PCOS, BPA & Other Endocrine Disruptors
What is BPA?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common chemical used in many plastics and epoxy resins. It is a known hormone disrupting chemical that acts as estrogen in our bodies. This causes many health problems, especially when we are exposed prenatally and in early childhood, when we are most vulnerable and unable to filter BPA as an adult could. Not every individual can process out BPA at the same rates and this causes toxic build up. People with Autism may have higher levels of BPA in their systems as do those suffering obesity.
BPA is used in the epoxy that lines most canned food/beverage cans (even pop/beer cans), DVD's/CD's, cash register receipts, plastics marked with a 3 or 7 recycling symbol may have BPA in them, baby bottles/sports bottles, dental fillings and medical equipment, electronics, eyeglass lenses, lines water pipes . . . it's everywhere.
Affects of BPA can be varied. Some of the most common disorders that may be linked to BPA are *infertility, *miscarriage, *PCOS, *reproductive cancers, *Fibroids, *early puberty, ED, *obesity, *type 2 diabetes, Autism, ADD, brain function disruption, learning and memory issues, *depression/anxiety, *asthma, *heart disease and *other disorders related to the endocrine system.
*also common in PCOS
How to avoid BPA
Don't ask for a receipt when shopping or wash your hands as soon as possible. If there's an option to have your recipt emailed to you, do that. Do what shopping you can online, no recipts and you'll have a record of purchase in case of return. Amazon is now shipping food products as part of their "Pantry" program. Fill a box for $5.99 shipping. I probably spend more in gas and time driving to the store! Buy frozen or organic/fresh fruits and veggies. If you can't afford organic, wash them well. Go for organic when it comes to foods without peels, like lettice, especially when pregnant or for children. Avoid canned products and processed foods. Don't cook in plastic at all. If you use plastic cups and plates, don't put them in the dishwasher. Heat releases the BPA as does the degrading of the plastic. Use steel plates, bowls and cups, especially for children. Use steel or glass baby bottles. I use Playtex Nursers, the milk doesn't touch as much of the plastic. Breast feed if possible, BPA is in baby formula cans. Unfortunetly, the hormone disruptions can cause women to be unable to breast feed or produce very little milk. If you have PCOS and want to breast feed you should start your game plan way in advance so you'll be ready to suppliment or ask for prescription medication to induce lactation.
BPA isn't the only hormone disruptor out there, there are many more but BPA has gained the most media attention.
What Are Dioxins and Dioxin-like Chemicals?
Dioxins are part of a large class of chemicals with about 30 compounds considered highly toxic (PCB's, TCDD's, PCDD's, PCDF's). Most are produced as a bi-product, usually from incineration of waste (commercially or backyard buring), in the manufacturing of some herbicides, industrial/occupational and in paper and pulp bleaching. It also occurs naturally in volcanic eruptions and forest fires.
Dioxins are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). They infiltrate our food through herbicides and feed fed to animals we consume. Dioxin like compounds can be transferred through water supply/environmental contamination. It's stored in animal and human fat cells for up to 11 years.
Exposure increases the risk of cancer, cleft pallet, *endocrine disruption, *increased estrogen & estrogen to progesterone imbalence, liver & kidney disease, disturbances in tooth development, *sexual development dysfunction, damage to the immune system, Chloracne, *amenorrhea, *early puberty, low sperm count and other disorders. Prenatal exposure has long term affects that may not make themselves known until adulthood and include *thyroid hormone level disruption, *white blood cell level imbalance and decreased performance in tests of learning and intelligence and other issues.
*also common in PCOS
http://www.arl.noaa.gov/airtoxics_dioxin.php
How To Avoid Dioxins
Avoiding Dioxin/Dioxin-like chemicals is nearly impossible. Most animal products (meat, eggs, milk, fish, butter) have some level of Dioxin/Dioxin like chemicals. You can eat lean meats to avoid the Dioxins stored in animal fats, especially fish from contaminated sources.
What is Atrazine?
Atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides. It's use is abundant because it is so effective at what it does. It infiltrates our water supply, affecting animals and humans alike. In 2012, the manufacturer lost a $105 million dollar lawsuit to water companies to help offset the cost of filtering Atrazine from our water supply but claim no liability.
Atrazine has significant affects on the endocrine system. In one study it actually caused male frogs to become female, with ovaries that produce eggs. Atrazine has been linked to low testosterone in men, prostate inflammation and possible prostate cancer, *estrogen and testosterone disruption, delayed puberty and other sexual/reproductive endocrine disorders.
*common in PCOS
Avoiding Atrazine
Buy organic produce, especially produce without peels. Use a water filter that is certified to remove Atrazine. These are especially important in areas where Atrazine is most common.
