Exposure to Endocrine Disruption Chemicals and What it Means for Public Health

January 26th, 2024

Everyday items, ranging from personal care items like hygiene products and medications to food packaging and household objects like window blinds, harbor an extensive array of over 10,000 chemicals that lack approval from the Food and Drug Administration. It is worth noting that numerous chemicals among them are prohibited in China and the European Union due to their potential harm. 

A significant portion of these chemicals are known as endocrine disruptors, and are capable of interfering with essential health functions such as metabolism, immune system response, and reproductive health in both men and women. Although these exposures may occur at very low levels, new data suggests that even low levels can impact human health.

A groundbreaking study conducted across the United States, United Kingdom, China, and India shed light on the impact of complex mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals on workers. The researchers employed a unique approach by analyzing the chemical residues accumulated on silicone wristbands worn by the participants. These chemicals encompassed a diverse range of substances, including plasticizers, fragrances, flame retardants, and pesticides, commonly found in various everyday products. The findings of the study were alarming. Every single one of the 243 office workers who wore the silicone wristband for a one-week period in 2019, exhibited exposure to chemical mixtures that imitated or obstructed sex hormones and thyroid hormones. 

Another study has highlighted the significant role that chemicals used in plastics can also play in endocrine disruption-related diseases, revealing both a health and economic burden. Researchers showed that endocrine disruption chemicals present in plastic can affect individuals throughout their entire lifespan- starting from preterm birth and extending to chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and cancer. There is also a far-reaching economic impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals. In 2018 alone, these costs amounted to nearly $250 billion, equivalent to approximately 1.22% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. 

The World Health Organization has officially recognized endocrine-disrupting chemicals as a significant global health threat. However, the regulation of these chemicals in the United States has been slow and inadequate. One of the main reasons for this sluggish progress is the influence of money. Taking action based on the existing body of evidence would require removing multiple products from the market, which could have financial implications for industries.

The regulatory system in the United States is known for its slow incorporation of scientific findings into regulations, and in some cases, it even takes steps backward. This slow pace undermines the protection of public health and the environment from the harmful effects of endocrine disruptors.

Nevertheless, consumers still have some power in their hands. The Environmental Working Group offers a database that rates products based on their chemical safety, enabling consumers to make informed choices. Additionally, the Toxic Substances Control Act, initially introduced in the 1970s, was expanded in 2016 to grant the Environmental Protection Agency more authority over endocrine-disrupting chemicals. While this expansion was a positive step, stronger government regulation is still necessary. It is crucial to develop a political strategy that shifts the responsibility of protecting individuals from toxic industrial chemical exposures away from consumers and towards industry through robust government regulation.

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