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Everyday products can lead to weak immune system, hormonal imbalance, fertility problems and early menopause. Food, food and drink packaging, receipts, house dust, toys and cosmetics can contain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals with severe health risks. Only recently the maximum allowed tolerable daily intake has been reduced by 20,000 times. Chemicals cannot be 100% avoided, but simple lifestyle adjustments can reduce health risks.
Our environment affects our health
Our environment affects our health in multiple ways. For example: Living nearby a forest increases the chance of spending more time outdoors which is good for health (Forest bathing, even at the office), but having friends who tell you working out is ridiculous does not encourage an active lifestyle. More insight into different environmental influences, in this example of the physical and social environment, that can affect health behavior at different levels is at the bottom of this article under the caption Theoretical approach.
The degree to which we can control our environment is limited, but we are able, at least to some degree, to control our behavioral response to our environment, with the precondition of being aware of this. For example, when you become aware of how chemicals in your water bottle or your plastic lunch box can make you sick or can lead to hormonal disbalance in both men and women, you have the option to make different choices.
In this article we describe the impact of chemicals in our environment on our health. Specifically of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in everyday products such as in cosmetics, shampoo, food and drink packaging and toys. These chemicals cannot be 100% avoided or removed but are associated with health issues such as weakening of immune system, hormonal disbalance and fertility problems in men and women, and early menopause. We discuss one chemical in particular: Bisphenol A, because it is highly studied; present in many everyday products; and human exposure to Bisphenol A grows rapidly.
What are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals?
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC’s) are natural or human-made chemicals found in everyday products such as in personal care products (shampoo and cosmetics); food and beverage packaging and toys. EDC’s are widely spread in our environment. Contact with EDC’s occurs through air, water, food, and skin.
EDC’s can be divided into persistent and non- persistent, based on their lipophilic nature. Chemicals with high lipophilic activity and a longer half-life are called persistent or persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins and for example PFAS.
Non- persistent EDC’s are exogenous chemicals or mixtures of industrial agents that can interfere with the normal action of hormone with a shorter half-life and lower liposolubility. These are commonly found in plastics, medical equipment, detergents, and cosmetics, such as Bisphenol A.
EDCs are associated with a variety of health issues. According to the Endocrine Society, over 1.000 of 85.000 human-made chemicals in the world, could be endocrine disruptors.[1]
What are health risks of EDC’s?
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals can interfere with the body's endocrine system (hormonal system) and cause disruptive developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.
Research shows a link between exposure to EDC's and disorders in hormonal and reproductive health in men and women. Female disorders include fertility problems, altered steroid hormone levels, decreased estradiol levels, irregular reproductive cycles/ menstrual disorders, early menopause, increased frequency of vasomotor symptoms, premature ovarian insufficiency, markers of diminished ovarian reserve, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and decreased embryo quality and rate of clinical pregnancy and live births. Male disorders include fertility problems, and (congenital) abnormalities of penis and testes.[2]
There is strong evidence that certain chemicals in our environment affect health, for example [3]:
- Pesticide exposure during adulthood is associated with reduced sex steroid hormone production, fertility, and early menopause in women.
- Heavy metal exposure is negatively associated with ovarian follicular health, fecundity, and pregnancy outcomes in women.
- Adult exposure to TCDD (dioxin) is associated with decreased fertility, time to pregnancy, and endometriosis in women.
- Adult exposure to PCBs is associated with subfertility, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids in women. (PCB’s : plastics, materials and pesticides with chlorine)
- Paraben (for example in shampoo) exposure is associated with decreased serum sex steroid hormone levels and decreased fecundity in women.
Irregular cycles, early menopause and Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
Research shows positive associations between exposure to EDCs (Bisphenol A), and irregular cycles, early menopause and Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI).
Menopausal transition is a natural part of the female ageing process, although the decline in female hormones and hormonal disruptions during menopausal transition can cause disturbing symptoms (Hormones and vague symptoms) and increased health risk such as cardiovascular disease, depression, osteoporosis and premature death. Menopausal transition can start as early as the age of 40. Early menopause can be problematic for health reasons but also for women who delay having children.
Furthermore, many young women under the age of 40 experience Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) which is a loss of ovarian function leading to decreased estradiol levels, increased FSH levels, premature loss of follicles, absence of menses, and fertility problems.[4]
How does that work?
In the human body, the endocrine system (in short: hormonal system) controls biological processes such as growth, fertility, and reproduction. Hormones act in extremely small amounts and the endocrine system is susceptible to the effects of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Minor disruptions through very low doses of EDC’s can alter the body’s sensitive systems, hormonal functions and can have significant health effects.
EDC’s can act in various ways in different parts of the body. They can:
- Mimic,or partly mimic, naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens, androgens, and thyroid hormones, potentially leading to overstimulation;
- Bind to a receptor within a cell and block the naturally occurring hormone from performing. The normal signal then fails to occur, and the body does not respond properly. Examples of chemicals that block hormones are anti-estrogens and anti-androgens;
- Interfere or block the way natural hormones, or their receptors, are made or handled in the body, for example, by altering their metabolism in the liver. [5]
What is Bisphenol A?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in construction materials, electronics, plastic bottles, food packaging materials, implants, dental materials, cosmetics, IV equipment, epoxy paints, ink and thermal paper including receipts.
