It's estimated that on average a woman is exposed to 114 chemicals each day and men are exposed to 85 chemicals each day. Men's product usage has almost doubled since 2004 (Dr. K. Zaremba, 2024).
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences, Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues. These chemicals can be hidden in our ever day used products such as cosmetics, lotions, facial cleansers/ soaps, perfumes, and geneticaly modified foods that we eat. In essence, your contact with these chemicals may occur through diet, air, skin, and water.
Even low doses of endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be unsafe. The body’s normal endocrine functioning involves very small changes in hormone levels, yet we know even these small changes can cause significant developmental and biological effects.
In my personal journey through ridding endocrine disrupting items from my household I encourtered the following:
Parabens: They are used as a preservative in makeup, lotion, hair care products, shaving creams, toothpaste, suntan products, and some deodorants.
Parfum/ Fragrance: An item listed with fragrance as one of their ingredient can legally hold up to 2,000+ mystery chemicals, including, formaldehyde, parabens, sulfates... etc. without any regulatory oversight.
Phthalates: Typically found in nail polish, hair spray, and perfumes. In the U.S. products don't legally have to label phthalates on their products so it is listed under "fragrance".
BPA: is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used in manufacturing, food packaging, toys, and other applications. BPA resins may be found in the lining of some canned foods and beverages.
Other: Pesticides, paint thinner, weed killer, plastics, non-stick cookware coating, arsenic, and flame retadents can also be found in hair products, cosmetics, deordoarnats, lotions, toothpastes, and cleaning agents.
Ongoing research has discovered links between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the ways in which wellbeing may be harmed developmentally, as shown by increased diagnosing of adolescents with ADHD. Research also shows that adolescents who use common skin care products during puberty have a higher chance of developing breast cancer in adulthood. Research can be found here.
Tips for reducing your exposure to endocrine-distrupting chemicals:
Refuse single-use plastic. Prioritize reusable items and non-plastic options.
Ditch plastic products. Find glass and stainless steel alternatives. Just be sure to properly wash all new drink/cookware before use due to harsh chemicals used for packaging.
Keep it natural. Search for more natural personal care products, cosmetics, household goods, clothing etc.
Less is more. Simplify and streamline – ask yourself if you really need to use a particular product. A good way to simplify is to use products that have multiple uses (e.g. multipurpose household cleaners).
Cook at home. Prepare simple, fresh, whole foods, which can save you money and help you avoid excess exposure to EDCs.
Go organic wherever possible. Buy organic if you can. And where you can’t, prioritize buying organic for the most heavily sprayed foods such as dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.), strawberries, grapes, and apples. Peel fruits and veggies that aren’t organic.
Stick with what you know. Buy foods and personal care products with recognizable ingredients. While not all hard-to-pronounce ingredients are harmful, this rule of thumb can help you spot safer alternatives.
Repurpose items you already have on hand instead of buying new.
Steer Clear of High-Risk Pesticides
Reduce your pesticide exposure by eating organic food whenever possible
Peel skins off conventional fruit and veggies to remove pesticide residues.
Leave your shoes at the door – pesticides are everywhere, and wearing shoes inside your home can allow for pesticides to be tracked indoors.
Clean up your lawn game by skipping lawn applications (professional or DIY) that contain high-risk pesticides.
Avoid antibacterial and antimicrobial products as they likely contain pesticides. Examples of household goods where you might run into this problem are:
Hand wash
Dish soap
Laundry products
Room sprays
Cleaning products
Toothpaste
Steer Clear of Fragranced Products
Avoid undisclosed fragrance formulas as many fragrances use phthalates (a plasticizing chemical) in their formulations. This includes personal care products, air fresheners, plug-ins, scented candles, laundry detergents, dryer sheets, cleaning products, and more.
Avoid added scent, parfum, Eau de Parfum – all of which are code words for fragrance –on packaging labels
Open windows, create your own simmer pot, or diffuse 100% essential oils instead of air fresheners when you want to freshen up your home.
Cook Better
Avoid “nonstick” cookware (even those labeled as “green”). Look for safer cookware such as stainless steel, glass, cast iron, and carbon steel.
Choose wood and metal cooking utensils, in lieu of plastic.
Clean Cleaner
Vacuuming with a HEPA filter and/or damp dusting frequently can help reduce your exposure because EDCs can ride on dust particles.
Choose nontoxic cleaning products to reduce your exposure to problematic chemicals.
Filter Your Drinking Water
Drink tap water out of a glass to reduce your exposure to BPA and other chemicals in cans and plastic bottles.
Filter your water. Tap water can contain a bevy of its own potential hormone disruptors, including residue from birth control pills, according to research.
More resources:
What is Endocrine Disruption?, an informational website for consumers created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Preterm Birth More Likely With Exposure to Phthalates (July 11, 2022).
Insight into Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol a Advanced By NIEHS (November 2021)
The MADE SAFE Banned ListSM of harmful substances prohibited from use in MADE SAFE Certified products.
Sicker, Fatter, Poorer – The Urgent Threat of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals on our Health and Future…and What We Can Do About It by Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP
By: Shelby Secor, LMHC
05/16/24