What Are Phthalates?
Phthalates are used in plastics and are known as endocrine disruptors. We are exposed through fatty foods such as milk, meats, butter and plastics. *Phthalates are used in a large variety of products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents. End-applications include adhesives and glues, agricultural adjuvants, building materials, personal-care products, medical devices, detergents and surfactants, packaging, children's toys, modelling clay, waxes, paints, printing inks and coatings, pharmaceuticals, food products, and textiles. Phthalates are also frequently used in soft plastic fishing lures, caulk, paint pigments, and sex toys made of so-called "jelly rubber". Phthalates are used in a variety of household applications such as shower curtains, vinyl upholstery, adhesives, floor tiles, food containers and wrappers, and cleaning materials. Personal-care items containing phthalates include perfume, eye shadow, moisturizer, nail polish, liquid soap, and hair spray. Phthalates are also found in modern electronics and medical applications such as catheters and blood transfusion devices. The most widely used phthalates are di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and diisononyl phthalate (DINP). DEHP is the dominant plasticizer used globally in PVC due to its low cost. Benzylbutylphthalate (BBP) is used in the manufacture of foamed PVC, which is used mostly as a flooring material, though its use is decreasing rapidly in the Western countries. Phthalates with small R and R' groups are used as solvents in perfumes and pesticides. (*from Wiki)
Exposure to Phthalates causes *obesity, *insulin resistance, *asthma, *breast cancer, decreased intelligence in babies exposed prenatally, *preterm birth, *cardiovascular and metabolic disease, *reproductive abnormalities, *endocrine disruption, *ADD/ADHD and other health and *mental conditions.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding Phthalates
Avoid plastics with the recycling number 3 such as plastic containers, plastic wrap, PVC products and some toys (especially older toys). Also avoid health care products (deodorant, perfume, lotions, hair care and baby care products) that have Phthalates or hide it's presence under the term "fragrance".
What Are Glycol Ethers?
Glycol Ethers are a type of solvent used in resins, lacquers, paints, varnishes, gum, perfume, dyes, inks, as a constituent of paints and pastes, cleaning compounds, liquid soaps, cosmetics, and hydraulic/brake fluids.
Exposure may cause *obesity or anorexia, low sperm mobility, decrease in testicle size, effects to the thymus, spleen, bone marrow, liver, kidneys, *reduced fertility, maternal toxicity, *early embryonic death, birth defects, and delayed development. Some glycol ethers, if ingested or inhaled in very high concentrations, may cause central nervous system depression which may lead to headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and even coma.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding Glycol Ethers
Use natural cleaners, cosmetics, soaps and avoid products with 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME). Use gloves when cleaning or working on your car and wash your hands often.
What Are Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are used in chemicals that treat products to make them water, stain and stick resistant. It can be found in fast food containers, frozen food boxes, stain guards, non-stick cookware and other sources. The problem with this chemical is that it can last for generations and has many health affects.
PFC's can cause *female infertility, *reproductive hormone imbalance, *ADHD, *thyroid problems, decreased sperm quality, reduced birth weight, *increased "bad" cholesterol levels. Those living near a chemical plant that uses PFOS and/or PFOA have been associated with *preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension), birth defects (PFOA only), and increased uric acid levels – a
marker of *heart disease.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
Toss the old "Teflon" cookware. Avoid non-stick cookware, stain and water repellent treatments for clothing, bedding, furniture and carpeting. Wash new clothes before wearing.
What is Mercury?
Mercury is common in seafood, especially large or fatty fish. Mercury is used in some thermometers, in barometers, vapor and fluorescent lamps, mirror coatings, dental fillings, batteries, harmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals and cosmetics such as mascara and other health products. Energy efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs contain small amounts of mercury and should be recycled carefully. Mercury salts are sometimes used in skin-lightening and antiseptic creams. Mercury is used to make electrical equipment, wire, and switching devices; to extract gold and silver from ores; and to produce chlorine gas and caustic soda, a liquid chemical. Mercury compounds were once used in latex paints but were banned from that use in 1990, old paint and/or layered coats of paint may still have Mercury or even Lead.
High levels of Mercury can cause mercury poisoning, which can cause death or permanently damage the brain and kidneys. This brain damage can cause tremors, hallucinations, psychosis, changes in vision or hearing, memory problems, loss of appetite and weight, and irritability.
Exposure during pregnancy can cause brain damage to unborn babies and miscarriage.
