What are estrogenic compounds?

Estrogenic compounds are part of a larger category of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, chemicals that are able to alter the hormonal and homeostatic system that allows an organism - such as a human or other animal - to connect with and interact with its environment.

What types of estrogens are found in drinking water?

The main types of estrogens in our water supply include estrone, estradiol, estriol, and particularly synthetic ethinylestradiol (EE) from medications like contraceptive pills. Ethinylestradiol is the most widely used oral active estrogen globally. However, many other chemicals in wastewater effluents also have estrogenic effects on our bodies, like dihydrofolliculin, octylphenol, nonylphenol, polyethoxylates, trihalomethanes, and bisphenol A.

Effectiveness of Berkey® filter

In general, activated carbon filters can eliminate a wide range of endocrine disruptors, including steroidal estrogens and many estrogenic substances like trihalomethanes (THMs), which form when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with natural organic matter. Black Berkey® purification elements have been successfully tested for reducing progesterone, octylphenol, nonylphenol, THMs, and BPA (see test results). Although estrogen was not specifically tested, we can suppose that it is also removed based on tests on similar endocrine disruptors.