Environmental News Service
Published July 16, 2007
OAKLAND, California, July 17, 2007 (ENS) - Hormone-disrupting chemicals from consumer products such as plastic bottles and cosmetics are polluting San Francisco Bay, posing risks to marine life and challenges for consumers and utility districts, finds a year-long study by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group and the East Bay Municipal Utility District, EBMUD.
The report says that modern sewage treatment processes can address many pollutants, but they were not designed to capture the tons of chemicals in personal care products, tin can liners, and even anti-bacterial hand sanitizers, that constantly flow down Bay Area drains.
The study sampled and analyzed wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sites that discharge to the EBMUD wastewater treatment plant.
Eighteen of the 19 samples analyzed contained at least one of three unregulated, common hormone disrupting chemicals – phthalates, bisphenol A and triclosan.
These chemicals are in products like cosmetics, antibacterial soap, perfumes, food and beverage containers and plastic bottles.
"This is the first look at specific sources of hormone-disrupting chemicals that can make their way to the Bay," said Rebecca Sutton, PhD, staff scientist with the Environmental Working Group.
"By tracing these chemicals to particular sources – we can identify simple pollution prevention strategies for people to take to protect the Bay," she said.
Many studies have shown that fish exposed to hormone-disrupting chemicals can develop gender-bending characteristics, such as males with immature eggs in their testes.
Damage to the reproductive health of fish impacts local fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, the report warns, and in addition, "there is concern that people could become further exposed to hormone-disrupting chemicals by eating contaminated fish."
"Ultimately, we need to fix our system of chemical regulations," said Sutton. "The law establishing U.S. regulation of chemicals was created over three decades ago, before the scientific evidence on hormone-disrupting chemicals developed."
"Chemicals should be tested for their potential to impact the water environment, before they are allowed in the marketplace," said Sutton. "In our current regulatory framework, harm must be proven after these chemicals are already in use."
Researchers believe it would be wiser and more effective to keep hormone disruptors out of consumer products in the first place, but since they are there, consumers can protect themselves and the environment with wise choices at the checkout stand.
The Environmental Working Group report suggests that to reduce exposures to phthalates:
Use nail polish and other beauty products that do not contain dibutyl phthalate (DBP).
Use personal care products, detergents, cleansers, and other products that do not contain "fragrance" in the ingredient list, which commonly includes the phthalate DEP.
Avoid products made of PVC or vinyl plastic. A few examples of these products include PVC lawn furniture, vinyl raincoats, PVC pipe and other building materials, vinyl shower curtains, and toys for kids or pets made of PVC.
To reduce exposures to bisphenol A, and to the epoxy resin made from bisphenol A:
Cut down on canned foods. To keep food from reacting with the metal of the can, a plastic coating made from bisphenol A is applied to the inside of cans.
Avoid eating or drinking from polycarbonate plastics used in such products as hard plastic baby bottles, five gallon water cooler bottles, hard plastic water bottles, and plastic cutlery. Better alternatives are made from glass, stainless steel, or polypropylene.
To reduce exposures to triclosan:
Avoid unnecessary use of "antibacterial" products. Studies indicate that households that use these products are no healthier than those that use soap and water and other typical cleansing products.
If you need to use an antimicrobial skin disinfectant, use an alcohol hand rub or rinse product that does not list triclosan or "fragrance" in the ingredients.
Read the EWG report, "Down the Drain: Sources of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals in San Francisco Bay."
