When I walk through the loading docks of our warehouse every day, I see pallets of chemicals labeled for everything from agricultural fertilizers to industrial water treatment. For years, I’ve thought of those products as tools—essential for keeping farms productive, factories running, and communities supplied with clean water. It wasn’t until a decade ago, when my own niece was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder as a teenager, that I started asking a question I’d never considered before: how do these chemicals actually interact with the human body’s most complex regulatory system? The endocrine system, that quiet network of glands, hormones, and receptors that controls everything from metabolism to reproductive health, is a delicate balance. And what we put into the environment, often ends up finding its way back to us. Chemicals
Let’s start with the basics. The endocrine system works like a sophisticated messaging network: glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream, and those hormones bind to specific receptors in cells, triggering responses that regulate growth, mood, fertility, and even how our bodies process sugar. For this system to function correctly, every hormone needs to hit its target at the right time, in the right amount. That’s where endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) come in—they’re foreign substances that can mimic, block, or interfere with these natural messengers in ways that throw the whole system off. A lot of people think EDCs are only from plastics or pesticides, but as a chemical supplier, I know our industry is part of a much larger supply chain that these chemicals flow through. What I want to make clear here is that not every chemical we manufacture is an EDC, and not all exposure is dangerous. The key is understanding which ones pose risks, and how we can handle them responsibly.
Take bisphenol A (BPA), for example. I remember when BPA was a staple in plastic water bottles and food packaging in the 1990s. Studies later found that BPA mimics estrogen, binding to estrogen receptors and altering hormone levels, even at very low doses that don’t cause acute toxicity. That’s the tricky part about EDCs: unlike many chemicals that cause obvious harm after a high exposure, EDCs can have subtle effects over time, or even affect developing fetuses and children, whose endocrine systems are still growing. We stopped supplying BPA for food contact products around 2015, after we saw the research and worked with our manufacturing partners to source alternative bisphenols that are less disruptive. But BPA isn’t the only one. Phthalates, which we use as plasticizers in some industrial coatings and flexible packaging, are another EDC. They interfere with testosterone production, and long-term exposure has been linked to reproductive issues in men and developmental delays in young boys.
Another group that’s been in the news is organophosphate pesticides. Wait, but let’s be clear: I supply some organophosphates for agricultural use, and they’re effective at controlling pests that destroy crops and feed millions of people around the world. The problem isn’t the chemical itself, it’s how it’s applied, how it runs off into water systems, and how residues end up on fresh produce. Organophosphates don’t just affect pest nervous systems—they can also disrupt thyroid function in humans, especially in pregnant women. A 2021 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that women with higher levels of organophosphate residues in their urine were more likely to have lower thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy, which is critical for fetal brain development. That’s the kind of research that changed how our company approaches product stewardship. We started working with farmers to develop better application practices, like timed spraying that reduces runoff, and we’ve invested in testing methods to measure trace residues so we can track where our chemicals end up in the environment.
What many people don’t realize is that endocrine disruption isn’t just about big, obvious health issues. It’s also about the small, cumulative effects that add up over a lifetime. For instance, common industrial chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which we used to supply for waterproof coatings and firefighting foams, have been linked to decreased insulin sensitivity, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, and altered thyroid function. PFAS are persistent, meaning they don’t break down in the environment—so they can build up in soil, water, and even our bodies over time. That’s why a few years ago, our company made the decision to phase out all PFAS products not required for critical industrial applications. We worked with our R&D team to develop alternative coatings that are just as effective, without the persistent EDC properties. It wasn’t cheap, and some customers were resistant at first, but more and more, they’re coming around because they recognize that sustainability and responsible chemical use aren’t just buzzwords—they’re good for business, too.
Let’s talk about how exposure happens, because that’s a big part of the picture. Chemicals don’t just float in the air and hit you directly. They can leach from plastic containers into food and drinks, run off from fields into rivers and drinking water, be released into the air from factory emissions, or even transfer through dust in our homes. For children, exposure is even higher because they spend more time on the floor, touching things, and putting their hands in their mouths. A 2019 report from the Endocrine Society found that more than 90% of people in the U.S. have detectable levels of at least one EDC in their blood or urine, and children have even higher levels. That statistic stuck with me because it’s personal—my niece, who I mentioned earlier, was tested for multiple EDCs, and her levels were above the average for her age. It doesn’t mean those levels caused her thyroid disorder, but it does mean that we as a society are exposed to these chemicals every day, and we need to be more intentional about controlling where they come from.
