Estrogen – everyone has it. So, what’s the problem? In the female body, natural estrogens are responsible for womanly curves. When exposed to environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens), men can also develop those feminine curves, but lady hips and ample bosoms are the least of everyone’s worries. When tested, Minnesota lakes were found to have significant levels of xenoestrogens, resulting in intersex fish. Natural water systems are not the only source of these synthetic hormones- non organic estrogens have been linked to bottled water as well as food packaging.(Mazhar 2009) Because of their consumer habits, as well as the likelihood that campus water is drawn from polluted sources, Minnesota college students are most at risk to be exposed to these xenoestrogens. This problem must be dealt with by not only tracing the source of estrogen pollution, but by creating more effective water treatments as well as challenging companies to re-evaluate their packaging.
To understand the problem, it’s important to understand exactly what estrogens are, as well as the effects they have. Estrogens are the primary female sex hormones. Estrogens are especially potent because as steroidal hormones, they are easily dispersed across the cell membrane. Environmental estrogens are not nearly as potent as natural estrogens; however, instead of being broken down they build up in the fatty tissues in the human body (Jones 2006) Both natural and synthetic estrogens in the environment are considered endocrine disrupting compounds, or EDCs. EDCs are compounds/chemicals that interfere with the glandular system and sexual development. While the effects of EDCs have yet to be studied in humans, there is a correlation between xenoestrogens and reproductive defects in fish. (Writer 2010) It is known, however, that Bisphenol-A (BPA) affects the maturation and function of a male’s sperm.(Mazhar 2009) It also suspected that EDCs result in many types of cancer, including, but not limited to: breast, ovarian, cervical, testicular and prostate. The link between xenoestrogens and breast cancer is especially strong (Jones 2006)
The sources of estrogen pollution are diverse, and include wastewater and plastic products. While everyone is exposed to these sources regularly, college students are more at risk than any other population. One prevalent source of estrogen pollution in water systems in wastewater recycling.(Liu 2009) Humans excrete hormones in their bodily waste naturally, which ends up in the water system, as wastewater treatment plants have no means to filter out hormones. When students draw from the water supply, they are unwittingly recycling the estrogenic compounds of their peers.
Another source of estrogenic EDCs that disproportionately affects college students is plastic packaging. Several EDCs, including Di-ethylhexyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate and BPA are found in most food packaging, including the plastic used to make water bottles. It is also present in the lining of aluminum soup cans. (Berkson 2000)These estrogens can leach into the food product over time, but when these plastic containers are heated, the chemicals are released more quickly and in higher doses.(Mazhar 2009) Considering that boxed, canned and reheated food is a staple of college life, it is reasonable to assume that students are at an increased risk.
The causes of these risks are largely economic. In most municipalities, sewage is treated using osmosis and chemicals before being released back into the general water supply. While this method of treatment is very effective for preventing disease, it is practically useless when it comes to removing hormones from the water. Technology to remove EDCs from water does exist, but it very expensive. The high cost deters most municipalities from investing in this technology.
The rising cost of education is also a culprit in the increased risk of exposures to EDCs by college students. The U.S Agriculture Department has predicted a 1% increase in food prices this year alone.(Gerdes 2008) These price hikes will be passed along to students, who are likely to respond by forgoing meal plans altogether, opting instead to live off of canned and packaged foods.
Aside from extensive research, not much has been done to address the problem of environmental estrogens. Until affordable alternatives are introduced, exposure to environmental estrogens becomes a problem of sustainability – how long can we keep doing what we’re doing? (Bell 2012) Unless EDCs are found to be immediately dangerous to the health of the population, chances are that no major changes will take place. If EDCs are found to have any effect, the likely course of action would be to encourage the population to decrease their consumption of risky items, rather than spending the time and money to correct the problem by investing in better water filtration technology or packaging with fewer chemicals prone to leaching.
