Environmental pollutants are affecting our health every time we come in contact with a harmful chemical, by either direct or indirect means. You may not realize it, but you are regularly exposed to a number of chemicals that are in the air, in our food, and in the water. Chemicals enter our environment from a variety of sources that we often don’t give a second thought to: genetically modified foods, clothing we wear, furniture in the home, and electronics we use daily. Toxins from chemicals can move through the air, the soil, and through water, all of which may eventually have an impact upon your life and even be present in some of the foods you eat.
You can be exposed to environmental toxins through water when you unknowingly drink contaminated groundwater or accidentally take in unclean water while swimming or showering. Some foods you eat may also be affected by environmental pollutants, especially when they come in contact with contaminated waters. Food contamination can also occur when pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and other chemicals exist in our food and water supplies.
Hazardous chemicals can be found in soil or dust. If you accidentally breathe in or make direct skin contact with these substances, you can be exposed. Children, especially, are vulnerable to such dangers as they often play on the ground and place their hands in their mouths without cleaning them after touching sediment or soil, leading to disease.
Some of the furniture in your home or office, such as sofas, may contain a toxic flame-retardant foam called polyurethane that is shed into the air over time and has been linked to a variety of health problems. The same is true of flame-retardants placed in children’s clothing and bedding.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have an altered DNA, modified through genetic engineering. Some packaged foods contain GMOs, especially those foods that are derived from corn, soy, canola, or sugar beets. These high-risk crops containing GMOs are not labeled when sold throughout many American states, yet most developed countries do not consider GMOs to be safe for human health, and they label their food products as such. Processed foods and so-called “fast foods” contain increasingly larger amounts of GMOs.
How The Environment Negatively Affects Humans
Exposure to environmental toxins has been shown to contribute to some hormonal, reproductive, cognitive, neurological, kidney, liver, immunological, and cancer disorders and diseases. Chemicals in the environment and in our diets have been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and many other health issues. The negative effects of long-term exposure to chemicals tend to accumulate over a period of time.
Humans can tolerate some amounts of chemicals in the body. We also have the ability to excrete some of the toxins. But once you are exposed to a chemical, it can enter your bloodstream and make its way into the liver where attempts are made to detoxify the chemicals. Your kidneys help filter poisons from the blood and excrete them. Your sweat, feces, and exhalation also work to remove toxic substances. But not all chemicals can be removed from your body, and therefore they are often stored in the fat and other tissues. The type of substance and the length of time you’ve been exposed to them will determine your risk for harmful effects on your health.
Food allergy diagnoses in children have increased in the US, to the point that, in 2011, it’s been found that one in every 12 children has an allergy to certain foods. And children with food allergies are more likely to also suffer from asthma and/or other allergic conditions. This uptick in food allergies and other disorders can be traced to immune-triggering pollutants, toxic chemicals, and inflammatory foods. The most common foods related to allergies tend to be gluten, milk, peanuts, and shellfish. Allergies are immune-related conditions. Children who have food allergies and asthma are more susceptible to having anaphylactic reactions to foods and therefore to be at a higher risk for death.
Other dietary concerns are having a negative impact on our health. We are becoming more and more exposed to pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals at alarming rates, through both our food and water supplies. But our American diet of fast food and processed foods contains GMOs that are toxic. Also, physicians are prescribing drugs, such as opioids, much more frequently than in the past. About 1/5 of all American children and 9 out of 10 adults have taken at least one prescription drug over the course of a month. Because Americans are taking so many pharmaceuticals, they are now responsible for over half of the prescription drugs being used globally.
Certain autoimmune diseases have been on the rise. Autism, neurodegenerative diseases, and other ongoing inflammatory illnesses can be linked to environmental toxins, especially to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Chemicals in our environment, in addition to GMOs and processed foods, activate the immune system towards a pro-inflammatory state, causing long-lasting health effects.
Hazardous Substances That Can Harm Your Health
There are quite a few toxic substances that can make their way into our food sources. Here are some examples and ways to avoid your exposure to these pollutants.
Arsenic: This mineral can be found in rice and poultry products. It is a potent carcinogen and has also been found to cause health problems in children when they get older. Inorganic arsenic is rated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 cancer-causing agent. Rice absorbs arsenic from the soil in which it’s grown. Poultry feed is one source of arsenic in our environment. Rice, however, absorbs arsenic from the soil in which it is grown.
To reduce your exposure to arsenic:
- Limit your consumption of rice. Instead, try eating quinoa, couscous, and wild rice.
- Choose organic foods whenever you can in order to cut back on your arsenic exposure.
