There is growing interest in the possible health threat posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are substances in our environment, food, and consumer products that interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, or action resulting in a deviation from normal homeostatic control or reproduction.

- Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., et al (2009)
 

Many of us get confused when we hear people talk about the environment and reproductive health. How do you include sexual reproductive health and rights in the climate change and environment fora? Without any information this appears to be very dodgy and just another strategy to push liberal sex ideologies on everyone. Furthermore, if you are as dumb about science as I am, then it gets even more confusing. However, if you care about your sexual and reproductive health then you have to care about the environment. This is because there are so many toxins (chemicals) on our clothes, hairspray, lotion, bottles and other products we use daily that can cause infertility, early puberty and birth defects.

Everyone is affected. Everyone is exposed to these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), some of us more than others. 'Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife' (National Institutes of Health). For example, mechanics, hairdressers, janitors, and farm workers among several others are exposed to a significant amount of toxins on a daily basis, which are very harmful to their sexual and reproductive health. For example, mechanics are exposed to mercury, which can cause impotence. Farm workers are exposed to toxins in pesticides, which can lower sperm count. Exposure to these toxins, such as lead and mercury, is not only unsafe to you but also future generations. These toxins can alter epigenetics and in the long run make children’s DNA different from their parents.

People who cannot afford expensive products are exposed to a significant amount of Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA 'is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, along with other applications'. Infertility among American women 18-25 years has doubled. Similarly, early puberty is on the rise, especially among women and girls in communities of colour. In Mossville, an African-American community in Louisiana where there are 400 households, 14 industrial facilities produces 4 million pounds of toxic chemicals annually.

What Has Been Done?
There are 84,000 chemicals in commerce and only 200 have been tested. And only five have been regulated. Two laws exist in America to protect people from these harmful chemicals. They are the Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) and Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (1938) but these laws have not kept up with the time. Regrettably, only 11 States have restricted the use of BPA in some products. And only five states have limited cadmium in children’s jewelry. Cadmium can cause genital deformities.

On the brighter side, around thirty states have introduced legislation to mitigate the risks of these chemicals on people. Additionally, we can all do simple things that cost us little to nothing to protect ourselves. 

Here are some tips to help you protect your health
(a) Keep Plastic Cool – when plastic is heated it releases the toxins in your food; and try not to keep food in plastics; keep water bottles out of the car
(b) Leave your shoes at the door
(c) Dust, vacuum and mop frequently
(d) Look up Your Lipsticks – Check out www.cosmeticdatabase.com to see how much toxins are in your cosmetics 
(e) Clean up your cleaning supplies – www.womenandenvironment.org/greenclean 

There are also some things which you should try to avoid as much as possible
(a) Thermal receipts
(b) Fragrance
(c) BPA
(d) Teflon – when you heat Teflon it releases toxic chemical to your food
(e) Canned food – BPA is used to line canned food