The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce hormones, the chemical messengers that control and coordinate systems throughout the entire body including reproduction, growth, brain development, metabolism, digestion, heart health, emotions and much more. It's an exquisitely choreographed dance and each hormone performs its role perfectly -- unless they're prevented from doing so. Endocrine disruptors are toxins that interfere with hormones, stopping them from carrying out the vital roles they play in maintaining our health. Among the ways they do this are blocking hormones, mimicking hormones, hindering their production and obstructing their activity. They profoundly and often permanently wreck havoc on the body, starting from fetal development in the womb. 

They’re in thousands of everyday products including plastics, cosmetics, furniture, carpets, toys, clothes, bottles and cans, food packaging, cookware, personal care products like soap, dental floss and toothpaste, receipts, nail polish, electronics, appliances and much more. 

They have been linked to infertility and impaired fetal development, low birth weight, neurological and behavioral problems in children, including impaired brain development, ADHD and anxiety, metabolic and cardiovascular issues, cancer, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, immune system malfunction, respiratory issues, and more. Pre-natal exposure can affect a child’s later physical and mental development. A 2011 study found that six-month-old boys whose mothers had high levels of phthalates, a major endocrine disruptor, scored lower than average on brain and motor skills development tests. Interestingly, the same effect was not seen in baby girls.

Reproduction and sexual health is particularly threatened by these toxins as two of the endocrine system’s glands are the ovaries and testes. Interference with these organs and the hormones they produce can cause low sperm counts, reduced sperm quality, irregular or failed ovulation and difficulty conceiving. They can also impede fetal development and impair the overall health of infants affected during gestation. Infertility is dramatically on the rise worldwide and research suggests endocrine disruptors could be partly to blame. 

It’s not surprising that we are awash in toxic chemicals. Chemical production in the U.S. tripled in the late 20th century, from about 50 million tons in 1970 to about 150 million tons by 1995. And this trend has not slowed down since. Many are endocrine disruptors and are found not just in products but in the air, water and soil.

Here is a list of some common endocrine disruptors and 25 suggestions for alternatives, many of which can be found on Good as Dirt.

1. Phthalates: Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics soft and flexible. They are in thousands of common products like shower curtains, raincoats, outerwear and other clothing, vinyl flooring, furniture, food packaging, teething rings, toys, including inflatables, garden hoses, air freshener, paint, dryer sheets, some mattresses, PVC plastics They’re also in cleaning products, cosmetics, fragrances, body wash, soaps, lotions, deodorant, nail polish and more to make them last longer. Health effects from phthalates include an increased risk of some cancers, learning difficulties in children, prenatal mortality, damage to the reproductive and neurological systems, obesity and much more.

2. Bisphenol-A (BPA): BPA (and other bisphenols) is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic, a hard rigid plastic. While legislative and regulatory efforts to remove BPA from a wide range of products, especially those for children, have been somewhat successful, this chemical is still ubiquitous and pervasive. It’s in plastic toys, the interior lining of some plastic and metal food cans and bottles, some thermal receipts and tickets, dental sealants, electronics, polycarbonate eyeglass lenses and much more. It’s been linked to reproductive toxicity, cancer, obesity, heart disease and negative effects on children’s brain development. 

3. Triclosan: Triclosan is a chemical with anti-bacterial properties and is in hundreds of other products to stop bacterial growth and contamination. These include cleaning products, cosmetics, aftershave, hand sanitizers, deodorants, toothpaste, mouthwash, detergents and dishwashing liquids, furniture, pesticides, clothing, shoes, toys, and kitchenware. In addition to being an endocrine disruptor, it may harm the liver, interfere with thyroid function, and cause allergies.

4. PFAS: including PFOA and PFOS, are called ‘forever chemicals’ because they last more or less forever, in the environment and in our bodies and those of wildlife. They do not break down quickly and they accumulate. (PFAS stand for Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances.) They have a wide variety of uses, most notoriously for being the reason why Teflon and other non-stick cookware is non-stick. They are also used in carpets, furnishings and clothing to make them water and stain-resistant, in grease-resistant food packaging, in shampoo, dental floss and other personal care products, in fire fighting foam and much more. PFAS chemicals have been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive system dysfunction, developmental problems, birth defects, thyroid disease, cancer and more. Studies show that almost everyone worldwide has PFAS chemicals in their blood and, according to the Environmental Working Group, over 200 million Americans have PFAS chemicals in their water. 

