Understanding Endocrine Disruptors And How You Can Avoid Them

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system by mimicking hormones in your body, causing adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects. Hormones affected include the female sex hormone estrogen, the male sex hormone androgen, and thyroid hormones.

These chemicals can block hormonal signals in the body and disrupt how the hormones or receptors are made or controlled. And with the potential risk of life-threatening conditions and illnesses, including cancer, clearly this is not something to be taken lightly. A comprehensive report on how these chemicals are affecting our health was released in 2013 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The list of issues proves alarming, and includes: thyroid cancer, prostate cancer in men, ADHD in children, developmental effects on the nervous system in children, and non-descended testes in young males. Endocrine disruptors are also affecting wildlife, as they contaminate water, air, and food. In fact, Lake Apopka, Florida fell victim to a severe decline in their alligator population due to the alligators and their eggs being contaminated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Sadly, the majority of chemicals that make their way onto the market each year aren’t subject to toxicity tests. And even when they are, endocrine-interfering properties aren’t even taken into consideration. While it can seem overwhelming to think our planet is filled with nothing but toxic chemicals, it’s necessary to be aware of how your lifestyle may be putting you more at risk for exposure to such things as endocrine disruptors. Some of the most common sources of these chemicals include: To avoid your risk of exposure, be sure to do the following: .

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References:

• http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/
• http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/endocrine/en/
• http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp
• http://www.pehsu.net/_Library/facts/bpapatients_factsheet03-2014.pdf
• http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/07/15/10-common-sources-endocrine-disruptors.aspx#_edn10
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/03/06/phthalates-found-in-hundreds-of-household-products-may-disrupt-sex-development-of-male-fetus/
• http://www.nrdc.org/living/healthreports/thyroid.asp