Without us really realizing it, pollution is an integral part of our home environment. It’s important to know how to identify and eliminate endocrine disruptors in order to take care of your home and yourself.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 7 million deaths each year are linked to air pollution, including 67,000 in France. And the culprit isn’t always outdoor air: indoor air can be just as polluted. ConsoGlobe’s“Pollution Special”Planetoscope shows that indoor air pollution accounts for about 20% of the total damage caused by pollution worldwide (20 million euros compared to 100 million).
Among the pollutants found in our homes, endocrine disruptors rank high on the list. They are responsible for disrupting our hormonal systems and, in particular, causing infertility. They lurk in the most innocent-looking objects… By learning to recognize and identify them, you can effectively protect yourself from them!
Endocrine disruptors: What are they?
These are chemical molecules. They are as recent as modern chemistry itself, but their prevalence has grown exponentially due to global industrialization. They are found in particular in: - our food chain: pesticides, PCBs, heavy metals… - public water supplies, because our wastewater treatment plants are not yet able to remove micropollutants; - the air in our homes, because certain molecules are released from our furniture (bromine, phthalates, alkylphenols) ;- our cosmetics and personal care products; Finally, they migrate from plastic food containers and under the influence of our microwaves: this is the case with phthalates, BPA, and PFOA.
Are these molecules harmful?
If they’re everywhere, are they dangerous? Indeed they are. In her book titled *I’m Eliminating Endocrine Disruptors*, Isabelle Doumenc explains why. “These substances infiltrate our bodies, affecting our endocrine system.” The risks to our health encompass all areas where hormones play a role. That is, “fertility, male and female reproduction, so-called ‘hormone-dependent’ cancers, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and disorders of brain development and behavior,” explains the author.Here are a few examples of how they disrupt the system: - Disruptors mimic natural hormones, bind to receptors, and transmit incorrect information; - They block certain receptors, preventing cells from receiving the information they need; - They interfere with the function of certain proteins responsible for regulating hormone levels in the blood.
An interesting example is the thyroid gland, which is believed to regulate the amount of energy the body needs to perform its vital functions. It regulates body temperature, weight, mood, and growth. It also influences the development of a baby’s brain and nervous system during pregnancy and after birth. This “control tower” is particularly disrupted by bromine, which is found in the flame retardants used to treat most industrial furniture (cabinets, desks, chairs, sofas, mattresses, box springs, carpets, etc.). It is also disrupted by mercury, which we absorb in large quantities by eating too much seafood, and by phthalates in plastics, found in certain toothpastes or hand sanitizers, explains Isabelle Doumenc. Another issue is the decline in male fertility. Bisphenol A, found in the vast majority of plastics that surround just about everything (our food, our clothes, our furniture, our beauty products), affects the fertility of both women and men. In industrialized countries, Isabelle notes,“sperm concentration continues to decline. In France, it fell by 30% between 1989 and 2005. For a 35-year-old man, the concentration dropped from 73.6 million/ml to 49.9 million—barely enough to conceive, since below 55 million/ml, conception takes longer.”
Another striking element is the documentary “Will We All Be Idiots Tomorrow?” explores the issue of the global decline in IQ and the rise of conditions such as hyperactivity and autism, particularly in connection with pesticides. Between 1990 and 2001, the rate of children diagnosed with autism skyrocketed by 600% in California and elsewhere. Iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function, is chemically similar to fluorine, chlorine, and bromine… These disruptors take its place and interfere with normal brain development during pregnancy. Researchers are deeply concerned about the alarming and rapid decline in human intelligence… These dangers have been known since at least the 1960s, when scientist Rachel Carson—who had studied the effects of pesticides on birds—published *Silent Spring*. This book helped spark the debate about these chemicals—whose harmful effects no one had previously suspected—and ultimately led tothe ban on DDT. The good news? Thanks to a better understanding than just a few years ago, most of these disruptors are now banned. Although they remain in the food chain despite being removed from the market, we’re learning more and more about how to get rid of them. Here are a few ideas!
So, how can you prevent them at home? Diagnosis
Rest assured, it is possible to identify the culprits, clean your home, and make choices that will gradually reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors.
