What are endocrine disruptors and where can they be found?

Good question...

With nearly 20,000 monthly Google searches, this topic is of great interest and intrigue...
And you, have you ever heard of endocrine disruptors?
Yes, of course, but knowing exactly what they are... These two words just sound very negative to your ears.

We will try to clarify...
The definition of endocrine disruptors is still subject to international debate today. Here is the one proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO):
"An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture (coming from outside) that alters the function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse effects in an intact organism (or) its progeny..."

Did we lose you?
In short, endocrine disruptors are chemical substances of artificial or (rarely) natural origin, foreign to the body, which are not toxic in the usual sense of the term but, as their name suggests, can disrupt the functioning of the hormonal system and be transmitted over several generations.
Thus, they represent a threat to human health and the environment.

And in practice, what does that mean?

First, where are endocrine disruptors found?

Unfortunately, almost everywhere around us!
In many products we use daily: food packaging, cans, plastic bottles, laundry detergents and cleaning products, baby wipes... and also extensively in cosmetic products.

In professional settings, the sectors concerned are mainly agriculture (use and handling of pesticides), the pharmaceutical industry (hormone production), and chemical industry (manufacture of pesticides and plastics).

What are the risks of endocrine disruptors?

A priori, endocrine disruptors can exacerbate allergies, and certain substances undoubtedly play a role in the onset of hormone-dependent cancers (breast, uterus, prostate, and testicles), fertility disorders, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.

What are the exact effects of endocrine disruptors?

Of course, we don't know precisely; that would be too simple!
Estimating the effect of endocrine disruptors on human health is not easy to establish because many questions arise regarding their mechanisms of action, the number of substances involved, and the types and doses of exposure...
It may not be the dose that makes the poison, as some are more toxic at low doses than others.
And since we are exposed to multiple substances, their effects can combine, leading to the "cocktail effect"!

Finally, toxicity is not the same depending on life stages: in any case, we know that fetuses and newborns are subject to maximum damage.
Pregnant women must therefore be very vigilant.

What can be done to protect oneself?

~ In food:

• Avoid using polycarbonate containers (a type of plastic), whether for preparing or storing your food.
• Do not heat your food in plastic: Put it on a plate to warm it in the microwave (be careful, no aluminum!).
  A side note: prefer a traditional oven over a microwave, as microwaves pose a risk of increasing cholesterol levels, leukocytes, and decreasing hemoglobin.
  Some studies have even shown that microwave radiation can cause insomnia, migraines, or depression... In short, it's very convenient, but it's better to avoid it if possible!
• Don't overdo fast food, as its cardboard or paper packaging may be affected.
• Choose organic fruits, vegetables, and cereals to reduce your exposure to pesticides.

~ In household products:

Prefer organic and ecological cleaning products or make your own household products.
In one of its special issues (April 2016), 60 Millions de consommateurs magazine had also proposed many easy-to-make recipes for natural, healthy, and ecological hygiene products.
Here's a glimpse of 6 of their working grandmother's recipes!

• To whiten bathroom tile grout:
  No one escapes it, every 3 months, shower grout yellows (or even blackens) and we don't know how to get rid of it... The solution? Mix baking soda and toothpaste and scrub with a toothbrush!
• To deter dust mites:
  Sprinkle the mattress (or fabric sofa) with diatomaceous earth baking soda, rub vigorously with a brush, let sit for 4 hours, then vacuum. This will scare away the little critters in no time!
• To clean the stove or oven, forget about harsh aerosols!
  Mix 1/4 cup coarse salt and 1/4 cup white vinegar, rub, and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse.
• To restore shine to a varnished leather sofa:
  Simply cut an onion in half and rub. Yes, it works!
• To make your own "homemade" laundry detergent:
  Mix soap flakes (natural), baking soda, and vinegar.

Our "Homemade" Laundry Detergent Recipe - Les Petits Prödiges:

• 150g of Marseille soap flakes (ideally without glycerin)
• 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• 3 tablespoons of white vinegar: it acts as a fabric softener.
• 3.5 liters of water
• 1 teaspoon of essential oil of your choice, to scent your laundry (lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, verbena, etc.):
• In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil and add soap flakes and baking soda. Mix well to melt the mixture until it is homogeneous. Then pour the still warm liquid into a bottle/jug (do not wait for it to cool too much).
  Once your laundry detergent has cooled, add the essential oil (be sure to wait until it's cool!)

And for the "lazy" or working girls, we recommend checking out the brand L'Alchimiste (coming soon) which is preparing to release great natural pre-made laundry detergents.

~ In cosmetics:

Did you know that 40% of hygiene and beauty products contain at least 1 endocrine disruptor...? Not very reassuring...
They are present in the form of preservatives, antibacterials, sunscreens, and added emollients (softeners).

But in which type of cosmetics? Well, in almost all of them, unfortunately! Especially in makeup...

