A recent report from the Endocrine Society raised concerns about the significant threats to human health posed by ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in our environment and daily activities. The report included detailed analyses on exposure to EDCs from four sources: plastics, pesticides, consumer products (including children’s products), and per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of thousands of chemicals known or suspected to be EDCs.
“A well-established body of scientific research indicates that endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are part of our daily lives are making us more susceptible to reproductive disorders, cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other serious health conditions,” said the report’s lead author, Andrea C. Gore, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin. “These chemicals pose particularly serious risks to pregnant women and children.”
Hormones play a vital role in normal bodily functions and health. However, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with hormone actions, leading to various health issues. Evidence links environmental EDC exposure to serious conditions including diabetes, neurological and reproductive disorders, inflammation, and compromised immune function.
The report highlighted two analyses focusing on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics and pesticides. Despite increasing global production, scientists warn of the rising crisis of chemical and plastic pollution. Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide, exhibits eight out of ten key characteristics of an EDC, with studies linking it to adverse reproductive health outcomes. Plastics contain thousands of toxic substances, including known or suspected EDCs like bisphenols and phthalates.
Lead exposure can lead to endocrine-related issues like delayed puberty and early menopause. Arsenic, a common metal associated with cancer and other health problems, has been found to disrupt multiple endocrine systems. PFAS, found in various products like clothing and food packaging, have been shown in recent studies to disrupt hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, as well as impair thyroid hormone functions.
“EDCs are different than other toxic chemicals, but most regulations fail to address these differences,” said Science Advisor Sara Brosché, Ph.D. “For example, we know that even very low doses of endocrine-disrupting chemicals can cause health problems and there may be no safe dose for exposure to EDCs. However, regulations typically do not protect against low-dose effects. We need a global approach to controlling EDCs based on the latest science with a goal of protecting the human right to a healthy environment.”
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