We live in a modern world where we are surrounded and bombarded with products, chemicals, and processes out of our control. We lack the authority and sometimes even information to know what is happening and how modernization is affecting our health. Estrogen pollution is a topic that has not been discussed very often. Recently it was not even brought to the public that there is an issue with the fact that estrogen is all around us. We can’t see it. We can’t touch it but it affects our world and the future generations that will come after us.

Increased levels of estrogen have been scientifically proven to have a negative impact not only on humans but on animals and the environment. They come from all spheres of modern life. From the pharmaceutical industry to manufacturing, food, beverage, agriculture, to even our water supply. Being surrounded by a threat to our health that we sometimes even don’t know is negatively affecting us can be scary.

The study published in the Human Reproduction Update found that the average sperm count declined by 59.3 percent in the last 40 years for men in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. At that rate, guys in those locations will have little or no reproductive capacity after 2060.

“This study is an urgent wake-up call for researchers and health authorities around the world to investigate the causes of the sharp, ongoing drop in sperm count,” said Hagai Levine, who co-led the study. High estrogen levels in women are also one of the major concerns. When the hormones in the women’s body are out of balance it makes is harder for them to conceive. So it affects all of us in every stage of our lives.

Health effects of high estrogen

Estrogen is a hormone. It is essential for male and female health and sexual development. Estrogen regulates cholesterol levels, maintains bone health, and affects mood. In females, it also influences puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.

Factors that may contribute to estrogen dominance include:

Obesity: Having excess body weight can result in higher estrogen levels because fat tissue synthesizes estrogen.

Stress: Stress increases cortisol levels. Consistently high levels of cortisol can deplete progesterone levels, with a knock-on effect on estrogen.

Alcohol consumption: A high alcohol intake raises estradiol levels and makes it harder for the body to process estrogen.

Dysbiosis: Intestinal dysbiosis is when there are too many harmful species of bacteria, or not enough beneficial species, in the large intestine. Some types of gut bacteria can reduce how well the body gets rid of excess estrogen, leading to higher levels in the body.

Xenoestrogen exposure: These chemicals mimic estrogen if they enter the body. Examples include bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are present in some plastics. Phthalates are also present in some soaps, shampoos, and other products.

Medications: Some medications may elevate estrogen or suppress progesterone.

Health conditions: Some health conditions have an association with or lead to estrogen dominance. These include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and certain cancers. Insulin resistance also increases estrogen levels.

Tumors: In rare cases, feminizing adrenocortical tumors or adrenal tumors can secrete estrogen, leading to high estrogen levels in males and children. The main symptom is breast enlargement. They can be benign or malignant.

Genetic conditions: Some genetic or inherited conditions, such as aromatase excess syndrome, can cause the body to produce more estrogen than usual. It can affect males or females.

Testosterone is the most significant hormone in male sexual development and function. But estrogen needs to stay in balance with testosterone to help control sex drive, the ability to have an erection, and the production of sperm. Testosterone naturally decreases as men age, while estrogen increases. This isn’t much to be concerned about unless your estrogen levels are abnormally high. This can be a risk factor for conditions like diabetes and certain forms of cancer.

Some of the main symptoms of high estrogen levels in men:

Infertility. Estrogen is one of the hormones your body uses to produce sperm. High estrogen levels can slow down sperm production and make it harder to create healthy sperm.

Gynecomastia. Increased estrogen can cause more breast tissue to develop than normal. High levels can lead to the development of a condition called gynecomastia. This happens when the amount of breast fat tissue is abnormally high.

Erectile dysfunction (ED). Increased estrogen levels can affect the balance of hormones that are needed to help get an erection and stay erect. This is especially true if you also experience low testosterone.

Slowed growth. Too much estrogen can result in short stature or delayed puberty in boys.

Epiphyseal closure. This can happen in adolescents with high estrogen, causing boys to have short stature.

Hormone treated beef

While the animals are reared, they are given hormones to encourage fast weight gain. Although this speeds up the time it takes for the animal to grow and reduces feed costs, it presents some human health concerns and questions about animal welfare.

