Endocrine disruptors are chemicals and plastic by products that are now found in tap water that can interfere with human hormone systems at certain levels. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders in both young children and adults. Any system in the human body (both male and female) controlled by hormones can be derailed by these disruptors. Specifically, endocrine disruptors may be associated with severe attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, cognitive & brain development issues, body deformations, breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid and other cancers, and sexual development problems.

You’ve probably know by now that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been found in our water and environment and how these block the effect of our natural occurring hormones. Endocrine disruptors enter our water supply through a vast array of sources from industrial chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, as well as sub micron-sized plastics which contains BPA or BPA derivatives like BPS (often in “BPA-free” plastics) which is just as hormone-disruptive as BPA.

Pesticides, herbicides, pollutants, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and phthalates all cause hormone disruption as well. Of course, drinking bottled water is not the answer as plastics of all kinds are very rich in hormone-disrupting BPA/BPS, so bottled water (which is made from the cheapest plastic that factories can find) will also have these endocrine disruptors.

So what can you do? Here are some quick tips to minimize your exposure to Endocrine Disruptors:

1. Wash your hands (this will reduce the amount of chemicals on your hands when you eat.

2. Don't use perfumes or fragrances. These are known to contain phthalates which is a known endocrine disruptor.

3. Avoid plastics at all costs. Drink from glass, like our Epic Escape Glass water bottle. Swap plastic food storage bins for glass. Get rid of all plastic cups in your kitchen and switch to glass.

4. No "canned" food: Cans contain BPA and even the ones labeled BPA are not safe. Go with fresh food or frozen food but just stay away from cans.

5. Try to eat organics foods. I know they are more expensive but your health is worth it. Organics foods are not coated with pesticides like standard foods you find at the grocery store.

6. Filter your tap water!!! Ya!! And use a solid carbon block like we do here at Epic Water Filters, this is the only way to remove endocrine disruptors from your tap water and remember, drink water out of glass containers only.

7. Last but not least, try to use better cleaning products around your house or make your own cleaning products.

At Epic Water Filters, we have tested all of our solid carbon block water filters for the removal of known endocrine disruptors. Please see our testing & certification page for product testing details. It is hard to avoid all of the potential exposures to endocrine disruptors but if you follow these tips, you and your family will limit your exposure.