“Our children are swimming around in a toxic soup,” said RFK Jr. to Michael Smerconish on June 5th, 2023. RFK Jr. might have a lot of controversial opinions, but this statement is not. And it is not just children. Toxins are present all around you, including in trusted, name-brand products. While the word toxin may conjure images of biohazard warning signs in chemistry labs, in reality, an environmental toxin is just a substance that can harm the body when absorbed, inhaled, or ingested. According to the Environmental Working Group, as an average adult, you apply around 126 different chemicals to your body every day. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to reduce your toxin burden.
From soap to food storage containers to deodorant, toxic chemicals are in practically every product you use. Today’s manufacturers put dozens of often-synthetic chemicals in their products, whether food, furniture, personal care, or children’s products, with inadequate consideration for their safety. Unfortunately, governmental research and regulations are also lacking. A shockingly high number of products you use contain toxins, and scientists have only just begun to discover the full extent of the effects of these chemicals. Chances are, if you look up the toxicity of the ingredients on any product in your house, you will find something that can lead to reproductive harm, organ damage, hormonal disruptions, and cancer.
The world’s fertility rate is on an alarming decline. Studies have shown that sperm counts have decreased by 50-60% from 1973 to 2011, with about a 1.6% decrease per year. In addition, females are experiencing more miscarriages and failed embryo implantations, children are starting puberty at a younger age, sperm mobility and quality is decreasing, and many couples are struggling to conceive. While there may be no single cause for these changes, these trends are occurring as more toxins, many known to disrupt the reproductive system, become present in day-to-day life and, thus, people’s bodies. For example, bisphenol A (BPA) is a more commonly known toxin found in products such as plastics, receipts, and cosmetics, as well as 93% of Americans’ bodies. BPA has been found to reduce egg maturing, successful fertilization, embryo production, semen quality, and sperm count, and increase DNA damage in sperm, among other reproductive issues. Reproduction is a delicate process, and exposure to so many toxins from our products contributes to this fertility decline.
Toxins beyond BPA can also impact your hormones, leading to widespread effects all over the body since hormones regulate practically every process. Toxins can also imitate hormones, causing the body to produce less when it confuses toxins with real hormones and thinks it already produced enough. When toxins take hormones’ place, they do not perform the hormone’s function properly. Because of this, many functions of the body can be disrupted, including the previously mentioned fertility impacts, especially because sex hormones play a significant role in reproduction and the body as a whole and are also some of the most often disrupted by toxins. The thyroid, liver, and kidneys are also particularly susceptible. Additionally, toxins can raise levels of some hormones, compete with nutrients your body needs, and disrupt metabolism.
Possibly the most harmful effect of toxins in everyday products is cancer. Various toxins can increase your risk for many types of cancer, from breast and blood to prostate and uterine. This can occur through chemicals damaging cells’ DNA or triggering cell pathways that lead to cancer development. For instance, a recent study demonstrated that one type of phthalates, a category of dangerous chemicals found in plastics, cleaning products, and personal care products, promoted ovarian cancer and its spread.
But all is not lost. The human body is incredible at recovering from toxins once you remove the exposure. While some toxins can remain present in the body for a lifetime, many others can be broken down or excreted by the liver, kidneys, and immune system. It is important to reduce the toxins you put into your body to reduce your risk of experiencing any harmful effects I have discussed. The best thing you can do is choose products with safer ingredients. Reading ingredient lists and researching each chemical before using a product is the best way to verify the product’s safety. To learn more about toxins and safer products, visit Drop the Tox!
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Kaitlyn Pany is a rising high school junior in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area with a passion for the impacts of environmental toxins on the human body. She is a National Honor Society member, a student of the year in multiple subjects, and this past year was a USA BIOlympiad Semifinalist. She intends to pursue her passion with a degree in Toxicology in college. When she’s not planning immersive school events with her friends, writing for her toxicology website, or studying for AP exams, she loves to lose herself in the world of Disney and Disneyland, travel the world, create photo books, and crash into ocean waves.
