ENDOCRINE DISRUPTERS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Endocrine disrupters (EDCs) are chemicals found in many places. They can be naturally produced or synthetic. Their common denominator is that they disrupt or otherwise interfere with the body’s hormones, which are naturally produced by the endocrine system.

Thus, the name endocrine disrupters.

These chemicals can be a nuisance or cause actual harm and disease. Unfortunately, they are common everywhere, and their numbers, varieties, and volumes are also increasing.

EDCs and the 80/20 rule:

Like many other things, endocrine disrupters follow the 80/20 rule. The Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” EDCs (20%) do most of the damage and are environmentally ubiquitous. I will, therefore, identify these for you, and we will discuss ways to avoid them.

Endocrine disrupters – The Dirty Dozen:

Let’s go through these disrupters one by one:

1-Bisphenol A:

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical additive commonly used to manufacture various (hard) plastics. Here is a comprehensive article describing these endocrine disrupters and where you might expect to find them.

BPA is an estrogen mimicker (xenoestrogen) that interferes with and or blocks natural estrogen receptors, creating havoc in organs needing estrogen to function normally. It has also been associated with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Generally, the best way to block this disruptor (this is a helpful, easy-to-read article) is to avoid rigid plastic food containers and canned goods with epoxy linings (which are very common, but this is changing). To the extent possible, drink from glass containers and never heat foods in their cans; heat can leach BPA from the can’s lining into food.

2-Dioxin:

Generally speaking, dioxins are a waste product of manufacturing. They are ubiquitous and found in many places. However, more than 90% of human exposure is through food, mainly meat and dairy. Seafood is also a possible source.

Dioxins have a well-known history of effects on vertebrates (including humans). This chemical group (TCDD – 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) has a lot of members and is used extensively for industrial purposes including agriculture. It’s human effects are varied, but it is linked to several cancers and hormonal dysfunction.

Unfortunately, dioxin is quite stable and difficult to disable after its use. That said, dioxins are highly regulated in the USA (helpful and easy-to-read article) and somewhat so internationally. Fortunately, you can partially avoid this poison since most dioxin is introduced to humans through the food chain.

Avoiding dioxin:

It is not difficult to avoid dioxins because these endocrine disrupters are primarily found in animal fats (including dairy fats). The simplest thing to do is shift your diet more towards plant foods. Trim fat from meats before cooking, and use low-fat dairy products (including cheeses).

Municipal drinking water is almost universally safe (in the USA and similar countries). If however you are using a water source other than municipal water, have your water source (well water for example) checked for dioxin by an expert.

Unless you know the source of what you’re eating to be safe, eat only FDA and USDA approved meats, seafoods, and dairy products. Here is a helpful article on this subject.

3-Atrazine:

Atrazine is an herbicide used to prevent the emergence of weeds and other seed plants, allowing crops to grow and mature with far less maintenance. Unfortunately, this xenoestrogen herbicide is thought to interfere with reproduction and sex selection in some animal species (this has not been shown in humans).

Due to the nature of atrazine, it is difficult to limit its spread in groundwater. This quality makes it hard to avoid. Drinking water is the problem. Your drinking water can be tested, and your municipal water should be checked routinely for this chemical.

For drinking water, here is an easy-to-read pdf on atrazine in municipal water supplies. You can usually buy distilled drinking water in markets and fill a glass container, which guarantees zero atrazine. However, with modern municipal plants, your water should be safe.

If you are on well water, an in-home distillation system (for drinking water only) would work; here’s the one I use myself. Also, you can probably purchase “safe” drinking water from a local supplier (make sure it is in glass bottles).

4-Phthalates:

Phthalates are a group of endocrine disrupters found in and around plastics. They are found just about everywhere and in just about everyone’s system. Fortunately, phthalates have a fairly short half-life in human bodies but can accumulate to the point of being harmful.

Avoiding phthalates is not simple (because of their ubiquity), but here are some worthwhile tips on this subject. For the most part, it’s about minimizing your exposure.

• Manage plastic waste and keep it out of your home as much as possible. Empty trash often and isolate plastic waste by keeping a lid on all trash cans. Keep it outside in a trash container with a tight lid if possible.
• Use a high-level allergy filter on your heater or air conditioner intake and change it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Invest in a room air filter (probably around $1,000) and put it in the room where you spend the most time.
• Sweep and mop hard surface floors and vacuum carpets often.

5-Perchlorate:

Perchlorate is used in fireworks, road flares, explosives, and rocket fuel. The likelihood of a dangerous level of exposure to this chemical is limited to one’s probability of exposure, which for most people is minimal.

People working in these industries should take avoidance measures.

6-Fire retardants:

These are chemicals that discourage burning and flames. Other than working in industries where these retardants are manufactured, your most likely exposure to these endocrine disrupters is in furniture and possibly bedding. Children are especially vulnerable to these chemicals.

Avoiding them in your home is done by Checking furniture (especially mattresses) and toy labels and not buying them if they have flame retardants. Get rid of “things” with fire retardent labels. Finally, keep floors clean and dusted and children’s hands washed.

7-Lead:

Yes, its use has been diminished, but lead is still out there. The introduction of unleaded gasoline, outlawing lead in paint, and getting rid of lead water pipes have, along with other measures, reduced the instances of lead poisoning.

