Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are toxins that can interfere with how your body makes hormones, and how your hormones work.

EDCs can cause cancer, are detrimental to the immune system, and can overwhelm your body’s natural detox systems, causing a wide range of health problems. EDCs also have negative effects on skin, inflammatory and immune cells in your body, and can lead to inflammatory and allergic skin conditions, disorders of skin pigmentation, skin cancer and skin aging.

We are constantly coming into contact with EDCs, and may not even realize it!

EDCs are found in pesticides, metals, additive or contaminants in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, water, soil and personal care products. They can be found in conventional dairy, fish, eggs and meat. There are natural endocrine disruptors too, like soy, and they have even been found in breast milk.

The most common categories of EDCs are:

PCBs and dioxins - found in pesticides
Flame retardants - found in plastics, paint, furniture, electronics, and even food
Dioxins - found in conventional meat
Phytoestrogens - found in soy
Pesticides - found in food, water, and soil
Petrofluorinated chemicals - found in non-stick cookware and some food packaging
Phthalates - found in plastics, food packaging, cosmetics, cleaning products (look out for anything with fragrance or perfume in it)
BPA (bisphenol A) - found in plastics, food packaging, and food and drink containers
UV filters - found in sunscreens and cosmetics
Triclosan - found in personal care products and antimicrobial products
Perchlorate - found in drinking water
Parabens - found in deodorants, possibly polyester fabrics
BHA and BHT - found as a preservative in food and gum

While this is an overwhelming list to avoid, all you need to do is use common sense to minimize exposure. Here’s what you can do now to help:

Read labels on everything, including personal care/personal hygiene products (lotions, deodorant, cosmetics, perfumes, feminine hygiene products, etc.)
Filter your water
Avoid plastic (even if they say BPA free), and instead use glass, steel, or ceramic containers
Detox!
- Eat foods that support your detox pathways
- Sweat/sauna
- Hydrate
- Eat organic where possible to eliminate pesticides in your diet
Avoid using pesticides at home, on your lawn and in your garden
Take your shoes off in the house so as not to track in toxins from outside
Steer clear of chemical cleaning products, and anything with “fragrance” in it including candles, laundry products and air fresheners
Open your windows regularly to let stale air out and increase natural ventilation into your living and/or work space
When cooking, use your vent hood
When showering, use bathroom fans

Photo Credit: Free To Use Sounds

EMF Exposure

Electromagnetic field exposure (EMF) has also been linked to skin rashes, and other skin problems (as well as numerous other health problems). EMF comes from electronic devices like cell phones and WiFi routers. EMF has been classified by the World Health Organization as a potential carcinogen.

Here are some strategies you can implement to protect yourself and your family from EMF exposure:

Turn off your Wi-Fi before you go to sleep.
Turn off your cell phone at night (or at least put it into airplane mode as much as possible). If you use your cell phone as an alarm clock, go buy an alarm clock!
Try not to carry your phone on your body, especially near your reproductive organs. Put it in a loose jacket pocket, bag or purse.
Charge your cell phones in a different room or away from your bed. Better yet, go old school and get a landline phone.
Use a wired headset for talking on a cell phone, or use the speaker function.
Unplug all electronics near your bed before going to sleep.
Move your furniture away from the wall by 3-6 inches (wires in there emit EMF).
Pay attention to how much you use your cell phone, how close you’re sitting to the router, and how much time you spend surrounded by EMF.
Avoid having your laptop on your lap.
Never let your kids talk on the cell phone with the phone against their head, and if your child is playing games on your phone, put it in airplane mode.