Biology determines
when women hit menopause, but exposure to some common household products and
pollutants may drive that timing earlier than what is set up in the biological
clock.
Menopause, like puberty, is a reproductive rite of
passage, and marks for women the end of their fertility and child-bearing
years. But studies show that it’s not just age that can determine when
menopause starts — exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants can also play a
role.
In one of the most comprehensive looks at possible
menopause-disruptors to date, researchers led by Dr. Amber Cooper, from the
department of obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis,
report that such exposure can push menopause up by as much as four years.
Cooper and her team studied 31,575 women enrolled in the
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the government.
Every two years, the women were surveyed about various health and nutrition
issues, including whether they had begun menopause. At some point between 1999
and 2008, each of the participants also provided at least one blood and urine
sample which the scientists analyzed for the presence of various chemicals,
including dioxins contained in pesticides, phthalates found in fragrance,
plastics, cosmetics and hair spray, plant-derived estrogens, and
polychlorinated biphenyls, among others. The researchers found that women with
the highest levels of 111 of these chemicals on average had menopause anywhere
from 1.9 years to 3.8 years earlier than those with lower levels.
When we first mentioned this study results in one of our
previous posts (http://menopause-aid.blogspot.com/2014/09/early-menopause-makeup-as-trigger.html),
the data was available for much smaller examination base of 5,700 women, and
the outcomes produce lower expected threshold for the early menopause risks of
2.3 years. As you see, the expanded research not only confirmed the preliminary
conclusions, but also validated the effect with overall higher impact.
So, how could Cooper be so certain that the exposure was
linked to the early menopause? She and her team conducted other analyses,
including one of women closer to menopause, between the ages of 45 and 55
years, and found a similar association. They also found that it wasn’t just
exposure, but increasing exposure over time that was also connected to problems
with ovarian function, another potential consequence of the chemicals on reproductive
health. And when they looked at all of the women in the survey from age 30
years on, those with the highest blood and urine measurements were six times
more likely to be menopausal than women with lower readings.
“This is the tip of the iceberg,” says Cooper, who
stresses that the results don’t prove that exposure to these chemicals causes
early menopause, only that the two might be connected somehow. ”We need more
longitudinal studies to better understand each of these chemicals.”
Previous studies have linked certain chemicals to
disruptions in the reproductive hormones, including estrogen, which can then
have unhealthy effects on the heart and bone.
What’s concerning is the fact that with the majority of
the chemicals, there isn’t much women can do to reduce their exposure. That’s
because each of the compounds have different half-lives, or time in which they
can linger before completely breaking down. While PCBs have been banned in the
U.S. since the 1970s, for example, their long half-lives mean people may still
be exposed to them in the soil, air and water, and in through animals or other
things that have contact with them.
So, the good news is that most of the compounds linked to
early menopause have now been already banned around the World. But the study
found one class of chemicals (phthalates known as DEHPs) that is still in use.
And yes, they are ingredients in cosmetics, fragrances, and hair sprays.
Women can try to reduce their exposure to some of these
chemicals by using products that do not contain synthetic fragrance — which is
listed as “fragrance” or “parfum” and which contains phthalates. Women can also
opt for organic beauty products, which would not contain pesticide residues and
a number of other chemicals.
Cooper advises her patients to be more aware of their
potential sources of exposure, including plastics in food packaging, and
perhaps try microwaving only in glass and paper containers. “My goal is not to
scare women, but raise awareness and promote future research,” she says.
Europe is banning all DEHPs, but the USA is yet to take
the similar preventive actions.
This is not the first time that phthalates have been
linked to health problems. Several recent studies have linked the chemicals
with increased risk for cancer, diabetes, and obesity. One recent study said
that phthalate exposure was linked to reduced testosterone in mice.
However, the researchers claim that there is no reason to
worry too much yet. Research is in its preliminary stages, and the suspected substances
are impossible to avoid altogether completely.
Previous
Researches
It’s not such a great leap to imagine that chemicals in
our cosmetics and in our environment could have an effect on menopause. A
number of other studies have already suggested this possibility.
One of the biggest concerns are plasticizers—chemicals
like BPA and phthalates. They have been linked to an increased risk of
diabetes, asthma, and other health issues, and have been found to affect
hormones in humans.
