Toxic Legacy
A leading UK expert on the effects of the environment on human health, Professor Michael Depledge from the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, has recently issued a stern warning about the current levels of environmental toxins to which we are all exposed.
We absorb these environmental toxins through our skin, from the air that we breath, and through the foods and drinks that we consume. The amounts of toxins slowly accumulate within the body over a lifetime and are referred to as the body burden. Mothers pass a significant proportion of their body burden of toxins to their babies in the womb and breastmilk (estimated to be between 1/3 - 2/3) so that the effects of this toxicity are passed on to future generations.
Allopathic medicine still largely refuses to concede the naturopathic concept of illness as being toxicity and effective detoxification being the uniting treatment for all illnesses. However, recently there has been an explosion in the number studies showing the effects of these environmental chemicals on human health including birth defects, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and nervous system disorders. This toxic load has also been linked to obesity and cancer.
There are estimated to be approximately 100,000 chemicals now in use in industry, 30,000 of which are in common use and only 3,500 of which have ever been safety tested. Even then the testing involves using algae to represent plant life, fleas to represent invertebrates and fish to represent vertebrates. No mammal even approaching the complexity of a human has been used for testing and many of these chemicals have powerful synergistic reactions and may interreact to create other unidentified chemicals. This means that the expense and time scale of any meaningful testing might prove prohibitive and in any event, since these chemicals have been used widely since the 1950s in thousands of familiar products, the genie is already well and truly out of the bottle.
Some of these chemicals have proved to be extremely persistent and bioaccumulative within living tissue. One example is DDT which received a worldwide ban for use in agriculture in the 1970s, but is still accumulating within children, although the mechanism by which this is occurring is not fully understood.
Of particular concern are a group of 800 chemicals known as endocrine disruptors which confound the human hormonal system and these are examined in more detail below along with the problems posed by the widespread use of pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology.
Pharmaceutical pollution
With an ageing population comes an increase in consumption of pharmaceuticals which find their way into the sewage and water supplies.
There are now 300,000 different pharmaceuticals containing 1,000 active ingredients in 80 classes all of which, of course, have been especially manufactured to be biologically active (seriously, how can any doctor or pharmacist hope to have a comprehensive understanding of the actions, side-effects and interactions of hundreds of thousands of pharmaceuticals?).
In the US 3.5 billion prescriptions were filled by pharmacies in 2010 at a total cost of $217 billion dollars. The average child in the US consumes 4 prescription medications a year, the average adult 11, and the average senior 31 prescriptions annually. And this figure is expected to triple within the next 10 years!
Add to this the sales of over-the-counter (OTC) medications which are used to treat the majority of ailments, which in the US totalled $30 billion in 2010. That is 8 billion OTC pharmaceuticals a year - which is an average of 26 pharmaceuticals for every American man, woman and child annually! Older adults account for one-third of all over-the-counter pharmaceutical sales.
The figures in the UK are 3.5 prescriptions a year in childhood rising steadily into early middle age and then sharply increasing to 16.5 for 55 to 64 year olds and 42 prescriptions annually for the over 85s.
In the final report of the UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution before it was abolished, scientists from around the world identified measurable quantities of drugs like analgesics, antibiotics and cancer chemotherapy agents in the waterways. Contamination also comes from the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and the increasing use of pharmaceuticals for veterinary purposes.
Measurable quantities of female sex hormones from oral contraceptives in the water are causing some male fish and animals such as alligators to have malformed genitalia and reproductive organs and are believed to be responsible for the feminisation of men, reduced testosterone levels and sperm counts.
Antibiotics in the environment have encouraged the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria and MRSA has been found in samples from beaches in the US.
In the UK both the Wolfson Institute and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry have recently recommended the universal prescribing of drugs to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure(!). Putting aside concerns about the mass prophylactic medicating of the population for life in order to create 'health', there is obviously no regard for the side-effects of these medications upon the individuals concerned, or the environmental impact of such action.
