Do you know that many chemicals in our environment have the potential to affect thyroid function? These chemicals are called endocrine disruptors, and they include both everyday household products and chemicals used in agriculture and manufacturing that end up all over the place–in our water, air, food, and eventually, in our blood, breast milk, and babies. These chemicals often break down very slowly. They can persist in the environment for years after they are banned, and in our bodies even after our exposure to them has ended. They can cause hypo- or hyperthyroidism. They can cause autoimmune problems including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves disease. Some impair T3 activation of thyroid b-receptor sites on cells, causing a thyroid hormone resistance-like syndrome. In blood tests, this can be seen as high or normal T3 and T4 and low or normal TSH. THAT’S WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO CHECK BODY TEMPERATURE, NOT JUST HORMONE LEVELS, to determine thyroid function.
Some of these chemicals are suspected of contributing to type 2 diabetes and our current epidemic of obesity. Even our pets, such as cats, are prone to thyroid problems due to environmental toxins or the use of soy meal as a cheap source of protein in pet foods. (Too much soy can impair thyroid function.)
Many people are unaware of their exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals. Here’s a review of commonly encountered chemicals that can hurt your thyroid.
Triclosan, an antibacterial found in hand soaps, toothpastes, deodorants, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, facial tissues, antiseptics, fabrics and toys. Research has found that due to its extensive use in consumer goods, triclosan and its metabolites are present in waterways, fish, human milk, serum, urine and foods. Triclosan was found in 75 % of people tested in government biomonitoring studies. Citizens environmental watch groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to ban non-medical use of triclosan. You can help limit your exposure by avoiding anti-bacterial soaps and toothpastes, waterless hand sanitizers and other products that contain triclosan. (Ecco Bella and CleanWell Company are part of a growing list of companies that have pledged to not use Triclosan in their products. For a complete list, see http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/products.php.)
Phthalates and its many chemical names and abbreviations, found in personal care products, including nail polishes, deodorants, perfumes and cologne, aftershave lotions, shampoos, hair gels and hand lotions. Read labels carefully. Unless a product says it is phthalate-free, don’t count on it. Look to avoid these abbreviations: DBP and DEP, and BzBP. Use natural products with a short list of easy-to-decipher ingredients.
Pesticides and fungicides used to treat crops like strawberries, apples, grapes, and peaches can alter thyroid function. Women seem to be more sensitive than men to these effects. Wives of farmers using these chemicals are at much higher risk of developing thyroid abnormalities than the general population. Avoid exposure by limiting the use of pesticides and fungicides around your house and in your yard. Encourage neighbors to do so, too. Eat organic. This is especially important for the “dirty dozen”–the 12 most contaminated foods: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes.
Perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs, are compounds used to manufacture fabrics, carpets, paper coatings, cosmetics and a variety of other products. Avoid them by using natural fiber curtains and carpeting. Don’t get stain-protection or fire retardant treatment on furniture or clothes. Avoid using non-stick pans–once the coating starts breaking down, it can emit PFCs. And avoid microwaved popcorn. The inside of a microwave popcorn bag is usually coated with a PFC to prevent oil from seeping through the bag. It can migrate into the food when heated.
Bisphenol A is easier to avoid now than it used to be. It is used in plastics, as resins for coating food cans, and as dental sealants. It interferes with T3 activation of the thyroid hormone b-receptor in rats, causing a thyroid hormone resistance–like syndrome. Use only bisphenol A-free plastics and cans, or avoid using plastic containers to heat food, as water bottles. Choose plastics with the recycling code 1, 2 or 5. Recycling codes 3 and 7 are more likely to contain bisphenol A or phthalates, another endocrine disruptor.
REFERENCES
Brent GA. Environmental exposures and autoimmune thyroid disease. Thyroid. 2010 Jul;20(7):755-61.
Goldner WS, Sandler DP, Yu F, et al. Pesticide use and thyroid disease among women in the Agricultural Health Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Feb 15;171(4):455-64.
Li-Li Wen, Lian-Yu Lin, Ta-Chen Su, et. al. Association between Serum Perfluorinated Chemicals and Thyroid Function in U.S. Adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010. J Clin Endocrin Metab.
Miller MD, Crofton KM, Rice DC et al. Thyroid-Disrupting Chemicals: Interpreting Upstream Biomarkers of Adverse Outcomes. Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Jul;117(7):1033-41.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
I would like to take my temperature, but it is impossible with today’s inaccurate thermometers.
Any ideas?
