Endocrine disruptors: where are they hiding?

Endocrine disruptors: where are they hiding?

Endocrine disruptor: what is it?

Endocrine disruptors include a large family of compounds, of natural or synthetic origin, capable of interacting with the hormonal system. To delimit them, the definition of the World Health Organization of 2002 is consensus: “A potential endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture, possessing properties capable of inducing an endocrine disruption in an intact organism, in its descendants. or within sub-populations. “

The human hormonal system is made up of endocrine glands: hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, ovaries, testes, etc. The latter secrete hormones, “chemical messengers” that regulate many physiological functions of the organism: metabolism, reproductive functions, nervous system, etc. Endocrine disruptors therefore interfere with the endocrine glands and disrupt the hormonal system.

If research shows more and more deleterious effects of many endocrine disrupting compounds on health and on the environment, few of them have officially proven to be “endocrine disruptors” to date. However, many are suspected of having this type of activity.

And for good reason, the toxicity of a compound by disruption of the endocrine system depends on various parameters:

  • Exposure doses: strong, weak, chronic;

  • Transgenerational effects: the health risk may not only concern the exposed person, but also their offspring;

  • Cocktail effects: the sum of several compounds at low doses – sometimes without risk when isolated – can cause deleterious effects.

    • Mechanisms of action of endocrine disruptors

    All the modes of action of endocrine disruptors are still the subject of much research. But the known mechanisms of action, which differ according to the products considered, include:

    • The modification of the production of natural hormones – estrogen, testosterone – by interfering with their mechanisms of synthesis, transport, or excretion;

  • Mimics the action of natural hormones by replacing them in the biological mechanisms they control. This is an agonist effect: this is the case with Bisphenol A;

  • Blocking the action of natural hormones by attaching themselves to the receptors with which they usually interact and by hindering the transmission of the hormonal signal – an antagonistic effect.

    • Sources of exposure to endocrine disruptors

    There are many sources of exposure to endocrine disruptors.

    Chemicals and industrial by-products

    The first, very broad source concerns chemicals and industrial by-products. More than a thousand products, of various chemical nature, are listed. Among the most common are:

    • Bisphenol A (BPA), ingested because it is present in food and non-food plastics: sports bottles, dental composites and dental sealants, containers for water dispensers, children’s toys, CDs and DVDs, ophthalmic lenses, medical instruments, utensils , plastic containers, cans and aluminum cans. In 2018, the European Commission set the specific migration limit for BPA at 0,6 milligrams per kilo of food. Its use is also prohibited in baby bottles;

  • Phthalates, a group of industrial chemicals used to make hard plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more malleable or flexible: shower curtains, some toys, vinyl coverings, faux leather bags and clothing, biomedicals, products styling, care and cosmetic products and perfumes. In France, their use has been prohibited since May 3, 2011;

  • Dioxins: meat, dairy products, fish and seafood;

  • Furans, a small molecule formed during the heating process of food, such as cooking or sterilization: metal cans, glass jars, vacuum-packed meals, roasted coffee, baby jars…;

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), resulting from the incomplete combustion of organic materials such as fuels, wood, tobacco: air, water, food;

  • Parabens, preservatives used in many products: drugs, cosmetics, hygiene products and the food industry;

  • Organochlorines (DDT, chlordecone, etc.) used in plant protection products: fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, etc.;

  • Butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), food additives against oxidation: creams, lotions, moisturizers, lip balms andsticks, pencils and eye shadows, food packaging, cereals, chewing gum, meat , margarine, soups and other dehydrated foods…;

  • Alkylphenols: paints, detergents, pesticides, PVC plumbing pipes, hair coloring products, aftershave lotions, disposable wipes, shaving creams, spermicides…;

  • Cadmium, a carcinogen involved in lung cancer: plastics, ceramics and colored glasses, nickel-cadmium cells and batteries, photocopies, PVC, pesticides, tobacco, drinking water and electronic circuit components; but also in certain foods: soya, seafood, peanuts, sunflower seeds, certain cereals and cow’s milk.

  • Brominated flame retardants and mercury: certain fabrics, furniture, mattresses, electronic products, motor vehicles, thermometers, light bulbs, batteries, certain skin lightening creams, antiseptic creams, eye drops, etc.;

  • Triclosan, a synthetic multi-application antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-tartar and preservative, present in many products such as: soaps, toothpaste, first aid and acne products, cosmetics, shaving creams, moisturizing lotions , makeup removers, deodorants, shower curtains, kitchen sponges, toys, sportswear and certain types of plastics;

  • Lead: vehicle batteries, pipes, cable sheaths, electronic equipment, paint on certain toys, pigments, PVC, jewelry and crystal glasses;

  • Tin and its derivatives, used in solvents;

  • Teflon and other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs): certain body creams, treatments for carpets and fabrics, food packaging and cookware, sports and medical equipment, waterproof clothing, etc.;

  • And many more

    • Natural or synthetic hormones

    The second major source of endocrine disruptors are natural hormones – estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, etc. – or synthesis. Contraception, hormonal replacement, hormone therapy… Synthetic products that mimic the effects of natural hormones are often used in medicine. However, these hormones join the natural environment via natural human or animal waste.

    In France, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) has undertaken to publish by 2021 the list of all endocrine disruptors …

    Effects and risks of endocrine disruptors

    The potential consequences for the body, specific to each endocrine disruptor, are numerous:

    • Impairment of reproductive functions;

  • Malformation of reproductive organs;

  • Disruption of thyroid function, nervous system development and cognitive development;

  • Change in sex ratio;

  • Diabetes;

  • Obesity and intestinal disorders;

  • Hormone-dependent cancers: development of tumors in tissues that produce or target hormones – thyroid, breast, testes, prostate, uterus, etc.;

  • And many more

    • The exhibition in utero can have serious consequences for the whole life:

    • On the structure of the brain and cognitive performance;

  • On the onset of puberty;

  • On weight regulation;

  • And on reproductive functions.

    • Endocrine disruptors and Covid-19

    After a first Danish study highlighting the role of a perfluorinated in the severity of Covid-19, a second confirms the involvement of endocrine disruptors in the severity of the pandemic. Published in October 2020 by an Inserm team and led by Karine Audouze, it reveals that exposure to chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system could interfere with various biological signals in the human body playing an important role in the severity of the disease. Covid-19.

    Endocrine disruptors: how to prevent them?

    If it seems difficult to escape endocrine disruptors, a few good habits could help to protect against them even a little:

    • Favor plastics considered to be safe: High Density Polyethylene Or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene Or Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP);

  • Ban plastics containing endocrine disruptors whose risk has been proven: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC);

  • Avoid plastics with pictograms: 3 PVC, 6 PS and 7 PC because of their increased harmfulness under the effect of heat;

  • Ban Teflon pans and favor stainless steel;

  • Use glass or ceramic containers for the microwave oven and for storage;

  • Wash fruits and vegetables to eliminate as many pesticides as possible and favor products from organic farming;

  • Avoid additives E214-219 (parabens) and E320 (BHA);

  • Read carefully the labels of hygiene and beauty products, favor organic labels and ban those containing the following compounds: Butylparaben, propylparaben, sodium butylparaben, sodium propylparaben, potassium butylparaben, potassium propylparaben, BHA, BHT, Cyclopentasiloxane, cyclotetrasiloxane, cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone-1, benzophenone-3, Triclosan, etc. ;

  • Remove pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, etc.);

  • And many more

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