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The Environmental protection agency (EPA) is the national government agency in charge of setting regulations regarding pollution and other toxic substances introduced to the environment. They also set the safety thresholds for these chemicals. However, policy is lagging behind knowledge. Dioxin has been known to be a toxic substance as well as an endocrine disruptor since 1949. It has been linked to cancer and disease outbreaks. This is concerning considering most of the human population is exposed at what scientists consider extremely larger than safe. Newborns are said to be exposed to 77 times more than what is considered to be safe and the general population exposed 1,200 times more than what maybe considered safe. The EPA has still yet to enact a formal safety standard and therefore does not regulate amounts of dioxin put into the environment. (3)

The problem with many safety thresholds for chemicals have been made by exposing that singular chemical to a model organism, and seeing the amount that caused an effect. However, humans and our environment are not only exposed to one chemical. We come into contact with multiple EDCs and other chemicals everyday. There is little known about the combined effects of these chemicals.

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was formed in 1976 to identify and regulate known toxic substances.(1) It has yet to be updated. The act also puts the responsibility of identifying toxic substances and their side effects onto the EPA, not the companies making and distributing the toxins into the environment. This is why many chemicals are not proven to be toxic until after released.

What RU is Doing For You

Over the past 60 years due to technological advances and the use of synthetic chemicals nearly 1,000 different EDCs have been introduced into our environment (4). Many of these chemicals are an unavoidable part of our daily lives however, there are steps you can take to reduce exposure.

Buy fresh instead caned or processed food. Many cans contain BPA and processed food contains fat stabilizers that also mimic estrogen.(2)

When choosing produce or meats buy organic and naturally feed meats and produce. Many vegetables are sprayed with chemicals known to target reproductive systems. Meat products from lots are feed a cocktail of chemicals know to cause adverse effects.(2)

Eat more vegetable products, and less animal based ones. Food production animals are feed body altering synthetic compounds that are then passed on to you. (2)

Eat sustainable seafood, most wild caught fish are a good choice because they are not feed chemicals. However, watch out for fish known to have high amounts of heavy metals, which also disturbs the body. (2)

Avoid non-stick cookware they contain perflourinated chemicals or PFCs. A toxin that 99% of all Americans have in their bodies and is known to cause sex hormone level changes. (2)

When preparing food remember to wash all produce carefully to remove any chemical residue. (2)

When reheating food, dont use plastic containers. Heat causes the chemicals in the plastic to leach into your meal. (2)

Carry water around in a glass bottle. Even plastic bottles labeled BPA free, contain BPS a estrogen mimicker. (2)

Avoid plastics marked with PC (polycarbonate),plastic wrap labeled PVC, or the recycling label #7. They contain more temperature sensitive chemicals than other plastics, (2)

Avoid handling receipts, thermal paper has high amounts of BPA and BPS. Both estrogen mimickers that can be absorbed by your skin. (2)

Invest in a quality water filter, and replace the filters regularly to keep EDCs and other toxins out of your drinking water. (2)

Buy natural based cleaning chemicals, or make your own. Many household cleaning products contain chemicals that can damage fertility. (2)

At Radford University, students and faculty are working together to document the effects of the different EDCs used in your home. With the support of the RU Biology department, the Office of Undergraduate Research Ours, and the Scholar-Citizen Initiative SCI, I am able to research the effects of combined estrogenic EDCs at relevant levels to see the effects on general health and reproduction.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to EDCs

Current Policy

works cited

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals In Your Home

Katharyn Self & Sara OBrien PhD.

Department of Biology, Radford University

Printing Supported by the RU Honors Academy

Take Action

You can get involved and help change policy. Contact your congress representative and tell them to support an update of the TSCA. Additionally, consumers may demand safer consumer products by taking part in the Mind the Store Campaign (www.mindthestore.saferchemicals.org) which challenges the countrys largest retailers to restrict the most hazardous chemicals.

1.EPA. (2014, March 16). Summary of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Laws and Regulations . Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-toxic-substances-control-act

2.EWG. (2013, October 28). Dirty Dozen List of Endocrine Disruptors. Environmental Working Group . Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors

3.Formuzis, A. (2010, July 13). Infants Ingest Dioxin At 77 Times EPAs Safe Threshold. Environmental Working Group. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.ewg.org/news/news-releases/2010/07/13/infants-ingest-dioxin-77-times-epa%E2%80%99s-safe-threshold

4.TEDX. (2014, January 1). TEDX List of Potential Endocrine Disruptors. TEDX The Endocrine Disruption Exchange . Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://endocrinedisruption.org/endocrine-disruption/tedx-list-of-potential-endocrine-disruptors/overview