Do You Really Need to Worry about Endocrine Disruptors?

What they are, what you need to know, and how to limit your exposure

Illustration: Johanna Walderdorff

Phthalate-free cosmetics, BPA-free cans, fire retardant–free furniture. What are these chemicals, and why does everyone suddenly care if they’re in our household products?

These industrial chemicals are all classified as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with the body’s hormone — or endocrine — system. Hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and insulin are essential signaling molecules that tell organs what to do. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals scramble those molecular signals, potentially wreaking havoc on reproductive, metabolic, and neurological systems.

“Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere in a variety of ways, including acting as a hormone mimic or a hormone blocker,” explains Heather Patisaul, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University. “They can also change the amount of hormone receptors present in a cell or tissue or change how the body metabolizes its own hormones.”

There are roughly 1,000 known endocrine disruptors. The five categories of chemicals that receive the most attention are flame retardants used in electronics, furniture, and carpeting; phthalates added to plastics to…