In our modern society, we are almost constantly exposed to pollutants. We absorb them through the air we breathe, drinking water, our skin, or our food. Naturally, these pollutants pose a health risk. It is especially the thyroid gland, as the center of our hormones, that suffers from these pollutants.
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What are environmental pollutants?
Because they primarily affect and disrupt the hormonal balance, some environmental pollutants are also called "endocrine-active substances." Endocrine refers to all organs that release messenger substances, i.e., hormones, internally into the body. In addition to the thyroid gland, the most important hormone regulator, these include the adrenal gland, the pituitary gland, as well as the fallopian tubes and testes. Endocrine-active substances have in common that their structure and mode of action resemble our hormones, allowing them to easily integrate into the hormonal balance. This does not necessarily have to be a negative thing. There are several naturally occurring substances that resemble our hormones and have a positive influence on the regulation of our hormonal balance. For example, estrogen-like substances from plants are used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
However, there are also many hormone-like substances that disrupt the human endocrine system, which is why they are also called "endocrine disruptors" (EDs). These include, for example, many substances found in pesticides, but also in our food, cosmetic products, toys, i.e., things we come into contact with daily.
How do these pollutants affect our organism?
Rising case numbers of various types of cancer such as thyroid, testicular, breast, or prostate cancer, as well as the steadily declining quality of sperm in European countries, clearly show that something is happening with people's hormonal balance. The constantly decreasing age of puberty onset, especially in girls, is also alarming in this regard. That hormone-like substances play a role in the development of diseases of the reproductive organs has long been considered confirmed. These include testicular, prostate, and breast cancer, as well as female hormonal disorders such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).1
Endocrine-active substances or EDs enter the organism and lead to either an increase or decrease in certain hormones in the blood. Permanent irritation of the receptors can lead to desensitization, so that natural hormones no longer have their usual effect. Insulin resistance, for example, is the result of such desensitization, which in a large number of cases develops into type 2 diabetes.
Since the thyroid gland is significantly involved in many important processes in the organism, the effects of a disturbance of this organ are very diverse. For example, it ensures intact brain function, which is why researchers also attribute an increase in neuronal disorders such as ADHD to thyroid dysfunction caused by endocrine-active substances.1
Many endocrine-active substances trigger the activation of adrenaline receptors in our body, leading to a disruption in steroid production. Researchers suspect a connection between such a disruption and the development of inflammatory reactions, which could promote the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. In addition, studies have shown that increased exposure to hormone-like substances leads to symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression.2
The most common environmental pollutants
Some endocrine-active substances are so widespread in our daily lives that they are now detectable in a large part of the population. The following three substances are among the most common.
1. Bisphenol A (BPA)
The substance was first produced in 1891, and its estrogen-like effect was discovered in 1936. Nevertheless, it was still the most produced plastic in 2013, as it is used for a variety of toys and food storage. For example, it is found in many plastic bottles or plastic containers for food. Canned goods also usually have a BPA coating. Under the influence of heat or repeated use of the containers, the pollutant gets into the food or beverages stored in them. In Germany, the use of BPA for the production of baby drinking bottles is now prohibited. The thermal paper on which cash receipts are printed was also treated with BPA until 2019. With every skin contact with the paper, small amounts of BPA enter our body.3
A study in the US showed that 93% of people over 6 years old had BPA in their urine. BPA absorbed through food is excreted after about 6 hours. These figures therefore suggest continuous contact with the pollutant.4
2. Phthalates
These substances are primarily used as plasticizers in plastic products. They are commonly found in PVC floors, but also in toys, cosmetic products such as toothbrushes, or artificial leather. Due to the widespread use of these substances, the total global consumption of phthalates amounts to more than 3 million tons per year.
Phthalates have even been detected in house dust. Avoiding contact with phthalates is therefore virtually impossible. Residues of phthalates are found mainly in the thyroid gland, but also in the kidneys, liver, and testes. They are associated with premature births, miscarriages, and malformations during pregnancy, as well as infertility. Diabetes, insulin resistance, and asthma are also attributed to contact with phthalates. In 2007, the EU banned the use of most phthalates in plastic products.5
Parabens are a group of preservatives primarily used in medical and cosmetic products to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Their use has been widespread since the 1920s, even for preserving various foods. Various studies have shown that parabens can disrupt estrogen and progesterone receptors, which can lead to various hormonal disorders in women.6 The detection of parabens in urine has been linked by researchers to increased oxidative stress, DNA damage, and impaired thyroid function, and they are also suspected of causing breast cancer.7
Currently, parabens are classified as generally harmless by the EU and are only restricted in the concentration in which they may be used. Only propyl and butyl parabens have been banned since 2015 in the manufacture of wound creams for babies, as they can penetrate the child's skin more readily if existing skin irritations are present. For children aged three and over, however, their use is permitted. Many manufacturers voluntarily refrain from using these substances due to health concerns.
