EDC_1_THE BEGINNING

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Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues.


How Do We Encounter EDCs?

Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products, including cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, toys, carpets, and pesticides. Some chemicals that act as flame retardants may also be endocrine disruptors. Contact with these chemicals may occur through air, diet, skin, and water. EDCs cannot be completely avoided or removed; however, you can make informed choices to reduce exposure and risk of any potential health effects

According to the Endocrine Society, there are nearly 85,000 human-made chemicals in the world, and 1,000 or more of those could be endocrine disruptors, based on their unique properties.  The following are among the most common and well-studied.

  • Atrazine is one of the most commonly applied herbicides in the world, often used to control weeds in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane crops.
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used in manufacturing, food packaging, toys, and other applications. BPA resins may be found in the lining of some canned foods and beverages.
  • Dioxins are a byproduct of certain manufacturing processes, such as herbicide production and paper bleaching. They can be released into the air from waste burning and wildfires.
  • Perchlorate is a colorless salt manufactured and used as an industrial chemical to make rockets, explosives, and fireworks, which can be found in some groundwater.

People may be exposed to endocrine disruptors through food and beverages consumed, pesticides applied, and cosmetics used. In essence, your contact with these chemicals may occur through diet, air, skin, and water. Even low doses of endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be unsafe. The body’s normal endocrine functioning involves very small changes in hormone levels, yet we know even these small changes can cause significant developmental and biological effects. This observation leads scientists to think that endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures, even at low amounts, can alter the body’s sensitive systems and lead to health problems.


NIEHS has been a pioneer in researching endocrine disruptors' health effects. NIEHS-supported research leads to a greater understanding of how endocrine-disrupting chemicals may harm our health and cause disease. 

This work began with studies on the endocrine-disrupting effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES). Many women took diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, from 1940 to 1971. Their doctors gave them the drug to treat problematic pregnancies. Years later, doctors discovered that the daughters of women who took DES had a higher risk of several types of cancer. Scientists are closely watching the next generation of women, the DES granddaughters, to see if they have problems, too.

You can't eliminate all contact with endocrine disruptors, but you can reduce your contact. Try these strategies when cleaning or cooking:

  • Buy organic produce.
  • Choose products that don't contain fragrances. 
  • Wash your hands often. By doing so, you'll get rid of chemicals that you may have picked up. Choose the plainest soap you can find, one without antibacterial properties or a fragrance. 
  • Avoid plastics. 
  • Keep it clean. Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

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