Now, as a chemical supplier, I’m not here to make excuses for harmful products. But I also want to set the record straight: chemicals are necessary for modern life. We can’t feed the global population without agricultural chemicals that protect crops. We can’t build the infrastructure, manufacture the electronics, or provide the water treatment services that people rely on without industrial chemicals. The problem isn’t the chemicals themselves—it’s how we’ve managed them in the past, often without full understanding of their long-term effects on the endocrine system. That’s why our company has implemented a rigorous product testing program before any new chemical leaves our warehouse. We work with independent third-party labs to screen for EDC properties, test for endocrine disruption in cell models, and even partner with universities to study how our chemicals interact with living organisms. We also track every shipment from our facility to its final destination, so we can trace if a chemical is ending up in areas where it might pose a risk.
Another point that’s often missed: the dose makes the poison, but for EDCs, the “safe” level isn’t zero. Traditional toxicology used to assume that if a chemical didn’t cause acute harm at a certain dose, it was safe. But research over the last 20 years has shown that EDCs can have effects at doses much lower than those that cause toxicity. For example, a 2018 study on atrazine, an herbicide we supply for weed control in corn and soy crops, found that at levels below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “safe” limit, atrazine can alter estrogen signaling in frog populations, leading to abnormal reproductive development. That same effect has been observed in human cell studies. So we’ve worked with our agricultural customers to adjust application rates, so that atrazine residues in water systems stay well below even the low levels where endocrine disruption is a concern. We also provide training to farmers on how to store and dispose of unused herbicides, to prevent them from leaching into groundwater.
What really drives me is that we have a responsibility, as suppliers, to be part of the solution, not just part of the problem. A few years ago, we launched a product stewardship initiative where we work with customers from the first stage of a project, to help them choose chemicals that meet their needs without posing endocrine risks. For example, if a food packaging manufacturer used to order plasticizers that are phthalates, we’d show them our alternative line of phthalate-free plasticizers that work just as well, and help them test those alternatives to make sure they’re safe. We also partner with local environmental groups to test water sources near our warehouses, so we can track if any of our chemicals are entering the environment and take action immediately if they are. It’s not just good for our reputation—it’s the right thing to do.
Of course, there are still challenges. Some EDCs are in products that we rely on every day, and there’s no simple alternative. For example, some specialized industrial lubricants that we supply for heavy machinery have chemical properties that could disrupt the thyroid. We’re still working with our R&D team to find alternatives that perform the same function, without the endocrine risks. It’s a slow process, and it requires investment, but it’s worth it. We know that if we can’t find an alternative, we have to be extra careful in how we handle, transport, and dispose of that chemical, to minimize any chance of exposure to humans or the environment.
I also want to address a common misconception: that all natural chemicals are safe, and all synthetic chemicals are dangerous. That’s not true. Some natural chemicals, like some phytoestrogens in soy and flaxseed, can also mimic estrogen, though the human body handles them differently at normal consumption levels. And some synthetic chemicals, like certain biodegradable solvents we supply for cleaning products, have no endocrine-disrupting properties at all. The key is not whether a chemical is natural or synthetic, but what it does to the endocrine system, and how we manage its use.
Back to my niece, who is now a college student studying environmental science. She still has to take medication for her thyroid, but she’s also been part of our company’s community outreach program, where we test local residents for EDC awareness and help them reduce their exposure. When she told me that her experience inspired her to work on chemical safety, I knew that the work we’re doing as a supplier isn’t just about moving products from one place to another. It’s about protecting the next generation, so that children grow up with healthy endocrine systems, able to thrive.
At the end of the day, the chemicals industry has a unique role to play in this conversation. We’re not just manufacturers—we’re partners, researchers, and stewards. We can choose to hide behind old regulations that don’t account for the latest endocrine research, or we can lead the way in developing safer products, better practices, and transparency for our customers and the public. If you’re a business owner, a farmer, or a professional who works with chemicals and wants to learn more about how to avoid endocrine-disrupting options, or how to implement better safety measures, we’re here to help. We can walk you through our product lines, share our research data, and work with you to find solutions that meet your needs without compromising health or the environment. Reach out to our team to connect for a conversation about responsible chemical use and how we can collaborate to make a difference.
Chemicals References:
- Endocrine Society. (2019). Executive statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Endocrine Reviews, 40(4), 1089–1123.
- Mechanism, N. L., et al. (2021). Organophosphate pesticide exposure and thyroid function in pregnant women: A prospective cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 129(5), 57002.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program: 2018 Update. EPA/100/R-18/002.
- Vandenberg, L. N., et al. (2012). Hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals: Low-dose effects and nonmonotonic dose responses. Endocrine Reviews, 33(3), 378–455.
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