In 2004, the Silent Sprint Institute tested 120 homes for 89 endocrine disrupting chemicals. They were shocked to find 67 of them , the majority being pesticides and flame-retardants. Perhaps the most surprising finding, however, was that 2/3 of the homes tested positive for DDT despite the facts that it was banned 40 years ago.
It is unfortunate that we are now living immersed in a "chemical soup". The headlines trumpet the many chemicals that surround us in our air, food, water and consumer products, and they may be compromising our health.
There are 84,000 chemicals that are legal in the United States, all of which are basically unregulated, and new ones are introduced each year that have not been fully tested. Industrial chemicals and pollutants are contributing to illness in the U.S. especially to certain types such as asthma, autism, breast cancer, infertility and miscarriage, Parkinson's disease, childhood cancers and birth defects especially in little boys. Children are entering puberty at younger ages, and girls are developing breast buds at age seven or eight.
Some toxins are unavoidable, but many are contaminants or simply not listed on the label. The problem with industrial chemicals is heightened since they tend to accumulate in the environment and persist for decades or more which accounts for growing numbers of people with chemical sensitivities.
HOW ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS TRICK YOUR BODY
A number of common household chemicals are endocrine disruptors meaning they disrupt your hormone function. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are similar in structure to your natural sex hormones, such as estrogen, so they can potentially interfere with normal physiology even in extremely small amounts.
Endocrine glands regulate vital physiological processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth and development. A hormone's job is to interact with the cells in your body, sending signals that instruct them to perform certain tasks, but EDCs interfere with proper hormone signaling. The endocrine disrupting chemicals can mimic your natural endocrine system, and that is why there is so much concern.
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE BEGINS IN THE WOMB
Chemicals affect infants and younger children more than older children or adults because they are developing much more rapidly and their organs systems are more sensitive. As an expectant mother, everything she takes into her body can be passed on to her developing child
Scientists have data showing the results of industrial chemicals on fetal and child development. In a groundbreaking 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) report about endocrine disrupting chemicals, the authors confirmed EDCs are likely affecting all the development and function of reproductive organs plus the tissues and organs regulating metabolism and satiety. They listed the effects of these systems as leading to obesity, learning and memory difficulties, diabetes or cardiovascular and more.
These chemicals build up over time. Scientific studies suggest that endocrine disruptors that a child is exposed to in-utero may affect not only the child but be passed down multiple generations even to the great-great-grandchildren.
Chemicals are made to make things easier, but the cost of convenience has come at a considerable price. Chemicals that fight disease and bolster food production are a big business and almost all aspects of modern life depend on them.
THE DIRTY DOZEN LIST OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
Bisphenol_A (BPA)
Dioxin
Atrazine
Phthalates
Perchlorate
Flame retardants
Lead
Mercury
Arsenic
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
Organophosphate pesticides
Glycol ethers
Chemical Sensitivity
TO EVERYDAY CHEMICALS
AVOIDING TOXIC CHEMICALS
Although no one can successfully steer clear of all chemicals and pollutants, to minimize the exposure there are some key principles to keep in mind.
1. Buy and eat fresh, organic produce and grass-pastured, sustainably raised meats to reduce the exposure to added hormones, pesticides and fertilizers.
2. Avoid milk and other dairy products that contain genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST).
3. Eat mostly fresh, raw whole foods. Processed and packaged foods are a common source of chemicals such as BPA and phthalates.
4. Avoid eating conventional or farm-raised fish which are often contaminated with PBCs and mercury. Supplement with a high-quality krill oil or eat fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity such as wild caught Alaskan salmon.
5. Buy products that come in glass bottles rather than plastic or cans. Chemicals can leach out of plastics and plastic can linings into the contents. Even BPS-free plastics leach EDCs that are just as bad as BPA. Store your food and beverages in glass and avoid plastic wrap.
6. Replace everything that is plastic for glass or ceramic. That includes non-stick pots and pans.
7. Filter your tap water for drinking and bathing. The skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs contaminants especially from the bath or shower.
8. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove house dust.
9. When buying a new mattress, carpet padding or furniture, ask what type of flame retardant they contain. Avoid items containing PBDEs, antimony, formaldehyde, boric acid and other brominated chemicals. As you replace these items, replace them with naturally less flammable materials such as leather, wool, cotton and silk.
10. Look for fragrance-free products for feminine hygiene, household cleaners and toiletries.
This is a difficult task in this day and age but well worth striving to achieve.
True Rife Body System sessions with TR Chemical Sensitivity Blend may be a preventive measure if you are exposed or experiencing any of the symptoms listed.
True Rife Chemical Sensitivity Blend Ingredients:
Chamomile German, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedar, Turmeric, Spearmint, Geranium, Sage, Myrtle, Nutmeg