The Truth About Our Toxic World

Man's quest for bigger, better, faster, younger and more convenient
comes at a significant price. The automobiles that shuttle us, the
products we clean with, the appliances that keep us cool and the
recreational vehicles that helps us relax pollute the environment.
And let's not forget the toxins found in the air you breathe, the
chemicals and fluoride found in the water you drink or the
pesticides detected in many of the fruits, vegetables and meats you
serve your family.

It's not enough that you're subjected to toxins nearly everywhere
you turn—the real issue is the prolonged exposure you face—exposure
that starts even before you're born. In fact, according to a study
commissioned by the Environmental Working Group on the umbilical
cord blood of newborns, an average of 200 different industrial
chemicals, pollutants and pesticides was found including mercury,
polyaromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, furans, pesticides, and
chemicals from flame retardants, PCBs, industrial lubricants,
plastics, Teflon, Scotchgard, industrial bleaches, electrical
insulators, coal-fired power plants, vehicle emissions, and wood
preservatives. In fact, of the 287 chemicals detected, 180 are known
to cause health complication in humans or animals, 217 are known to
be toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 are known to cause
birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.

Once you've entered the world and taken you're first breath (one of
5,000 gallons of air you'll breathe each day), you can be reasonably
sure it includes some unhealthy trace particles or air pollution. In
fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
facilities released 4.7 billion pounds of toxins into the atmosphere
in 2002. Further, the EPA estimates fine-particle pollution causes
an estimated 20,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year.

Consider these air pollution facts:

Women who live in areas with greater air pollution have a higher
susceptibility of developing and dying from coronary heart disease
(CHD)
Coal-fired plants emissions are the single largest source of mercury
air pollution, accounting for roughly 40 percent of all mercury
emissions nationwide and are believed responsible for 20,000
premature deaths a year.

In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control found that roughly 10
percent of American women carry mercury concentrations at levels
considered to put a fetus at risk for neurological damage.
Approximately 160 million Americans are breathing unhealthy air.
The water you drink, clean with and wash with doesn't fare much
better. According to one study conducted by the University of
Michigan, one ton of oil is spilled for every million tons
transported. This same water is pumped back into our water supply,
which experts like the Environmental Working Group believe have
contaminated the tap water in 42 states with more than 140
unregulated chemicals. Contaminated water isn't the only problem.
Outbreaks of waterborne disease are on the increase. In fact, an
estimated 7 million people become sick and more than 1,000 die in
the U.S. each year from waterborne microbes.

Consider these water pollution facts:

Fifty million gallons of water, fine particles of dust, soot,
arsenic, mercury, lead and other pollutants from and ash settling
basin was dumped into the Delaware River last August.
Chlorinated chemicals in drinking water linked to increased risk of
breast cancer.

Sewage treatment plant workers at much higher risk of respiratory
illness, skin rashes, headaches & body aches.
And, as if concerns regarding drinking and breathing weren't enough,
you also have to be careful with the produce, meats and fish you
eat. Herbicides and pesticides—used to keep bugs off crops, inhibit
weed growth, and protect your lawn are taking their toll on your
health. For starters, environmental chemicals have a wide range of
effects on immune system function, ranging from a decrease in your
body's ability to fight infections and tumors to increased allergies
and autoimmunity. Although neurotoxic in natures, these compounds
can also cause dermatological, gastrointestinal, genitourinary,
respiratory, musculoskeletal, and cardiological problems. Hormones
like zeranol, which has been used to fatten up cattle more quickly
has been shown to exacerbate breast health concerns.

Considered these related facts:

Mercury in rivers is so pervasive that 47 states now have posted
advisories either statewide or for specific waters instructing
people to limit their intake of freshwater fish.
Exposure to high levels of mercury can harm the brain, heart,
kidneys, lungs and immune systems of humans.
In a study performed by the Soil Association, 84 percent of fruits
and vegetables given to school children contained one pesticide, 65
percent of the samples contained two or more pesticides.
But the toxins you'll probably find most surprising are those found
in your home—a place where most of us think we're safe. For
starters, many of the products that improve the look and scent of
your homes like household-cleaning products have been linked to ADHD
and other learning and behavioral disorders. Even the new carpet in
your home might be making you sick because of the glue used to put
it down. The substance contains the harmful ingredient benzene and
the neurotoxin xylene -- one of the unhealthiest chemical
combinations you can be exposed to. Faulty appliances can emit
ozone, which affects lung health; and carbon monoxide, which is
lethal at high concentrations. And mold, bacteria and other
biological contaminants can cause or exacerbate asthma, allergies
and infections.


Antonio Serra, Ph.D.

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