Scientists have found more links that suggest exposure to chemicals can lead to serious health problems like diabetes and obesity. The study, released via the Endrocrine Society in a press release, points out that chemical exposure can adversely affect the body's hormones, when it's vital to regulating a person's physiology and behavior.
The chemicals identified by the experts include bisphenol A and phthalates, which are found in food and personal care products people use at home, according to NBC News. They are in canned goods, bottled waters, perfumes, soaps, toothpastes and shampoos, as well as certain pesticides, according to Web MD.
It's not the first study to point out the dangers of chemical exposure, but the latest findings highlight why changing eating habits by avoiding chemicals could be advantageous to people who have diabetes or are trying to battle obesity.
"I think when doctors talk about lifestyle to their patients, they typically emphasize a healthy diet and exercise. But I would be surprised if, as part of the healthy diet conversation, they talk about ... trying to remove processed foods, or staying away from microwaving the plastics," said pharmacologist Andrea Gore, according to Healio. "You may have a healthy meal, but if it's in a [microwaved] plastic container, it's leaching chemicals," she emphasized.
Gore is part of task force that reviewed over 1,300 studies to come up with convincing evidence that chemicals disrupt the hormones. Aside from what was already suggested, Gore and her team also also hope for better safety testing of products and the implementation of tighter regulations among manufacturers.
"With more chemicals being introduced into the marketplace all the time, better safety testing is needed to identify new endocrine disrupting chemicals and ensure they are kept out of household goods," said Gore, via NBC News.
As a result, giant retail shops like Target and Walmart are already taking a pro-active stance. Target is expanding its list of banned chemicals and suppliers have to comply to their standards, according to Safechemicals Org. On the other hand, Walmart also has a list of products with harmful chemicals, according to another Safechemicals report.
However, chemical manufacturers have issued a statement to address the report by Gore's team. In part it said via American Chemistry Council, "The Endocrine Society's report fails to differentiate between chemicals that are 'endocrine-active,' meaning they interact with the endocrine system, and those that are 'endocrine disruptors,' meaning that the levels of exposure associated with that interaction cause scientifically-proven adverse health effects."