Mercury causes *estrogen dominance, *reproductive cancers, it can damage the kidneys, cause *lung problems, *depression, inflammation of the gums and mouth, male and *female infertility, *irregular periods, *anxiety, *depression, *insomnia and other *mental health issues, *fatigue, *irritability, memory problems, vivid dreams, *adrenal and thyroid problems, *increase yeast infections, *reproductive hormone imbalance, *obesity, diabetes and other conditions.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding Mercury
Have your old fillings removed. Silver color fillings may contain haft mercury and it's released into our systems over time. Avoid fatty fish and high amounts of seafood. Many fish have high levels of mercury. Make sure your cosmetics and health care products are free of all hormone disrupting chemicals. Use gloves for handling CFL bulbs and use a mask if a CFL bulb breaks to avoid inhaling the mercury dust. Use gloves and wear masks when doing remodeling projects that can expose you to mercury dust or vapor and wash your hands often.
What is Arsenic?
Arsenic can occur naturally in ground water. Uranium mines may contain arsenic in the soil and water. The greatest threat to public health from arsenic originates from contaminated groundwater. Drinking-water, crops irrigated with contaminated water and food prepared with contaminated water are the sources of exposure. Fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, dairy products and cereals can also be dietary sources of arsenic, although exposure from these foods is generally much lower compared to exposure through contaminated groundwater. In seafood, arsenic is mainly found in its less toxic organic form. Arsenic is used industrially as an alloying agent, as well as in the processing of glass, pigments, textiles, paper, metal adhesives, wood preservatives and ammunition. Arsenic is also used in the hide tanning process and, to a limited extent, in pesticides, feed additives and pharmaceuticals. Arsenic is also produced as a by-product from the operation of copper, cobalt, and lead smelters and is sometimes used in alloys. People who smoke tobacco can also be exposed to the natural inorganic arsenic content of tobacco because tobacco plants essentially take up arsenic naturally present in the soil. Also, in the past, the potential for elevated arsenic exposure was much greater when tobacco plants used to be treated with lead arsenate insecticide.
Arsenic In Soil
Arsenic In Ground Water
The first signs of low level Arsenic exposure are typically skin changes such as *darkening skin pigment, hard patches on the feet and palms (hyperkeratosis) and skin lesions. It causes skin, bladder, liver, kidney, prostate and lung cancer. It has also been associated with developmental effects, *cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity, *insulin resistance, *diabetes, *obesity, *high blood pressure, *menstrual problems, *altered sexual behavior, *infertility, *altered puberty onset, altered length of pregnancy, *lactation problems, altered menopause onset and pregnancy outcome. Effects on the male reproductive system can include such things as altered sexual behavior, altered fertility and problems with sperm shape or count. Exposure to lower levels of arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting, abnormal heart rhythm, decreased production of red and white blood cells, impaired nerve function, *damage to blood vessels, skin warts and corns, and *red or swelling skin. Repeated exposure to arsenic can damage the liver and kidneys, cause stomach problems and many other health issues.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding Arsenic
Use a water filter that removes arsenic and be aware of the risks in your home and work environment.
What is Lead?
Lead is a heavy metal that has been in use for 2,000 years. It's been used in paints, in building construction, lead-acid batteries, bullets and shot, weights, as part of solders, pewters, fusible alloys, and as a radiation shield. It is also in old water pipes. Lead can be ingested through fruits and vegetables contaminated by high levels of lead in the soils they were grown in. Soil is contaminated through particulate accumulation from lead in pipes, lead paint and residual emissions from leaded gasoline that was used before the Environment Protection Agency issued the regulation around 1980.
Lead causes serious developmental disorders and possible death in babies and children. It causes hearing loss, *high blood pressure, anemia, weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles, severe damage the brain and kidneys, *miscarriage, *preterm birth, *infertility, *delayed puberty in girls, permanently reduces the cognitive capacity of children at extremely low levels of exposure. Lead causes serious reproduction issues for women. *It increases estrogen, disrupts the implantation process, causing miscarriage, decrease in LH receptors, lead causes a stress reaction that is followed by a rise in glucocorticoid, catecholamine and prolactin levels, increases anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes and other issues.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding Lead
Be aware of your risks. Check you water and soil for lead, especially if you live in an at risk state. Use a water filter. Maintain your home carefully, beware of lead paints, glass/pottery and lead pipes.
What Are PBDEs/Fire Retardants?
PBDEs are used in many common products to decrease their ability to burn, making them flame retardant. PBDEs are found in clothing, bedding, mattresses, building materials, electronics, motor vehicles, airplanes, plastics, polyurethane foams and animal bi-products such as some fish, butter, beef, other foods, dust and other sources. It is also present in human breast milk due to the mother's exposure.