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Improvement through strict regulation?
Many endocrine-active substances are already banned in the EU and other economic areas. However, this does not mean that we are no longer exposed to these substances. Older products or imported products containing these pollutants can still be in circulation. Even if contaminated products have already been disposed of, the pollutants may still find their way to us. For example, if plastic ends up in the sea, these substances leach into the water and are absorbed by fish and other marine organisms. By eating contaminated fish, seafood, or algae, we then also ingest these substances.
Strengthen and protect the thyroid gland
Since it is the center of our hormones, it is particularly important to protect the thyroid gland from the effects of these pollutants. Of course, the first step is to avoid endocrine-active substances wherever possible. This means buying and storing food in glass rather than plastic or cans, opting for cosmetic products that do not use parabens, and buying organic food with fewer pesticides instead of conventionally grown produce. However, as already mentioned, some of these substances are also found in drinking water and air, which makes it impossible for us to avoid them entirely. Therefore, it is advisable to support the thyroid gland, as the most important organ of our hormonal balance, as much as possible.
In addition to an active lifestyle and a balanced diet, the two minerals iodine and selenium are particularly important for a healthy thyroid. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the intake of these two nutrients. Supplementation of iodine and selenium is also recommended, as the dosage can be controlled more precisely here. A combination of adapting purchasing and eating habits and supplementing iodine is also recommended by researchers for better thyroid health.8
Sources:
- European Environment Agency. The impacts of endocrine disrupters on wildlife, people and their environments. The Weybridge+15 (1996–2011) report. 2012. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/the-impacts-of-endocrine-disrupters
- Pötzl B, Kürzinger L, Stopper H, Fassnacht M, Kurlbaum M, Dischinger U. Endocrine Disruptors: Focus on the Adrenal Cortex. Horm Metab Res. 2024 Jan;56(1):78-90. doi: 10.1055/a-2198-9307. Epub 2023 Oct 26. PMID: 37884032; PMCID: PMC10764154. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10764154/
- Gore AC, Chappell VA, Fenton SE, Flaws JA, Nadal A, Prins GS, Toppari J, Zoeller RT. EDC-2: The Endocrine Society's Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev. 2015 Dec;36(6):E1-E150. doi: 10.1210/er.2015-1010. Epub 2015 Nov 6. PMID: 26544531; PMCID: PMC4702494. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26544531/
- Calafat AM, Ye X, Wong LY, Reidy JA, Needham LL. Exposure of the U.S. population to bisphenol A and 4-tertiary-octylphenol: 2003-2004. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Jan;116(1):39-44. doi: 10.1289/ehp.10753. PMID: 18197297; PMCID: PMC2199288. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2199288/
- Wang Y, Qian H. Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel). 2021 May 18;9(5):603. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9050603. PMID: 34069956; PMCID: PMC8157593. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157593/
- Nowak K, Ratajczak-Wrona W, Górska M, Jabłońska E. Parabens and their effects on the endocrine system. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2018 Oct 15;474:238-251. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.03.014. Epub 2018 Mar 27. PMID: 29596967. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29596967/
- Dorota Błędzka, Jolanta Gromadzińska, Wojciech Wąsowicz. Parabens. From environmental studies to human health. Environment International, Volume 67, 2014, Pages 27-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.007
- Corbett GA, Lee S, Woodruff TJ, Hanson M, Hod M, Charlesworth AM, Giudice L, Conry J, McAuliffe FM; International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Committee on Impact of Pregnancy on Long-term Health and the FIGO Committee on Climate Change and Toxic Environmental Exposures. Nutritional interventions to ameliorate the effect of endocrine disruptors on human reproductive health: A semi-structured review from FIGO. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Jun;157(3):489-501. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14126. Epub 2022 Feb 23. PMID: 35122246; PMCID: PMC9305939. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9305939/
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