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Endocrine disruptors are toxic chemicals that mimic or block natural hormones, affecting sexual development and reproductive health in animals, including humans. They are found in pesticides, plastics, and other man-made sources, and have been linked to abnormal sexual characteristics, cancers, and reduced immune health. Male reproductive health is particularly sensitive to these chemicals, which can be avoided by reducing plastic use and washing fresh produce.
Endocrine disruptors are toxic chemicals found in the environment that have hormone-like effects on animals, including humans. These effects are potentially harmful to normal sexual development, male and female reproductive health, and fertility problems such as sperm quality. They are called endocrine disruptors because these chemicals can mimic, block, or otherwise affect the body’s natural hormones. Such chemicals have a number of man-made sources, from pesticides and herbicides to additives used in various plastics. Due to their persistence in the environment and their ability to accumulate in animals, endocrine disrupting chemicals are both an environmental and a health concern.
The endocrine system uses hormones to regulate a number of bodily processes, including growth and the proper development of sexual characteristics. Also known as hormone-active agents, endocrine disruptors are problematic because they are similar enough to natural hormones to be exchanged by the body. Once recognized, endocrine disrupting chemicals can cause abnormal developments that would not otherwise have occurred. The endocrine system regulates many of the body’s functions, and endocrine disruptors have been linked to abnormal sexual characteristics, breast and prostate cancers, and reduced immune health.
In nature, endocrine disrupting chemicals have been found to have detrimental effects on the sexual development of male amphibians such as frogs, as well as reptiles and birds. Male frogs in parts of the United States have been found to have sexual abnormalities in their gonads and, in some cases, have both male and female reproductive deliveries. Some alligators have been found to have reproductive problems which include fewer eggs, reduced penis size, and other problems associated with the reproductive organs. Such chemicals can also reduce the reproductive rates of various bird and perhaps mammal species.
Different types of chemicals can have endocrine disrupting effects. Along with agrochemicals, other hormonally active agents include phthalates, which are a class of plastic additives, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have industrial uses in coolants or insulation. Bisphenol-A (BPA), a plastic additive that has similar effects to human hormones, is widely used in thermal paper and plastic food containers.
Male reproductive health appears to be more sensitive to the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Numerous studies in the second half of the 20th century found male human sperm to be declining in quality and number, which may or may not be related to environmental exposure to these chemicals. Those who want to reduce their exposure can decide to avoid the use of plastic in the kitchen, wash fresh products and not collect the receipt after purchases.
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