Sunday, February 11, 2018

M3.1 Biomonitoring - Lab Results

I just received the lab results from my primary care practitioner, and the following chemicals were found in my body:
Chemical(s)
Potential Health Effects 
Dioxins
Carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, cognitive dysfunction
DDT 
 Reproductive toxicant
Organophosphate
 (pesticide) neurotoxicant, Parkinson’s
Lead
 Neurotoxicant, kidney toxicant, insomnia, impotence
Solvent
 Liver toxicant, neurotoxicant
PCBs
 Carcinogen, toxic to immune, neuro, and repro systems
Phthalates
 Repro toxicant (infertility), testicular damage, endometriosis, endocrine disruptor


My first thoughts and feelings after receiving the results included:



1.) Shock, regarding the many chemicals that were found in my body." It seems incredible that such a large number of chemicals, that I wasn't even aware of being exposed to, were found in my body. 

2.) Asking the question, "How did these chemicals get into my body?" Now that I'm aware of the of chemicals in my body, I want to know how they got there in the first place. Especially chemicals such as DDT (which has been banned in the United States (U.S.) since the 1970s) and Lead (which may be found in paints located in homes built before 1978, water pipes, and candies imported from other countries). 

3.) Frustration and anger, at not being made aware by growers/manufacturers/sellers of the chemicals in their products. Currently there are very limited regulations requiring companies to disclose the chemicals in their products and the harm that these chemicals can do to the human body. This upsets me because had I known about the harmful chemicals I was being exposed to, and their long-term side effects, I would have made more informed decisions about the products I was using. Instead I was denied the ability to make educated choices regarding my own body. Additionally, I'm disturbed by the fact that many chemicals, which are known to cause harm to the human body, are allowed to be placed in products that are sold in the U.S. These same chemicals are banned in places such as the European Union (E.U.). The following is a list of examples of ingredients sold in foods that are banned from the E.U., but not the U.S.:
  • Synthetic growth hormones rBGH and rBST. (rBGH and rBST were approved for use in cows by the FDA in 1993. Dairy cows injected with these hormones suffer from significant health problems (some of which are treated by administering antibiotics to the cows) and birth defects due to the hormones. However, products for human consumption from rBGH and rBST cows do not need to be labeled as such.) 
  • Food dyes Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Red 40. (These dyes are used to make unappealing food look more edible and enticing, and have been found to cause hyperactivity in children. They also carry allergy and cancer risks.) 
  • Azodicarbonamide (ADA). (You'll find ADA in commercially baked bread, and yoga mats. This chemical additive is a whitening agent and dough conditioner that the FDA considers safe for food uses including cereal flour and bread dough.)

4.) Asking the question, "What can I do going forward to prevent these chemical levels from increasing in my body?" While it is impossible to protect yourself 100% from harmful chemicals entering your body, it is possible to limit your exposure as much as possible. The following are a just a very few examples of the ways that people can help protect themselves from exposures to harmful chemicals.
  • Filter your water.
  • Stop using plastic bottles.
  • Get a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
  • Take shoes off in the home.





References:
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4 comments:

  1. Navleen Saini February 15, 2018 at 8:46 PM

    Hello Angie! This is a great post! I think many people are not aware that they have harmful chemicals in their bodies because they do not see the immediate effects of these chemicals. More people should have knowledge about these chemicals and find ways to prevent them. Thank you for listing some ways to prevent these chemicals from getting into our bodies.

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    Replies
    1. Angie ReedFebruary 17, 2018 at 6:43 PM

      Hi Navleen! Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that people aren't aware that they have harmful chemicals in their bodies because they don't see the immediate effects. It goes to that old saying, "what you don't know can't hurt you." However, we know this to be untrue and in fact when we are armed with knowledge we are better able to protect ourselves.

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  2. Elesia QFebruary 16, 2018 at 9:19 PM

    Thank you for posting the list of ingredients that are banned in Europe, but not here in the US. Those food dyes are in a lot of foods, not just the more common food like cereals where people tend to notice it more. It is amazing to see that we supposedly live in the greatest country in the world, but are still being subjected to things that can do us harm and without our consent. I feel like if I hadn't taken this class I would still be unaware of such toxins and contaminants, while our government seems to be looking the other way.

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    Replies
    1. Angie ReedFebruary 17, 2018 at 7:02 PM

      Hi Elesia! Thank you for posting your comment. You made a good point about supposedly living in the "greatest country in the world," while still being subjected to toxins without our knowledge or consent. I don't consider that freedom. I want to use this new found knowledge to help fight theses types of issues.

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