When two-year-olds are exposed to endocrine disrupting chemical substances
65000.dk – or 65,000 reasons for better chemistry – is a campaign launched by the Danish Ministry of the Environment in October 2009. The name of the campaign 65000.dk refers to the fact that there are about 65,000 two-year-old children in Denmark.
DHI has contributed to the report behind the campaign. The project report is a unique survey of endocrine disrupting substances to which 2-year-olds are exposed in their everyday life, and which pose a risk to their health. The project report is based partly on test results from approx. 100 previous surveys from the Danish EPA and partly on risk assessments of two-year-olds’ exposure to food, consumer products and indoor climate.
The cocktail effect
The endocrine disrupters have been divided into two groups with the same effects in order to calculate the risk of the so-called cocktail effect. The cocktail effect is a popular term for a substance that may develop endocrine disrupting effects in the presence of other substances even though it is present in concentrations not causing visible problems itself.
The two substance groups are:
- The anti-androgenic substances DEHP, DINP, DBP, DIBP, BBP (phthalates); the pesticides Prochloraz, Tebuconazol, Linuron, Vinclozolin, Procymidon, dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, and DDT
- The estrogen-like substances: Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Bisphenol A
“These calculations provide us with a much better overview of the endocrine disrupting substances. We now know which substances constitute the largest risk of exposure, and in particular where they can be found”, explains Lise Møller from DHI.
The results show
- That exposure of both anti-androgenic and estrogenic substances poses a risk
- That the risk of anti-androgenic effects especially comes from DEHP, DBP, dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs in indoor climate and food
- That the risk of estrogenic effects originates from Propylparaben and Butylparaben in creams and lotions in particular
- That single consumer products such as plastic clogs may result in heavy exposure
“We conclude that the combined exposure of children to endocrine disrupters is of a magnitude which may cause effects on their hormonal system”, says Helle Buchardt Boyd from DHI.
The report has been carried out in collaboration with the Danish Consumer Council, Operate, FORCE Technology, DHI, the Danish Technological Institute and the Danish EPA. DHI has carried out the risk assessments in co-operation with FORCE Technology and the Danish EPA. The project is funded by the Danish EPA.