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Environmental toxicity is a major contributor to disease. For a more in-depth detoxification program, or to schedule a Spring Detox, contact Dr. Hanson at drjaredhanson@gmail.com or call 917-267-WELL.

March 2009 Newsletter From Dr. Jared Hanson ND, LAc

Everyday Detox

Ten Steps to Reduce Your Toxic Burden

Spring is here and it’s the traditional time for detoxification and internal cleansing. Do you need to detox? If you are wondering, perhaps even doubting, whether you are carrying significant levels of dangerous toxins, consider this:

Between 1974 and 1992, the EPA conducted an ongoing study collecting adipose (fat) samples taken from human autopsies or surgeries and analyzing them for toxins. This study, known as the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey or NHATS, was intended to establish a baseline for average levels of toxins in the U.S. population. What they found may alarm you. The NHATS study found five chemical compounds (styrene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, xylene, ethylphenol and octachlorodibenzodioxin) were present in 100% of us. In addition, nine other poisons were found in 90-99% of the samples and fourteen more were found in more than 50%.

Where do these toxins come from? Styrene is used to manufacture food containers and disposable cups (hence Styrofoam) and is present in cigarette smoke. Dichlorobenzene is used as a disinfectant, deodorant and pesticide, it is the active constituent in mothballs and the deodorizer blocks at the bottoms of urinals and is used in the manufacture of polymers. Xylene is found in automobile exhaust, paints and cigarette smoke. Ethylphenol is a constituent of disinfectants, furniture and floor polishes, air fresheners, adhesives, cigarette smoke and household cleaning products. Octachlorodibenzodioxin is a dioxin, a class of chemicals produced by burning organic material in the presence of chlorine. Sources include coal fired utilities, municipal waste incinerators, metal smelting and diesel trucks.

These are all acknowledged poisons that pose serious health risks. Many of these chemicals found in the vast majority of samples, are volatile or semivolatile, meaning they evaporate readily into the air. This means that you are exposed to them despite not using them yourself or not being near common sources. In fact, you can be on the other side of the world. Pesticides sprayed in West Africa have been found in Florida 5 days later, and air pollutants released in China have been captured in Canada after just 3 days.

The Center for Disease Control has also studied our exposure to environmental toxins and released the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Their study looked at blood serum and urine for signs of toxin exposure and found that 100% of people had detectable levels of three different types of organophosphates, three different types of phthalates and the heavy metals cadmium, cesium, cobalt, lead, mercury and thallium.

Organophosphates are a class of chemicals often used as pesticides (they were originally developed for use as a nerve gas in World War II and when the war ended manufacturers had to develop new markets for their products). One organophosphate pesticide New Yorkers have certainly been exposed to is Malathion, which was widely sprayed in the city for several years to kill mosquitoes in an effort to combat West Nile virus.

Phthalates are a class of chemicals used as plasticizers and as such are ubiquitous in plastic products: plastic wrap, shower curtains, electronic appliances and medical applications such as catheters to name a few. Phthalates are also present in adhesives and glues, building materials, personal care products, detergents, paints, printing inks, pharmaceuticals with enteric coatings, nail polish, caulk and perfume. Phthalates are xenoestrogenic meaning they act like estrogen in the body and exposure is associated with premature development in girls and also with higher rates of estrogen dependent diseases such as endometriosis or breast cancer.

Heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic are known to be carcinogens while other heavy metals such as lead and mercury are known to be neurotoxic.

So what can we do? Here are 10 tips to minimize your toxin exposure:

1. Don’t smoke.

This should be obvious by now, but it bears repeating. Cigarettee smoke is loaded with harmful chemicals, including those inherent to the tobacco, added chemicals and byproducts created in the burning process.

2. Eat organic.

Pesticides are a major contribution to our total body burden of toxins. It is important to buy organic animal fats (meats, butter, etc.) because animals bioaccumulate toxins and most environmental toxins are fat-soluble. The produce with the highest pesticide load are peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery and nectarines while onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapple and mango have the least.

It’s worth noting that domestic produce is often safer than imported as some of the most dangerous pesticides, such as DDT, are banned here but not abroad. Grapes are a good example of this.

3. Don’t heat or store food in plastics .

This especially true of microwaving in plastic. The more flexible the plastic, the greater the toxicity, making plastic wrap a worst offender. This includes the ubiquitous disposable coffee cup from your favorite deli or coffee chain. Cans containing canned food are also lined to prevent food from interacting with the metal.

4. Avoid mercury containing foods

Fish is the big factor here. Avoid eating tuna, mackerel, bluefish, swordfish, bass, cod, halibut and shark as these fish have been shown to contain the highest level of mercury. High fructose corn syrup has also been shown to have high levels of mercury. If it’s sweet and you can buy it in the grocery store, chances are good it contains high-fructose corn syrup.

5. Get some houseplants

Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. Plants filter and clean indoor air and give you a little extra oxygen to boot.

6. Filter your water

Chlorine and fluorine are added to municipal water supplies. Heavy metals or phthalates can be leached from the pipes. Traces of pharmaceutical drugs have also been found contaminating drinking water supplies.

In addition to filtering drinking water, it is also a good idea to filter shower water. Some of the chlorine added to water forms chloroform. In a hot shower, this chloroform volatilizes and you readily breath it in. Chloroform damages the liver and kidneys and causes cancer.

7. Use only natural cleaning products

Vinegar and baking soda can be used and natural cleaners are now readily available at health food stores.

8. Avoid synthetic sweeteners, colors and preservatives.

Sucralose (sold as Splenda) is essentially an organochloride pesticide, like DDT. In fact, it was discovered by scientists who were developing new pesticides. One told another to “test” the compound, but he heard “taste” so he did and it tasted sweet and, no doubt, like money.

9. Avoid dry cleaning

The solvent used in dry cleaning, perchloroethylene, is another organochloride and is a known carcinogen. “Organic” dry cleaners use a substance called DF-2000 which is only very slightly better. Wet-cleaning is a better choice.

10. Dust and vacuum regularly

Household dust can be a major reservoir of contamination.