Currently, the UK has a ban on producing and importing hormone-treated beef (and other hormone-treated meats) due to public health concerns. But there is pressure from the US to accept these imports as part of a new UK/US trade deal.

Using growth hormones in beef production has been banned in the EU since 1989. This is largely down to 2 main concerns with the practice:

Carcinogenic properties

In 1999, the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public Health (SCVMPH) carried out a review on hormone-treated beef.

It concluded that estradiol-17β – one of the six hormones commonly used in US beef production – “has to be considered a complete carcinogen” (having the potential to cause cancer). This is because the hormone “exerts both tumors initiating and tumor-promoting effects”.

The Committee also concluded that there is insufficient data to assess the risks that the other five hormones may present to consumers. In other words, it cannot be proven that their use in food production is acceptably safe.

Animal welfare

The use of synthetic hormones occurs most frequently in the US in so-called ‘feedlot systems’ – where cattle are confined in large sheds or crowded outdoor ‘lots’ for around six months. During this time, the cows gain a lot of weight over a short space of time to reach slaughter weight as quickly as possible. They are given hormones and rapidly fattened on grain-based diets. Often animals in these systems never graze; with food being delivered to them. Key animal welfare problems associated with feedlots include muddy conditions, poor handling, and heat stress.

Why is estrogen pollution so dangerous?

Estrogen pollution causes increased amounts of estrogen in the human body. That in itself can cause serious health conditions for women and men. Men are maybe even more affected because the increased estrogen is destroying and lowering testosterone levels which are essential for the well-being of all men.

Infertility has been a growing problem over the last three decades, with most of the attention focused on women’s reproduction. However, 40 to 50 percent of cases of infertility are caused by male infertility. Research shows sperm quality has dropped by 50 percent in the last 80 years.

Now, a recent study shows common pollutants in the environment and in the foods we eat affect male fertility.

The British study looked at the effects of two common pollutants on the sperm of both men and dogs. For this study, they studied a common plasticizer that is ubiquitous in our environment and the industrial chemical polychlorinated biphenyl 153, which, though banned, is still abundant in our foods and the environment. They found that when sperm is exposed to both these chemicals at levels found in the environment it damages the sperm. They reduced sperm motility and fragmented DNA in the sperm. Male infertility is linked to DNA fragmentation in sperm.

Men with excess estrogen also often have high cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, elevated blood pressure, abdominal weight gain, the development of “breasts” and “hips,”
and varicose veins or hemorrhoids. Some men even have hot flashes thanks to
high estrogen.

A variety of factors are shown to contribute to estrogen dominance in men, including estrogen-mimicking chemicals in pesticides and environmental chemicals, poor essential fatty acid status
(too much omega 6 fatty acids and not enough omega 3), gut infections, and poor liver detoxification.

How to avoid estrogen exposure?

What are the steps that we need to take to avoid estrogen pollution? When it’s everywhere around us. In our water, food, packaging, and plant and animal life. Is there some magical solution that will make it go away? I am afraid that it’s not possible to completely solve the problem by yourself. As long as the water treatment plants don’t start testing and filtering hormones out of the water the problem will still be there. As long as the plastics still contain harmful chemicals the issue of high estrogen will still follow us for years to come.

Now when it comes to food there are things you can do. Try to always choose organic red meat from animals that have been kept in the open and grass-fed. Limiting the intake of soy, dairy, and eggs will also provide you with an opportunity to self-regulate your estrogen levels. Selecting cosmetics and products that are made from natural ingredients is still a better choice even if we have to pay for a higher price. Avoiding harsh chemicals and relying on vinegar, lemons, and baking soda to do most of our cleaning for us will save us money and health.

Supporting environmental organizations and agencies that battle with this type of environmental concern will go a long way in changing the culture and spreading information on estrogen pollution that is affecting us all.

While we can’t rid the environment of pollutants, we can minimize our exposure and help buffer our bodies. In addition to replacing toxic items in your home, body care, house cleaning, and
a diet with non-toxic alternatives, you can also help your body by supporting your liver detoxification, antioxidant glutathione status, and the body’s stress-handling abilities.

It’s also vital to use diet and lifestyle changes to support healthy testosterone levels.