What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulates many of the body’s functions, including growth, development and maturation, as well as the way various organs operate. The endocrine glands – including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, thymus, pancreas, ovaries and testes – release carefully-measured amounts of hormones into the bloodstream that act as natural chemical messengers, travelling to different parts of the body in order to control and adjust many life functions such as growth, development, reproduction, how food is utilised by the body, blood pressure, blood glucose levels and fluid balance.

What is an endocrine disruptor?

An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that, when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body’s normal functions. This disruption can happen through altering normal hormone levels, halting or stimulating the production of hormones, or changing the way hormones travel through the body, thus affecting the functions that these hormones control.

How are we exposed to endocrine disruptors?

Exposure to endocrine disruptors can occur through direct contact or through ingestion of contaminated water, food or air. Studies have found that endocrine disruptors can leach out of plastics, including that used to make hospital intravenous bags. Many endocrine disruptors are persistent in the environment and accumulate in fat.

How do we know that endocrine disruptors are dangerous?

Many plant and animal species are showing signs of ill health due to exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. For example, fish in the Great Lakes in North America, which are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other man-made chemicals, have numerous reproductive problems as well as abnormal swelling of the thyroid glands. Fish eating birds in the Great Lakes area, such as eagles, terns and gulls have shown similar dysfunctions.

Should humans be concerned for their health?

Yes! All vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including humans) are fundamentally similar during early embryonic development. Scientists can therefore use the evidence acquired on other species to make predictions about endocrine disrupting effects on humans.

Is there evidence that humans are susceptible to endocrine disruptors?

Yes. In the 1950’s and 1960’s pregnant women were given diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriages. Not only did it fail to prevent miscarriages but it also caused problems for many of the women’s children. In 1971 doctors began reporting high rates of unusual vaginal cancers in teenage girls. Invetsigations traced the problem to their mothers use of DES. The girls also suffered birth defects of the uterus and ovaries and immune system surpression.


Are children at greater risk from endocrine disruptor exposure?

Yes. Because endocrine disruptors affect the development of the body’s vital organs and hormonal systems, infants, children and developing foetuses are more vulnerable to exposure. And, as was the case with DEA, parents exposure to certain chemicals may produce unexpected effects in their children decades later.

Don’t chemicals have to be safe to be allowed on the market?

No. The majority of the more than 2,000 chemicals that come into the market each year do not even go through the simplest of tests to determine toxicity. Even if tests are carried out they do not assess whether or not a chemical has endocrine interfering properties.

Endocrine disruptors in Cosmetics and Toiletries

Most disturbing is that there is direct evidence that several widely used ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products have endocrine disrupting effects. Thus the use of such products could influence reproductive cancer risks in women, as well as the reproductive health of their male offspring.

A Puerto Rican study identified pollutants in the serum of girls with premature thelarche. The particular phthalates found at significantly elevated levels in the blood serum were diemethyl-, diethyl- and Dibutyl phthalates – all identified as endocrine disruptors and all widely used is cosmetic products as plasticizers, solvents and perfume fixants.

Ingredients to avoid:

· Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
· Benzophenone-3 (Bp-3)
· Butyl Benzyl Phthalate
· Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
· Butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane (B-MDM)
· Dibutyl Phthalate
· Diethyl Phthalate
· Homosalate (HMS)
· Methyl-benzylidene Camphor (4-MBC)
· Nitro Musks
· Octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA)
· Octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC)
· Parabens
· Polycyclic Musks
· Resorcinol



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