Going Toxin-free

It may be disheartening to know that we have to pay such close attention to environmental and household toxins, but it’s no longer just for our own wellbeing. This could be for the sake of our child’s own fertility down the line. 

Endocrine disruptors impact the fertility of your child

A fairly recent finding from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) indicated that only 38% of men in Switzerland fell above the threshold that the World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed to as the minimum to be considered fertile. These same Swiss researchers, in collaboration with epidemiologists from the Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail (IRSET, Rennes, France), also published findings on the effects of endocrine disrupters on volume and sperm count per ejaculation. It turns out that, based on this evidence, in utero exposure to products that contain endocrine disrupting ingredients makes a male twice as likely to dip below that fertility threshold.[1]

What chemicals to look out for

Some of the endocrine disrupting ingredients and contaminants you ought to look out for include:

• Atrazine, which is a weed killer commonly used on corn crops in the United States.
• Phthalates (plasticizer chemicals) are found typically in fragrances, PVC plastic toys and plastic wrap.
• PFAS chemicals (fluorinated compounds) that waterproof or create non-stick surfaces for textiles and cookware.

While your specific location and lifestyle might alter the quantities of how much exposure you might face, these are only three of the very common endocrine disrupters you would encounter and, let’s face it, many of us have at least had our hands on items like plastic wrap or a non-stick pan. 

To put this into even further perspective as well, The Guardian recently revealed that they had participated in a nine-month-long investigation in collaboration with the Consumer Reports (CR) to uncover atrocious contamination levels across American household water taps. These PFAS “forever” chemicals existed at higher than recommended levels at over 35% of the locations tested.[2]

More about Atrazine, Phthalates and PFAS chemicals

Atrazine can be found in the water of 30 million Americans in 27 states and may be linked to:

• Childhood leukemia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Breast tumors
• Delayed puberty
• Prostate cancer

A 2014 study from Sweden on phthalates correlated its exposure to anogenital distance, which has been known to coincide with low sperm count and undescended testicles. These chemicals have been linked to:

• Male reproductive birth defects
• Lower sperm count
• Lower sperm motility
• Miscarriages
• Gestational diabetes

PFAS sadly include a long list of more than 4,700 chemicals that constitute a family of fluorinated compounds. Some of these are linked to issues such as:

• Developmental defects
• Thyroid disease
• Weakened immunity
• Cancer [3]

Top ways how to avoid these toxins

Granted, reading all the ways in which Atrazine, Phthalates and PFAS can wreak havoc on the body gets pretty scary. Yet, there are some easy steps to take to lessen your exposure:

• Invest in a really good water filter for specific contaminants, like a reverse osmosis filter for PFAS
• Opt out of stain-protection treatments for furniture
• Limit fast food intake because of PFAS-treated wrapping and packaging
• Avoid bagged popcorn and use the stovetop instead
• Throw out non-stick pans
• Replace plastic wrap with sealable containers, wax wraps or reusable silicone covers
• When in doubt, choose to buy a product without the ambiguous “fragrance” ingredient label [4]

Good luck with going toxin-free and have fun with it. Out with the old and in with the new!

At our Czech clinic, we offer affordable fertility treatment so that you can incorporate your family-planning goals into a memorable vacation. Check out this link here for more details.

Sources:

[1] “Endocrine Disruptors Threatens Semen Quality.” ScienceDaily, 19 Mar. 2021, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319125459.htm.

[2] Felton, Ryan, et al. “We Sampled Tap Water across the US – and Found Arsenic, Lead and Toxic Chemicals.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 31 Mar. 2021, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/americas-tap-water-samples-forev....

[3] Leiba, Nneka. “6 Most Common Endocrine Disruptors & How To Avoid Them.” Goop, 28 May 2020, goop.com/beauty/personal-care/6-of-the-most-common-endocrine-disruptors-and-how-to-avoid-them/.

[4] Ibid.