It still happens however. Once again, ridding your environment of unnecessary lead is the best way to avoid it. Here is an excellent easy to read article on how to avoid lead exposure.

8-Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)

PFCs are compounds used to make things resistant to stains, grease, and water. Non-stick cookware is a common example of something with a PFC coating. Older versions of Scotchguard contained perfluorooctanyl to stainproof carpest and upolstery and waterproof clothing and matresses. Note: The current version of Scotchguard does NOT have this chemical in it.

Some food packaging still is allowed to use PFAs, and PFAs also have many industrial uses. The FDA keeps a tight watch on PFAs in the US, and governmental agencies in other countries do as well.

Avoiding PFAs is not simple because these endocrine disrupters are everywhere and in hundreds of different configurations. They and their downstream chemical debris can be found in most human blood samples.

That said, here are some ways to minimize your exposure. Of note are these three:

1. Ditch non-stick cookware and use stainless steel for frying and stovetop cooking, use glass or stainless steel pots for making soups and stews. Also avoid non-stick baking pans.
2. Avoid plastic containers for any use, and to the extent possible, use glass, glazed pottery, or stainless steel.
3. Labels, labels, labels. Read them before you buy.

9-Mercury, 10-Arsenic:

9-Mercury:

Mercury poisoning in modern America is a rare but still problematic in many areas worldwide. For the most part, mercury is highly controlled and used only in industrial applications. Humans are not normally exposed to it. This was not always true.

Avoiding mercury is fairly easy. Here are tips:

1. If you work in an industry that uses mercury, follow your employer’s protective guidelines and isolate mercury in the workplace under controlled conditions.
2. Avoid eating fish that has not been evaluated for mercury contamination. Here are some FDA guidelines for safe fish consumption.
3. Although mercury is no longer used to fill tooth cavities, some of you might still have some in your mouth. These can slowly and continuously release mercury into your body. Have these fillings removed and replaced with safer materials by a knowledgeable dentist trained in this procedure.

10-Arsenic:

Arsenic is an element scattered throughout the environment. Soil and untreated water usually contain some amount of arsenic. It is commonly found in plants and some animals as well.

Arsenic poisoning is most often caused by drinking contaminated water. It is also used in manufacturing and agriculture (some herbicides and pesticides). Arsenic can combine with other elements and molecules to form different compounds, most of which are toxic.

This is especially problematic in groundwater.

Avoiding arsenic: Since most arsenic poisoning comes from contaminated water, drink (and cook with) only water from safe sources. All modern water treatment plants in the US and most developed countries have safe drinking water.

If you are on well water or getting water from another untreated source, have an expert check your water for arsenic.

If you’re hiking, exploring, or camping, never drink (found) water without testing it first. Retailers specializing in supplying outdoor sportspersons’ needs will have these test kits at a reasonable price. Be safe; don’t be sorry.

Juices and some foods can also contain arsenic. Here is an easy-to-read article on avoiding arsenic in food.

11-Organophosphate pesticides:

Organophosphates are a large group of chemicals using phosphoric acid and alcohols as building blocks. Although not exclusively, their primary use is in agriculture as pesticides.

These chemicals have extremely toxic capabilities. In fact, nerve gas in all its iterations is an organophosphate. Nerve gas can and has been used as a weapon of mass destruction.

Organophosphates are also used widely as pesticides, again in several iterations. These poisons can create extreme physiological disruption in humans and animals, and this includes death.

If all this weren’t bad enough, these dangerous chemicals are also used in producing plastics and solvents.

Ok, that’s enough to say about this endocrine disrupting mess. So how can you avoid its effects?

Here’s a list:

1. Get this endocrine disrupter stuff entirely out of your home – you don’t need it for anything.
2. Read labels of insecticides, and don’t buy anything with the prefix “organo.”
3. Don’t spray this stuff in your yard, and certainly not in your garden (if you have one).
4. If you hire a pest removal service, ask them what they’re using and tell them you don’t want organophosphates sprayed around your premises.
5. Wear protective clothing and wash it and your hands after you use any pesticide.
6. Always, always, wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them—don’t trust claims that they’re pesticide-free; trust yourself that they’ve been washed.
7. Here’s a list of bad guys to watch out for when shopping for pesticides (and soaps and cosmetics).

12-Glycol ethers:

Glycol ethers are used in many applications. Generally, they are considered solvents and are found in items like paint, cleaning products, and cosmetics. They are also used in industrial production.

A typical example is ethylene glycol, the anti-freeze ingredient that protects automobile engines from freezing.

When used properly, these chemicals play essential roles. They can, however, be very toxic. Here is an easy-to-read article that will help identify and keep you safe from the contents of everyday cleaning products.

As always, with cleaners and cosmetics especially, read labels and don’t buy products containing toxic chemicals. Here is a guide on disposing of hazardous household waste – you don’t have to be a Texan to use it (ha-ha).

Summary:

This post is meant to help you by offering information on endocrine disrupters. I hope you found it helpful. There are, however, many more of these out there. I just covered the ones you are most likely to encounter.

One final comment. Please stop drinking anything from plastic bottles. Use glass or glazed pottery (coffee cups and mugs, for example). Think of this: every time you drink from a plastic bottle, you drink toxic waste.

But don’t take my word for it, read this, it’s scary.

OMY1

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