Hormones, which are chemicals in the body, act as messengers to help control cells and organs. And endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the functioning of hormones.
Some endocrine disruptors occur naturally and others are produced by humans. The Endocrine Society estimates that there are almost 85,000 artificial chemicals in the world – and 1,000 or more of them may be endocrine disruptors.
Endocrine disruptors can block normal hormonal functions or mimic them in ways that “trick” the body into overproducing or underproducing the hormones it needs to function normally.
These chemicals are thought to be linked to several biological or developmental problems, including endometrial cancer.
The link between endocrine disruptors and endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer, which grows in the lining of the uterus, is the most common cancer affecting the reproductive system in women. And some types of endometrial cancers are driven by estrogen.
“Recent research has shown that endocrine disruptors appear to be associated with endometrial cancer in women by increasing the amount of estrogen in their bodies,” he said. Dana M. Chase, MDgynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health.
Exposure to estrogen can cause the endometrial lining to overgrow and eventually become cancerous.
Endocrine disruptors are everywhere
Many research studies have shown that we all come into contact with endocrine disruptors in multiple ways, including through:
- air we breathe
- food we eat
- water we drink
- Things we touch
Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products. Common types of endocrine disruptors and where they are used include:
BPA – Used to help make plastic products such as unbreakable windows, glasses and water bottles; also coatings that cover some metal cans and bottle caps.
Dioxins – Released into the air during forest fires, house fires, and industrial processes such as herbicide manufacturing and paper bleaching. Most exposure comes from consuming animal fats in meat, dairy products, and fish.
PFA – These coatings are used to make cookware non-stick and clothing stain resistant and waterproof.
phthalates – Known as “plasticizers,” these compounds make cosmetics, fragrances, nail polishes, hairsprays, aftershaves, cleansers and shampoos last longer.
PCB – Banned in the United States since 1979, products manufactured before the ban can still contain PCBs, including electrical equipment, oil-based paints, plastics, adhesives and caulking.
Triclosan – Used to prevent bacterial contamination in products such as antibacterial soaps, body washes and toothpastes.
Phytoestrogens can also be endocrine disruptors
Phytoestrogens are natural estrogens from the plants we eat. They are considered endocrine disruptors because they can have an effect similar to that of estrogen produced by the body. Therefore, phytoestrogens can alter the balance between estrogen and progesterone by acting on the endometrial lining.
However, the effect of phytoestrogens on the body has not been determined. It was once thought that phytoestrogens could contribute to certain cancers. However, research has indicated that there is no increased risk if phytoestrogens are obtained from natural plant sources rather than synthetic sources.
In fact, plant-based phytoestrogens may even have protective benefits against certain conditions, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and the vasomotor symptoms of menopause.
Foods that may contain phytoestrogens include:
- Soy products such as tofu and soy milk.
- Peanuts and peanut butter
- flax seed
- Peas
- Beans
- Beer
Avoid endocrine disruptors
Because endocrine disruptors are literally everywhere, there is no way to eliminate them from your environment or avoid them completely.
However, the Endocrine Society suggests simple steps to reduce your family’s exposure:
- Drink filtered water, not bottled.
- Minimize the consumption of processed foods as much as possible.
- Do not store canned foods in areas where excessive heat can cause endocrine disruptors to leach into the can’s contents.
- Reduce the use of pesticides in your home and garden.
The alphabet soup of endocrine disruptors
A 2022 review article examined possible connections between endometrial cancer and endocrine disruptors, including bisphenol A (BPA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
The authors concluded that there are links between these chemicals and endometrial cancer at the molecular level. However, it is not currently possible to know how much exposure individual people are having to these chemicals and how much is dangerous.
More recently, a different group of researchers compared the total estrogen load in the blood of more than 300 women. About half of the women had endometrial cancer and the other half did not. The researchers were able to determine how much estrogen each woman’s body produced versus estrogen from various types of endocrine disruptors.
Women who had higher levels of estrogen due to endocrine disruptors were more likely to have endometrial cancer than those with the lowest levels. This study has identified, for the first time, a positive association between estrogen levels external to the body and the risk of endometrial cancer.
These conclusions are what Chase expected, at least for now. “Correlation is not causation, so at this point the link between endocrine disruptors and endometrial cancer is just an interesting association,” he said. “We know that excess estrogen in the body puts women at risk for endometrial cancer and that we have products in our environment that alter the amount of estrogen in our body. But it’s important for people to understand that they won’t avoid endometrial cancer just because they stop drinking from plastic bottles. “It’s not that simple.”
This educational resource was created with the support of Merck.
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