by Susan Trost

 

Think back 20, 30, 40, even 50 years ago. If you are too young, ask someone. What were the major health challenges back then? How often did you hear about cancer, diabetes, asthma, autism, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, ADD/ADHD, insomnia, and more? Granted, our society talks more about health today, but things have definitely changed over the years.

Your body is an amazing machine. It is designed to process toxins that enter the body through the air, food and drink you ingest, and through your skin. Your kidneys, liver, lungs, lymph, blood, bowel and skin all have roles in transporting and eliminating toxins.

Today there are more toxins in the environment than ever before and it creates a toxic load on our systems. It's not surprising there are so many health problems when 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are produced annually and over 20,000 new chemicals are created each year. Human fat tissue sampled in the United States has shown 700 chemical contaminants that have not been chemically identified.[i] Of 287 chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood, 180 cause cancers in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.[ii]

Ways Toxins and Radiation Get Into and Impact Our Bodies:

Outdoor Air Pollution

Toxic air pollution contains substances which are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, birth defects and other serious illnesses in people even at relatively low exposure levels. Millions of pounds of these chemicals are emitted into the air every year by motor vehicles, from various industries and from power plants.[iii] "Red air" alerts warn people to stay inside, but indoor air isn't necessarily better.

Indoor Air Pollution

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, air within a home can be more polluted than outdoor air in the largest cities. Consider all the cleaning products, aerosols, paint, carpet, molds, mildew, building materials, air conditioning/heating, fireplaces, cooking fumes, perfumes/cosmetics, radon, and asbestos. Homes are sealed tightly for energy efficiency, so pollutants become trapped. Since 1980, the number of people diagnosed with asthma has more than doubled. Air filtration is necessary, but some air filtration systems create ozone which is damaging to the lungs.

Water

What's in your water? You probably don't want to know - pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fertilizers, human and animal waste, bacteria, rocket fuel, and more. Bottled water is not the answer, especially for our environment.

Food

Pesticides, fertilizers, and more are found in our foods. In addition, many foods are highly processed and genetically modified with chemicals and preservatives. When food is cooked, it is oxidized, which creates free radicals.

Cleaning Products

A clean house is a healthy house, right? Not necessarily. Many cleaners are highly toxic and are absorbed through the air and skin.

Skin Care

Unfortunately, the skin care industry is not regulated and often we are putting dangerous chemicals on our skin. Further, what is on the label is not regulated. Just because it says "organic" or "natural", does not mean it is unless it has been Certified Organic.

Vitamins and Supplements

Vitamins and supplements taken for health can actually adversely impact your health. Fish from polluted waters might be used in producing Omega fish oils. In addition, substances used to bind vitamins together can be very unhealthy - propylene glycol (ingredient in anti-freeze), sodium laurel sulfate (foaming agent in shampoo), aluminum silicate (talc) and sodium benzoate (preservative) to name a few.

Electromagnetic Fields

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are a type of low-level radiation generated when electric currents flow through wire coils (monitors/TVs, fluorescent lights, electronic devices, appliances, wireless networks and more). As we use more electronic devices, researchers suspect EMFs are contributing to a constant assault on our immune systems and overall health.[iv]

Cell Phones

Cell phones and cell phone towers are sources of radio frequency (RF) radiation - an invisible form of pollution. Thermographic images show changes in tissue temperature when a cell phone is held to the head. Kinesiology strength testing shows people get much weaker when they are simply holding a cell phone. Research studies showing the long-term effects of constant doses of radiation are just starting to appear, especially dealing with neurological problems. Numerous sources stress how dangerous cell phones are for children with their developing brains and skeletal structure.

If crawling in a cave is not a reasonable option, what can we do to minimize our risks and improve our health? Over the next few months, we will explore each of these topics in more details with the goal of you becoming a more knowledgeable consumer and an environmental advocate.