You probably don’t think twice about storing leftovers in plastic containers, keeping your receipt from the grocery store, or reaching for your favorite moisturizer. But hidden in these everyday items are chemicals that may be quietly interfering with your hormones—the chemical messengers that control everything from metabolism to mood to reproductive health.
These substances, called endocrine disruptors, have become ubiquitous in modern life. Let’s explore what the science actually shows and how small, practical changes can help protect your hormone health.
What Are Endocrine Disruptors?
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can mimic, block, or interfere with your body’s hormone functions. Hormones are the body’s messaging system that controls growth, metabolism, reproduction and mood, even minor disruptions can have significant effects. Research has linked many of these chemicals to fertility issues, metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes, developmental problems in children, and certain cancers. The most studied chemical groups include bisphenols (BPA and it’s replacements), phthalates, PFAS aka “forever chemicals”, and some flame retardants like PBDEs
Let’s review what the research suggests, where these chemicals hide, and simple actions you can take to support hormone balance.
BPA: The Plastic Problem
Bisphenol A (BPA) and it’s replacements mimic estrogen in the body. Studies have shown BPA can interfere with reproductive development, affect thyroid function, and may be linked to hormone-related cancers. A 2015 review found evidence that BPA disrupts endocrine function involving the hypothalamus and pituitary gland—key control centers for your hormonal system.
Where it hides: Thermal paper receipts (which can transfer BPA through skin contact), canned food linings, polycarbonate plastics (marked with recycling code #7), and some water bottles. Just switching from canned to fresh foods can significantly reduce BPA levels in the body within just days.
Phthalates: The Flexibility Factor
Phthalates are plasticizers that make products soft and flexible. They’re particularly concerning because they can disrupt male hormone production. Studies have linked prenatal phthalate exposure to decreased gestational age and increased risk of preterm birth. A 2020 study found that phthalates are detrimental to reproductive, neurological, metabolic (disrupt steroid and thyroid hormone pathways), and developmental systems through multiple exposure pathways.
Where they hide: Personal care products including nail polish, hair spray, lotions, and fragranced products (often listed simply as “fragrance”), vinyl shower curtains, flexible plastics, and some food packaging.
PFAS: The Forever Chemicals
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or in your body. The EPA estimates more than 600 PFAS are in commercial use. Research has linked PFAS exposure to immune system changes, liver effects, thyroid disease, reduced vaccine effectiveness in children, and increased cancer risk. A 2024 study found exposure during pregnancy is associated with adverse fetal growth and birth outcomes. Because they don’t break down easily, limiting exposure is a public-health priority.
Where they hide: Nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, grease-resistant food packaging (microwave popcorn bags, fast-food wrappers, pizza boxes), firefighting foam, some cosmetics including dental floss and nail polish, and contaminated drinking water near manufacturing facilities or military bases.
Flame Retardants: The Furniture Additives
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were widely used in furniture foam, electronics, and carpeting. Though most have been phased out, they persist in older products and the environment. Animal studies consistently show developmental neurotoxicity—problems with learning, memory, and behavior—at exposure levels not far from those found in highly exposed children. A 2024 study found people with the highest PBDE blood levels had approximately a 300% increased risk of dying from cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.
Where they hide: Older furniture foam (pre-2005), carpet padding, electronics, household dust, and food with high fat content (as these chemicals accumulate in fat).
Practical Steps to Reduce Exposure
The good news is that research shows simple changes can significantly reduce your body’s burden of these chemicals:
In the kitchen: Choose glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers for food storage and heating. Avoid heating plastic. Reduce canned foods or choose BPA-free cans. Cook at home with fresh ingredients when possible, people who prepare food at home have lower PFAS blood levels. Trim fat from meat and skin from fish, where these chemicals concentrate.
Personal care products: Choose fragrance-free or naturally scented products when possible. Look for “phthalate-free” and “paraben-free” on labels but read ingredients carefully. Simplify your routine—fewer products mean less exposure.
Around the house: Dust and mop regularly with damp cloths and vacuum with HEPA filters to reduce contaminated dust. Wash hands frequently, especially before eating. Avoid stain-resistant treatments on furniture and carpets. Use EWG’s Tap Water Database to check if your water source is contaminated and use certified filters if needed.
Shopping habits: Handle receipts minimally or decline them when possible. Choose products without “fragrance” listed in ingredients. For cookware, use cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic instead of nonstick coatings.
The Bigger Picture
The 2024 NIH workshop on endocrine disruptors emphasized that while we can’t completely avoid these chemicals, dietary improvements—eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while reducing processed foods—along with physical activity and adequate sleep, can help mitigate their effects and support overall hormonal health.
Consumer demand has already driven positive change. BPA was removed from baby bottles and many flame retardants from furniture through public pressure, not just regulation. Your purchasing choices matter.
While research continues to clarify the full extent of health impacts, taking precautionary steps is wise—especially during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood when hormonal development is most vulnerable. Small, practical changes can meaningfully reduce your family’s exposure to these hormone-disrupting chemicals.
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References:
- Gao H, et al. (2015). Bisphenol A and hormone-associated cancers: Current progress and perspectives. Medicine (Baltimore), 94(1):e211.
- vom Saal, F.S. et al., Update on the Health Effects of Bisphenol A (review), 2020.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2024). Endocrine Disruptors. Retrieved from niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine
- Ecology Center, Receipt Paper Study, 2018 (testing of BPA/BPS in receipts).
- Wang, Y. and Qian, H. (2021). Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel). 18;9(5):603.
- Hlisníková, H. et al., Effects and Mechanisms of Phthalates’ Action on Reproductive Health, 2020.
- Fenton SE, et al. (2021). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. Environ Toxicol Chem, March;40(3):606-630.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2024). PFAS Information for Clinicians. atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/hcp
- Costa LG, et al. (2008). Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants: Environmental contamination, human body burden and potential adverse health effects. Acta Biomedica, 79(3):172-83.
- Oulhote, Y. et al., PBDEs and Human Health (JCEM), 2016
