For nine years, researchers studied more than 31,000 women enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Samples of the participants’ blood and urine were analyzed for the presence of 111 different endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are chemicals in the environment that have an effect on the production of hormones that regulate reproduction, metabolism, sexual function, and more. According to the study, women who had the highest levels of EDCs went through menopause 1.9 to 3.8 years earlier than those with lower levels of the chemicals. And women with greater EDC exposure were 6 times more likely to be menopausal than women with lesser exposures. MORE: Meet The 4,000 Chemicals In Your Food Packaging The 111 EDCs in the study included phthalates (present in plastic products), pesticides, and dioxins (a main component of pollution), among others. And basically, they’re found everywhere, says study author Natalia Grindler, MD, instructor and fellow at the University of Colorado’s department of obstetrics and gynecology. “These chemicals are present in our drinking water and in all types of plastics, so the exposure is really ubiquitous,” she explains. What’s more: despite being banned in the United States due to adverse health outcomes, some chemicals, like phenols, are still found in the environment, since they haven’t broken down fully from when they were in circulation. So how big of a deal is early menopause? There’s a lot more to it than simply stopping your period earlier than expected. An early decline in ovarian function not only increases rates of infertility, but it can also lead to earlier development of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, among other health risks for women. While you can’t completely cut EDCs out of your life, you can take some steps to lessen your exposure, says Grindler, who has taken to reading content labels more closely following her research. “I try to limit my use of plastics, particularly in regards to food, and I read up on the contents of the chemicals I use to clean my house,” she says. Regardless of the (scary) news, this study still only found an associated risk for early menopause and the presence of ECDs. “This is a whistle-blowing study that’s saying we need to pay more attention to our environment,” says Grindler. “We need more studies to investigate this association so the public can protect themselves.” MORE: 12 Most Toxic Chemicals In Your Home
