Study Finds Detectable Levels of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in 100% of Children Participants

A recent study conducted by The Dierdre Imus Environmental Health Center at Hackensack UMS measured levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in 50 prepubescent children. The researchers, led by Dr. Lawrence Rosen of The Whole Child Center, discovered that all children had at least five kinds of detectable EDCs, with 35% of participants containing eight types in their urine. These included chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, parabens, 4-nonylphenol (4NP), and triclosan which are found in commonly used household products.

EDCs are chemicals of concern due to their impact on estrogen metabolism and their link to longer term health implications such as subsequent pediatric endocrine disorders, early puberty, and estrogen-dependent cancers. While in this case there was no association found between the levels of chemicals and that of estrogen metabolites, the large amount of detectable chemicals in such young children is cause for both concern and motivation for increased research. The results of the study were published in BMC Endocrine Disorder Journal in December 2015.

Practice Greenhealth provides resources to systems interested in reducing their use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. To learn more, see www.practicegreenhealth.org/.

[Source: PR Newswire]