Hormone-Disrupting Environmental Toxins

Environmental toxins are chemicals found in the environment either due to natural processes (eg. lead, mercury) or as a result of manufacturing processes and products (eg BPA, pesticides, phthalates). Exposure to these toxins can happen from the food you eat, beverages that you drink, the products that you use, the air that you breathe, water that you bathe or swim in and other things you come into contact in. At toxic doses, these can increase risk of infertility and other reproductive health, organ failure, cancer, and so much more.

Some of these toxins, known as endocrine disrupting compounds are especially notorious because they can mimic your hormones. Since they’re similar in chemical structure to the hormones naturally produced by your body, they can disrupt and even block your hormones metabolic pathways.

Of particular concern is the ways these environmental toxins can damage the gut, cause dysbiosis and lead to various chronic diseases. Interestingly, a healthy gut microbiome is your body’s line of defense against these toxins, further cementing the importance of a healthy gut.

5 COMMON HORMONE-DISRUPTING ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS TO WATCH OUT FOR 

• Bisphenol A (BPA) -A plastics chemical with widespread use. BPA has been measured in human blood, urine, breast milk, umbilical cord!

  • WHERE IT’S USUALLY FOUND: 

            Polycarbonate plastics, food storage containers, epoxy resins used to coat the inside of metal   food and drink cans, paper  receipts,  dental sealants and certain medical devices. The largest source of  human   exposure to the chemical is probably from food packaging. However it may be present on thermal paper in higher concentrations than in food packaging and can also easily rub off thermal paper (including paper receipts) onto the skin and mouth.   
  • WHAT TO DO: 

    ✨Choose metal, glass or wooden kitchen items, tools where possible   

    ✨Choose wooden children’s toys where possible

    ✨Make sure plastics are certified BPA-free if you do opt for them

    ✨Wash hands thoroughly after touching receipts and don’t allow your receipts to come in contact with your food

•  Phthalates - A group of chemicals used in plastics, personal care products and solvents. A by product of plastic production

  • WHERE IT’S USUALLY FOUND: 

            Soft, flexible plastics, packaging, cosmetics, children’s toys, shower curtains, medical devices, cleaning products, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, paint, home decor, nail polish and other personal care products, fragrances.
  • WHAT TO DO: 

    ✨Purchase cosmetics, children’s toys and household products that are wooden or phthalates-free  

    ✨Choose products with minimal packaging 

    ✨Make sure to dispose of medical devices properly

    ✨Avoid personal care products that contain undisclosed ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’ as an ingredient 

     ✨Avoid air fresheners and fragrances 

     ✨Avoid plastics for food storage. Opt for ceramic, metal, glass for food prep and storage.

      ✨Choose products that don’t use vinyl, such as non-vinyl shower curtains. 

• Polychlorinated Bisphenols (PBCs) - These highly toxic, hazardous chemicals are byproduct of electrical equipment production, construction, automotive and wire and cable sectors.  Although the manufacture of PBCs have been banned in the United States due to its harmful effects on health, they persist in the environment and have been found to bioaccumulate in food chains. According to studies, they are still widely detected in the human body especially in the blood and fatty tissues. They contaminate water by leaching from landfills and other hazardous waste clean up sites. The main source of exposure is eating contaminated fish, meat and dairy products. Exposure also happens by inhaling polluted air, direct skin contact with old building materials, ingestion of contaminated dust. 

  • WHERE IT’S USUALLY FOUND: 

            Hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids (anti-freeze and silicone-based fluids), lubricants, and chemicals used to soften plastic.  
  • WHAT TO DO:

                   PCBs take a long time to eliminate from the body so it’s important to avoid them when possible.

✨Use proper protective gear when handling house-hold cleaning products and construction material 

✨Test water for PCBs regularly and report irregularities to the water management system. 

• Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFAs) : Known as forever chemicals, these toxic chemicals never break down in the environment, and build up in the body.  Due to its widespread and heavy use, PFAs have contaminated not only the environment and wildlife, but our soils, our food and even our water. It is estimated that they can now be found in the blood of almost all Americans, including newborn babies. It is extremely important that you limit exposure to PFAs as much as possible because its use is so widespread and these are chemicals that as indicated earlier, do not break down.  

  • WHERE IT’S USUALLY FOUND: 

            Water, grease, Firefighting foams, nonstick cookware, paper, coatings for clothes and textiles, furniture and curtains, stain-resistant carpets/furniture, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags. dental floss, cosmetics such as lipsticks, mascara, eyeliner, water-proof clothing and materials. 
  • WHAT TO DO

✨Choose organic food whenever possible

✨Keep overly processed foods to a minimum 

✨Avoid fast food as much as possible

✨Watch out for nonstick cookware

✨Store and dispose household chemicals properly

✨Opt for personal care products that do not list PTFE or perfluoro ingredients

✨Avoid personal items labeled as water or stain repellent. 

✨Test water regularly and report to your municipality

✨Filter water 

If you would like to see if your local utility has detected PFAs contamination, you can visit EWG ‘s Tap Water Database and search your zip code. 

• Organophosphate Pesticides : These are a class of chemicals used as low-cost pesticides and insecticides.  These chemicals are known to be highly acutely toxic and can cause long term damage to the brain and nervous system as these particular pesticides work by blocking electrical signals in the brain.  Even small amounts can be very toxic (especially in children) and known to cause significant  health problems. Organophosphates have even been known to  cause medical emergencies. 

  • WHERE IT’S USUALLY FOUND: 

            Conventional fruits and vegetables, household products like flea and tick collars for pets, contaminated air in agricultural areas. Farmworkers and those who apply pesticides also get exposed to them. 
  • WHAT TO DO

✨Choose organic food whenever possible

✨Keep overly processed foods to a minimum 

✨Test drinking water and have local water management system  treat and remove them. 

As you can see, the unfortunate reality  is that a lot of the food that we eat are laden with dangerous toxins that can cause a lot of health problems and diseases. Many of these toxins are especially destructive to your gut, where most of your immune system is. They destroy the gut lining and lead to dysbiosis of your microbiome. For many of us, the grocery store is where we get our food and so knowing how to navigate a grocery store and how to shop for food that is healthy can no longer be optional. Not to mention, for many of us our budget is limited but we don’t want to compromise on our health goals. And this is exactly why I wrote “A Nourishing Guide to Grocery Shopping.’ It is a unique resource that teaches you how to leverage the grocery store for your health and wellness goals, including mindset shifts and practical tips. You can get your digital copy here.