You could try one of these possibly…
http://www.wtsmedproducts.com/Products-Ordering/WT3-Protocol-Books-and-Supplies/Mercury-Free-Thermometers-2
Dear Dr. Wilson,
I have been a fan of yours since seeing you on “Your Health” and think you do such good work. My husband has hypothyroidism and intermitten cold syndrome. He has been having problems after using Synthroid and Armour for 45 years. Two months ago his synthroid was increased and prescribed Rhodiola. He takes thyrocare but not everyday. For the past 10 years we moved and live about 100 feet from a golf course tee and curious if the pesticides could be contributing to his problems. We eat many fruit and vegtables, little meat, no gluten, little sugar and take many supplements. He also takes meds for hypertension, but that is all. I appreciate any information you can give us and thank you in advance for any help you can give.
Hi Sandy :)
That’s a good question about the pesticide. I would wonder the same thing. I’m not sure how you could test for that though. If you’re saying that his temp is low even on Synthroid and even though his tests are normal…that can happen. You can almost view it like a see saw…what can be up can start gradually going down and then all of a sudden, it’s low. Stress can trigger it, lack of exercise, toxins, etc. Sometimes T3 is needed to fix it.
The Mainstream Medical Doctors, Along With My Twin Sibling, Have ALL Ganged Up On ME, AND CORNERING ME, Telling ME That The METHAMIZOLE PILLS ARE BASICALLY IT/ALL That There IS To “HELP” ME With MY Most RECENT Grave’s Dis Ease AND MY Hyperthyroidism, OR ELSE! My Family Has ALWAYS Bought Into The WHOLE BIG PHARMA GARBAGE (and I’ve Just GONE Along Over The YEARS, NEVER Really QUESTIONING, Because IT WAS “GOOD” For ME, In MY “BEST INTEREST” Because IT ALL SEEMS To “WORK” And Patches The DIS EASE Up For Awhile, So I HAVE Been And Keep Getting SUCKERD Into IT ALL Again And Again!) And Even MY Twin Sibling, Who For Awhile, WAS Kind Of Into The HOMEOPATHIC Health Route, Has NOW Gone FULL On BIG PHARMA, And SHE’S PROMOTING THEM Like A MAD WOMAN NOW!!! I DON’T FEEL RIGHT About Even Having A Bottle Of METHAMIZOLE, PUSHED Onto ME, THIS Summer, By The COMMON Medical Establishment, Here In Greenville, Texas, Or ELSE! And THEY HOLD The “THREAT” Of MASS RADIATION (which my parents DON’T LIKE Either) (But MY Parents CAN Also Be Two Faced Also) And I HAVE Been CORNERED, Like A DAWG, When I’m The One Who ASKED For “HELP” This HOT Texas Summer, And Now I’m Made To FEEL Like I’M The One Who Is In The WRONG, For Wanting To GO ALL NATURAL, And Having The Bottle Of METHAMIZOLE Sitting At MY Parents Place On The Other Side Of Greenville, Texas, Puts ME On EDGE! (are they sneaking it in to stuff behind my back, like they HAVE been known to do with OTHER BIG PHARMA DRUGS That HAVE been Prescribed To ME In OTHER YEARS Of MY Life, WRONGLY!) ???? Common Medical Doctors PRESSURE YOU, And MAKE SURE YOU The little helpless patient, KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER YOU! I DON’T LIKE THIS AT ALL, Here In Greenville, Texas! I WISH I HAD NEVER GONE TO SEE ANY OF THESE COMMON MEDICAL DOCTORS Here In Greenville, Texas THIS Summer, BIG MISTAKE! I DON’T TRUST COMMON Medical Doctors To Begin With, (and maybe NEVER SHOULD OF!) And THIS HAS Just CLOSED The DEAL On ALL COMMON Medical Doctors, Who Do NOTHING But PLAY These Time Games With “YOUR” Appointment Time, And IT’S THEIR AGENDA To Begin With ANYWAYS! IT Was NEVER YOUR APPOINTMENT Or On YOUR AGENDA, IT’S ALL THEIRS!!! Also: Once YOU’RE MARKED DOWN In THEIR FILES, With Each And EVERY One Of These COMMON MEDICAL DOCTORS, Then THEY SEEM To HAVE YOU FOR LIFE, Unless THEY “CLOSE” Shop, Or SEEM To “CLOSE” Shop, Or Whatever, And IF THEY WANT TO GRAB YOU, For ANY SUPPOSED NON COMPLIANCE, Whenever, Where Ever, THEY CAN, Especially NOW In The Last Few Years Of Amped Up POLICE STATE!!! Just Like MASS Surveillance Overkill NSA Society Does A LOT NOW! So SORRY I Went THIS Summer To ANY Of THEM! Does Anyone Or Anybody Have The DELORIAN So I Can Have A DIFFERENT Do Over Of NEVER Going To See ANY COMMON Medical Doctor Here In Greenville, Texas THIS Summer?!