Five Household Chemicals That Are Dropping Your Testosterone Levels Xenoestrogens

The testosterone levels are reducing at the rate of  1% every year, irrespective of age.

In 8 years the testosterone levels show a significant decrease. The study was conducted in 1988 and 1996. The testosterone levels of 50-year-old men in 1988 are higher than 50-year-old men in 1996.

So what causes this drop in testosterone levels.

Your habits, as well as the environment, contribute to this dropping testosterone levels. The air we breathe, the food and the cosmetics; everything is contaminated with those chemicals that are harmful to your endocrine system.

Your endocrine glands produce hormones that control various body functions. The chemicals will interfere with the endocrine system and disrupt hormone synthesis.

These chemicals can be found in plastic, personal care, and cosmetic products.

So what are these chemicals?

These chemicals are called xenoestrogens. They mimic some structural parts of endogenous estrogens. Thus xenoestrogens may act or interfere with the actions of estrogens. (Study 1)

let's see the five chemicals that cause a drop in the testosterone levels.

#1 Parabens

Parabens are preservatives that are added to personal care products and cosmetics to prevent the growth of microbes. They can be absorbed even through the skin.

The parabens are a group of chemicals usually added as ethylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben.

Most of the personal care products contain water. Parabens are used to prevent the growth of microbes.

Parabens will cause endocrine disruptions by mimicking estrogen. (study 2)

Butylparaben and propylparaben have the most estrogen a#referencectivity. Ethylparaben and methylparaben have lower to no estrogen activity. (Study 3)

Parabens can block androgen and inhibit the enzymes that metabolize estrogen. (Study 4) (Study 5)

Regular use on skin can cause skin cancer. Using skin care products that contain methylparaben can cause UV induced damage to skin cells.

Propyl and butylparaben affect sperm production and testosterone levels, while methylparaben and ethylparaben don't affect sperm production. (Study 6) (Study 7)

#2 Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A or BPA is a chemical used to make plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastic is used to make containers to store food and study 9. Epoxy resins are used to coat the inside of metal cans, used to store food.

Research had shown that BPA would sweep into the food that is stored in the container made with BPA. (study 9)

BPA is also used in the manufacture of thermal paper, which is used in a cash registry, credit card machines, etc. The paper is coated with BPA. The urine samples show an increased level of BPA with even a single touch on the receipt. (study 10)

This study shows that BPA was associated with lower total testosterone levels in men, while it increases the testosterone levels in girls. (study 11)

BPA interferes with the Leydig cells of testes thus affecting the biosynthesis of testosterone. It also interferes with spermatogenesis, affecting sperm count. (study 12)

The study thus proves the relation between increased urine concentration of BPA and declining male sexual function.

European Union and Canada had banned the use of BPA in baby bottles.

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#3 Phthalates

Phthalates are used to make PVC more flexible and resilient. They will increase flexibility, transparency, longevity, and durability. Its also used as solvents in cosmetics and other consumer products.

But they are one of the biggest threat to manliness. They interfere with the production of testosterone by interfering with an enzyme required for testosterone production. (study 13)

Phthalates cause reduced circulating testosterone levels. Studies show that increased exposure can cause a 30% reduction in testosterone levels. (study ​​14)  

Read the label before buying and try to avoid phthalates and fragrance. Its harder to find the presence of phthalates by reading the label. The laws allow the use of phthalates in fragrance, and they are not required to disclose it to consumers.

It's difficult to spot phthalates. A study was done on cosmetics find out that 72 products that had phthalates didn’t have it on the label.

#4 Triclosan and Triclocarban

Triclosan is used as an antimicrobial in soaps and detergents. It was used as antibacterial scrub for medical practitioners. But nowadays it's even added to vegetable cutting boards, and shoes to avoid bacterial growth and odor. (study 15)

The use of these antibacterial will cause the rise of new resistant bacteria.

Triclosan causes a decrease in thyroid hormone concentration. 

Triclocarban amplifies the endocrine activity when paired with naturally occurring hormones. (study 16)

Triclosan exposure has been associated with reduced testosterone, luteinizing hormone, FSH and sperm production. (study 17​study 18​​​)

Triclosan has a weak

estrogenic effect. It also interferes with estrogen and androgen systems. (study 18)

It also increases the estrogenic activity of synthetic estrogenic compounds. (study 19)

The researchers conclude that the studies point out that the estrogenic effect of triclosan is due to the inhibition of estrogen metabolism. (study 20)  

Triclosan exposure reduces semen quality. (study 21)

Triclosan exposure has been associated with reduced testosterone, luteinizing hormone, FSH and sperm production. (study 22)

#5 Benzophenone

Benzophenone is used in cosmetics and sunscreen to protect it from UV light. It is added to soaps and personal care products to enhance the fragrance and to preserve the scent and color under UV light.

It is used in sunglass and UV safe containers. The benzophenone can sweep into food from the bowl.

Benzophenone can cause cancer, endocrine disruptions. The main benzophenones are BP2, BP3, Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, and Sulisobenzone sodium.

Look for the label with the name Benzophenone, BP whether BP2 or BP3.

There are not enough studies to support the estrogenic activity of benzophenone. But its metabolites have estrogenic activity. (​study 23​​​)  

Reference

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