5. Flame retardants: Toxic fire retardants are used in mattresses, carpets, upholstered furniture, car seats, including infant seats, TVs, appliances, insulation, building materials and more. They've been found in the blood of almost everyone tested in the U.S. They can harm brain development starting as early as in the womb and have been linked to cancer. While regulations require flame retardants in some products, including mattresses, some eco-friendly brands use non-toxic materials to comply. Mattress makers like Avocado Green Mattress, for example, use wool or, in their vegan mattress, they use natural graphite powder. 

6. Parabens: Parabens are synthetic preservatives found in thousands of common products from cosmetics, shampoos, deodorants, sunscreen and skin care products to food. They can mimic estrogen and interfere with fertility and the reproductive system and affect the health of fetuses and children. They’ve also been linked to lower sperm counts and may increase the risk of some cancers, including breast cancer. In the environment, parabens kill coral and other aquatic life.

7. Dioxins are highly toxic pollutants that are byproducts of industrial activity such as bleaching of paper, smelting and the manufacture of pesticides. They can damage several organs as well as the immune, reproductive and nervous systems. They are adversely affect fetal development. They are are persistent and accumulate once they enter the body because they’re absorbed by fat tissue, including that of animals, which is why the most common way humans ingest dioxins is by eating meat, dairy and fish. 

8. Pesticides, especially organophosphates. They’ve been linked to developmental delays in children and can cause hormonal imbalances and respiratory failure. They are sometimes used in nerve agents produced for chemical warfare so it’s no wonder they harm the nervous system. They are used on a large scale in agriculture and also in household products like ant and roach sprays.  Another common pesticide, glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, is an endocrine disruptor harmful to the reproductive system. It’s also been linked to neonatal issues, birth defects, and breast cancer. It is listed as a carcinogen in California. Atrazine is a common herbicide used worldwide, often to control weeds on corn and sugarcane crops. It's a powerful and dangerous endocrine disruptor.

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25 Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors

1. One of the best ways to avoid endocrine disruptors, particularly phthalates, is to avoid plastic whenever possible and always choose a non-plastic alternative.

2. Synthetic clothing is plastic and many chemicals used on it contain phthalates and other endocrine disruptors, which can leach from the fabric onto skin. They can also be inhaled via microplastics that shed from the fabric. Particularly bad is PVC-based outerwear treated with water-repellent coatings like Gore-Tex as that contains PFAS and other chemicals. Instead of clothes made of synthetics buy clothes made of organic cotton, hemp, linen and bamboo fabrics. This is especially true for children. Here are several brands of children's clothing that are made with organic fabrics.

3. Instead of plastic shower curtains buy cotton, hemp or another plant-based fabric. 

4. Instead of synthetic blankets, quilts and sheets, buy bedding made of organic cotton, linen, hemp and bamboo. Never buy a comforter filled with polyester or another synthetic material. Polyester is toxic and sheds tiny microplastics.

5. Instead of mattresses that contain polyester fill, chemicals like formaldehyde and toxic fire retardants, buy organic non-toxic mattresses such as those made by Avocado Green Mattress and My Green Mattress. Both are excellent.

6. Instead of plastic toys choose safe eco-friendly toys made of wood, metal or other non-plastic materials, including blocks and books. Choose stuffed toys filled with cotton and other natural stuffing, like those from Apple Park and Under the Nile. Stay away from synthetic stuffing like polyester. While polyester is not itself an endocrine disruptor, it’s often treated with chemicals that are and it’s also toxic for other reasons. It also sheds microplastics.

7. Instead of mass market cosmetics, soaps and personal care products choose eco-friendly brands that tout their toxin-free ingredients, including those that specifically state they’re free of phthalates. Ditto on conventional hair care products -- choose brands like Earthling and Ethique instead.

