May be blah.... to you... but it's not to me

so I'll post anyway! :) Some of you may be saying 'uggg... not another long winded so called health post' and it's not... well... not really.... kind of I guess... but it's me, it's what I do. I research health on a daily basis. It's important to me and it has changed my life... for the better. And by posting this and other stuff I hope I can shed some light to others that 'may' help change their life in a positive way as well.

So skip, skim or read... but if you read I promise you'll learn something you didn't know before!

(NewsTarget) There's a new wave in testing people for a so-called "body burden" of industrial chemicals in their blood stream. The results are shocking. A family with two young children in Oakland, CA were invited by reporters to participate in a cutting-edge study to measure industrial chemicals in their bodies. http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/22/body.burden/index.html#cnnSTCOther1

The parents were horrified to find that their children - a boy, then 18 months, and a five-year old girl - had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents.

The baby boy had three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats, although so far he seems fine.

The technology to test for these flame retardants - known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) - and other industrial chemicals is less than 10 years old. Environmentalists call it "body burden" testing, a reference to the chemical "burden," or legacy of toxins, running through our bloodstream. Scientists refer to this testing as "biomonitoring."

Many of these chemicals harm rats, but studies on humans are preliminary. Modern-day humans are living an unnatural experiment and may be creating a monster that will never go away.

Study the following list of chemicals and help force to change "business as usual" practices in the US:

Phthalates:
Chemicals that make plastics soft and pliable. They're found in all kinds of plastic bottles, as well as plastic containers, kitchen wrap, soft toys and medical devices. Phthalates are also used as solvents for fragrances, so they're in a lot of personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfume, nail polish and cosmetics. Animal studies show that phthalatesdisrupt hormone levels, causing neurological dhysfunction and reproductive defects in lab rats. Preliminary studies on humans show that phthalate exposure may be associated with genital birth defects in males as well as male infertility.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs):
Flame-retardant chemicals. They're found in foam products such as mattresses, couches and carpets, and in plastics such as casings for TVs, computers and othe electronics. Animal studies show PBDEs cause liver, thyroid and neurological damage in lab rats. Health experts worry most about PBDEs potential harm to fetuses and children under 6, but studies on human toxicity have only just begun.

Bisphenol A:
A chemical used to make plastics hard. It's in polycarbonate plastic products such as baby bottles, hard water bottles and food containers, as well as in the resin lining of aluminum cans and some dental sealants. A study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology found a link between bisphenoal A and female reproductive disorders such as cystic ovaries and cancers. In August, an expert panel from the National Institutes of Health expressed concern that bisphenol A may harm children and adults and recommended more research be done.

Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs):
Chemicals used to make nonstick and stain-resistant products such as nonstick frying pans and water-resistant materials. PFOAs have been shown to cause developmental problems and liver toxicity in lab rats. Animal studies have caused concern among health experts about PFOAs' toxicity to humans since they stay in the body for years at a time between exposures. Some studies have suggested that PFOAs are human carcinogens.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Chemicals used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment as well as older models of microwaves and refrigerators. They were banned in the US in the late 1970s, but they are long-lasting compounds that persist in the environment. The EPA calls PCBs a "probable carcinogen," meaning they probably cause cancer. PCBs have been associated with immunological and psychosocial problems in children, such as changes in motor skills and a decrease in short-term memory. In adults, PCBs have been associated with rashes, acne and liver damage.

5 comments:

  1. So terrifying and enlightening. Thanks for posting!

    I have known for only a short time (less than a year) about the horrible dangers of plastics with Bisphenol A and now use very, very little plastic. I threw out my non-stick skillets and yet everywhere I turn there is more garbage around us! So sad that this quick, convenient, disposable world we've created is killing us and our kids. It's SO good to be informed...so we can do what we can to avoid chemically poisoning our children. We use cloth diapers and don't have a microwave or a tv. But there is still so much out there! Depressing, yet hopeful. Only when we are informed can we make the best choices for our families! Thanks for posting!!

    Also, I didn't comment, but I appreciated your recent post on the atrociy some parents are facing...getting into trouble for not vaccinating their kids! I for one would get thrown in the slammer...how absolutely sick and wrong is that!? Hmmm, last time I checked the PARENTS were the ones responsible for their children's health. Brother. Anyway, thanks for posting!

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  2. It is amazing what harm is involved in the use of the simplest of daily products. We are very careful, doing the best that we can with the knowledge we have. We don't vaccinate, eat as organically and clean as possible, are very careful with what products we use on our skin, drink/cook with filtered water (drinking our town water gives me an instant headache!!)etc. etc. Daniel and I want to give our kids the best and safest start we can - it's not always easy though!
    Good, informative article.

    -Andrea

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  3. That IS some scary stuff!

    Over the last couple years we've been doing little things like only microwaving food (the word microwave actually sounds scary)in/on our ceramic dishes not in Tupperware, etc.
    Some of the non stick of ours still need to go. We are slowly getting rid of them. 1 iron skillet bought 1 non stick in the garbage.....
    Oh, and cleaners & soap - method is my friend.

    Thanks for posting on this!

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  4. Ahhh...oh my gosh! What do we do? Have you started making any changes after learning about this? Will you please post about it??!?

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Thank you for blessing me with your words!

Brittany