Endocrine Disrupters
Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that change how our hormonal system operates. They are present in almost everything from food to personal care and cleaning products. It is not possible to avoid all endocrine disrupters, but it certainly is possible to decrease your exposure.
Cleaning Products
The pandemic really expanded the use and availability of cleaning products. Sanitization is important in areas such as health care and food preparation, but is intense sanitization important in your home? I would argue that it likely is not and that harsh cleaning products tend to kill more healthy bacteria in our bodies than prevent our exposure to potential pathogens.
Look for cleaning products that use mostly natural ingredients and ideally are unscented. Water and vinegar can work magic for most cleaning projects. If you do need to use a harsher chemical, make sure to open as many windows as possible and wear gloves to limit your contact with the product.
Personal Care Products
Most hair products, make-up, lotions, sunscreen, deodorant, toothpaste, and perfumes are filled with a wide range of endocrine disrupters. The most common additives are fragrances, phthalates and parabens. These chemicals have been associated with fertility issues and cancer. Consider how many products you need to use to maintain your personal hygiene and whether or not it will fit in your budget to find an alternative that contains better ingredients. I know many people who find natural deodorant to be ineffective—there is no shame in using a few conventional products if you need them! Feeling confident in your body is important too.
If you are curious about the products you are currently using, I recommend looking them up at https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/. This is a free resource provided by the Environmental Working Group that provides a wealth of information.
Water
Endocrine disruptors from farming and waste management can easily leach into our water sources. Installing a water filter can greatly decrease your exposure. The most effective filtration system is reverse osmosis, but almost any filter is better than nothing. If you choose to use a pitcher-type filter, make sure you replace the filters as often as recommended by the manufacturer. Leaving a filter in place for too long can allow it to grow mold which you probably do not want to drink!
A note on bottled water: Bottled water is simply packaged tap water. If you are in a country that provides water that is safe to drink, there is no reason to ever choose bottled water. It is stored in plastic, likely leaching chemicals from the plastic into the water and the bottles that are used are very challenging to recycle. At least 2/3 of that plastic will not be recycled and will contribute to ocean pollution or landfill waste. Bring a reusable water bottle and use your bottled water money on something else!
Food
Unfortunately, pesticides, herbicides and food additives are pretty poorly regulated in the United States. Many countries in Europe have more strict regulations with regards to what is legal to spray on foods and use in food processing. When it fits in your budget, try to choose organic foods or “spray free” from the farmer’s market. It is expensive for farmers to obtain the organic label, so many smaller farms are unable to label their produce as organic even if it was grown according to the best practices.
When you can, try to avoid buying canned foods, especially those that contain very acidic foods. Cans use BPA in their lining to prevent corrosion. Even if the can says “BPA-Free” is still likely contains a very similar chemical that is unregulated and has the same health risks as BPA. Canned foods that have higher amounts of acid (tomatoes) are more likely to have higher amounts of BPA leached into them. If foods stored in glass are available and fit within your budget, aim to choose those instead. Full-disclosure, I still buy some canned foods because they make feeding a busy family easier, but I aim to choose other options when they are available.
The Bottom Line
Your life goal does not need to be avoiding endocrine disruptors, but you can make choices to limit your exposure. Changing your personal care and cleaning products first tends to be the easiest option. If you are unable to afford all natural products (or find that they do not work well for you), choosing conventional options that are unscented will still make a huge difference to decrease your exposure.
About the Author
Alli Erdahl is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Chaska, Minnesota.
