Tag Archives: Health

What’s Disrupting Your Endocrine System?

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rubber duckies

Phthalates used to soften plastics are among the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that a new report says are harming our health.

The United Nations has published a comprehensive and disturbing expert report suggesting that hundreds of hormone-disrupting toxins (known as “Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals” or EDCs) may be increasing the rate of sexual deformities, infertility, cancers, and other reproductive problems in people and wildlife around the world.

The State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals report was issued jointly last month by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

A well-functioning endocrine system regulates the release of certain hormones that are essential for functions such as metabolism, growth and development, sleep and mood. EDCs can change the functioning of this hormonal system, increasing the risk of adverse health effects. The associations between exposure to EDCs and health problems highlighted by the study include the potential for contributing to the development of non-descended testes in young males, breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, developmental effects on the nervous system in children, ADHD, and thyroid cancer.

Some EDCs occur naturally, but as we have often reported in Natural Life Magazine, synthetic varieties can be found in pesticides, electronics, building materials, personal care and cleaning products, and cosmetics. They can also be found as additives or contaminants in food. They enter the environment mainly through industrial and urban discharges, agricultural run-off, and the burning and release of waste. Human exposure can occur via the ingestion of food, dust and water, inhalation of gases and particles in the air, and skin contact.

The report mentions building materials as a major source of EDCs, stating, “Over the past decade it has become clear that humans, in particular small children, are… exposed to EDCs via dust and particles in indoor environments like homes, schools, childcare centres, and offices…” A large number of chemicals – including phthalates and brominated fire retardants – are used as additives in indoor materials as well as other products found in the home, and these compounds can leak from materials into food or onto dust that is ingested primarily by toddlers and infants, who spend most of their time on the floor and are prone to putting hands and objects into their mouths. The report calls for the disclosure of chemicals in products, which is not something the chemical companies and product manufacturers are eager to do. In fact, they’re currently fighting and delaying a proposed LEED credit for proper chemical disclosure in building materials.

The report also raises concerns on the impact of EDCs on wildlife. In Alaska, for instance, exposure to such chemicals may contribute to reproductive defects, infertility, and antler malformation in some deer populations. Population declines in species of otters and sea lions may also be partially due to their exposure to diverse mixtures of PCBs, the insecticide DDT, other persistent organic pollutants, and metals such as mercury.

A number of recommendations are made in the report that would improve global knowledge of these chemicals and reduce the risk of disease. These include better testing, more research on their effects, better reporting on chemicals in products, and more collaboration among scientists and countries. Meanwhile, our articles and our book Natural Life Magazine’s Green and Healthy Homes can help you avoid many of these hormone-disrupting chemicals.

 

Bisphenol A is Now Officially Toxic in Canada

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Effective today, Bisphenol A (BPA) is on the Canadian government’s Toxic Substances List, in spite of industry objections registered with the government but rejected earlier this year. BPA is a widely-used chemical found in the coating of metal food and beverage cans, some polycarbonate products like food containers, water bottles, baby bottles, eyeglass lenses, nail polish, dental sealants, water pipes, and toys. You can read more about its use in plastics in a 2008 article in Natural Life Magazine.

BPA has been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen and cause reproductive damage that may lead to prostate and breast cancer. It has also been linked to immune system dysfunction, early puberty in females, heart disease, diabetes, and higher rates of miscarriage. In August, Statistics Canada reported that measurable levels of BPA were found in the urine of ninety-one percent of Canadians aged six to seventy-nine.

Canada was the first country in the world to propose taking action against BPA, having concluded in 2008 that it was “toxic.” But it took until March of this year for it to ban BPA in baby bottles in Canada, and it can still legally be used in other products.

Other countries, including the U.S., France, Denmark, Belgium and the U.K. have taken action on its use – or are in the process of doing so. According to the activist organization Environmental Defence, the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization are holding an expert meeting in Ottawa in November to review BPA’s health effects.

Home-Grown Chickens Lay Healthy Eggs

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chickensMost people who are concerned about the quality of their food supply will have heard by now about the massive egg recall in the U.S. due to salmonella poisoning.

The Food and Drug Administration officials have said the recall stands at 550 million eggs, which originated at two factory farms in Iowa. A team of investigators is still trying to figure out what caused the contamination. An estimated 1,300 people have been made sick and the illness can be life-threatening, especially for those with weakened immune systems.

Eggs can be contaminated in two ways. Hens with infected ovaries can contaminate eggs before they’re laid, and the bacteria can penetrate the shell when a laid egg is exposed to fecal material.

The recall is bound to be good for sales of organic eggs, as well as for the organic and locavore movements in general. Anecdotal reports from farmers’ markets across the country suggest a spike in interest in eggs and other food from small farms as a direct result of the publicity surrounding the recall. And it’s sure to draw more people to the already popular backyard chicken movement.

Buying eggs directly from a farmer, or even growing your own is not a total guarantee that you will avoid contamination and illness. But it’s a good bet that chickens and their eggs (as well as other animal products) will be healthier and safer when they have regular exposure to the outdoors, eat naturally, aren’t cooped up in cages on top of one another, and not dosed with the antibiotics and vaccinations that industrial raised hens require.

We have been publishing articles for years in Natural Life Magazine about the problems with intensive factory farming – including the potential for the spread of diseases like this one, the resulting over-use of antibiotics, and the cruelty involved with caging animals.

But we like to provide positive information for our readers about how to live naturally. So here are a couple of articles from our archives about the positive aspects of keeping chickens – aside from the benefits of fresh, disease-free eggs.

Chickens in Your Backyard

The Multi-Function Chicken