Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are chemicals in a group known as endocrine disruptors – chemicals in plastic that interfere with the body’s endocrine (hormone) system. BPA and phthalate exposure has been linked to reproductive tract changes, neuro-developmental delays, behavioral issues, obesity, asthma, allergies, fertility problems and heart disease. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)are widely used in a range of products, including clothing, furniture, cosmetics, and medical supplies and are also commonly found in food, water, and dust. EDC exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation and absorption through the skin. The effects of EDCs appear to be greatest for the fetus exposed during gestation. Shanna H. Swan, from Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York, USA), and colleagues examined individual behavioral choices and community lifestyle practices, as well as analyzed urine samples, from a group of Old Order Mennonite (OOM) women in mid-pregnancy. The team measured the amounts of EDCs in urine samples from 10 OOM women in mid-pregnancy. Study participants also completed a 14-category questionnaire identifying their exposure to risk factors such as personal care products, household products and medications in the 48 hours prior to providing the urine sample. Researchers compared levels of the chemicals in the OOM women to those of pregnant women who participated in The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Seven out of 10 of the OOM women had detectable levels of BPA and all of them had detectable levels of one or more of the phthalates being tested, but levels were lower than expected. The median BPA concentration in the OOM sample was 0.71 ng/mL compared to a median level of 2.8 ng/mL in the NHANES sample. The phthalate with the highest level of detection was mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (MECPP), primarily exposed to people through soft plastic food packaging. The median concentration in the OOM sample was 9.9 ng/mL compared to the NHANES median of 23.8 ng/mL. observing that: “Levels of phthalate metabolites were lower in [the Old Order Mennonite] population,” the study authors submit that: “Our data suggest three practices that may contribute to these lower levels: (1) consuming mostly homegrown produce (ingestion), (2) no cosmetics and limited use of personal care products, and (3) transportation primarily by sources other than automobiles.”
