Xenoestrogens are compounds that are produced outside of the body and known to produce oestrogenic effects within the body). There are more than 60 substances that have been identified as environmental oestrogens; some places you can find them are;

Herbicides

• Herbicides such as Atrazine are used to control weeds in forestry, horticulture, the grain & cotton industries.  A study conducted in 2002 by an associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California reported Atrazine to be an endocrine disruptor, (rendering male amphibians sterile) that can cause dramatic effects at low levels. The reproductive Toxicology Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency also reports that exposure of Atrazine metabolites caused inflammation of the prostate in newborn rats exposed while their mother was pregnant and that these rats were susceptible to chronic prostatitis. These are just two pieces of information worth mentioning. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) is a division of the Australian Government which deems Atrazine safe and it continues to be in widespread use.  All literature on Atrazine suggests it is “unlikely to be genotoxic”, or shows “no evidence of neurotoxicity”. Words that may be reassuring to scientific bodies but are certainly not definitive enough to be 100% sure that these chemicals are not having a detrimental affect on humans, especially when there is evidence to the contrary. Either way, eating organic food will help you avoid ingesting them

Pesticides

• Pesticides are widely available over the counter from hardware stores (for the garden), supermarkets (insect sprays) & pharmacies (head lice treatment) and the like, but this does not make them safe. As well as being a source of xenoestrogens, they also have a negative effect on the nervous system of people who inhale them via aerosol cans (fly/insect spray) or ingest them (produce), as an attack on the nervous system of insects is the method in which they are exterminated 

Phthalates

• Phthalates are chemicals used in the production of plastics (p-nonylphenol & bisphenol A, also known as BPA) that are used for things like drink bottles & plastic storage containers, liners of food tins, toys, detergents & household cleaners and cosmetics such as nail polish & perfume. Phthalates are used to make Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) so vinyl flooring, furniture & shower curtains are some more places you will find these chemicals in your home. As you can see, it’s practically everywhere.
• Ironically, the only positive information I could source on phthalates is published by the Phthalates Information Center Europe, despite the glowing reports on their product, many cosmetics, toy & storage product manufacturers are making phthalate free products as many studies are proving this chemical to have several harmful effects on us and our environment, one of the main discoveries is it’s role as a ‘hormone disruptor’, requiring only very small amounts to have significant effects on humans and animals. 

Dioxin

• Dioxin is used to bleach many of our household products like toilet paper, napkins & white paper plates. It is also found in many household cleaning products. Studies have shown this chemical to produce significantly reduced sexual development

Even very small amounts of these oestrogens can cause disruptions to your endocrine system (hormone production & secretion) and are linked to hormone dependent cancers such as breast cancer as well as endometriosis & low sperm count in men. They are also thought to have effects on the development of sex organs in baby boys if the mother is exposed during pregnancy, having an effect 20-30 years down the track. Not only do environmental oestrogens affect humans, but all mammals, birds, fish, insects and reptiles.

For more information read Why Plastic is NOT so Fantastic! by karen Keynes from GreenUrLife

Read the original article that this information relates to Detoxification - Helping your Body's Natural Processes