How to Reduce Your Environmental Toxin Load

Written By Anjou Moss

The Hidden Threat of EDCs

Industrial and agricultural activities have led to the accumulation of chemical pollutants in our environment, posing significant risks to human health and ecosystems. Environmental Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a diverse group of synthetic compounds that quietly infiltrate our surroundings, disrupting hormonal balance and threatening well-being.

Understanding the Impact: How EDCs Affect Health

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), a category of lipophilic EDCs, accumulate in the food chain and can lead to a range of health issues, including neurodevelopmental delays, insulin resistance, thyroid disease, allergies, decreased sperm quality, and cancer. Although other EDCs, including phthalates and BPA, are readily excreted from the body they are still relatively persistent due to frequent environmental exposure. EDCs disrupt hormonal homeostasis through various mechanisms, including:

  1. Mimicking or antagonising hormones

  2. Interfering with hormone synthesis and breakdown

  3. Altering receptor production and hormone binding

Five Practical Strategies to Reduce EDC Exposure

By identifying and reducing the following EDCs in our environment, we can reduce our risk of disease whilst promoting a sustainable future:

  1. Reducing Household Plastics

    • Shop at zero-waste bulk-food stores and use glass jars for storage.

    • Choose natural fibers for bedding and clothing.

    • Minimise consumption of canned foods and avoid products with recycle code numbers 3 or 7.

    • Swap reusable plastic containers for stainless steel or glass alternatives.

    • Heat food in glass containers to prevent leaching of EDCs.

  2. Natural Body & Beauty Products

    • Opt for natural products free from EDCs such as parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, and phthalates.

    • Use the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website to research ingredient safety profiles by visiting their Skin Deep database: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

    • Opt for organic cotton tampons and pads or a reusable silicone menstrual cup.

    • Wear organic cotton underwear.

  3. Making Considered Food Choices

    • Prioritise organic produce, wild-caught fish, and organic free-range/grass-fed meat.

    • Reduce meat consumption and incorporate plant-based proteins into your diet.

  4. Filtered Water

    • Drink filtered water to minimise exposure to microplastics and heavy metals.

  5. Low-tox Cookware

    • Choose cookware made from stainless steel, cast iron, enamelled cast iron, carbon steel, stoneware, or glass to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from non-stick pans.

References

Kumar, M., Sarma, D. K., Shubham, S., Kumawat, M., Verma, V., Prakash, A., & Tiwari, R. (2020). Environmental Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposure: Role in Non-Communicable Diseases. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.553850

Kim, Y. A., Park, J. B., Woo, M. S., Lee, S. Y., Kim, H. Y., & Yoo, Y. H. (2019). Persistent Organic Pollutant-Mediated Insulin Resistance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3), 448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030448

Harvey, P. J., Handley, H. K., & Taylor, M. P. (2016). Widespread copper and lead contamination of household drinking water, New South Wales, Australia. Environmental Research, 151, 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.041

Coperchini, F., Croce, L., Ricci, G., Magri, F., Rotondi, M., Imbriani, M., & Chiovato, L. (2021). Thyroid Disrupting Effects of Old and New Generation PFAS. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.612320

Anjou Moss
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