An Overview of the Problem
The impact on our health
A multitude of diseases and conditions have been on the rise in recent years: obesity, autism, ADHD, athsma, diabetes, lower IQ, infertility, and various cancers. The list goes on. As a society, we must ask ourselves why theses diseases are on the rise.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals
The causes of these conditions are quite complex. No one single factor is going to be the deal breaker that finally gives you cancer. We know that it's not a change in our genetic code that is being passed across generations; our genome cannot change that quickly. A growing body of evidence is pointing to the idea that endocrine disrupting chemicals, or EDC's, are a significant factor. Take, as example, this intriguing statistic: an adult from 2006 with the same caloric intake and activity level as an adult from 1988 will have a BMI (body mass index) 2.3 points higher (1). Therefore, something in the environment must have caused this increase in weight.
The science is here and growing
A multitude of medical researchers have dedicated their life's work to the pursuit of understanding how our bodies react to certain chemicals in the environment. Thanks to these researchers, a solid and ever expanding literature on these chemicals exists. As is the case with most new fields of research, there are several important questions that still need answering. However, we always must remember this key idea: how willing are you to gamble with your health? What about your families health? What about your potentially future families health? Even if the probability of causation of these chemicals is only a coin flip, which it is in many cases, why would you ever want to leave increased chances of inheriting these diseases to a coin flip?
The cost of these chemicals
When deciding what we should do about these chemicals, there is a critical component that we must consider: the economic burden. Let's say, purely as an example, that exposure to lead, on average, decreases IQ by 2 points. Economists estimate that for every IQ point lost, the lifetime earnings (about 1 million dollars in the US) of that person will decrease by 2%. Lead exposure would then result in a 4% drop in lifetime earnings, or a $40,000 drop in lifetime earnings per person in the US. Given that 4 million children are born each year, this results in a $160 billion drop in annual productivity. Read that again so it really sinks in. Now consider the fact that that scenario is not an example; this actually happened. In the 1970's, the estimated drop in IQ due to lead exposure was 2.2 to 4.7 points. Therefore, that $160 billion is only the lower limit that scientists and economists predicted (2).
Health care costs
Lost economic productivity is not the only cost associated with these chemicals; healthcare is yet another crucial factor. Reduced fertility means more in vitro fertilization procedures. More cases of testicular cancer means more surgeries or radiation. Increasing diagnoses of diabetes translates to increasing need of test strips, blood meters, and insulin. We could keep going. The key idea is that if you make a population sicker, they will need more healthcare, which means money out of their pocket. For example, high levels of BPA are associated with an increase chance of coronary heart disease. It is estimated that BPA contributes nearly 34,000 cases of coronary heart disease each year. The estimated cost of these extra cases are $2.98 billion. What's more is that this estimate was from 10 years ago; BPA levels have only risen since then (3). Unfortunately, coronary heart disease is just one small part of the problems caused by EDC's. The estimated total cost when all EDC's are considered is $340 billion in the US and $217 billion in Europe each year (4,5,6,7,8,9). Think about that for a second.
Where you come in
Hopefully, you now realize the problem. EDC's have immense social and economic cost. However, you shouldn't feel overwhelmed by all of this. There are easy and simple steps that you can implement into your daily life right now. Check them out on our take action page. Remember that you don't have to be perfect. Even if you miss a few steps here and there, any reduction in the amount of these chemicals will have positive benefits. We don't want you to become a part of these statistics; we want you to start making a difference.
The Big Picture
We highly recommend that you follow the steps that we've given you. Yet, even still, these steps may not be enough. These chemicals can be found essentially everywhere. You may find yourself in environments in which you have no control over your exposure to these chemicals, such as the workplace, restaurants, or your friend's house. If we want to be completely free of toxic chemicals, simply trying to avoid them may not be enough; what is truly effective is stopping them from coming into any environment in the first place. This is where legislation comes into the picture.
Legislation
As of 2003, the European Union has banned more than 1,300 harmful chemicals (4). Then, in 2006, Europe passed the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, or REACH. This legislation incorporates relevant and peer reviewed studies into potential safe substitutions of chemicals. Currently, the US's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned only 11 chemicals (5). In the US, any new chemical that is put into circulation is assumed to be safe. In order to be banned, it must be found to be undeniably harmful. Given the mountains of bureaucracy present in congress, this process can take quite some time. Nevertheless, we encourage you to talk to your local representative about these chemicals. An educated populace along with an educated representation will lead to change for the better.
A bit of hope
While the impact of EDC's on one's health is only just entering the view of society, we have already made some progress. Remember the lead statistic that we just mentioned? Lead was regulated out of gasoline in the 1970's. Lead levels in the blood of children dropped significantly, therefore increasing the average IQ of children by several points. This increase in IQ translates to essentially a $1,000 tax return to each citizen in the US due to increased economic productivity (2). Other harmful substances, such as asbestos, mercury, and arsenic, were also phased out of circulation. Worldwide, the elimination of harmful chemicals has already added trillions to GDP each year (6). We've come a long way from the middle of the last century. Yet, we still have work to do. Together, we can, and will, make a healthier society free from endocrine disrupting chemicals.