The bad news is that according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), there is “widespread” exposure to these chemicals
in the American population. In addition, adult women have higher levels of
phthalates than men—phthalates that are used in soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics,
and similar personal care products.
A 2012 study found that BPA and phthalates may be linked
to lower thyroid levels. At high levels of exposure, the chemicals could reduce
thyroid hormones by 10 percent.
A 2013 study found that BPA may have a direct effect on
fertility in women, and may affect the maturation of the egg. Researchers also
noted that BPA could affect chromosomes, potentially increasing the risk for
birth defects.
In 2011, researchers reported that chemicals in common
household products like non-stick pans, clothing, furniture, carpets, and
paints were associated with early menopause. The specific chemicals were
perfluorocarbons (PFCs), chemicals linked to cancer and thyroid disease in
animal studies.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
states that endocrine disruptors may interfere with the body’s hormonal
systems, potentially increasing risk of fertility problems, some cancers, and
causing developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in people
and wildlife. These chemicals, they note, include dioxins, pesticides,
plasticizers (like BPA and phthalates), and polychlorinated biphenyls. All can
be found in plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame-retardants,
food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides.
Though some of these chemicals are beyond our
control—they’re present in the soil, water, and air—many are in the skin and
makeup products we use every day. That means that by being selective with what
we put on our skin, we can reduce our exposure and hopefully the risks
associated with it.
Some Recommendations
The world produces a billion pounds of phthalates every
year, according to the US FDA. This mysterious and hard-to-pronounce chemical
compound is used in cosmetics as a lubricant and even plastics to give it
flexibility.
The use of phthalates is so widespread that it’s nearly
impossible to avoid it entirely. You’ll find phthalates in perfume, hair spray,
deodorant, almost anything fragrant, nail polish, insect repellent, vinyl
flooring, plastic ‘sex’ toys, and your car’s steering wheel, dashboard, and
gearshift. When you smell “new car,” you’re smelling phthalates.
So how can you minimize the use of this ugly chemical
from your life?
1. Remove plastics
from your beauty regime
Your kitchen might be already plastic free but what about
your bathroom? Just note that in order to make plastic bottles “squeezable,”
manufacturers add phthalates. Therefore, it is recommended to switch to organic
cosmetics and creams, which come in glass bottles. For starter, try to replace
your night cream with essential oils. Use a homemade exfoliation - the scrubs
with the micro beads are again plastic! If you can, minimize your cosmetics use
altogether. Show the World your natural beauty.
2. Avoid the following
components if possible
Here is a list of the so called “Dirty Dozen” cosmetic
ingredients to avoid (compiled by David Suzuki Foundation)
* BHA and BHT. Used
mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives.
* Coal tar dyes.
p-phenylenediamine and colors listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number.
Look for them in hair dyes, etc. May also be listed as FD&C Blue No, 1 or
Blue 1
*DEA-related
ingredients, MEA and TEA (not the tea you drink). Used in creamy and
foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos.
* Dibutyl
phthalate. Used in some nail care products.
* Formaldehyde-releasing
preservatives. Used in a variety of cosmetics and slowly release small
quantities of formaldehyde – the stuff used to embalm people. Look for DMDM
hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and
quarternium-15.
* Parabens. Preservative
used in cosmetics.
* Parfum (a.k.a.
fragrance). Any mixture of fragrance ingredients — even in some products
marketed as “unscented.” What you want to see are claims like: “no synthetic
fragrance” or “scented with only essential oils” or “phthalate-free.”
* PEG compounds.
Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Look for ingredients with the letters “eth”
(e.g., polyethylene glycol).
* Petrolatum. Used
in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms,
lip sticks and moisturizers.
* Siloxanes. Look
for ingredients ending in “-siloxane” or “-methicone.”
* Sodium laureth
sulfate. Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble
bath.
* Triclosan. Used
in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants.
3. Crack the code
Plastic products with recycling codes 3 and 7 may contain
phthalates or BPA. Look for plastic with recycling codes 1, 2, or 5.
4. Avoid plastic
whenever possible, and microwave only in glass
Foods that are higher in fat, meats and cheeses, for
instance, are particularly prone to chemical leaching. Even BPA or
phthalate-free plastic may contain other harmful chemicals.
Sources and
Additional Information:
