Endocrine disruptors: the invisible threat

We are increasingly exposed to hundreds of attacks from the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the products we use to clean and wash ourselves and our clothes.

This happens more and more because because in practically all the products we use, and in our environment, there is an increasing amount of chemical substances which, together, form an explosive cocktail capable of overwhelming our immune system, liver and detoxification system.

Of all the chemical substances we can find which have a negative influence on our health, endocrine disruptors deserve special attention. They are compounds that behave in a distinctive way, as they mimic hormones. These synthetic molecules disrupt hormonal receptors, especially estrogens, mimicking their action and altering the hormonal balance of the organism. In doing this, they can interrupt some physiological processes controlled by hormones or generate a response which is more or less intense than normal. Another important feature of endocrine disruptors is that they can act at very low doses, affecting fertility and being linked to obesity, metabolic problems, diabetes and even cancer.

These disruptors are present in substances we use regularly and use at home, such as pesticides and insecticides, cosmetics, creams, perfumes, deodorants, gels and shampoos, plastics (bags, toys and containers for various purposes), and cleaning products. And although the World Health Organisation published a list of some 800 chemicals suspected of acting as endocrine disruptors, among the most popular are DDT, an insecticide which is currently banned, bisphenol A, phthalates, epoxy resins and polycarbonates. Knowing what these substances are and making an effort to avoid them as much as possible is a necessary investment in health.