Lead: A heavy metal that has been banned from paints and gasoline, lead can still be found in some drinking water due to older lead pipes and wastewater from industrial plants. It has also been found in children’s toys. Lead can get into our food via containers that contain that metal, such as older pottery dishes. Exposure to lead can cause central nervous system damage, especially in children’s developing brains.To reduce your exposure to lead:Wash your food before eating or cooking it.
- Ensure that the pipes in your home are not coated with lead.
- Don’t use dishes or pottery that are very old and may contain lead.
Mercury: This is a toxin that is usually found in fish and other seafood. Many waterways in America are contaminated with mercury, a substance that can cause changes in the brain and heart. Certain fish oil supplements can contain high amounts because their source of fish is tainted with mercury. Mercury is found in dental amalgams and has been found in the older breast implants. Children and pregnant women are at the highest risk for danger from mercury poisoning from fresh fish and canned fish products.
To reduce your exposure to mercury:
- Limit your intake of deep-water fish such as tuna, shrimp, and fish sticks
- Eat wild fish versus farmed fish
Phthalates: These groups of chemicals are used in hundreds of home products to make synthetic plastics like polyvinyl chlorides (PVCs) more pliable. Phthalates are known as plasticizers and are composed of polysubstituted benzenes (aromatic hydrocarbons). One form of this material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a #1 plastic recyclable. Soda and water bottles, containers for microwaving food, and frozen food pouches are made with PET #1. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) can be found in most nail polish products as a solvent and to prevent the polish from becoming brittle. Another phthalate called DEHP is commonly used in flexible plastic products. DEHP can be found in some children’s toys and in IV bags. The plastic wraps used in homes and food outlets, particularly the “cling” form of these plastics, contain DEHA (Diethylhydroxylamine). This type of plastic wrap is often used to keep fast food items fresh. When you microwave food that is wrapped in plastic, the toxins from DEHA leak into the food. These chemicals are also used in soaps, shampoos, and hair sprays to make the products less brittle. Phthalates have been linked to diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Phthalates also have the potential to be a human carcinogen, and they have been linked to learning and behavioral problems in children.
To reduce your exposure to phthalates:
- Minimize your use of plastics with the recycling code #3.
- Use PVC-free containers. Buy plastic wraps and bags made from polyethylene and use glass containers to store food. If you do use plastic containers, do not heat or microwave them.
- Choose phthalate-free toys. Many large toy manufacturers have pledged to stop using phthalates, but look for toys that are made from polypropylene or polyethylene.
- Purchase phthalate-free beauty products. Avoid using nail polish, perfumes, colognes, and other scented products that list phthalates as an ingredient. Many scented products simply list the word “fragrance” as an ingredient, which often incorporates a number of different chemicals, including phthalates.
- Try to minimize your use of these products, or for more information on phthalate-free cosmetics and personal care products, visit the National Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group, which maintains a database of cosmetic products and their ingredients.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): PCBs are a group of 209 chlorinated hydrocarbons that were first introduced by the company Monsanto in 1929. These organic toxins were once widely used in older electrical insulators, fluorescent lights, electric motors, lubricants, and as additives in paints, varnish, coatings, and plastics. They have been banned from production since 1977, but these carcinogens are non-biodegradable, and they remain in our environmental waters, particularly in the Great Lakes and the Hudson River. PCBs enter the food chain by getting into the fatty tissue of fish and higher species that feed upon them. PCBs are easily absorbed via our GI tract, skin, and lungs and will accumulate in the fat. These toxins have been shown to cause abnormal liver function tests, high triglyceride levels, persistent skin rashes, developmental and behavioral problems in children, thyroid dysfunction in infants and children, immunosuppression, cognitive impairment in adults, and, potentially, liver cancer.
To reduce your exposure to PCBs:
- Refrain from eating farmed salmon, a food source often contaminated with PCBs. Instead, choose wild or canned salmon.
- Ensure that any fish oil supplements you take have been screened for PCB levels.
Organophosphate Pesticides: These commonly used pesticides may contain ingredients that include malathion (Cythion), methyl parathion, mevinphos, and chlorpyrifos (Dursban, Lorsban). Over 20 million pounds of theses insecticides are sold annually in the form of bug sprays, pet flea collars, lawn care products, and termite-control pesticides. The EPA banned organophosphates for nonagricultural use in 2001 because of the potential health risk to children, but these toxins are still used on apples, grapes, and many grains. They potentially have a neurotoxic effect, which causes an overstimulation at the cholinergic junction. The acute side effects of organophosphates include headaches, hypersecretion (excessive sweating, salivation, tear production), muscle twitching, nausea, and diarrhea. Large exposures can cause seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death. Chronic exposures can result in polyneuritis, Parkinson’s, cancer, and it can disrupt various hormone pathways.
