Recent studies show there is an increasing amount of harmful chemicals are in our bodies than we may realize.
People are widely exposed to EDCs and asthma-associated chemicals through common consumer products. People who use multiple products can be exposed to mixtures of compounds, demonstrating the importance of considering the combined health effects of chemicals from different sources. Considering potential health effects is important, because chemical exposure can be substantial for products applied directly to skin and those used indoors, where chemicals accumulate in the air and dust.
Exposure to even small amounts of chemicals in combination can lead to an amplified health risk. Consumers have the power to make healthier choices and protect themselves from harmful chemicals in everyday products,” says Dodson. “These things can make a real difference not only in their health but also in shifting the market toward safer products.
Research by UCSF scientists and others has shows that the toxic chemical BPA has been found in the blood of those exposed to items made with BPA and that it can harm the endocrine systems of fetuses and infants. BPA is only one in a long, long list of chemicals we encounter every day in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities. And scientists have barely scratched the surface of understanding them. Of the thousands and thousands of chemicals registered with the EPA for use by industry, the agency has regulated only a few.
REFERENCES
Dodson RE, Nishioka M, Standley LJ, Perovich LJ, Brody JG, Rudel RA. 2012. Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(7):935–43. doi:10.1289/ehp.1104052
Mitro SD, Dodson RE, Singla V, Adamkiewicz G, Elmi AF, Tilly MK, Zota AR. 2016. “Consumer product chemicals in indoor dust: a quantitative meta-analysis of U.S. studies.” Environmental Science & Technology.