Do you really have full control of your #healthgoals?

Living a healthy life may seem like a matter of discipline: eating well, exercising enough, not smoking. But what if part of our health is determined by factors beyond our control? According to Juliette Legler, professor of Toxicology at Utrecht University and honorary doctor at the University of Antwerp, our living environment plays a greater role than we think. In her research, she shows how environmental pollution, endocrine disruptors and microplastics contribute to diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

One Health

Anyone who wants to improve their health is typically given the same advice: eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, drink water, etc. There’s no doubt these are important pillars, but according to toxicologist Juliette Legler they’re only part of the story: ‘As an individual, you have very limited influence over what you’re exposed to. You breathe the air in your surroundings, and that air may be polluted.’

With this, she points to a factor that is often underestimated: our living environment. Examples include air quality, noise pollution, PFAS in the soil and microplastics in food. These are influences that largely lie beyond our control, but that do have a tangible impact on our health.

This broader perspective is captured in the concept of One Health: the idea that the health of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected. ‘We humans can’t be healthy if our environment is not,’ says Legler. ‘We’re fundamentally dependent on it.’

Endocrine disruptors

Legler’s research focuses on endocrine disruptors, chemical compounds that can interfere with our hormonal system: ‘These substances are often found in everyday products such as plastic food packaging, the lining of food cans, receipt paper or pesticides. A well-known example is bisphenol A. Even at low doses, this substance can affect processes such as our insulin regulation or fat storage.’

Legler continues: ‘These endocrine disruptors can also affect the development of a foetus’s brain. There are indications that they may also contribute to the development of cancers. These substances really need to be tested more thoroughly before entering the market, and people need to become aware of their existence.’

Legler also sees clear links with conditions such as obesity and diabetes. ‘These diseases are complex, but the role of the environment is often underestimated. Not only individuals, but also policymakers and producers play an important role and share responsibility.’

Concerns about microplastics

She’s also increasingly concerned about microplastics: ‘These tiny plastic particles have now been found in our blood and even in our brains.’ While the long-term effects are still being studied, the trend is clear: exposure is increasing. ‘The use of plastics continues to rise, and most of it ends up in the environment.’

According to her, current regulations fall short: ‘Although Europe is progressive in its chemicals policy, existing tests aren’t always capable of detecting complex health effects. But if our models using human cell cultures, combined with advanced computer models, already indicate that substances may be harmful to our health, that alone should be sufficient reason to ban these substances. And we definitely need to continue investing in recycling and the circular economy. It can’t be the case that producing new plastics is cheaper than recycling old ones.’

Strength in connection

Juliette Legler emphasises that, alongside the risks, there are also hopeful developments: ‘I increasingly collaborate with governments, companies and scientists from different disciplines. With chemists, we look for safer alternatives to plastics, while with social scientists we work on raising awareness and encouraging behavioural change. I believe my strength lies in these connections.’