How Environmental Chemical Contaminants Make You More Susceptible to COVID-19

In his recently published book, "Sicker, Fatter, Poorer," Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a practicing pediatrician and ardent environmentalist, outlines how environmental contaminants such as PFAS and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals disrupt natural hormone processes in the human body, contributing to widespread poor health. The book explains how these Hormone Disrupting chemicals are responsible for common chronic diseases and afflictions in both adults and children, including obesity, diabetes, infertility, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and more.

When 2020 rolled around, bringing with it the novel coronavirus, responsible for the causing the deadly COVID-19, the health of our bodies was already somewhat compromised. What has also become apparent, is that the common chronic diseases linked to exposure to Hormone Disrupting Chemicals also increases a persons risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19, together with an increased risk of succumbing to the disease.

What are hormone disrupters and why are they problematic?

Hormone-disrupting chemicals include a wide range of chemical compounds, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), bisphenol A (BPA),  that are able to interfere with hormones that naturally occur within our bodies, and in doing so can harm our health. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are used in a wide range of consumer-, industrial-, and agricultural products, including flame retardants, fire-fighting foam, pesticides, plastic household products, non-stick cookware, food packaging and more. Since their use is so widespread, they eventually end up in the air we breath, water we drink, soils on which we grow crops, and ultimately in the food we drink.

Studies have identified a link between hormone disrupting environmental contaminants and metabolism related disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol levels, and have shown that people exposed to these environmental contaminants are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Research has also shown that Hormone Disrupting Compounds can interfere with normal functioning of the immune system, which plays an important role in protecting the body from infectious diseases. A compromised immune system not only makes a person more vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections, it also makes them more susceptible to problems associated with the lungs, for example, more prone to asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; metabolic disorders; and autoimmune diseases. Many hormone disrupting compounds have also been linked to various forms of cancer.

Hormone disrupting compounds are also able to mimic hormones that occur in our bodies. Since hormones play a critical role in maintaining a normal and healthy functioning body, including controlling the body's metabolism, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and fighting inflammation, as well as maintaining a healthy reproductive system,  this is a problem.

The hormones in our bodies serve as chemical pathways that facilitate communication between the cells in our body. Because the molecular structure of endocrine-disrupting substances is similar to that of hormones that naturally occur in the body, the body can mistake them for a natural hormonal signal. Since our bodies are finely tuned to hormones, a small amount goes a long way at conveying the intended message and achieving the desired result. Consequently, exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting contaminants even at very low levels can significantly impact a person's health.

Environmental Contaminants and COVID-19

Studies are now starting to connect the dots of how exposure to environmental pollutants such as hormone disrupting compounds increases a persons susceptibility to COVID-19, putting them at greater risk of succumbing to the virus due to underlying health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic lung disease, immunosuppression and cancer — all acknowledged as contributing factors that result in severe illness and death from COVID-19.

In order for us to live healthy, happy and longer lives, we need to reduce our exposure to harmful endocrine disrupting contaminants. This is becoming even more apparent in the era of COVID-19. We can start by ensuring that the food we eat and the water we drink is free from contaminants. Opt for organically-certified fruit and vegetables that have not been grown using harmful chemical pesticides. If you eat meat, choose humanely raised free-range beef/pork/poultry/etc rather than meat products derived from intensely farmed, hormone-fed, over-medicated animals. You can also take measures to ensure the water you drink is free from hormone disrupting chemicals, pesticides and other harmful environmental contaminants. Invest in a good quality home drinking water purifier that is capable of removing a wide range of contaminants commonly found in drinking water, including PFAS, BPA, pesticides and heavy metals. By taking positive steps such as these, you can improve your overall health, while also increasing your resistance to COVID-19 and any future such pandemic that may arise.