BODY BURDEN
We finally have all sorts of confirmation that the toxic chemicals in our world are residing in our blood, being passed on to our babies in utero, and wreaking havoc.
One of the more recent studies I stumbled upon comes from Canada. You can find summaries on, and links to, three of the Environmental Defence reports here...TOXIC NATION
Here's something to ponder:
We have tens of thousands of chemicals now that have never been tested - there's no law requiring them to be tested before being dumped on the unsuspecting public. I quote from the Nov. 25 entry at Ohio Citizen Action: "Peter Montague, editor of Rachel's Health and Environment Weekly notes that even if 1,000 of these chemicals were properly tested, it would be impossible to test the 'cocktail effects' of mixing them up with each other. There are 41 billion possible combinations of [just] 1,000 chemicals taken in groups of four. So even if we could test a million combinations a year, which we can't, it would take 41,000 years to complete such a battery of tests."
More links on our chemical body burden...
THE POLLUTION WITHIN
National Geographic, October 2006
(from a journalist guinea-pig who had himself tested for chemicals)
BODY BURDEN from the watchdog EWG (Environmental Working Group) This is the main site. The links below are various reports within the main Body Burden site and some of these individual report pages are still under construction, providing only a small summary. Links to all of them, plus more, can be found on the main Body Burden page.
BLADDER CANCER & EXPOSURE TO CHLORINATED WATERPOLLUTION IN NEWBORNS
413 chemicals tested for, 287 found. Includes pesticides, flame retardants, stain and grease-resistant (Teflon) coatings. (2004)
TEFLON & MERCURY IN ADULT & TEEN BLOOD
Mercury from power plants accumulates in seafood, and the newly emerging Teflon issues. (See an additional link on the Teflon issue further below.)
POLLUTANTS IN BLOOD & URINE
214 chemicals tested for, 171 found. Volunteers averaged 56 carcinogens. (My note: keep in mind that there are 10,500 chemicals used just in personal care products.)
RECORD LEVELS OF FLAME RETARDANTS IN BREAST MILK
44 chemicals tested for, 35 found. Flame retardants are in the mattresses we sleep on, in any upholstered furniture, televisions, computers, etc.
196 CHEMICALS LINKED TO BIRTH DEFECTS
413 chemicals tested for in women from Congress to the newsroom, 329 found.
From the American Journal of Epidemiology. This addresses the absorption of treated water via drinking, bathing, swimming in pools, etc. While you can read a brief summary of the article, there is a charge to view it in its entirety. (Just go to the library - they can access it for you for free.)
TUNA CALCULATOR - Mercury in Seafood
Enter your weight and gender and see how much tuna you can "safely" eat per week. Of course, that means you still are eating mercury. Albacore tuna has 3 times the mercury found in Chunk Light tuna. If you're pregnant, just don't eat the stuff. Click on this link for EWG's FISH LIST - which ranks, especially for women, various types of seafood according to their toxicity.
TEFLON
This page offers a number of news items on the whole Dupont-Teflon debacle. Read it and then get rid of your Teflon pans and stop Scotchguarding your furniture and carpet. For your kids' sake. Those little newborn babies already had the nasty stuff in them.
