Pesticides, chemically bleached paper, and some plastics are examples of materials that may contain endocrine disruptors.
Perhaps you’ve never heard that term and have no idea what it is, even if you’re exposed to it in everyday life. The name itself already gives a clue: they are chemical compounds that disrupt our endocrine system, our hormonal system and that is why it is very important that we have at least an idea of what they are and how to minimize their effects on our body, since the impact it has on our health is enormous – and still not fully understood.
For millennia, human and animal organisms have adapted to the endocrine disruptors of vegetables, cereals and fruit (apple, cherry, plum, potato, carrot, pea, bean, soy, wheat, oat, barley, rye, parsley, garlic), naturally excreted and accumulated in the body. But when it comes to chemicals, they mostly accumulate in adipose tissue, mimicking glandular hormones.
There is still not much talk of endocrine disruptors (EDs), because the vast majority do not produce such a noticeable effect in the short term. The big problem is that the damage to the body is cumulative and adds up day after day, getting worse over time.
Some of these substances are transplacental, i.e. during pregnancy they can affect the fetus and become fixed in mother’s milk. Furthermore, all the accumulation of these toxic agents over the years in the mother’s body can also be ingested by the newborn.
Many times, even this damage is only noticeable after years or decades of exposure. The problem is that the bill arrives and the older we get, the lower the body’s defenses and the greater the response of these “invisible” enemies who strike us through direct contact with the skin, through diet or through breathing.
The cells of our body signal and communicate through molecules – hormones – essential for the proper functioning of many bodily functions. EDs act like villains because they manage to mimic our hormones, thus altering the proper functioning of the organism and directly affecting our health.
There is a huge list of over a thousand chemicals including pesticides, phthalates, parabens, bisphenols, triclosan, benzophenones, flame retardants, among others with this disruptive ability, but due to their large presence in our daily life, l ED exposure is pervasive and continuous.
Some studies of large populations have already shown that some of these chemicals are found in biological samples of more than 95% of the participants. I mean, we have no way to escape! Checklist:
As for the exposure
Even at low doses, we are continually exposed, as I mentioned above. They can enter our body through direct contact with the skin, through diet or through breathing, as well as having the ability to cross the placenta and, consequently, reach the fetus and mother’s milk.
Some so-called persistent EDs, such as those found in some pesticides, can remain in our bodies for up to ten years, while others that are not persistent, such as parabens or bisphenols, remain in our bodies for anywhere from a few hours to days. This will all depend on how healthy we are, as the better our health, the less time they stay in our bodies. The healthier we are, the faster we eliminate them.
If the endocrine system were not enough, other systems and essential functions of the body are affected by EDs, which, depending on their structure, can have negative effects, such as, for example, on respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, cognitive, reproductive or also on the development from prenatal care to adulthood.
We don’t yet know all the health effects of most of these compounds. Several animal and human studies have linked them to an increase in certain types of cancer, obesity, infertility, diabetes, asthma, and neurodevelopmental problems.
Perhaps the best-known endocrine disruptor is bisphenol A, a compound widely used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxies, commonly found in food storage containers such as jars, plastic bottles, or cans. In animal studies, exposure to bisphenol A has been associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hyperactivity disorders, and breast and prostate cancer.
Notably, some of these studies have found these effects at low doses, below the threshold currently established as safe.
Endogenous perturbers and their effects
Currently, there are enough studies demonstrating the obesogenic potential of ED, especially regarding exposure during the intrauterine period. Obesogens are chemicals, or naturally occurring xenobiotics, that promote obesity by increasing the number of fat cells, altering lipid storage in pre-existing fat cells, and interfering with the mechanisms by which the body regulates appetite and satiety. That is, the more intoxicated we are, the greater the chances of becoming obese.
In addition to obesity, in vitro and laboratory animal research and epidemiological studies link human exposure to EDs to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. (DDT) and its metabolites, tributyl tin (TBT) and phthalates, all related to obesogenic activity.
We have yet to further study the mechanism of action of obesity-related EDs, but research already indicates that these substances may bind directly to nuclear hormone receptors that act in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and proliferation or influence metabolism and transport. of endogenous hormones.
Epigenetic alterations – which refer to alterations in the DNA that do not modify its sequence – affect the activity of one or more genes sensitive to environmental modifications and can cause alterations transmitted to offspring, such as obesity.
Is it possible to protect yourself from endocrine disruptors?
Not even if we lived in a bubble in the middle of Antarctica could we live away from chemicals. This is perhaps mission impossible, remembering that this bubble could not be made of plastic and even so, through the food, air, water we drink or bathe, we would be exposed.
Even in regions where human activity is low, such as the polar regions, concentrations of some of these disruptors are detectable in the water and in the bodies of resident animals. This happens because these substances spread through the rain and the air and end up affecting the stages of the food chain, where the bigger the predator, such as human beings, the greater this accumulation.
But we can reduce this exposure with a few simple measures, such as: storing food in containers free of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, avoiding heating food in plastic containers, as well as not storing canned or plastic-packed foods in areas hot. for a long time, as heat enhances their release.
In addition, basic health rules, such as avoiding the consumption of processed foods, supplementing with antioxidant compounds, favoring the consumption of filtered water and washing fruits and vegetables well before consumption help eliminate compounds that can deposit in the peels, leaves and roots . In addition, obviously, to reducing their exposure, which now, after this text, are no longer so unknown.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