In fact, whilst trying to locate the relevant statistics for this article I was struck by the bemoaning of the disappointing growth of the pharmaceutical 'consumer care market' in 2010 due to the weak flu season in Europe and North America which you can view in this Pharmalive Special Report. Health - or less of an increase in disease than they might have hoped for - is not good for business you see!
Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component of plastic drinks bottles, the inner lining of food and drink cans, compact discs (CDs), dental sealants, till receipts, computer and phone casings, plastic tableware, and optical lenses.
It is an endocrine disruptor and a xeno-oestrogen which means that it mimics the actions of the female sex hormone oestrogen and this has been recognised since the 1930s. In a study of Italian men, an association was found between raised testosterone levels and BPA and other studies have shown a reduction in sperm counts, abnormal sexual development and the feminisation of males.
BPA has been linked to neurological, immune system and liver damage, diabetes, obesity, and cancer (particularly breast and prostate cancer). In 2008 a team from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH) calculated that the quarter of the population with the most BPA in their bodies were twice as likely to suffer heart disease or diabetes as the quarter with the least BPA.
Babies in the womb are particularly vulnerable to the disruptive effects of BPA and researchers backed by the US government have identified potential relationships between low doses of BPA and neurobehavioural problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
90% of British citizens and 100% of Americans are estimated to have BPA in their bodies and laboratory animals have shown the effects listed above at the level humans are exposed to in developed countries.
Although BPA has now been banned from inclusion in babies' bottles in the EU, Canada and some American states and some drinks manufacturers have voluntarily removed it from their bottles, there is still no requirement to label products as containing Bisphenol A.
Phthalates
Phthlates are found in PVC and other plastics such as shower curtains, vinyl flooring, medical devices such as gloves, tubing and intravenous bags, and in perfumes, cosmetic and personal care products. Some phthalates have already been banned in some children’s toys. The most common phthalate, diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) has been identified as a contaminant of oil, water and dust and has been found in fish and wildlife.
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and can also cause kidney and liver damage. They have been classified by the European Union as toxic to reproduction and exposure can occur during gestation in the mother's womb. In a 2003 survey 88% of babies tested positive to DEHP or one of its breakdown products. They particularly affect boys reducing male fertility and can cause premature breast development in girls.
Brominated flame retardants
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are organobromide compounds that are used to reduce the flammability of electronic, textile and plastic products. They are found in computers, television sets, cables, carpets, construction materials, paints, furniture, car interiors, textiles and kitchen appliances.
They are produced synthetically and there are 70 variants with different chemical properties. One group, the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) causes particular concern and some BFRs have been banned in Europe. Annual consumption of PBDEs alone is over 40,000 metric tonnes.
BFRs are highly persistent in air, water and soil and are found in almost every kind of food. They are also lipophilic and bioaccumulate within living tissue and have been detected throughout the world in human blood, body fat and breastmilk and are passed from mother to baby in the womb and breastmilk.
Brominated flame retardants have been linked to liver, thyroid and skin damage. They are also recognised to affect sexual development and development of the brain and nervous system, and are a possible carcinogen. In experiments, rats demonstrated reduced sperm counts and pathological changes to ovaries at levels at, or lower than, those of the most exposed women.
Brominated flame retardants are more highly concentrated in children. Their use in household furnishings where children come into contact with them has come under particular criticism.
Synthetic musks
Synthetic musks or 'white musks' are synthetic aromachemicals used to scent products such as perfumes, aftershaves, soaps, toiletries, household cleaners, air freshener, laundry detergent and fabric softener. They are persistent, widespread and bioaccumulative endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens that have particularly been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Synthetic musks may also break down the body's defences against other toxic chemical exposures.
Synthetic musks have a cleaner, sweeter smell and lack the animal notes of natural musks. They form the base note foundations of most perfume formulas and nearly all musks used in perfumery today are synthetic.
There are three major classes - aromatic nitro musks, polycyclic musk compounds, and macrocyclic musk compounds. The first two groups are used to fragrance a wide range of products from cosmetics to detergents. However, their detection in human and environmental samples in addition to concerns about their carcinogenic properties has prompted a ban or reduction in their use in many countries. Macrocyclic musk compounds are now being used to replace them since these compounds appear to be safer.