In detail, in order:

• Nail polish (74% contain them)
• Foundations (71%),
• Eye makeup products (51%),
• Makeup removers (43%),
• Lipsticks (40%),
• Facial care (38%),
• Deodorants (36%),
• Toothpastes (30%)
• Shampoos (24%)

As mentioned above, repeated doses and the cocktail effect can lead to overdose!

Example: propylparaben (one of the worst endocrine disruptors) is present in 9 families of cosmetic and hygiene products (shower gel, deodorant, sunscreen, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, body lotion, lipstick, foundation, face cream).

What to do to adopt a safe beauty routine?

Here are our tips:
You have to eliminate them at the source because you understand that you cannot manage them by dose...

Here are some good habits to limit exposure to endocrine disruptors:

~ Try to spot endocrine disruptors on labels:
This is quite a complex task, unfortunately, because even if some are easy to identify, others have dozens of synonyms!!
To help you, we've made a short (summarized!) list of endocrine disruptors and their synonyms:

- Silicones (texturizing agents)
Mainly in deodorants, shampoos, and creams.
On the label: cyclopentasiloxane dimethicone or names derived from siloxane or methicone

- Paraben (preservative)
In shampoos, shower gels, makeup, and creams. (Be careful, the mention "paraben-free" can hide substitute substances that are just as toxic, such as methylisothiazolinone)
On the label: Butyl paraben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben

- Triclosan (antibacterial preservative)
In toothpastes and foundations.
On the label: Luckily, it is clearly indicated with no synonyms!

- Phenoxyethanol (antimicrobial action)
Not classified as an endocrine disruptor but to be avoided, especially for babies (wipes).
On the label: Name also clearly mentioned

- BHA (preservatives and fragrances) frequently in makeup
On the label: Butylated, hydroxynalisol, BHA

- Phthalates (fixing agent)
The mention of their presence is not mandatory on the INCI* list (may be noted as fragrances when the perfume used is synthetic)
On the label: Diethyl phthalate
On plastic packaging: PET and PVC

- Alkylphenols (emulsifiers)
In cleansers, shaving foams, and styling products.
On the label: Menylphenol or derivative of Nonylphenol.

- Resorcinol (hair dyes)
Be careful, plant-based dyes are not necessarily exempt!
On the label: Benzenediol, resorcin, hydroxyphenol, dihydroxybenzene, hydroquinone, phenylenediol.

- Chemical UV filters (used to filter UV rays)
Not exclusively reserved for sun products.
Also present in certain shampoos, nail polishes, and day creams with SPF.
On the label: Benzophenone, oxybenzone, ethylhexyl, methoxycinnamate, methylbenzylidene camphor.

- Lilial (used as a fragrance)
On the label: Butylphenyl, methylpropional

Done! Congratulations for making it to the end of the list anyway!

So, obviously, it's quite complicated for a normally configured brain to remember all these barbaric, lengthy names... Breathe, we're offering you an alternative.
Are you relieved? There are some really well-designed apps that will help you sniff out the bad guys.

Some examples:
- Quelcosmetic (UFC Que choisir - database of 6000 references)
- Clean Beauty
- Yuka

Be careful though, even if these applications are very good indicators, they do not take into account the percentages of each ingredient in the total composition. Some essential oils are also "badly" rated: not because they are harmful, but because they can be allergenic for some people. E.g. limonene. If you are interested, we have compared the Yuka, INCI beauty and Clean Beauty applications for you in this article!

Finally, once you've successfully identified the nasty endocrine disruptors, you need to adopt good habits:

~ Prioritize simplicity and naturalness, and short ingredient lists
"A reduced number of components is a guarantee of less risk for the consumer," claims Adeline Trégouët, deputy editor-in-chief of 60 millions de consommateurs.
And what could be simpler and healthier than natural ingredients?
Avoid lengthy compositions.

Les Petits Prödiges Tips: The Les Petits Prödiges Multi-purpose Balm is formulated with only 7 ingredients, all natural.
The pros?
- The composition is listed in French in addition to the traditional INCI list so that, whether you're informed or not, you understand at a glance what's inside!
- It's 100% Made in France! Designed in Paris and developed in the South of France, it's French from A to Z!
- Its packaging is recyclable aluminum (Into the yellow bin once the jar is empty, or even better: reuse it to put your medicines, pills, or earrings, for example. For a zero-waste goal!)
- It's for the whole family, and even pregnant women, for whom endocrine disruptors are so formidable...

If you want more information, feel free to read our article on the balm and the active ingredients it contains!

So, tempted? You'll find it here.

~ Choose unscented products, aluminum-salt-free deodorants, and chemical-filter-free sunscreens.

By the way, we've written an article to help you choose a healthy deodorant because it can be a very dangerous product!

Well, we hope this article hasn't depressed you, because we confess that when we wrote it, we felt a bit down, thinking that we really had to pay more and more attention to every detail to take care of our health every day.

But come on, let's stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get to it!

Good luck to everyone :)

*INCI = International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients