Chief Scientific Officer MILLION MARKER BELLINGHAM, Washington, United States
Introduction/Rationale: Endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure is linked to metabolic and autoimmune diseases and inflammation. EDCs are ubiquitous in personal products, plastics, and food packaging; reducing exposure is essential to optimize health. Individuals can take steps to reduce EDCs, but levels/sources of exposure are often unclear. We have shown that EDC report-back, coupled with personalized recommendations to reduce exposure, measurably reduces urinary EDCs and improves reduction behaviors and environmental health literacy (EHL). In this study, we used our EDC report-back and EHL education to determine if such an intervention could a) improve upon EDC report-back only, and b) improve metabolic and inflammation biomarkers (HbA1c and CRP).
Methods: 125 consented participants were placed into 2 intervention groups: EDC report-back only, and EDC report back + online EDC EHL education curriculum. They were given baseline surveys assessing EHL, behaviors, and wellness. At-home mail-in urine and blood kits were mailed to participants, measuring EDC metabolites and clinical biomarkers (including HbA1c and CRP), respectively. 3 months later, participants retook surveys, urine, and blood tests to assess post-intervention changes.
Results: In both groups, participants exhibited increased EHL, improved wellness, and improved EDC reduction behaviors. They had reduced EDC metabolites and reduced CRP and HbA1c levels. Compared to the report-back only group, the report-back + education group showed increased benefits in several health and wellness parameters.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that reducing EDC exposures can improve inflammatory (CRP) and metabolic (HbA1c) biomarkers, suggesting a modifiable exposomic contribution to chronic immune activation. Personalized exposure testing and report-back interventions may offer an accessible approach to improving subclinical inflammation and metabolic dysregulation—key drivers of immune dysfunction, autoimmune risk, and chronic disease progression.
