Knowledge is important to have these days to be on the alert for lurking chemicals hidden within everyday products.
For instance, has it ever occurred to you that a plastic water bottle or a children’s lunch box could release toxic chemicals into the food or drink held inside or, that you could absorb a hormone disrupting chemical from shop receipts printed on some thermal papers?
Products that contain these toxic chemicals can interfere with your endocrine system, hence why they are called “endocrine disruptors”. In short, these chemicals have the ability to mimic or alter normal hormonal functioning and can potentially result in:
- a reduction in fertility of males;
- a decrease in the number of male babies born;
- fertility problems in females;
- increases in diseases, such as immune and autoimmune diseases and some cancers (especially breast cancer);
- alter the onset of puberty;
- increase in the prevalence of obesity.
Critically, those at the greatest risk from the negative health impacts from endocrine disruptors are children, including unborn babies. This is because young children are still developing and endocrine disrupters have the potential to impact upon:
- physical, neurological and reproductive development;
- behaviour problems, such as hyperactivity or aggression.
There are a variety of chemicals found in household items, which have the potential to act as endocrine disrupters and can cause serious health impacts, including:
- Bisphenol A – also known as BPA which is used in plastic products such as food and drink containers and has the potential to leach into the food or drink contained inside, entering the human body;
- Phthalates – such as Di(2-ethylhexylphthalate) (DEHP) used within some food packaging, children’s products (although banned in children’s toys in Australia they may still be in some imported products illegally) and some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products;
- Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) – used to increase a product’s resistance to stains and water, including some food packaging and increasing the water resistance of clothing.
Whilst there is evidence that indicate that these chemicals can act as endocrine disrupters and cause health issues, they can still be found in everyday products.
Checklist – Everyday Toxic Substances To Avoid
There are many products that contain toxic chemicals, some of which can result in long term adverse health impacts, many of which you are unlikely to be aware of.
These chemicals include DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexylphthalate)), BPA (Bisphenol A), which can be found in plastic toys, food or drink containers, and Perfluorinated chemicals which can be found in clothing and textiles as an additive to increase stain and waterproof resistance.
BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, both of which are found in common household items. Common polycarbonate plastic items include food and beverage containers such as baby and water bottles, and epoxy resins are used as the protective linings for some canned foods and beverages and can also be found in some thermal shop receipt papers and some epoxy flooring products.
BPA has the potential to leach from the plastic containers into the food and beverages held inside. There are mixed reports on the effects of BPA plastic, particularly at what levels BPA becomes toxic.
Several studies have indicated that BPA as an endocrine disruptor, can affect developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune systems and some recent studies show novel ultra-low level impacts not known previously. Young children, and unborn babies, are at highest risk as their organs and neural systems are still developing.
One study in particular, undertaken by researchers at the University of California Berkeley, showed that BPA can alter the thyroid hormone levels in newborn baby boys which impacted postnatal growth and brain development.
Whilst there is controversy surrounding some of these chemicals, evidence indicates that they have the potential to cause great harm to human health.
However, the good news is that you can make informed choices to avoid any potential health implications from products containing these chemicals. For those wishing to avoid exposure, you can:
- Choose products that are free from harmful toxins and these can be found on our own extensive Product Search Database on www.ecospecifier.com.au.
- Purchase BPA-free products, such as baby bottles and food containers.
- Avoid or reduce eating foods from cans.
- Choose glass, porcelain or stainless steel over using plastic containers.
- Avoid heating food or liquids in plastic containers.
- Avoid placing hot food in plastic cling wrap.
- When purchasing plastic product check the label or contact the manufacturer to ensure that it is free from BPA and phthalates.
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References
BISPHENOL A (BPA) – Current state of knowledge and future actions by WHO and FAO. (2009).International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), 5.
Bisphenol-a-europe.org, (2014). Bisphenol A – How much BPA does a typical person take in through a normal diet?. [online] Available at: http://www.bisphenol-a-europe.org/en_GB/How-much-BPA-does-a-typical-person-take-in-through-a-normal-diet [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Ecospecifier.com.au, (2014). EcoSpecifier: Understanding Toxicity. [online] Available at: http://www.ecospecifier.com.au/knowledge-green/articles/understanding-toxicity.aspx [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Environmental Working Group, (2014). Dirty Dozen List of Endocrine Disruptors. [online] Available at: http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors [Accessed 22 Sep. 2014].
Foodstandards.gov.au, (2014). Bisphenol A (BPA). [online] Available at: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/chemicals/bpa/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Kang, J., Kondo, F. and Katayama, Y. (2006). Human exposure to bisphenol A. Toxicology, 226(2), pp.79–89.
Msdssearch.dow.com, (2014). [online] Available at: http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_08b1/0901b803808b19e8.pdf?filepath=productsafety/pdfs/noreg/233-00250.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Manikkam, M., Tracey, R., Guerrero-Bosagna, C. and Skinner, M. (2013). Plastics Derived Endocrine Disruptors (BPA, DEHP and DBP) Induce Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Obesity, Reproductive Disease and Sperm Epimutations. PLoS ONE, [online] 8(1), p.e55387. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055387 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2014].
Niehs.nih.gov, (2014). Endocrine Disruptors. [online] Available at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/ [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Niehs.nih.gov, (2014). Environmental Factor – November 2012: Bisphenol A linked to lower thyroid hormone levels in newborn boys. [online] Available at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-bpa/index.htm [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Sciencenews.org, (2014). FDA bans BPA in baby bottles, cups | Science News. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-public/fda-bans-bpa-baby-bottles-cups [Accessed 11 Sep. 2014].
Vandenberg, L., Hauser, R., Marcus, M., Olea, N. and Welshons, W. (2007). Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA). Reproductive Toxicology, 24(2), pp.139–177.
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