Identifying Toxic Chemicals in Your Body: A Guide to Testing and Prevention
Feb 13, 2026By Sophia Ruan Gushée | Featuring Dr. Jenna Hua of Million Marker
Are hidden toxins affecting your health? From the water we drink to the products we apply to our skin, environmental exposures are more common than ever. But how do you know what’s actually inside your body?
In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I sit down with Dr. Jenna Hua, founder of Million Marker, to discuss how identifying toxic chemicals in your body can empower you to protect your fertility, child development, and long-term peace of mind.
Quick Takeaways:
- The Problem: Chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and parabens are endocrine disruptors that can impact IVF success and fetal development.
- The Solution: At-home urine testing provides data-driven insights into your specific chemical exposures.
- Action Step: Use code SOPHIA10 for 10% off your Million Marker Kit.
- Podcast Show Notes: For timestamps of key topics, click here, "Toxic Chemicals in Your Body: Protect Your Development, Fertility, and Peace of Mind."
What is Million Marker? Environmental Exposure Testing Explained
Many of us try to live "clean," but without data, we are just guessing. Million Marker was created out of personal necessity by Dr. Jenna Hua. After struggling with the lack of data available for environmental exposure research, she developed a mail-in kit that analyzes your urine for key biomarkers.
By testing for chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and oxybenzone, you can see exactly which household products are entering your bloodstream.
How Toxic Exposures Impact Fertility and IVF Success
Decades of research now link environmental toxins to reproductive challenges. Dr. Hua explains that these "hormone disruptors" mimic natural hormones, tricking the body and interfering with:
- IVF and Infertility Treatments: Reducing toxic load can improve the success rates of assisted reproduction.
- Fetal Development: Toxic chemicals in the mother's body can cross the placenta, impacting the baby's growth and future health.
- Miscarriage Risk: High levels of certain persistent chemicals have been factored into studies regarding pregnancy loss.
Common Chemicals Linked to Child Developmental Issues
It isn’t just about adults. Children are more vulnerable to the "Cocktail Effect"—the cumulative impact of small doses of various chemicals. Dr. Hua highlights how early exposure to pesticides and plastic additives can lead to neurodevelopmental issues and long-term metabolic health problems.
Understanding Endocrine Disruptors and the "Cocktail Effect"
The medical system is often based on treatment rather than prevention. However, the hormones that regulate almost every bodily function are easily disrupted by synthetic chemicals.
- The Cocktail Effect: Even if a single product has a "safe" level of a chemical, the combination of 10+ products used daily creates a toxic burden our bodies weren't designed to handle.
- Persistent Chemicals: Some toxins, like DDT or "forever chemicals" (PFAS), stay in the environment and our bodies for years.
Dietary Toxins: From Arsenic in Rice to Microplastics
What you eat is just as important as what you put on your skin. During the podcast, we dive into:
- Arsenic in Rice: Why it’s there and how to prepare rice to reduce your arsenic exposure.
- Microplastics in the Placenta: Recent studies showing the alarming presence of plastics in human reproductive organs.
- Food Packaging: How chemicals from plastic containers and cans leach into our nutrition.
Practical Steps: How to Start Detoxifying Your Body and Home
The good news? Your body is designed to heal. Once you identify and remove the source of exposure, your body begins to eliminate many of these chemicals (like BPA) relatively quickly.
Where to start:
- Testing: You don't need to test your body to benefit from reducing your toxic exposures. Unfortunately, we all carry a chemical load. However, if you're curious, a Million Marker kit can provide you with your baseline.
- Reduce microplastics in your drinking water and diet: Invest in high-quality water filtration to remove lead and pesticides. To learn more, read "7 Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure—Starting with Your Water."
- Reduce arsenic in rice and rice by-products: Certain rice types tend to be lower in arsenic than others, and certain cooking practices can help reduce arsenic levels in rice. To learn more, read "Arsenic In Rice: What You Should Know."
- Audit Your Skincare: Switch to "nontoxic" personal care products. Get guided help in the 40-Day Home Detox™ program and in the D-Tox Academy™.
- Join the 40-Day Home Detox: For a guided, science-based approach, join our 40-Day Home Detox™ program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you test for toxins in your body at home?
Yes. Companies like Million Marker provide at-home urine tests that analyze your biomarkers for common environmental toxins, including phthalates, parabens, and BPA. These kits provide data-driven insights to help you reduce your daily chemical exposure.
How do environmental toxins affect pregnancy?
Some environmental toxicants can act as endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormonal balance, or participate in your endocrine system in other ways. Different effects have been observed at low and high doses. For example, endocrine disrupting chemicals are linked to impaired fecundity and decreased IVF success rates, developmental delays in children, and potential risks to placental health during pregnancy.
How long does it take to detox from BPA?
While some chemicals stay in the body for years, others like BPA can be eliminated by the body more quickly. Once you stop using plastic containers and thermal receipts, levels can drop significantly within days.
