Are You Too Toxic To Get Pregnant? - Part II

Posted on January 27, 2012 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

In our last blog, we talked about ways to reduce your toxic load in the foods you eat.  Let's look at how everyday household items can contribute to creating a toxic environment so you can make safer choices.

Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers

One of the most famous xenoestrogens is DDT which was widely used in pesticides for agriculture until it was banned in the US in 1972 due to its hazardous effects on the environment. However, DDT continues to be used in many parts of the world for agricultural use, insect control and to fight the spread of malaria. It can persist in soil for centuries, so despite the ban, many people around the world are still being exposed to DDT on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, DDT is not the only agricultural chemical that contains xenoestrogens, and many others remain in legal use in the United States and around the world. It's estimated that the average American consumes over one pound of pesticides per year. Among the common products known to contain xenoestrogens are atrazine (used to kill weeds in corn and sugar cane crops), endosulfan (an insecticide used largely on vegetables, apples, melon and cotton), and methoxychlor (a general pesticide for crops and animals).

How to Avoid Them

• Eat organic foods as often as possible
• Use natural pest control in your home and garden
• If you must use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, follow directions exactly.

Cosmetics and Toiletries

Personal products are some of the worst xenoestrogen carriers around and include lotions, sunscreens, shampoos, makeup, nail polish, baby products, to start with.

Unfortunately, one of the most effective ways to absorb xenoestragens is through skin contact. Xenoestrogens absorbed by the skin are ten times more potent than those taken orally, because they travel directly to the tissues instead of passing through the liver.

Common sources of xenoestrogens, include parabens, phthalates, benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate and octyl-dimethyl-PABA, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, and other compounds.

How to Avoid Them

Buy cosmetics and toiletries at natural foods stores. Read labels. If you don’t know what it is, don’t put it on your skin (or for that matter, eat it).

Plastics

Plastics, especially soft plastics, contain many compounds that are considered to be xenoestrogens. Phthalates, a type of plasticizer used to make plastics soft and flexible, are an especially common offender. These compounds can leach out or volatize over time or in response to heat or other stimuli.

How To Avoid Them

• Use cling wrap that does not contain DEHA and replace cling wrap on meats and other foods as soon as you get home from the store, unless it is from a chain such as Whole Foods that doesn't use DEHA cling wrap
• Never heat food with plastic in the microwave, even if it claims to be microwave-safe. Use glass or ceramics instead.
• Avoid Teflon and other non-stick cookware. Cast iron is an inexpensive, durable, and healthful alternative.
• Buy bottled water and other drinks in glass bottles instead of plastic.
• Minimize consumption of foods from tin cans. In the USA, over 85% of tin cans are lined with bisphenol-A (BPA) to reduce the metallic taste that can be present in canned foods. Unfortunately, BPA is a known xenoestrogen that leaches when exposed to heat, such as the sterilization process some cans undergo, or acid. BPA is also present in many plastic baby bottles, food storage containers, and other products.
• Don't drink from styrofoam cups or containers, especially hot beverages.

Household Cleaners

Many household cleaners contain xenoestrogens. Particularly dangerous are laundry detergents and fabric softeners, because residues on clothing, towels, and other items are worn against the skin. Air fresheners and insect repellents are also major sources of xenoestrogens.

How to Avoid Them

• Use old-fashioned household cleaners like baking soda, Borax, and vinegar whenever possible.
• Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
• Use a simple laundry detergent with few chemicals.
• Ventilate your house frequently and well and avoid the use of air fresheners, insecticide foggers, and other products that release chemicals into the air. Use essential oils to freshen the room.