Endocrine Disruptors

The second group of toxins that are commonly found in household products are called endocrine disruptors. The endocrine system can be described as the language of our internal bodies and is made up of glands that produce hormones and receptors that sense the hormones.  There are 67 different hormones produced in the body and each has matching receptors that are capable of detecting various amounts of that hormone and taking some action based on the level that it detects. This system either controls or influences just about every function of the human body at every stage in life. 

In a developing fetus, hormones tell cells what to grow, when to grow them and for how long. A hormone triggers a woman to go into labor and hormones govern every stage of growth until maturity.  After maturity hormones still play a role in every part of a body’s functions from making blood to controlling reactions like our fight or flight response. Hormones can make us feel good, make us gain or lose weight, and even make us attracted to another person.

It makes sense that such a finely tuned communication system would be prone to outside interference from the environment. The receptors are tuned to sense hormone signals as low as a few parts per billion so it doesn’t take much to interfere with the proper workings of the system. This is never more critical than at the development stage in utero. During development cells are rapidly dividing and growing every part of the body at once, from toes to brain cells and timing is everything. Hormones control much of this so the results of interfering with the system at this point can be catastrophic. In our adult lives, disruption of hormones can cause infertility, weight gain or loss and can damage the immune system leaving us prone to disease, among may other things.

So what can interrupt the system? Studies have proven that hormones like estrogen and thyrotropin (thyroid gland) can be interfered with or ‘mimicked’ unintentionally by outside toxins but not much study has been carried out beyond this. In fact studies in the field of the endocrine system only began in the early 1990s. Before this endocrine disruptors had been identified as hazardous but the mechanisms weren’t known.

The first was DDT. DDT was an insecticide that was in widespread use by the mid 1940s all over the world. Soldiers were even issued it to spray their bedding with. The substance was later banned due to its negative effects on animals in the environments in which it was used. Since it’s ban though, it has been found to cause development problems in both male and female genitals and fertility and is linked to childhood obesity. DDT levels in humans have been declining since it was banned.

PCBs were developed as a lubricant in industrial machinery. Very early on workers began to show the effects of the substance in the form of skin irritation. It was later linked to skin, liver and brain cancer but its manufacturer, Monsanto, downplayed this in order to keep selling it. It was eventually banned worldwide in 1977 but not before millions of tons of the compound were dumped into the ecosystem. Levels are still declining in humans and the environment.

BPA is a plastic that most will have heard of by now. Thousands of studies done in the past decade have revealed that it’s an endocrine disruptor that causes cancers, diabetes, early puberty, reproductive problems and obesity.  Due to its widespread use in bottles and other products though, many governments have been slow to ban its use. Canada was the first country to declare the substance toxic and has banned its use in baby and formula bottles but it’s still widely used in other applications.

Possibly the worst offender currently are PBDEs. These compounds are made from bromine and are used as a fire retardant in household furniture, electronics, cars and building materials and are very prevalent in our modern environment. They are easily absorbed by inhalation and skin due to the fact that they’re soluble in oil and also accumulate in breast milk causing higher levels in breast-feeding children than in their parents. They have been shown to inhibit the development of the nervous system and to interfere with estrogen and thyrotropin functions and cause liver damage. Most PBDEs have now been banned for use in new products but much of it will remain in our homes and cars for many years. Levels in humans are trending up and are expected to continue for some time before declining.

Phthalates are found in beauty products, air fresheners, and soft plastics and have been shown to interfere with the development of the male reproductive system and inhibit the development of the genitals. They have also been linked to obesity and allergies. Governments are now banning their use in baby products but due to a lack of a cheap substitute its use will continue indefinitely in many other household products.

While endocrine disruptors can be found in many of the products that we buy a few simple choices can make a big difference. Don’t use BPA plastic! It’s everywhere - I know, but don’t drink from plastic bottles, especially when pregnant or breastfeeding. Find toys that don’t contain plastic and replace old plastic and melamine furniture with wood. Next time you renovate, rip out that old carpet, use cotton fabrics in curtains and don’t buy anything vinyl.  Check beauty product labels to make sure there are no parabens and beware of “all natural” claims. Many products claim to be made with “all natural” ingredients but if the ingredients on the back don’t look all natural, it’s a safe bet that they’re not.


Angela Youngs

Angela is the owner of Ground Soap, an organic soap company in Ontario, Canada.

www.groundsoap.com

info@groundsoap.com