**4. Preventive strategies to reduce exposure to EDCs**

EDCs represent a global threat for human health and cause a high cost for the society [47]. Promoting public knowledge and initiating preventive measures will help minimizing the health and economic consequences of EDCs for future generations.

Policymakers are caught between competing interests, those of organizations acting to protect health, and companies working to increase commercial profits. EDCs challenge regulators on how to translate science into policy. It is important to establish and agree on the criteria defining and identifying the EDCs and the level of risk to human health.

Several agencies (e.g., US EPA and European Food Safety Agency) are regulating the EDCs. Legislation and regulation have been implemented over the last few years to control the exposure to EDCs. There are differences in regulations between countries, including between the USA and the EU. For example, countries with significant heavy chemicals industry are less open to changes towards greener chemicals production [3, 11, 48, 55].

Exposure to EDCs cannot be entirely avoided. However, it is possible to minimize the exposure to EDCs [3, 4]. The following recommendations should be considered (non-exhaustive list):


**377**

*Human Health Consequences of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals*

• Do not burn conventional candles. Avoid air fresheners (try a vase of dried

• Avoid touching receipts to minimize exposure to carbonless/thermal paper.

Some of the above recommendations are difficult to implement for practical

EDCs are costing society hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Due to regulatory divergence and according to a relatively recent report, the disease costs in the USA were around 2.3% of the gross domestic product, higher than in the EU

Regulatory actions to limit the most prevalent and hazardous EDCs could have substantial economic benefits. The costs of regulatory actions should be compared

EDCs are a heterogeneous group of exogenous chemicals or chemical mixtures that interfere with the action of hormones and consequently cause adverse effects to humans and wildlife. Humans are constantly exposed to hundreds of EDCs mainly

EDCs pose a threat to humans and the environment. Exposure to EDCs (*in utero* or lifetime) may be a significant component of the environmental origin of several dysfunctions and diseases including obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and

Promoting public knowledge and initiating preventive measures will help minimizing the exposure to EDCs and the resulting health and economic consequences

• Perform regular ventilation of the indoor environment. Open windows to allow

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94955*

lavender instead).

and/or financial reasons.

**5. Cost of EDCs**

(around 1.3%) [47].

**6. Conclusions**

cancers.

with the costs of inaction.

through air, water, and food.

for future generations.

**Conflict of interest**

The author declares no conflict of interest.

clean air in when possible.


Some of the above recommendations are difficult to implement for practical and/or financial reasons.
