By Dr. Grégoire Petitjean
Endocrine disruptors, omnipresent in our environment, are receiving increasing attention from public health authorities. These chemical substances, found in many everyday products, alter the hormonal system and can cause serious health problems.
MULTIPLE AND CONSTANT EXPOSURE We are exposed to endocrine disruptors through multiple routes:
Oral route (ingestion): Food (plastic packaging, preservatives...), contaminated water
Pulmonary route (inhalation): Indoor air (+/- outdoor), dust, cleaning products
Dermal route (diffusion): Cosmetics, cleaning products, plastics...
CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN: THE MOST VULNERABLE The beginning of pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence are critical developmental periods during which the body is particularly sensitive to endocrine disruptors.
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES Exposure to endocrine disruptors can be associated with a wide range of conditions, including:
- Reproductive system disorders: Infertility, early puberty, endometriosis, PCOS
- Neurobehavioral disorders: Memory, learning, sleep, behavior, intellectual abilities
- Metabolic disorders: Type 2 diabetes, obesity, gestational hypertension, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia
- Increased cancer risks: Breast, prostate, endometrium, liver
