The medical team of doctors at GlobeMed, the leading healthcare benefits management company in the Middle East, has conducted a literature review on the effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) and their interference with the body hormones...
The medical team of doctors at GlobeMed, the leading healthcare benefits management company in the Middle East, has conducted a literature review on the effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) and their interference with the body hormones. The review was supervised by Dr. Elia Abdul Massih, Goodcare Clinics Director, and prepared by Dr. Karen Abou Jaoude, Population Health Specialist. It demonstrated that even at low levels of exposure, EDCs can induce adverse health effects, contributing significantly to the development of diseases such as cancers, asthma, diabetes, genital defects and obesity. Furthermore, the review established six easy ways to decrease exposure to these harmful chemicals.
EDCs are exogenous chemicals or mixtures that can interfere with hormone actions in our bodies in a negative way. Hormones are messengers released from endocrine glands in the body necessary for our healthy survival. EDCs can be found in many everyday products, including some plastic bottles and containers, liners of metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, pesticides, natural estrogen and progesterone, plastic, hormonally active drugs and synthetic hormones. This array of products confirms that we are exposed daily to low doses of EDCs without even suspecting or realizing it. Some of these chemicals include but are not limited to:
EDCs can induce harmful effects by either changing the amount of hormones available or interfering with their corresponding receptors. This has resulted in the increasing prevalence of many endocrine diseases such as diabetes and obesity. For diseases to occur, there is always an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, it is essential to try and control our environment by limiting exposure to such chemicals as much as possible. In this vein, it is recommended to follow six simple steps to reduce contact with EDCs and diminish their harmful effects:
Releases EDCs over time. |
Never testedfor safety. |
Most toxic. Linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and cancers. |
Degrade slowly, chemically non-reactive. Mostly a burden to the environment. |
Never testedfor safety. |
Release extremely toxic flame retardants over time |
BPA mimics estrogen. Infertility and developmental damage. |
Water or soda bottles, polyester fibers |
Milk and detergent bottles and caps, food storage containers |
Water pipes, insulation, clothing, toys, furniture, shower curtains |
Snap on lids, disc drives, plastic wraps, laminates |
Textiles, packaging, carpets, lab and medical equipment, diapers |
Packaging, foam, drink cups, DVD cases. |
All the rest of plastics not included in the previous categories. |
Do not microwave plastics even if they are labelled as microwave safe. Throw away scratched plastics as their protective layer would be lost.
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals are all around us, having drastic effects on our health and contributing significantly to the development of several non-communicable diseases. These six simple steps make it easier to take control of our health and limit our everyday exposure to such chemicals.
This study was prepared based on the following References:
- Lee, Duk-Hee. "Evidence of the possible harm of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in humans: ongoing debates and key issues." Endocrinology and Metabolism 33.1 (2018): 44-52.
- Lee, Duk-Hee, et al. "Chlorinated persistent organic pollutants, obesity, and type 2 diabetes." Endocrine reviews 35.4 (2014): 557-601.
- Taylor, Kyla W., et al. "Evaluation of the association between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and diabetes in epidemiological studies: a national toxicology program workshop review." Environmental health perspectives 121.7 (2013): 774-783.
- Kusminski, Christine M., et al. "MitoNEET-driven alterations in adipocyte mitochondrial activity reveal a crucial adaptive process that preserves insulin sensitivity in obesity." Nature medicine 18.10 (2012): 1539.
- Curtis, Sandra. “Is BPA on Thermal Paper A Health Risk?” Plastic Pollution Coalition, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 23 Dec. 2016, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2016/12/23/is-bpa-on-thermal-paper-a-health-hazard.
- Vandenberg, Laura, et al. “Let's Talk EDCs.” Endocrine Society, Endocrine Society, 2019, www.endocrine.org/topics/edc/talking-edcs.
- Trasande, Leonardo. “Avoiding Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: 5 Tips.” Medscape, Medscape, 7 Feb. 2020, www.medscape.com/viewarticle/924846.
This study is a general guideline intended for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is prepared based on information and data available in the references above. GlobeMed neither undertakes nor guarantees that such information is complete and error-free. GlobeMed will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.