The use of common chemicals and pesticides has been put into question by a new study carried by researchers led by the New York University. According to the study, endocrine disrupting chemicals could be disrupting hormones resulting in health costs of up to $175 billion across Europe. Banning of such chemicals according to the study would go a long way in benefiting human health.
The research also found a disturbing connection between endocrine disrupting chemicals and lethal diseases. The scientists believe the chemicals have connection to common illnesses such as infertility, obesity and cardiovascular illnesses. The study findings published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, and Metabolism linked endocrine chemicals to autism, hyperactivity disorder as well as testicular cancer.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals are physically similar to hormones that control the function of the human body and naturally mimic human’s physiology. The chemicals have in a number of studies been found to block the function of hormones consequently leading to things like reduced sperm counts and some form of cancers.
New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Leonardo Trasande, affirms that exposure to EDC’s could lead to a wide variety of diseases as well as dysfunction. A number of European countries are already taking a strong stance against some of the EDC’s curtailing their use even though they continue to be used in other parts of the world.
The fight against EDC’s is not expected to be an easy one for relevant authorities as there is a large number of this chemicals everywhere in things like food items, textiles, toy plastics as well as plastic bottles and cosmetics.
The European Commission has requested for further studies and research to confirm the relationship of EDC’s and their health hazards. The outcome of the study is to be presented at the annual meeting of Endocrine Society and to be published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.