Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals

Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals

Recent research by Dr. Thomas Zoeller in the prestigious medical journal Thyroid, indicates that environmental chemicals can interfere with thyroid function.  These chemicals can have a negative effect on thyroid function in a few different ways.  They can inhibit thyroid hormone production, inhibit the conversion of thyroid hormone into the active form, and bind to receptors making them unresponsive to thyroid hormone.  This can cause any of the symptoms related to low thyroid including:

Ø      Fatigue

Ø      Depression

Ø      Constipation

Ø      Inability to lose weight

Ø      Weight gain

Ø      Dry skin and hair

Ø      Brittle nails

Ø      Hair loss

Ø      Unrefreshing sleep

Ø      Hormone imbalances

Ø      Sweet cravings

Ø      PMS

This is also important because thyroid hormone is required for brain development in children.   Bisphenol-A is a chemical used in plastics, dental sealants, resins that coat food cans and is a flame-retardant.  Bisphenol-A has been shown in studies to cause ADHD-like symptoms in rats that are exposed to this chemical. 

Triclosan is used as an anti-bacterial agent in soaps and creams and has been identified as a contaminant in human blood.  PCB’s or polychlorinated biphenyls are industrial chemicals that are found in a plethora of products and have been found in human and fetal tissue.  Infants as young as 6-weeks old have been found to have elevated levels of PCB’s in their blood.  PCB’s have been linked to low IQ, impaired memory, attention deficit disorder and impaired muscle coordination.

We can’t avoid all chemicals but we can definitely limit our use of plastics and avoid products that do not come from naturally-derived sources.  Cosmetics and toiletries are full of these chemicals and daily use can actually impair thyroid function.  Heating plastics in a microwave or leaving bottled water in a hot car leach extra chemicals. 

If you are having difficulty losing weight and can identify with the symptoms of low thyroid function, you may want to take a careful look at your environment and product use.