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The Toxic World We Live In
Man's quest for bigger, better, faster, younger and more convenient comes at a
significant price. The automobiles that shuttle us, the products we clean with,
the appliances that keep us cool and the recreational vehicles that helps us
relax pollute the environment. And let's not forget the toxins found in the air
you breathe, the chemicals and fluoride found in the water you drink or the
pesticides detected in many of the fruits, vegetables and meats you serve your
family.It's not enough that you're subjected to toxins nearly everywhere you
turn—the real issue is the prolonged exposure you face—exposure that starts even
before you're born. In fact, according to a study commissioned by the
Environmental Working Group on the umbilical cord blood of newborns, an average
of 200 different industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides was found
including mercury, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, furans, pesticides, and
chemicals from flame retardants, PCBs, industrial lubricants, plastics, Teflon,
Scotchgard, industrial bleaches, electrical insulators, coal-fired power plants,
vehicle emissions, and wood preservatives. In fact, of the 287 chemicals
detected, 180 are known to cause health complication in humans or animals, 217
are known to be toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 are known to
cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.
Once you've
entered the world and taken you're first breath (one of 5,000 gallons of air
you'll breathe each day), you can be reasonably sure it includes some unhealthy
trace particles or air pollution. In fact, according to the Environmental
Protection Agency, U.S. facilities released 4.7 billion pounds of toxins into
the atmosphere in 2002. Further, the EPA estimates fine-particle pollution
causes an estimated 20,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year.
Share the Cause Documentary
Killer Toxins - Doctors Testimonial (audio)
AIR POLLUTION FACTS
- Women who live in areas with greater air pollution have a higher
susceptibility of developing and dying from coronary heart disease (CHD)
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Coal-fired plants emissions are the single largest source of mercury air
pollution, accounting for roughly 40 percent of all mercury emissions
nationwide and are believed responsible for 20,000 premature deaths a year.
-
In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control found that roughly 10 percent of
American women carry mercury concentrations at levels considered to put a
fetus at risk for neurological damage.
- Approximately 160 million
Americans are breathing unhealthy air.
The water you drink,
clean with and wash with doesn't fare much better. According to one study
conducted by the University of Michigan, one ton of oil is spilled for every
million tons transported. This same water is pumped back into our water supply,
which experts like the Environmental Working Group believe have contaminated the
tap water in 42 states with more than 140 unregulated chemicals. Contaminated
water isn't the only problem. Outbreaks of waterborne disease are on the
increase. In fact, an estimated 7 million people become sick and more than 1,000
die in the U.S. each year from waterborne microbes.
WATER POLLUTION FACTS
- Fifty million gallons of water, fine particles of dust, soot, arsenic,
mercury, lead and other pollutants from and ash settling basin was dumped
into the Delaware River last August.
- Chlorinated chemicals in
drinking water linked to increased risk of breast cancer.
-
Sewage
treatment plant workers at much higher risk of respiratory illness, skin
rashes, headaches & body aches.
And, as if concerns
regarding drinking and breathing weren't enough, you also have to be careful
with the produce, meats and fish you eat. Herbicides and pesticides—used to keep
bugs off crops, inhibit weed growth, and protect your lawn are taking their toll
on your health. For starters, environmental chemicals have a wide range of
effects on immune system function, ranging from a decrease in your body's
ability to fight infections and tumors to increased allergies and autoimmunity.
Although neurotoxic in natures, these compounds can also cause dermatological,
gastrointestinal, genitourinary, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and cardiological
problems. Hormones like zeranol, which has been used to fatten up cattle more
quickly has been shown to exacerbate breast health concerns.
OTHER RELATED FACTS
- Mercury in rivers is so pervasive that 47 states now have posted
advisories either statewide or for specific waters instructing people to
limit their intake of freshwater fish.
- Exposure to high levels
of mercury can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune systems of
humans.
- In a study performed by the Soil Association, 84 percent
of fruits and vegetables given to school children contained one pesticide,
65 percent of the samples contained two or more pesticides.
But
the toxins you'll probably find most surprising are those found in your home—a
place where most of us think we're safe. For starters, many of the products that
improve the look and scent of your homes like household-cleaning products have
been linked to ADHD and other learning and behavioral disorders. Even the new
carpet in your home might be making you sick because of the glue used to put it
down. The substance contains the harmful ingredient benzene and the neurotoxin
xylene -- one of the unhealthiest chemical combinations you can be exposed to.
Faulty appliances can emit ozone, which affects lung health; and carbon
monoxide, which is lethal at high concentrations. And mold, bacteria and other
biological contaminants can cause or exacerbate asthma, allergies and
infections.
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