Recent studies agree: Chemical exposures have become a serious public health threat. While chemicals such as plasticizers make life more convenient, they're a major contributor to ill health, costing the U.S. more than $340 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity.^1,2,3

Impaired brain development, lower IQs, behavior problems, infertility, birth defects, obesity, diabetes, uterine fibroids, endometriosis and precocious puberty are just a sampling of the many health problems linked to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

As noted by Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor at NYU Langone in New York City and co-author of the study:⁴

"Our research adds to the growing evidence on the tremendous economic as well as human health costs of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This has the potential to develop into a much larger health and economic issue if no policy action is taken."

Americans Are at Greater Risk of Toxic Exposures Than Europeans

In the European Union (EU) — where regulations are more stringent and exposure is less severe than in the U.S. — medical expenses associated with EDC exposure still amounts to a whopping $177.5 billion (€163 billion) annually, according to the most recent estimates.⁵

Women's health problems alone, caused by EDCs, were recently found to cost the EU $1.5 billion (€1.4 billion) each year.^6,7,8,9,10

The discrepancy between the U.S. and the EU suggests regulating endocrine-disrupting chemicals can indeed have a very significant and beneficial impact on health.

After all, the EU has a population of more than 510 million,¹¹ whereas the U.S. has just under 325 million,¹² yet the healthcare costs associated with chemical exposures in the U.S. is nearly double that of the EU.