The first step to improving the quality, and quite possibly, the safety of natural water sources is to determine the origin(s) of the EDC and xenoestrogens pollution. One commonly held belief is that estrogens enter the water system through recycled wastewater. These estrogens supposedly come from the urine of the hundreds of college aged females taking oral contraceptives. The appearance of intersex fish in the upper Mississippi River has been attributed to many of the college campuses along the river, especially St. Cloud State University. (Liu 2009) However Since it is impossible to prevent these excretions, the logical sense of action would be to remove the EDCs from the wastewater before it is rereleased into natural ecosystems.
An ideal, albeit unlikely, solution to the problem of EDCs in food packaging would be for the companies responsible for these products to phase out the harmful plastics, instead opting for non-leaching wrappings and coating. Such materials are available at an increased cost, but considering that corporations operate solely for profit, it is unlikely they would make this change. A costly change in any institution often only comes after intense pressure from the public or regulatory agencies, and until there is more scientific evidence to support the harmful effects of EDCs, an overwhelming push for change is unlikely.
My philosophy concerning social change is centered heavily on a quote attributed to Margaret Mead: “Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Rather than depending on companies to change their packaging or municipalities to update their water filtering technology out of the kindness of their hearts, the push for improvement must come from consumers. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their exposure to EDCs. The first step is education, such as sharing the findings of respectable scientific studies. Once people understand the possible repercussions of their choices, they are able to make an informed decision. The next step is to encourage action, which could take any form, as long as it directed toward the source of the problem.
After developing several grand plans of action, I finally decided that the easiest, and possibly, the most effective course of action would be education. I came up with the idea of a presentation after explaining this final project to several of my friends. None of them had any idea they were possibly consuming chemicals and compounds that could adversely affect their health. This prompted me to put together a presentation about xenoestrogens/EDCs, their effects, and the factors that increase the risk of exposure for college students. I gave this presentation on Tuesday, December 6th to residents on the St. Cloud State University campus. After the presentation, I had several students approach me to ask what more they could do beyond protecting themselves. I explained to them that letter writing campaigns are a great place to start. I also reminded them to pay close attention to any contract renewal hearings, as Sodexo’s contract is soon expiring on campus. Students will have a say in whether the contract is renewed. Students are also able to voice their opinions about the food/meal plan prices that have been deterring many students from the cafeteria, who instead turn to packaged foods. As students mention these facts to their friends, my sociology final project could eventually result in a small group of a few committed people bringing about change for the better.
Environmental estrogens and endocrine disrupting compounds threaten the health of college students across the nation, especially students in Minnesota where lakes and rivers have been positively identified as polluted. Unfortunately, these students are not aware that the water they drink and the food they eat are putting them at risk for an extensive list of cancers, as well as other medical disorders that have not yet been studied in depth. While research has been done, no large social action been taken on the issue of xenoestrogens. As college students become more educated on the issue, they will be able to make informed decisions, taking their health into their own hands, and possibly joining together to bring about reform in the industries of food packaging and water filtration. Until then, it is up to every individual to make choices concerning their exposure to these possibly devastating compounds.
Works Cited
Berkson, L. (2000). Hormonal deception: How everyday products are disrupting your hormones– and how to protect yourself and your family. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Contemporary Books.
Writer, J. H., Barber, L. B., Brown, G. K., Taylor, H. E., Kiesling, R. L., Ferrey, M. L., . . .
Schoenfuss, H. L. (2010). Anthropogenic tracers, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and endocrine disruption in Minnesota lakes. Science of the Total Environment, (409), 100-111. Retrieved from http://www.elseivier.com/locate/scitotenv
Liu, Z.-H., Kanjo, Y., & Mizutani, S. (2009). Urinary excretion rates of natural estrogens and
androgens from humans, and their occurrence and fate in the environment: A review. Science of
the Total Environment, (407), 4975-4985. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.06.001
Mazhar, T. (2009, December 2). BPA: Is there estrogen in your water? [news release]. Retrieved from
Cornell Daily Sun website: http://cornellsun.com/node/40061
Bell, M. M. (2012). An invitation to environmental sociology (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Jones, R. E., & Lopez, K. H. (2006). Xenoestrogens and breast cancer. In Human reproductive biology
(3rd ed., pp. 62-63). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.