BPA is a highly studied EDC because it is identified as a high priority for assessment of human health risk considering its widely exposure through everyday products.
The primary sources of BPA for consumer exposure comes mainly from food packaging materials, receipts, house dust, toys and cosmetics as well as foods that have come into contact with food packaging that contains BPA. These include plastic materials used for food and beverage storage, plastic plates/cutlery, plastic refractory dishes/pots and plastic protective coatings in food packaging materials, including cans and cartons.
The primary route of exposure is dietary exposure, such as thought seafood, ingestion of food packed in plastic and cans containers. The second route is dermal exposure such as through thermal paper, toys, and medical devices. The third route is inhalation through BPA-containing vapors, mists, dust, and gases.[6]
What are the health risks of Bisphenol A?
BPA is a proven endocrine disruptor capable of mimicking or blocking the receptors and altering hormone concentrations and its metabolism, even at low dose consumptions.
BPA is linked to anti-androgen action and estrogen-like effects, which can lead to among others, suppression of immune system, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, and disruption of neuro-endocrine system. Furthermore, liver damage, disrupted pancreatic function, thyroid hormone disruption, obesity-promoting effects, mental health issues such as depression and ADHD, and energy balance disruptions are linked to BPA. In animal studies BPA is linked to several types of cancer. [7]
Legislation today
BPA has been topic of scientific research and of health policy and politics. Based on current consumer exposure to BPA and the applicable European standard, no adverse effects are generally expected for consumers in Europe, according the Dutch government. Several measures are already in place that aim to control consumer exposure to BPA. There is a upper limit to the amount of BPA allowed from food packaging and toys, and a European ban on the use of BPA in baby food bottles.
Recent scientific findings have seen sufficient reason to consider tightening of European standards and proposes additional measures to further reduce exposure to BPA for public health reasons. Bisphenol A may have a potentially harmful effect on the immune systems of unborn and young children even at low exposures. Children may be more likely to develop food intolerances and may become more susceptible to infectious diseases, according the Dutch government. [8]
20.000 times the upper limit
In 2023, the European Union published a re- evaluation of the safety of BPA in food contact material, concluding the tolerable daily intake needed to be reduced from 4 micrograms per kilograms of bodyweight per day to 0,2 nanograms. This is 20.000 times lower. This implies that many consumers have been exposed to too high levels of BPA and to potential health concerns regarding immune system (allergic lung inflammation and auto- immune disorders) and reproductive, developmental and metabolic systems. Although researchers note that several variables can influence the overall health risk for an individual, including other stressors on the human body, genetics and nutrition.[9]
Concluding
Although epidemiological literature is still growing, the evidence seems convincing enough for different governmental authorities to take action for public health.[10] Researchers advice for consumers, especially women, is to adopt healthy lifestyle changes to minimize their exposure to both persistent and non-persistent chemicals.[11]
Awareness and knowledge of how our environment affects our health is the precondition to be able to make more conscious choices regarding our health. There is growing scientific evidence showing that EDCs can have negative health effects.
For consumers, it is undo-able (better said: impossible) to calculate the amount of BPA to which we are exposed to on a daily basis. But, with simple lifestyle adjustments exposure can be reduced. For example:
- Avoid plastic food and beverage packages as much as possible
- Read the labels of personal care products
- Avoid skin contact with receipts
- Reduce dust mites
We cannot always change our environment, but we can generate as much evidence based knowledge to make healthier choices for life.
Create your own health!©
Theoretical approach: environment and health
The ANGELO-model (ANalysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity) provides insight into different environmental influences that can affect health behavior at different levels. The ANGELO model combines four types of environmental factors (or environmental determinants) with two levels of environmental influences. The four environmental determinants are:
1. Physical environment
This refers to the availability of resources or opportunities to engage in healthy or unhealthy behaviors. For example: The number of fast food and opportunities for safe outdoor recreation in the neighborhood influence the lifestyles of residents in that neighborhood.
2. Economic environment
This refers to the costs related to healthy or unhealthy behaviors. For example when the local community organizes weekly walks for free, residents are stimulated to exercise daily. Or when the government increases tobacco taxes, that can work up a threshold to smoke.
3. Socio-cultural environment
This refers to the social and cultural context in which behavior is displayed. For example the cultural habit to never decline food when offered, or the social norm to always eat French fries during the weekend.
4. Political environment
This refers to laws and rules that can influence health behaviors. For example the ban on selling alcohol to minors.
These four determinants can effect health behavior on microlevel or macrolevel. Microleve lrefers to the setting in which behavior is displayed for example at home, at work or at school. Macro level refers to environments beyond individual control such as health care systems or food industry.[12]
The ANGELO model provides a theoretical approach on how our environment can affect our health, in both a positive and negative way, leading to conscious and unconscious healthy or unhealthy behavior. The ANGELO model provides a framework for research into what environmental factors are relevant and related to health behavior, but does not provide predictions on how these factors impact behavior. Other models such as the Environmental Research framework for weight Gainprevention (EnRG) do provide predictions, the ANGELO model is integrated into the EnRG model. For the purpose of this article, we choose to only zoom into what environmental factors can affect health.
References
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