The Diagnosis
First step: Assess the extent of the damage.Kitchen: Do you have Tupperware, utensils, plates, or plastic cups? Do you regularly buy frozen or ready-to-eat foods packaged in plastic? Do you have old pans with damaged Teflon coating? Do you heat plastic in the microwave?
Living Room: Where did you buy your sofa, and is it treated with flame retardants? The same goes for your table, chairs, dresser, rug, and wallpaper—do you know what they’re made of? Do you know the ingredients in your paint? Bathroom: Where do your beauty products come from? Are they packaged in plastic or glass? What brand are they? Keep in mind that major cosmetics brands are often more concerned with your wallet than with your health!Bedroom: Do you have wallpaper or paint containing chemicals? Do you have curtains, rugs, or blankets that might be treated with flame retardants? Is your box spring and mattress made from petrochemicals?
Change course immediately, Captain!
We can totally picture it—the first exam is quite a surprise! What should you do?
- Kitchen: Throw away or donate your plastic kitchen items—Tupperware, utensils, etc.—and replace them with glass or wood (untreated!). Limit your use of tin cans and any pre-cooked foods packaged in plastic or aluminum. If you must buy them, unpack them as soon as you get home and transfer the contents to glass, porcelain, etc. “Endocrine disruptors migrate when heated: stop heating plastic food containers in the microwave,” advises Isabelle Boulenc. Throw away your damaged Teflon pans and replace them with stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic—which are safe and durable. Avoid plastic electric kettles: stainless steel kettles are available!
- Living Room: Air out the room and dust for at least 10 minutes every day to prevent the buildup of toxins. For furniture, curtains, and rugs, choose healthy materials (untreated wood, wool, cotton, and linen) rather than plastics and composite materials. If you must buy new furniture that seems questionable, quarantine it for 3 months before using it. Opt for secondhand items. Avoid using aerosol sprays and air fresheners indoors—they’re usually toxic! Clean with eco-friendly products: baking soda, Marseille soap, essential oils, white vinegar… Consider the materials used in your light switches (which often contain a dangerous chlorine derivative) and in your electronic devices (computers, phones, tablets—which are also often sources of endocrine disruptors).
- Bathroom: “More than 40% of endocrine disruptors come from cosmetics!” explains Isabelle. If you don’t have the budget to switch entirely to organic products, look for products that don’t contain parabens, triclosan, BHA, BHT, or benzophenone, and get rid of unnecessary items (lipstick, nail polish, etc.). Be careful—not all “organic” products are created equal, and this lucrative market is attracting more and more scammers… With certifications like “Nature et Progrès,” “Ecocert,” “CosméBio,” and “Cosmos,” you’ll be in good hands. For your face and body, natural oils work very well: jojoba has almost the same pH level as our skin and is moisturizing; argan and sesame oils also work well; and rose or lavender floral water can replace makeup remover. The soap market offers healthy, plastic-free products…
- Bedroom: The same recommendations apply to furniture, with a special mention for your bed. You spend ⅓ of your life sleeping on it, and most of the time it’s made from petrochemicals and packed with flame retardants that cause you to ingest bromine every night without even realizing it. Choose a natural mattress, made from rubber tree milk or wool, like the one from Kipli.
We hope we’ve helped you understand the impact of endocrine disruptors on our bodies and wildlife, and that we’ve given you some ideas for reducing your exposure to them in your daily life at home. Interested in learning more about this topic? We recommend two resources:— “I’m Getting Rid of Endocrine Disruptors”, Let’s Get Started, by Isabelle Doumenc, Jouvence Éditions, 2018. Available here. Why read it? Because it explains everything you’ve been told in much greater detail than we have, and because it’s concise, precise, and easy to read.-“Tomorrow, We’ll All Be Idiots,”2017, an Arte documentary available for replay through October 23, 2020. Because it provides the keys to understanding how and why human IQ is declining and why autism and ADHD are on the rise. It’s very well-researched and fascinating. Enjoy the show! We hope you enjoyed this article. Naturally, Nora Leon on behalf of the Kipli team