Levels of these musks in human bodies appear to be associated with the frequency of use of fragranced products of all hues.
Perfluorinated chemicals
A perfluorinated compound (PFC) is an organofluorine compound where all the hydrogens have been replaced by fluorine on a carbon chain. They are used in a wide variety of applications mostly for their stain, oil and water repellent properties. Applications include the coating of non-stick pans (Teflon), stain and water repellent treatments of clothing, carpets and furniture (Scotchguard and Gore-Tex clothing), grease resistant food packaging such as pizza boxes, French fry boxes and microwave popcorn bags, floor waxes, personal care products such as shampoo, dental floss and denture cleaners, and fire extinguisher foam.
PFCs persist in the environment and are not known to degrade by any natural processes due to the strength of the carbon–fluorine bond. They accumulate in the environment and are found in animals and humans where they disrupt the endocrine system, cause birth defects and impaired foetal growth, damage the liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, reproductive organs and immune system, and cause cancer.
A US study of Danish women found that those who had higher levels of perfluorinated chemicals in their blood were twice as likely to be infertile and took longer to become pregnant than women with lower levels and were also more likely to have irregular menstrual periods. It is possible that part of this effect may also be due to the lowering of sperm quality in the partners of the women studied due to exposure to PFCs since they may have shared a lifestyle.
Some of the companies involved have voluntarily ceased producing products containing these chemicals and have agreed to reduce emissions because of concerns about toxicity.
Advice includes avoiding personal-care products containing ingredients that include the words 'fluoro' or 'perfluoro' and if using non-stick cookware not to let it overheat and to dispose of it if the coating shows signs of deterioration. Professor Deledge personally refuses to consume anything cooked in Teflon or that has touched plastic to avoid exposure to perfluorinated chemicals and bisphenol A respectively.
Persistent organic pollutants
This group includes dioxin, DDT, organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Although now banned from agricultural use organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are found in the soil, air and water, and in fish, animals and birds.
PCBs were used in electrical equipment in the 1970s and were banned in European Union after they were found to be toxic and bioaccumulative. Nearly everyone in the developed world has detectable amounts of PCBs in their blood, fat and breastmilk and these chemicals are known to cause damage to vital organs such as the brain, to disrupt the immune system and to be probable carcinogens.
In a US study, people with the highest concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their body were found to be 38 times more likely to develop diabetes than those with the lowest levels. In addition, when POP levels were taken into account, obese people were shown to be no more likely than thin people to develop diabetes, suggesting that the toxicity may have been the cause of both the diabetes and the obesity.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is now being embraced by industry for many different applications. As ever, these chemicals are unregulated and there is no requirement to label products as containing them.
The Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC has found nanotechnology being used in more than 600 products including more than 1,000 sunscreens, cosmetics, hair conditioners, fuel additives and textiles.
Whilst some of the applications appear promising (eg: nano gold being used to kill cancerous cells), there is no safety testing and no way of tracking them in the environment. Because of their tiny size, they can dissolve or become incorporated into other molecules making them more reactive. Research in Japan has found that, depending upon pH, nano particles can be liberated and react with organic material to form novel compounds.
Large amounts of nano silver have been found in the San Fransisco Bay and bacteria may develop resistance in the environment.
Toxic Legacy: Final thoughts
The breastmilk of most mothers' now tests positive for antibacterial agents and brominated flame retardants and the majority of new born babies test positive for BPA, PCG (polychlorinated biphenyls), phthalates, perfluorinated chemicals, parabens, organic chlorine pesticides and synthetic musks. These chemicals have also been found in all life forms and are known to bioaccumulate over a lifetime which makes you wonder if there aren't just some endangered species, but whether the totality of life on earth itself is ultimately in danger from our reckless and untested introduction of these chemicals into a wide variety of everyday items.
Further resources
"Alison Adams has shown great insight and courage in writing this book. Within its pages many people will find a path of awareness leading them away from disease and towards a better understanding of their personal role in their own health".
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