PBDEs cause infertility at household levels. PBDEs have also been shown to have hormone-disrupting effects, in particular, on *estrogen and thyroid hormones. A 2009 study by the EPA shows that exposure to PBDEs during critical developmental time points in utero and shortly after birth cause lifelong hormone disruption. It causes ADD, ADHD, deceased mental and physical development, slowed speech development and lower IQ at higher exposure. PBDEs are incredibly persistent, meaning that even though many have been phased out they are and will affect our health for many years to come.
*also common in PCOS
Avoiding PBDEs
It's impossible to avoid PBDE's totally but you can help limit exposure by using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and an indoor HEPA filtration system which can cut down on toxic-laden house dust. Don't reupholster foam furniture and if you do, make sure to take precautions like working in a well ventilated area, wearing a mask and gloves and properly disposing of old foam/textiles and mattresses. Beware of the padding underneath old carpeting, it likely contains PBDEs. Avoid buying used mattresses, pajamas and bedding for babies and children since they are most at risk. Pregnant women are at great risk as well and should take special precautions to limit exposure, especially if living along a coastline.
What Is Perchlorate?
The dominant use of perchlorates are for propellants in rockets. Low levels of perchlorate have been detected in both drinking water and groundwater in 26 states in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2004, the chemical was also found in cow's milk in California with an average level of 1.3 parts per billion ("ppb" or µg/L), which may have entered the cows through feeding on crops that had exposure to water containing perchlorates. According to the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program, the chemical has been detected at levels as high as 5 µg/L in Massachusetts, well over the state regulation of 2 µg/L. Fireworks are also a source of perchlorate in lakes. Since 1998, perchlorate has been included in the contaminant candidate list (CCL), primarily due to its detection in California drinking water. The source of perchlorate in California was mainly be attributed to two manufacturers in the southeast portion of the Las Vegas Valley in Nevada, where perchlorate is produced for industrial use. This led to perchlorate release into Lake Mead (in Nevada) and the Colorado River. This affected regions of Nevada, California and Arizona where water from this reservoir is used for consumption, irrigation and recreation. Lake Mead is attributed as the source of 90% of the perchlorate in Southern Nevada's drinking water. Based on sampling, perchlorate has been detected in 26 states and is affecting 20 million people, highest detection in Texas, southern California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, but intensive sampling of the Great Plains and other middle state regions can increase the number of affected regions. It is also found in fertilizers and enters our food and water supplies.
Perchlorate causes *thyroid hormone imbalance and those hormones help with regulating the metabolism and are critical for proper brain and organ development in infants and young children. It also causes high blood pressure, lung disorders and other health concerns.
*also common in PCOS
These are only the TOP 15, other sites are also affected. http://web.stevens.edu/ses/oaca/images/research_meng/perch_map.jpg
Avoiding Perchlorates
Perchlorate is another hard to avoid chemical. Installing reverse osmosis water filters helps reduce the levels in water but it is still in many foods. Consuming enough Iodine through Iodized salt and supplements helps the body to process the chemical. Know your risk. Some areas have greater concentration of perchlorate in the water and soil.
Sadly, there are more endocrine disrupting chemicals out there and we consume or are exposed to them everyday. Maybe PCOS, infertility and thyroid problems are the result of our parents' exposure as well as our own contact with the many hormone disrupting chemicals we are unknowingly exposed to.
I noticed a scary theme as I was looking up the concentration of these chemicals, many are at high levels in my part of Ohio (South-Eastern/Cincinnati). I wonder if states with higher levels of hormone disruptors also have higher numbers of women being diagnosed with endocrine disorders, unexplained fertility and obesity.
Sources
http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=65
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybrominated_diphenyl_ethers
http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/pbdereport.aspx
http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrei_Tchernitchin/publication/10627876_Effect_of_chronic_exposure_to_lead_on_estrogen_action_in_the_prepubertal_rat_uterus/links/54732f4e0cf2d67fc035f193.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchlorate
http://www.ahealth.com/content/education/biological_dentistry/mercury_amagam.php
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/toxic-environmental-exposures-epigenetics-pcos-reproduction_n_1475232.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19280433
http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/estrogendominance.html
http://www.flcv.com/fetaln.html
http://news.berkeley.edu/2010/03/01/frogs/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrazine
http://www.dioxinfacts.org/questions_answers/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221205.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#Miscellaneous_effects
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioxins_and_dioxin-like_compounds
http://www.clearwater.org/news/pcbhealth.html
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/83-112/
http://www.watoxics.org/chemicals-of-concern/perfluorinated-compounds-pfcs
http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors
http://www.ncceh.ca/sites/default/files/Health_effects_PFCs_Oct_2010.pdf
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-2.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Lead#Health_effects
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchlorate
