• Among the everyday items containing endocrine disrupting chemicals are food, cosmetics and drugs

By Graham Smith

PUBLISHED: 08:17 EST, 11 May 2012 | UPDATED: 08:47 EST, 11 May 2012


Chemicals found in household products may be causing significant increases in cancers, diabetes, obesity and falling fertility, the European Environment Agency has warned.

Among the everyday items containing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which affect the hormone system, are food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The chemicals, which can leach out into food and be absorbed by the body, are also causing an increased number of neurological development problems in both humans and animals, it is claimed.

Warning: Chemicals found in household products may be causing significant increases in cancers, diabetes, obesity and falling fertility

Warning: Chemicals found in household products may be causing significant increases in cancers, diabetes, obesity and falling fertility

In recent decades, there has been a significant growth in many human diseases and disorders including breast and prostate cancer, male infertility and diabetes.

The substances mimic female hormones and have already been linked to breast cancer, low quality semen and thryoid disease as well as sex changes in fish in polluted waterways.

Many scientists think that this growth is connected to the 'rising levels of exposure' to mixtures of some chemicals in widespread use.

Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director, said: 'Scientific research gathered over the last few decades shows us that endocrine disruption is a real problem, with serious effects on wildlife, and possibly people.

The EEA has called for a 'precautionary approach' to the chemicals until their affect is better understood, but stopped short of recommending a complete ban.

It did, however, fully accept that there is a definite link between the chemicals and some diseases seen in humans.

The chemicals mimic female hormones and have already been linked to the rise in obesity

The chemicals mimic female hormones and have already been linked to the rise in obesity

The study says:  'There is a large body of evidence linking chemical exposure to thyroid, immune, reproductive and neurological problems in animals, and many of the same or similar diseases and disorders have been observed to be rising in human populations.

'Both animals and humans may be exposed to these chemicals in the environment, or via water or the food chain where the chemicals can build up.'

EEA scientists arrived at their findings after combing through scientific literature commissioned by the agency over the past 15 years.

The study has been published in a report titled 'The impacts of endocrine disrupters on wildlife, people and their environments'.

It concludes: 'Tthe effects of EDCs on humans may be more difficult to demonstrate, due to the length, cost and methodological difficulties with these types of studies – so wildlife and animal studies may be seen in some cases as an early warning of the dangers.'

 

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It's not just the chemicals in the packaging and household products, it's also the vast amount of GM SOYA stuffed into our foods, often without being on the label. It has the same gender bending effect, destroying thyroids for good measure.

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And crop spraying and numerous other additives in food.

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Eco friendly products which generally speaking have not been tested are the ones that are safe to use. - Lees, London, 11/5/2012 17:52 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. If something has "not been tested", then how do you know that it is safe to use? I personally use several products which come with an "Eco friendly" label as I happen to think that they do the job in question very well - some washing up liquids and laundry liquids would be an example of this. I have switched to them recently because I am very impressed with their performance and it MAY be that any risk either to my health or to the wider environment is lessened. However statements such as the one you have made in this column make no sense at all and simply serve to undermine any rational debate about the advantages that so-called ecologically sound products may have.

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Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) and triclosan in toothpaste and shampoo is another concern. Would they tell us though if it were dangerous? I wonder....So err on the side of caution is my advice. - jules, Middle England, 11/5/2012 17:58 It took me years to discover that it was the SLS in toothpaste which was causing my gum problems. Switching to an SLS free brand solved the problem completely.

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There's nothing worse than these vague references to 'endocrine disrupting chemicals' without further information about which foodstuffs are likely to contain them, and what kinds of chemicals they are. All a vague and ill informed article like this will do is to cause everybody to worry without actually knowing what they should be worrying about, or being able to change their behaviour to avoid the risk.

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Room scents are not good, especially the sort you plug in to make a floral smell, You should only use soap under your arms and simply water for everywhere else. - Barbara, Northumberland, 11/5/2012 17:25 As has happened before - this comment is not from me but I agree entirely about the plug-in air "fresheners". Apart from anything else they might do to you, I find them virtually guaranteed to triggered my asthma symptoms. Vile things!

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Funny how obesity is blamed on a chemical, when all the fat people I know just stuff their faces full of food, huge portions, bags of crisps, loads of fizzy drinks, and masses of takeaways and krispy creme doughnuts. But they can now blame their excess weight on the lining of a can of tuna fish they ate in 2003........

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I often worry about putting platic into the microwave. These days so much food comes in microwavable plastic cartons. I've seen chefs on TV using clingfilm in the microwave, but I do wonder what leaches out at high temperatures - which we then put straight into our bodies when we eat the food. Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) and triclosan in toothpaste and shampoo is another concern. Would they tell us though if it were dangerous? I wonder....So err on the side of caution is my advice.

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I thought is was passive smoke killing everyone ?? Guess NOT HEY

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Room scents are not good, especially the sort you plug in to make a floral smell, You should only use soap under your arms and simply water for everywhere else.

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