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EDC for dummies

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EDCI’ve been asked to write an article about endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which really goes against the old adage ‘write what you know’. You see, I knew almost nothing about EDCs until I sat down with information from Ecostore and decoded the acronyms and all the big words and discovered that these hard-to-pronounce scientific terms could be affecting my family every day.

If you haven’t heard of EDCs, don’t worry, I hadn’t either! In fact I don’t have a scientific bone in my body, so here’s an article for likeminded dummies (I mean that in the nicest possible way…)

So what exactly are they? EDCs are chemicals found in common everyday goods (such as personal care products, household cleaners and food) which can mimic the hormones in the body, effecting the endocrine system.

The what? The endocrine system controls your growth, development, moods, metabolism, sexual function, sleep, immune function and more. It’s made up of glands which secrete chemicals called ‘hormones’ into the bloodstream and surrounding tissues.

Sounds quite vital! And how can EDCs get in the way? These disruptors can create hormone imbalances, which groups such as the Environmental Working Group and the World Health Organisation believe can be seriously harmful to your health. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences explains how: “Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects in both humans and wildlife… Endocrine disruptors may be found in many everyday products – including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics and pesticides.”

So it sounds like EDCs are lurking everywhere and you might feel a bit bamboozled when wondering how to avoid being exposed to them. If you are worried, there are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure, including:

1.       Buying organic food wherever possible

2.       Avoiding pesticides

3.       Avoiding heating foods in plastic containers, unless they are BPA free

4.       Swapping your plastic bottles for stainless steel, unless they are BPA free

5.       Don’t give your children plastic teethers or toys

6.       Avoiding stain-resistant and Teflon products

7.       Buying fresh or frozen food, unless cans state ‘BPA free’

8.       Avoiding antibacterial products

9.       Using bamboo cutting boards instead of plastic.

A big step you can take is checking which companies avoid EDCs. You may have already noticed a lot of plastics manufacturers will proudly state their products are ‘BPA free’. Companies like Ecostore have strict policies to avoid EDCs altogether. In fact, Ecostore avoids an ingredient entirely if there is concern over its safety. They work on the idea that “if there’s any doubt on the safety of an ingredient, we’ll find a safer one”.

EDC for dummies by Kelly Burnie from Two lucky stars

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