How we are being bullied: "deadly glow" household chemicals

Common chemicals we use on a daily basis have been proven to seriously harm the thyroid gland and female fertility.

A study of women attending a fertility treatment center found that phenolic biomarkers in urine were associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels. A new study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has found multiple links between the presence of phenolic biomarkers and changes in thyroid hormone levels in women who seek medical attention for fertility problems.

The new results, published in the scientific journal Toxics, provide new insight into how exposure to environmental chemicals can affect reproductive health. “Many women these days have thyroid problems. Therefore, we wanted to identify some predictors (indicators) hormone levels to help women improve their health and fertility,” said study lead author Lydia Menges-Alarcón, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

Chemicals…everywhere
It has been found that regular exposure to certain phenols found in everyday things we come into contact with, such as toys, sunscreen, dental products, food packaging, and food preservatives, cause hormonal imbalancesleading to health problems.

Previous research has looked at individual chemicals and their effects on the thyroid. However, the combined effect of many phenols on the endocrine system, mainly in relation to female fertility, has not been sufficiently studied to date.

What household chemicals are “guilty” of hormonal imbalance
Fertility is largely based on maintaining hormonal harmony in the human body. Changes in its level can be caused by various factors. Some of the most important are exogenous sources such as chemicals.

The researchers studied the effects of some of the most common environmental chemicals that animal models have shown to affect thyroid hormones.

In particular, scientists studied 339 women who took refuge in a reproductive clinic. They measured urine concentrations of phenolic biomarkers and analyzed the samples to identify molecular markers of thyroid function.

Various statistical methods were used to calculate the combined effect of these biomarkers on thyroid hormone levels. It was important to evaluate the complex effects of chemicals on the female body, since in everyday life we ​​are all exposed to hundreds of chemicals at the same time.

Individual chemicals and the presence of thyroid disease
The researchers also found that for certain chemicals, the presence of bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan in the urine was associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels—changes that, in some cases, signaled the presence of thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism. It is noted that all these chemicals are found in many products (triclosan – in toothpaste and mouthwash).

“This study is unique in that it focuses on women experiencing fertility issues. This group of women was shown to be at an increased risk of thyroid disease,” said Dr Minges-Alarcón.

In another study, it was found that high levels of PFS in the body can alter the function (impair normal functioning) of the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism*. The researchers looked at data from 1,100 people who participated in the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Committee surveys.

*Hypothyroidism is a condition in which there is a persistent lack of thyroid hormones. This can lead to fatigue, depression, weight gain, feeling cold, dry skin and hair, constipation, and menstrual irregularities. This work of scientists is the first evidence that the presence of polyfluorinated compounds in the blood leads to changes in thyroid function.

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