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Indoors
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and
Outdoors
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Some medical
doctors estimate that nearly 80% of all diseases are
preventable.
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Pollutants commonly found in the air, food and water can
make your immune system weaker and less capable of
defending you against diseases.
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Most of
the 75,000 man-made chemicals
have never been properly tested for safety.
Following exposure to multiple chemicals, it may be
impossible to determine which ones ruined the health of
an individual.
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In the
USA, tissues and organs of an average person contain
more than 100 toxic pollutants that can damage the mind
and body. Some of the most damaging pollutants come from
the burning of oil, coal and other fuels.
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Pollution
may be involved in the development of about 80% of all
diseases.
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Inflammation,
a secret killer, is often triggered by the airborne
irritants, allergens and toxins that can be filtered out
of the air breathe.
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Many
airborne pollutants have a pleasant odor, or no odor, so
the human sense of smell provides no warning of the
dangers. Example: Some "air fresheners" are made with
toxic
formaldehyde or
1,1,1-trichloroethane to reduce your sense of smell.
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Toxic
particles that are small enough to get deep into your
lungs are too small to see without a microscope.
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Modern
ventilation systems with high efficiency air filters can
provide good indoor air quality and make it safe to seal
any openings have been allowing entry of dust, drafts
and insects.
- Avoid
preventable diseases by minimizing your exposure to
dangerous
pollutants and
microbes.
- Find
reliable medical advice on disease prevention and
treatment.
- Protect
your immune system so it can defend you against
bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer.
- Improve
indoor air quality while minimizing energy requirements.
- Improve
outdoor air quality by reducing fuel consumption.
The health information contained herein is
provided for educational purposes only and is not intended
to replace discussions with a health care provider. All
decisions regarding patient care must be made with a health
care provider, considering the unique characteristics of
patients.
What
are you breathing today?
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Healthy young adult lungs contain
millions of microscopic air sacs with a total
surface area nearly equal to that of a tennis
court. Polluted air reduces lung capacity.
People typically do not notice reduced lung
capacity until about half of the capacity has
been permanently lost.
Severe lung disease increases
the work load of the heart in three ways:
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Lung
disease may reduce the amount of oxygen that
can get from the lung’s air sacs to the
blood. The heart then pumps faster and
harder to get the available oxygen to the
body.
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High
pressure in the blood vessels going from the
heart to the lungs makes it harder for the
heart to pump.
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Lung
disease can sometimes cause the body to
produce too many red blood cells. This makes
the blood thicker and harder to pump.
Congestive heart failure may result from
chronic lung disease. If you have a chronic lung
disease, treatment for it is very important. As
your breathing improves, it becomes easier for
the heart and blood to deliver sufficient oxygen
to body.
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Air
Pollution
The American Lung
Association estimates that more than 60,000 Americans die
prematurely each year due to inhalation of microscopic
particles emitted into the atmosphere by factories, power
plants, furnaces, fireplaces, vehicles, etc.
The Lung Association also
says that air in ordinary homes is typically 2 to 20 times
more polluted than outdoors. You can make indoor air cleaner
than outdoor air if you:
- Provide consistently
adequate
ventilation
- Reduce the amount of
pollutants released indoors
- Filter both
incoming and recirculating air to remove dust
mites, mold, and pollen
Thirty years ago, cancer
afflicted 1 in 4 Americans. Today, the American
Cancer Society says the chances of getting cancer are now
1 in 2 for men and 1 in 3 for women. One of the
primary reasons for this rapid increase is the increased
pollution of air, soil, water and food.
Simple health and energy
related improvements to typical homes and other buildings
have often produced the following results:
- Increased comfort
- Reduced medical
expenses
- Reduced indoor air
pollution
- Reduced illness among
occupants
- Reduced heating and
air conditioning expenses
- Reduced or eliminated
moisture damage to the building shell
- Reduced amount of air
pollution emitted by burning fuels
COALITION
RELEASES REPORT ON TOXINS IN PEOPLE, CALLS FOR REFORM
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 23, 2006
NOTE: The latest study of industrial poisons in humans
has revealed that people in Washington State all carry a
"body burden" of toxicants, with effects that are
unknown but surely not good. Studies confirm that in the
U.S., babies are all born carrying a body burden of
toxicants, which they pick up in the womb. What's wrong
with this picture?]
By Rachel La Corte, Associated Press Writer
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A coalition of environmental and
advocacy groups tested 10 Washington residents from
around the state and found each of them had dozens of
potentially harmful chemicals in their bodies, ranging
from pesticides to flame retardants.
Coalition officials who released the report in Seattle
on Tuesday acknowledged it wasn't a scientific
representation of the state, but said they wanted to put
a face on the issue.
The Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition collected hair, urine
and blood samples last fall from the participants, who
were specifically chosen for the tests. Most of the
participants are involved with organizations that are
members of or have worked with the coalition.
The coalition said it chose the people to represent both
genders, different races, professions and people who
live in different parts of the state, as well as people
who were local leaders.
Laboratories in Victoria, British Columbia, Seattle, and
Los Angeles tested the samples for 86 chemicals. Each
participant, including state Sens. Bill Finkbeiner and
Lisa Brown, both from opposite sides of the state,
tested positive for at least 26 of the various
chemicals, and as many as 39.
An extensive study on exposure to environmental
chemicals by the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention last year stressed that the presence of an
environmental chemical in blood or urine "does not mean
that the chemical causes disease." But state coalition
members said they wanted people to be aware of potential
risks.
