What are endocrine disrupting chemicals? Experts explain

CNN
—

A class of chemicals — likely found in many U.S. homes — could be impacting your hormonal health.

The question is, how concerned should people be about these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates, BPA or bisphenol A, and brominated flame retardants?

The scientific literature on endocrine disruptors continues to grow, but associations have been suggested between exposure and health problems, including brain development, fertility and puberty, said Dr. Michael Bloom, professor of global health. and community at the College of Public Health at George Mason University in Fairfax. Virginia.

And while there are still many questions researchers want to explore around endocrine disruptors, organizations like the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that researches and advocates for safer products, are encouraging individuals to take measures to avoid exposure.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect hormones, which are chemicals that play the important role of carrying messages throughout your body to coordinate different functions in organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. .

Here’s what the experts have to say about EDCs and what you need to know about them.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are not produced by the human body but influence how your hormones work, Bloom said. Hormones are essential for many biological processes in the body, such as puberty, reproduction, and brain development.

Some of these chemicals can mimic hormones your body produces, such as estrogen or testosterone. Other endocrine disruptors impact hormone synthesis, so the body produces more of the hormone, less, or changes how it is broken down, he added.

Phthalates, for example, are synthetic chemicals that manufacturers often use in hundreds of products such as food and beverage containers and plastic packaging. These EDCs interfere with testosterone production, according to the Endocrine Society.

Brominated flame retardants are used in electronics, clothing and furniture, and are associated with abnormal thyroid function, which plays a key role in child development, the company said.

“Endocrine disruptor chemicals affect hormonal communication in some way,” Bloom said. “And hormonal communication is a critical pathway by which our brain communicates with tissues, and tissues communicate with each other, and the daily functions that allow us to function, hopefully at high efficiency.”

Chronic exposure to a substance that blocks or alters hormonal activity can have serious consequences, added Alexa Friedman, senior scientist on the Environmental Working Group’s healthy living team.

“Anything that impacts your hormones is very likely to impact other health issues,” she said.

Growing scientific literature suggests that endocrine disruptors may play a role in conditions such as attention deficit disorder and impulse control disorders, Bloom added.

“Hormones play a huge role in brain development and normal function, so being exposed to these endocrine disruptors early in life can alter your development,” Friedman said.

These chemicals may also be linked to the trend toward early puberty in girls, which “is associated with increased risk of psychosocial problems, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer,” the study said. Dr. Natalie Shaw, Head of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology. Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Studies have also shown concerns about insulin sensitivity and diabetes, obesity and fertility, Bloom said.

The problem with delving deeper into research is that it is difficult to study endocrine disruptors and their harmful effects on the human body, he added.

Most of the evidence comes from the use of cellular models, in which tissues or cells in a dish are exposed to high concentrations of chemicals – higher than most people would naturally come into contact with, a Bloom said.

To understand what a more “biologically realistic” level of exposure would do, researchers could examine urine samples for the presence of endocrine disruptors and compare levels with different health markers, he said.

But the current scientific literature is controversial, Bloom said. Some studies claim that yes, exposure to EDCs is a significant risk factor for health problems, while other reports contradict this.

“We are in a position where we ask ourselves ‘is prevention better than cure?’” he added.

Researchers, regulators and individuals are debating whether it is worth making changes now in case research shows it is necessary to eliminate endocrine disruptors or waiting to avoid costs and efforts related to product replacement for those at lower risk of exposure to endocrine disruptors. chemicals, Bloom said.

It can be difficult to completely eliminate exposure to endocrine disruptors, Friedman said.

“The biggest problem with endocrine disruptors is that they are ubiquitous in the environment and in everything we use,” she added.

Skin care and personal care products are sources of exposure for children and adults, both through the chemical composition of the products themselves and the plastic packaging they come in, Bloom said.

Pesticides used in agriculture and found on produce may contain endocrine disruptors, and groundwater may also be contaminated, Friedman added.

CNN has reached out to the National Pest Management Association and the Personal Care Products Council for comment.

“Believe it or not, pretty significant concentrations are found in household dust,” Bloom added.

The presence of dust is of particular concern when it comes to toddlers and infants who spend a lot of time near the ground, he said.

Many people of color are exposed to higher levels of endocrine disruptors, Bloom said. Some researchers speculated that this was because products marketed to them, including hair care products, had higher concentrations, Bloom said.

“Someone who goes through their usual routine of using their favorite personal care products, drinking their tap water, eating food products – they can be exposed to very, very low levels of EDC in a number of different ways and which accumulate over the course of one’s life.” » said Friedman.

It can be difficult to know which products may expose you to more endocrine disruptors just by looking at the label, Bloom said.

The components of many products are proprietary, meaning protected by company property, and therefore are not always clearly labeled, he added.

“There are no clear labeling requirements and industry can change what they use over time,” Bloom said.

This means that a product tested two years ago may be manufactured differently today and introduce different exposure levels, he added.

“Research scientists, environmental health people, are constantly trying to catch up with the products that industry uses,” Bloom said.

Steps are being taken by government agencies to help protect consumers and additional research is still underway, according to an emailed statement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“EPA has taken steps to regulate these chemicals in the environment and provides additional oversight over chemicals, including pesticides, through the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program,” the release said.

The prevalence of endocrine disruptors and lack of clarity in labeling doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do.

Friedman recommends finding manageable changes you can make that still fit your budget, priorities and lifestyle. Gradually replacing personal care products one by one as you use the individual products is a great place to start, she said. Filtering endocrine disruptors from the water supply is also a manageable way to start, she added.