8. Avoid pots and pans with non-stick cooking surfaces. Even if new non-stick pans say PFOA-free don’t buy them as they’re likely just using a different PFAS chemical. Instead of non-stick pans, use cast iron, stainless steel, glass or copper. 

9. Instead of dryer sheets, which are loaded with toxic chemicals, use hemp dryer balls or those made of bamboo or cotton. Not only non-toxic, they're better at keeping clothes fluffed and wrinkle-free.

10. Instead of furniture stuffed with polyester fill, buy furniture filled with cotton or natural latex another plant-based material. Natural non-toxic furniture is a lot more expensive unfortunately but it's much safer and usually better made so it lasts a long time.

11. Instead of buying water in plastic bottles, fill glass or metal water bottles from the tap. Tap water can be filtered with a wide variety of charcoal-based filters like the Berkey system or with a reverse osmosis system. Even reusable plastic bottles should be avoided as they too can continually leach endocrine disruptor chemicals like PFAS and BPA into your water.

12. Instead of make-up filled with chemicals and sold in plastic containers,  buy make-up from brands that use all natural plant-based ingredients and package it in cardboard, such as Axiology. 

13. Instead of toxic cleaning products and dishwashing detergents use natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda and brands that use non-toxic ingredients like Meliora. One handy natural glass-cleaner is a 50-50 mix of vodka and water. Toxin-free and it works great. Some recipes also call for some vinegar added in. It's optional as the vodka works well on its own. And keep vinegar away from natural stone like marble counters and bathroom trim.

14. Buy organic produce and other food as much as possible, and reduce or eliminate meat, as this will reduce the amount of pesticides and other toxins you’re exposed to. Many toxic chemicals, once ingested, are stored in fat tissue and bioaccumulate so eating animal flesh delivers these stored chemicals to you.  (Meat production is also a major source of greenhouse gasses. And cruel.)

15. Buy fresh food and ingredients instead of packaged food and take-out. Chemicals in both plastic and treated cardboard packaging can leach into food. Cardboard packaging, especially prepared foods and take-out, is often coated with PFAS chemicals to make it grease and water-repellant.  

16. Instead of chemical sunscreens use mineral sunscreens like Badger or Raw Love, which don't contain endocrine disrupting chemicals and also come in metal tins. Most chemical sunscreens have suspected endocrine disruptors like oxybenzone, octinoxate and avobenzene. Mineral sunscreens that create a physical barrier between the sun's rays and your skin typically use titanium oxide or zinc oxide, which are safer. 

17. Instead of conventional laundry detergents, use non-toxic eco-friendly laundry sheets like those made by Clean People and Earth Breeze. Not only are the non-toxic, they come in cardboard, not a big plastic jug.

18. It’s great to bring reusable bags to the supermarket but don’t use the ubiquitous plastic ones. They shed microplastics into your food and your home and the environment. Instead, bring cotton or hemp bags or string bags.

19. Instead of synthetic handbags, wallets and other accessories, choose those made with natural materials, including cork, hemp and  cotton.

20. Instead of synthetic bath scrubbies buy those made with natural fibers such as Ayate's washcloth made from the agave plant or hemp washcloths.

21. Buy combs and brushes made of wood or bamboo, especially those with natural bristles. But not boar bristles. They are cruel. Look for plant-based bristles.

22. Don’t buy synthetic carpets and rugs treated with stain-resistant chemicals. Buy plant-based rugs and always ensure they are untreated. 

23. Instead of plastic toothbrushes, buy those made of bamboo. There are many available but Sea Turtle bamboo toothbrushes also have plant-based bristles. 

24. Instead of synthetic mass market dental floss use plant-based floss. Not only is the major-brands' floss plastic, much of it is coated with PFAS chemicals to make it smooth and slippery and that delivers the toxic forever chemicals directly into your mouth. 

25. Instead of plastic picnic supplies use utensils, plates and cups made of paper or bamboo. Instead of plastic cling wrap, cover leftovers with waxed cloth wraps or hemp covers. Never put food in plastic to store it. It’s best to put it in glass containers or dishes and cover with wraps.