"It's very likely each of us is walking around with a
cocktail of chemicals in our bodies," said Erika
Schreder, staff scientist for the Washington Toxics
Coalition and the lead scientist on the report. "The
chemicals that we found in our test participants are
chemicals that are linked to very serious health
problems. That's a concern."
But Dr. Elaine Faustman, a toxicologist and professor of
environmental and occupational health at the University
of Washington, said it's important to keep in mind the
levels of chemicals in each person, not just that they
are detected.
She noted that there are persistent chemicals in almost
everyone.
"For us, the dose makes the poison," she said.
However, Faustman said that while the sample size was
very small, the report was a good tool to see specific
data for the Pacific Northwest.
Among the chemicals found were phthalates, a manmade
ingredient of many plastics, cosmetics and other
consumer products.
Other chemicals included fire-retardant PBDEs, and PFCs,
which are found in the plastic coating Teflon.
Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, had 30 chemicals detected and a
mercury level above the EPA "safe" level. Of the group
tested, he had the highest levels of the Teflon
chemicals and the pesticide carbaryl.
"I never gave too much thought or made too many
lifestyle choices based on these issues prior to having
this profile. It sure made me think a whole lot more,"
said Finkbeiner, who added that he has since stopped
using Teflon pans, plans to buy more organic foods, and
will pull weeds in his yard instead of spraying them
with pesticides.
Schreder said the report should serve as a wake-up call
to the state's lawmakers and Gov. Chris Gregoire.
"What we're really lacking is a comprehensive approach
to ensure these harmful toxins are not in our products,"
she said.
A spokeswoman for the American Chemistry Council, which
represents about 130 major chemical companies, said the
small sample of the report doesn't warrant "the
far-reaching conclusions or recommendations that are
made."
Sarah Brozena said scientists have long known that
humans can absorb chemicals from the environment.
"We are finding them now because there are much better
analytical techniques that can measure them at these
very trace (part per billion or part per trillion)
levels," she said in an e-mailed statement. "Further,
detection of chemicals in our bodies -- by itself -- is
not an indication of risk to health and shouldn't be
cause for alarm."
Earlier this year, the state Department of Health and
the Department of Ecology asked the Legislature to ban
all trade in PBDEs, arguing that the fireproofing
chemicals are being found in Columbia River fish, seal
blubber, grizzly bears and women's breast milk.
A bill died in the Legislature this year, though
supporters said they will try again next year.
Schreder said that, in addition to the passage of the
PBDE ban, the coalition wants the state to require
companies that do business with Washington state to
provide complete information on what types of chemicals
are used. The coalition also wants to see an immediate
plan to phase out certain products and manufacturing
chemicals, and to help companies make the switch with
either incentives or technical assistance.
Gregoire's office did not return a phone call Tuesday
seeking comment on the report.
Brown, D-Spokane, said the report got her attention, and
she's certain it will open a dialogue in the next
legislative session.
"We pretty much take for granted that Washington state
is a beautiful place to live and work," said Brown, who
tested positive for 37 chemicals, including high levels
of mercury. "We want it to be a truly healthy place to
live."
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On the Net:
Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition:
http://pollutioninpeople.org
Washington Toxics Coalition:
http://www.watoxics.org
CDC National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental
Chemicals:
http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
Legislature:
http://www.leg.wa.gov
Additional Sources of Information:
|
Weird Medical Rumors on the Internet |
Do weird medical
rumors on the Internet have you worried? For a more
reliable scoop, visit the "hoaxers and rumors"
section at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) Web site. No, you can't get the
flesh-eating bacteria from eating bananas. The CDC
explains the science behind this and other health
issues in plain language. |
|
How to Talk
With Your Doctor |
"How to Talk With
Your Doctor" is a free Patient Page from The
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
The page covers how to prepare for an office visit:
what to expect from your provider: confidentiality:
and additional resources. For a copy, visit JAMA's
Web site at (jama.ama-assn.org)
and click on Patient Page Index for a list of
topics. A new topic is added weekly. |
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Save
The Child & Yourself
 |
What we don't
know can hurt us. Over one and a half million
Americans suffer untimely death or diminished
quality of life each year due to heart disease,
cancer, stroke, lung disease and diabetes. The good
news is that many chronic diseases responsible for
untimely death are preventable and the Author tells
us how. Nikolaus J. Smeh, M. S. gathered the
findings of thousands of medical researchers on
preventive measures. His book can help you minimize
exposure to environmental toxins in the air, food
and water. |
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Second National Report on Human
Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
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The Centers for Disease Control
and Protection today released their Second
National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental
Chemicals, an ongoing assessment of the exposure
of the US population to environmental chemicals. The
study reports on levels of 116 chemicals collected
from blood and urine samples from 10,000 randomly
selected Americans from age 6 and older in
1999-2000. Key findings include a clear sign that
smoke-free places are reducing exposure to
secondhand smoke: this study showed a 75% reduction
among nonsmoking adults in cotinine levels, a blood
marker for tobacco smoke exposure from the previous
data for 1991-1994. The study also established
benchmark levels for exposure to many other
chemicals, including some combustion by-products,
pesticides and herbicides. You can find more about
the report, including downloadable copies of the
executive summary and the full report at
www.cdc.gov/exposurereport
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CLICK HERE
to view John Kirkwood's statement on
www.lungusa.org
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Physicians and other health care
professionals are encouraged to consult other sources and
confirm the information contained in this site because no
single reference or service can take the place of medical
training, education and experience.
Consumers are cautioned that this site is
not intended to provide medical advice about any specific
medical condition they may have or treatment they may need
and they are encouraged to call or see their physician or
other health care provider promptly with any health related
questions they may have.
CAUTION: Some
stories circulating on the internet are not true. See:
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