Scientists Just found out That These Everyday Chemicals M...

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: Avoiding them can be tricky, though.

In lab tests, researchers found out that 168 chemicals, including those in pesticides and flame retardants, can be harmful to certain bacteria that live in a healthy gut. This is concerning since some gut bacteria can aid digestion, support your immune system, and lower your disease risk. (wild, right?)

More research is needed, but there are a few things you can do to limit your exposure.

The Details

You’re exposed to chemicals all day, whether it’s from skincare products, eating certain foods , or just getting dressed . But while scientists continue to unpack how different human-made chemicals affect our wellbeing, one new study has some disturbing findings: In lab tests, many of them affected the health of certain gut bacteria.

The authors of the study, which was published in Nature Microbiology , do offer a couple of tips for limiting your exposure to these chemicals, but the reality is that they’re hard to completely avoid—and more research in this space is needed. Here’s what researchers found out, plus how to use this information going forward.

Why This Matters

Meet the the experts : Stephan Kamrad, PhD , study co-author and research associate at University of Cambridge MRC Toxicology Unit; Babak Firoozi, MD , gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA What did the study find? For the study, researchers conducted a lab analysis that tested 1,076 different chemical contaminants (that can wind up in food and water) on 22 species of gut bacteria. The researchers found out that 168 of these chemicals are harmful to bacteria that normally live in a healthy gut.

Health experts are weighing in on what this means for people.

The Bottom Line

The researchers found out that 168 of these chemicals are harmful to bacteria that normally live in a healthy gut. Those chemicals included pesticides like herbicides and insecticides that are used on crops, industrial compounds used in things like flame retardants (which can wind up on your couch), and plasticizers.

Thoughts? Drop them below.