Endocrine disruptors (EDs) hide in many foods, cosmetics, containers, toys, and other products we use every day. However, more and more studies point out their deleterious impact on our hormonal system : they are notably associated with an increase in the frequency of cancers, genital malformations, growth, development and reproduction disorders, etc. But then what to do to protect yourself and limit these harmful repercussions? Insights from Marion Albouy, public health doctor, and Charline Warembourg, researcher-epidemiologist in environmental health.
Definition: what is an endocrine disruptor?
First of all, it is essential to remember that our state of health depends in particular on the proper functioning of our endocrine system. This regulates the secretion of hormones essential to our metabolism, our growth, our development, but also our sleep and our mood. As their name suggests, endocrine disruptors act on the endocrine glands of our body : hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, testicles, ovaries, etc. “In concrete terms, these chemical molecules have the ability to replace our hormones and totally disrupt our endocrine system“, explains Charline Warembourg.
According to the definition of the World Health Organization…