To reduce your exposure to pesticides:
- Wash and scrub all fruits and vegetables, organic or conventional.
- If possible, purchase mostly organic fruits and vegetables, particularly the ones consistently found to have the highest pesticide residues – apples, strawberries, celery, peaches and spinach. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 for more information.
- Grow your own!
Glyphosate: This is an organophosporous compound that is a broad-spectrum herbicide and is known by the trade name Roundup. It is also sold as Rodeo, Accord, and Vision. Roundup is the world’s most widely used herbicide. It was apparently created to affect a certain pathway that was only found in plants, with the objective being to kill plants. This pathway was not detected in humans. Soybeans and corn plants were eventually genetically modified to be able to resist Roundup. In 2000, Roundup reaped $2.8 billion in sales for Monsanto, which was five times more than its rival competitor. Roundup is a common contaminant in river waters. In mammalian studies, it showed an interference with reproduction, and regular exposure has been shown to increase cancers like lymphoma.
To reduce your exposure to glyphosate:
- Thoroughly wash your produce items, dry them, and peel the outer layers.
- Remove the fat and skin from meats.
- Purchase 100% organic foods and grains.
Bisphenol A (BPA): This is a chemical that is commonly found in some plastic bottles, cups, and food storage containers. It is also used in dental sealants and composites and thermal faxes and cash register receipts. It can disrupt the endocrine system, especially the thyroid. It has been associated with obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and heart disease.
To reduce your exposure to BPA:
- Minimize your use of plastic containers with the #7 or #3 on the bottom.
- Don’t microwave plastic food containers, and don’t wash them in the dishwasher or with harsh detergents.
- Reduce your use of canned foods and eat mostly fresh or frozen foods.
- When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel cups, containers, water bottles and travel mugs.
- Use baby bottles that are BPA-free (or better yet, use glass bottles) and look for toys that are labeled BPA-free.
Perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA): This is a chemical that is used to make Teflon products, the non-stick cookware that has been commercially available since the 1940s. PFOA was accidently discovered by a DuPont chemist as he was experimenting with Freon refrigerants. It is also used in Gor-Tex microwavable popcorn bags, packaging for fast foods, paper plates, candy wrappers, stain-resistant fabrics, leather, dental floss, denture cleaners, shampoos, fire-fighting foam, high-performance plastics, and electric stimulation. Because it is extremely resistant to biodegradation, one study discovered that this compound was present in 90% of Americans and has been found in cord blood and breast milk. This particularly toxic compound is not stored in fat but rather accumulates in the liver, kidneys, and blood. It has been found to increase the incidence of liver, pancreatic, prostate, and testicular cancer in animals. PFOA can increase lipid production and be damaging to the liver and immune system.
To reduce your exposure to PFOA:
- Avoid the products that contain this chemical.
- Do not cook with Teflon-coated pans; instead use PFOA-free cookware.
- Do not cook at high heats when using non-stick pans. If you need to cook at high heat to sear meats, use cast iron or stainless steel.
Benzene: This is a colorless liquid that evaporates quickly. It is naturally found in crude oil and is a basic petrochemical. Unfortunately, it is also a known human carcinogen. Benzene is found in tobacco smoke, gasoline (and, therefore, car exhaust fumes), pesticides, synthetic fibers, plastics, inks, oils, and detergents. Benzene has also been found in dryer emissions from scented laundry detergents and dryer sheets, and in soft drinks, although these have since been reformulated to exclude the toxin. About 50% of the benzene exposure in the US results from smoking tobacco or from breathing second-hand smoke. Substantial amounts of data link benzene to aplastic anemia, bone marrow abnormalities, and leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL).
To reduce your exposure to benzene:
- Don’t smoke and try to avoid second-hand smoke.
- Ensure there is adequate ventilation in your home.
- Use non-scented laundry detergents.
- Keep plants in the home to increase oxygen levels.
If someone is concerned about having been exposed to some of these toxins or has unexplained symptoms or has been given an unusually rare diagnosis, there are tests available to check for environmental hazards and toxins like heavy metals, phthalates, BPA, parabens, and volatile solvents. These tests are typically not covered by medical insurance, but they are available at Rejuvé. Rejuvé is proud to serve the communities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Campbell, Cupertino, Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and the greater San Jose, Bay Area CA. Please consult with Dr. Tang for more information.