What are endocrine disruptors?

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine (hormone) system in humans and animals. Even at very low doses, they can cause significant health effects because hormones operate at incredibly small concentrations in the body.

Your endocrine system is a network of glands that produce hormones — chemical messengers that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, mood, and sleep. When an external chemical mimics, blocks, or alters these signals, it’s called endocrine disruption.

Common types of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) include certain pesticides, plasticisers (like BPA and phthalates), some preservatives (like certain parabens), and industrial chemicals (like PCBs and dioxins). Many of these find their way into cosmetics and personal care products.

The European Commission defines endocrine disruptors as ‘exogenous substances that alter function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently cause adverse health effects.’ The key concern is that traditional toxicology — ‘the dose makes the poison’ — doesn’t always apply. Some EDCs show effects at very low concentrations that disappear at higher ones (non-monotonic dose-response).

Health effects linked to EDC exposure include reproductive issues, thyroid disruption, metabolic disorders, immune dysfunction, and neurodevelopmental effects. Children and pregnant women are considered most vulnerable because their hormonal systems are still developing or undergoing significant changes.

The EU has taken a more precautionary approach than many other regions. Through the REACH regulation and the Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009), the EU has restricted or banned several suspected endocrine disruptors in consumer products. However, many chemicals still haven’t been fully assessed, and the regulatory process is slow.