Chemicals that disrupt human hormones are equally present in the indoor air of wealthy and poorer households, though there are higher levels in the outdoor air of the less affluent, more industrialized neighborhoods, a recent study found.
The study measured airborne concentrations of endocrine disruptors — chemicals that may lead to reproductive and developmental problems– in two California communities: Bolinas, a rural, affluent coastal town, and Richmond, a working-class city ringed by oil refineries.
Nearly equal levels of the chemicals were found inside homes in both communities. This suggested that consumer products that emit the chemicals–including plastics, detergents, furniture, pesticides and cosmetics–are ubiquitous in high and low-income households. Outdoors, however, airborne levels were were higher in Richmond. The study was published online in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, and was co-authored by researchers from Columbia University and the University of California-Berkeley.
While some endocrine disruptors, such as flame retardants and pesticides, have been shown to have adverse health effects, others have not been well-studied or have not shown clear health impacts, according to an interview with study co-author Rachel Morello-Frosch by New America Media. Morello-Frosch said the study pointed to the need for more scrutiny of chemicals used in popular consumer items.
“The laws governing consumer product chemicals are outdated and don’t require adequate testing,” she said. ”We need more thorough testing of chemicals and consumer products before they are marketed.”
