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Endocrine disruptors

'Endocrine disruptor' is the term given to certain chemicals which allegedly act as, or interfere with, human hormones in the body and lead to harmful effects.

‘Endocrine disruptors’ is the term given to certain chemicals which allegedly act as, or interfere with, the endocrine system of the body. These include chemicals that are alleged to interfere with sex hormones (specifically oestrogen).  ‘The endocrine system is one of the body’s key communication networks. It is critical to normal growth, development and functioning, and affects everything from skeletal growth to reproduction.

Certain ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic the hormone oestrogen. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt your endocrine system.  Cosmetic ingredients do not interfere with the endocrine system, and this needs to be carefully ensured by the safety assessment before the product is allowed to be sold.

Many so-called endocrine disruptors (actually, endocrine mimics) are abundant in nature. We ingest them in the food we eat in concentrations many million times greater than used in cosmetics and personal care products. Endocrine mimics include phytoestrogens – the oestrogen-like compounds found in plants. We eat these in foods such as cabbage, soya beans and Brussels sprouts. No adverse health effects have been associated with these dietary exposures.

All ingredients used in cosmetic and personal care products have to meet stringent UK and European regulation guaranteeing consumer protection and the well-being of industry employees. There is a legal obligation for every cosmetic product to undergo a rigorous safety assessment performed by a qualified, scientific expert before it can be placed on the market. The assessment takes into account the finished product, all of the ingredients, how and where the product is to be used, how often and by whom. The assessment covers all potential risks, including possible endocrine disruption.

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