The Truth about Endocrine Disruptors

What do the chief of a remote indigenous tribe in Northern Quebec, a housewife in the Midwestern United States and a retired professional in Paris, France all have in common?

The answer? Synthetics.  Recent studies of small groups of diverse volunteers (men and women) in Europe, the US and Canada showed that everyone tested had, without their knowing, absorbed a complex chemical cocktail of dozens of different synthetic substances.  During testing, these substances showed up in their bodies.

None of the test subjects were living near a toxic dump or exhibiting any unusual behavior or disease.  They were simply living normal lives in a modern era where chemicals and chemical by-products abound in the air they breathe, the water they drink, the food they eat, and the means by which they work and play.

What’s more is that it is likely that every single human on the planet – including you and me – have varying degrees of synthetic chemicals inside our bodies as well.

Simply put, synthetic chemical toxins are the accumulated by-products of modern life.  Breathing industrial emissions such as car exhaust, eating treated food, and using endless consumer products — plastic microwave bags, fast-food containers, nail polish, and computer casings, just to name a few— take their toll not only one the planet, but on humans as well.

The ABC’s of EDC’s

So just what are synthetic chemicals and how do they affect our bodies?

Of all the manmade toxins in our environment, we now realize that the most commonly occurring chemicals may be the most dangerous.  These substances are called Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals (EDC’s).  EDC’s have been shown to mimic the actions of hormones when absorbed by humans and wildlife.  They are used to create everyday products such as plastics, pesticides, cleansers, dyes, flame retardants and white paper, among other things. 

EDC chemicals are a relatively recent invention and have existed only for the last 60 years or so.  These substances affect us by interfering with the essential inner workings of our cells. Measuring just how dangerous they are, however, has been difficult not only because they interact in complex ways and in tiny concentrations, but also because literally every species living on the planet has had some exposure to them, often in utero. Nowadays endocrine disruptors are omnipresent in every corner of the globe. It is nearly impossible to find a group of subjects not affected by ADC’s for researchers to monitor as control groups in exposure studies.

To understand the importance of endocrine disruptors, let’s first take a look at the endocrine system as a whole.  A woman’s endocrine system is one of the most sensitive communication networks of her body.  It influences all aspects of her health and well-being, including reproductive potential, cognitive function, thyroid and metabolic function, digestion and hormonal balance. How an individual’s endocrine system reacts to EDC’s varies, but one thing is certain: never before in history have there been so many diverse, man-made and unregulated synthetics at work.

Coming to terms with the magnitude and reach of EDC’s can be overwhelming, but take heart.  You do have some control over the situation.  By giving your body the support it needs to function well, you can optimize your capacity to detoxify your body’s various organ systems.  And on a larger scale, there are many simple, positive and easy things you can do to protect your family and your community from harmful substances, starting right now.

At Vibrant Way, we want you to be empowered and the first step is to become informed and aware!

• The Endocrine System