (You can pick one up for yourself in the B4BC Shop).
The chemical industry argues that the “poison is in the dose” and that there just aren’t enough chemicals in their products to cause health concern. Well science says, that’s just not true.
According to the NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program, “Scientific research is now indicating that there is ‘credible evidence’ that some hormone-like chemicals can affect test animals’ bodily functions at very low levels — well below the ‘no effect’ levels determined by traditional testing.”
In a three-year study conducted by Tufts University, researchers found conclusive evidence that “environmental exposures to endocrine disruptors are associated with human diseases and disabilities.”
There truly needs to be reform in the regulation ad testing of chemicals so consumers are better protected. While groups like Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families are actively seeking to change legislation, it may be years before companies are required to prove the safety of their products before they go to market. Until then, we need to become our own advocates as to what we are willing to expose ourselves to.
Source: Mind Body Green
