Link between chemicals in pesticides, plastics and serious health problems doubles in five years: Study
An increasing number of chemicals in pesticides, flame retardants and certain plastics have now been linked to serious and widespread health problems which include infertility, diabetes and impaired brain development. According to researchers, exposure to certain chemicals found in industrial and household goods has also been linked to obesity, endometriosis, a painful and abnormal growth of tissue on the outside of the womb, and polycystic ovary syndrome, a significant cause of infertility.
Led by NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a team of environmental health experts analyzed research published in the past five years on “chemicals of concern” or “endocrine disruptors” that are common in industrial and household goods, as well as American and European policies to regulate them. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals capable of interfering with hormone action and which thereby contribute to disease and disability across the lifespan. Such chemicals are found in food and food packaging, water, personal care products, household goods, detergents, fabrics and upholstery, electronics, medical equipment and pesticides. “These include per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxins found in non-stick pans and waterproof clothing, and bisphenols, substances used in many plastics and can linings,” the authors explain.
In 2015, an expert panel commissioned by the Endocrine Society identified 15 endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are linked with health issues. Evidence has doubled in the last five years about the negative impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics, pesticides, flame retardants on people’s health. The latest reviews add 18 ties between certain medical conditions and endocrine disruptors to the list of 15 others already identified by the 2015 joint investigation led by the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These newer studies have strengthened the evidence linking endocrine disruptors to physical and especially neurological health issues, emphasize authors.
The new findings, for example, suggest that PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), bisphenols, and certain pesticides may damage semen. Besides, the review identifies numerous new studies that link brain-related health concerns, such as IQ loss and attention deficit disorder (ADD) to flame retardants and chemicals found in certain pesticides.
The evidence is particularly strong when it comes to links between PFAS and (child and adult) obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetes, reduced birth weight, reduced semen quality, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and breast cancer, says one of the reviews published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Evidence also exists for relations between bisphenols and adult diabetes, reduced semen quality and polycystic ovarian syndrome; between phthalates and prematurity, reduced anogenital distance in boys, childhood obesity and impaired glucose tolerance; between organophosphate pesticides and reduced semen quality; and between occupational exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer. While “systematic evaluation is needed of the probability and strength of these exposure-outcome relations”, the growing evidence supports urgent action to reduce exposure to EDCs, the researchers suggest.
“What has doubled in the last five years is the number of links between various synthetic chemicals and health outcomes that now have substantial human evidence for probable causation, meaning that we are reaching the point when we can say with some degree of certainty that exposure to a particular chemical causes a particular health problem. Five years ago there were 15 exposure-outcome links, and we identified an additional 18,” one of the reviews’ lead authors, Dr Linda Kahn, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone Health, told MEA WorldWide (MEAWW). She adds, “On a personal level, we should all try to limit our exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals by educating ourselves, reading labels, and making informed purchasing decisions. On a policy level, these chemicals need to be regulated not on an individual level (one by one), but on a categorical level, in which an entire chemical class (such as all bisphenols) is regulated together.”
According to Dr Kahn, endocrine-disrupting chemicals negatively affect a wide range of systems throughout the human body and have consequences at every life stage. She explained that PFAS, the “forever chemicals” present in nonstick and stain-resistant products, are turning out to be major players, with evidence linking them to obesity, diabetes and a range of reproductive disorders in women and men. “Regrettable substitutes — chemicals that have been introduced in place of those that have been restricted or banned — are turning out to have similar problems to those they have replaced. For example, the evidence is accumulating that bisphenol S, a 'regrettable substitute' that manufacturers have been using instead of bisphenol A in 'BPA-free' products has some of the same adverse effects on metabolism and reproduction, including increased risk of diabetes and poor semen quality,” Dr Kahn told MEAWW.
Toxic chemicals in food packaging
A recent study found that major fast-food chains are still serving up PFAS with some of their most popular takeout foods, despite increasing consumer demand and legislative action to phase out the use of toxic PFAS chemicals. The research team analyzed packaging from top fast-food chains such as Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s as well as top health-minded food chains, including Freshii. The results suggest toxic PFAS content in both McDonald’s “Big Mac” container and Burger King’s "Whopper" wrapper as well as the health-conscious chain’s salad bowls.
The testing included a total of 38 food packaging samples from three states in 16 locations and six fast-food chains. Nine out of the 38 samples were replicates, resulting in a total of 29 unique sample items for comparison. The analysis reveals that 14 out of 29 unique sample items — sent to an independent laboratory to measure total fluorine — tested above the fluorine screening level, suggesting toxic PFAS content. Two packaging categories — paper bags used for greasy foods along with molded fiber bowls and trays — were most frequently found to potentially contain PFAS. Paper bags that were sampled included a French fry bag from McDonald’s, a chicken nuggets bag from Burger King and cookie bags from all three burger chains.
“Nearly half of all food packaging samples tested positive for fluorine above the screening level, including for fast-food favorites such as McDonald’s Big Mac, Burger King’s Whopper, and Sweetgreen’s salads and warm bowls. Sweetgreen recently announced it is phasing PFAS out of all of its bowls by the end of 2020 and has already introduced PFAS-free bowls in one market. All bags we tested that are used for sides such as chicken nuggets, fries, and cookies also tested positive. At the salad chains, 100% of all molded fiber packaging we tested was above the screening level. The thick paper packaging, intended to be compostable, is used by many chains as an alternative to plastic,” says the study.
Current regulations are not enough
The review of American and European policies argues that current regulations meant to reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals are falling short. While further research is needed to more firmly establish cause and effect, Dr Kahn says that urgent action is needed now because the public is already paying the costs through serious and long-lasting health problems. The researchers found a lack of a consistent definition of endocrine disruptors across countries. They are concerned that current US regulations are based only on exposure to large doses of chemicals, not small, everyday doses over many years, even though recent findings demonstrate that such chemicals are cumulatively dangerous at low levels.
Senior author of both The Lancet reviews, Dr Leonardo Trasande, professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics, and director of the Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards and Division of Environmental Pediatrics at NYU Langone, argues that while the understanding of endocrine disruptors has evolved, the regulations in place to protect against them have not. “What’s needed are more rigorous tests of commercial chemicals that account for these complexities,” he explains.
The experts suggest that a much-needed step is establishing an international program that identifies hazards so they can be effectively regulated before use, rather than after they may have already caused harm. “In the past decades, regulatory efforts and policies to decrease human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been insufficient to minimize exposure to the vast majority of EDCs. Given the overwhelming scientific evidence of EDCs as a human health hazard and the economic costs of inaction, it is clear that improved regulations are needed,” write authors in the report published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
“We suggest expanded and comprehensive testing strategies to conclusively identify EDCs and a shift from a flawed, risk-based paradigm to one that proactively excludes chemicals with some evidence of hazardous properties until further detailed reassuring testing data become available. An international initiative on EDCs, which would be supported by UN, could address the weaknesses related to hazard identification and provide much-needed guidance for policies globally,” recommend researchers.