Eurecat led an interactive outreach activity within the HYPIEND project at the European Researchers’ Night in Tarragona on 25 September, with the aim of bringing research on endocrine disruptors closer to families and the general public. The activity, entitled “What is hiding at home? Endocrine disruptors under the spotlight”, transformed scientific information into a practical and participatory workshop focused on everyday habits and possible sources of exposure at home.
During the workshop, children and their families became “endocrine disruptor detectives”. Using a wheel, a visual panel representing different areas of the home and a set of cards, they completed short challenges based on everyday situations, such as how food is stored or heated, which cookware, bottles and kitchen utensils are better for our health, how to choose cosmetics and cleaning products, and what to do with new clothes or household dust.
Each challenge was designed to help participants recognise potential sources of exposure to endocrine-disrupting substances while highlighting simple actions that can contribute to reducing exposure. Examples included choosing glass or stainless-steel containers for food and drinks, ventilating indoor spaces, washing new clothes before wearing them, and paying attention to the materials and products used in everyday life.
For teenagers and adults, the activity also included an ingredient-label challenge using cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. The aim was to show participants how to check product composition and make more informed choices, favouring simpler formulations where possible.
The workshop combined scientific outreach with hands-on participation, creating an accessible way to discuss a complex topic such as endocrine disruption without using an alarmist approach. By linking research to familiar situations at home, the activity helped make the HYPIEND project’s work more understandable and relevant to non-specialist audiences.
The activity was delivered by Silvia Chafino and Joan Serrano from Eurecat’s Nutrition and Health Unit, Dorota Komar from the Omic Sciences Unit, and Marina Presas, Head of Scientific and Technological Communication at Eurecat.
