More conditions

Exposure to chemicals is linked to a long and growing list of concerns about other health conditions such as metabolic, cardiovascular, skeletal, autoimmune diseases, and mental health disorders.

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Cardiovascular disease

Links between cardiovascular disease and environmental pollution are well established, but exposure to everyday chemicals might also trigger the same bodily stress response as other risk factors such as diet and lifestyle.

For example, exposure to per- or poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) is linked to increases in high blood pressure in mid-life women.

Diabetes and obesity

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is linked to increased diabetes and obesity risk.

Exposure to chemicals known as environmental obesogens are thought to cause inflammation and disrupt the microbiome (gut), possibly even before birth. When the body cannot get rid of chemicals it sometimes stores them in fatty tissue, making it possible that chemicals might create a body burden, and interfere with metabolic processes such as digestion and weight regulation.

Microbiome (gut) imbalances

Exposure to pesticides and herbicides might be one of the drivers of antibiotic resistance.

Harmful bacteria such as salmonella and clostridium have developed a resistance to pesticides, making it harder for the gut to manage potential infections. This imbalance could be why more people now suffer from so many food intolerances and allergies.

Imbalances in our gut microbiome arising from exposures to chemicals, pesticides and herbicides might lead to neurological deviations, changes in fertility, and mental health. The biological mechanisms are not understood yet; it’s an emerging field of study.

The rise of allergies

More than 20% of the world’s population suffer from allergies. The incidence of childhood allergies has trebled over the last 30 years.

The list of chemical allergens is growing, and with thousands of synthetic chemicals such as phthalates and parabens in everyday use, it’s possible that exposure to chemical substances might be interfering with the immune and hormonal systems.

Sources

Environmental risk factors and cardiovascular diseases: a comprehensive expert review Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Incident Hypertension in Multi-Racial/Ethnic Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, Gut Microbiota, and Human (In)Fertility—It Is Time to Consider the Triad Alzheimer's Society Report: Is there a link between air pollution and dementia? Allergy UK statistics Endocrine disruption and obesity: A current review on environmental obesogens Long-term exposure to air pollution puts teenagers at risk of heart disease Obesity in middle-aged women triggered by air pollution, evidence reveals Early-life exposure to EDCs: role in childhood obesity and neurodevelopment Environmental risk factors of type 2 diabetes—an exposome approach UK College of Medicine study: Chemicals in plastics could be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Asthma and Allergic Diseases

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