Your Environmental Health

!±8± Your Environmental Health

Many symptoms that can not be diagnosed by X-rays, ultrasounds and blood work may be caused by a chemical sensitivity.

#1 Tap water

Tap water contains fluoride, chlorine and arsenic that is making many people sick. For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency set an acceptable arsenic level of 50 parts per billion in drinking water. But recent studies suggested that this level was too high and increased the risk of bladder and lung cancer. Some 13 million people in the United States routinely drink water with a high amount of arsenic. Most of them are in small towns and rural areas but some in cities as large as Albuquerque. Independent studies found many bottle waters have varying degrees of contamination.

Chlorination of municipal water supplies dramatically reduced the death rate from typhoid fever, a bacterial infection which is spread through drinking water. But chlorine reacts with organic matter dissolved in water to form cancer-promoting organochlorines like the trihalomethanes (THMs), of which the best known is chloroform. Drinking chlorinated water increases the risk of developing cancer of the rectum or the bladder, the risk increasing the more tap water is drunk.

Fluoride allergy can cause high cholesterol, bone tumors, chronic osteomyelitis, chronic polyarthritis, and rheumatoid disease. Tap water may have very serious consequences for children in the long term. Recent reports from the CDC, indicates the drugs and medications are included in our public water supply, nationwide.

#2 Air pollution

Sensitivity to gasoline exhaust & smog can cause drowiness; mental confusion; loss of reasoning ability and memory; dizziness; anger; irritation of eyes, nose and throat; and wheezing or coughing. Diesel emissions can trigger these same symptoms as well as disturbances of digestion and appetite.

#3 Farm pesticides

Pesticides are used to control weeds, insects, rodents and other organisms that people consider to be pests. Rodenticides, insecticides, ascaricides, herbicides and fungicides are all pesticides, and many of them were developed as nerve gases during WW II. There are many classes of pesticides, but perhaps the 3 major classes are carbamates, organophosphates and organochlorines. Pesticide are very toxic to humans. The agriculture industry uses 90% of the pesticides in this country, but pesticides can be found in plants, carpets, paper, dentures and contact lenses. Because of the routine spraying of buildings and crops, we can be exposed to pesticides anywhere we go.

#4 Plastic containers

Half of the total production of phenol is used in the manufacture of plastics. Common exposures include phenol emissions from computers, televisions, plastics, cleaning products and newsprint. Serious effects include gangrene, circulatory collapse, respiratory failure, paralysis, convulsions and death.

#5 Ethanol

Ethanol is one of many different alcohols and is the alcohol in liquor. It is clear, colorless, and has a pleasant odor with a burning taste. Ethanol may be synthetic, such as that used in industry, or it may be "organic," made by fermenting grains, sugars, fruit juices and potatoes. Ethanol is rapidly absorbed through the intestines which has the capacity to multiply the severity of an allergic reaction. It is formed naturally in the intestinal tract from the fermentation of sugar, alcohol, and simple carbohydrates, and can be formed in excess in the lower bowel by the action of Candida albicans. Central nervous system depression, feelings of exhilaration and talkativeness, impaired motor coordination, dizziness, flushing, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, headache, wheezing, vision problems, impaired perception, stupor and death can be all be caused by ethanol. Ethanol is often used as a preservative.

#6 Building chemicals

All forms of formaldehyde cause many symptoms include eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation, asthma, contact dermatitis, nausea, chronic headache, and memory lapses.

Unfortunately, formaldehyde makes colors brighter and surfaces smoother and manufacturers use it to produce attractive consumer goods, making many new products a formaldehyde exposure. When it combines with other chemicals it forms a resin, making it very important industrially. Among its many uses are setting dyes; waterproofing fabrics; tanning and preserving hides; manufacturing building materials; and in manufacturing of artificial silks, cellulose esters. dyes organic chemicals and glass mirrors. It is also used as a germicide, disinfectant and fungicide. It is a major, continuous indoor pollutant. Neutralizing a formaldehyde allergy is the secret to eliminating sick building syndrome.

#7 Cleaning materials

It is not unusual to be allergic to all the chemicals used in cleaning products, often used in detergents and fabric softeners.

#8 Food enhancers

Artificial sweeteners & food additives may affect our children's health and behavior. Symptoms range from hyperactivity to seizures. MSG can cause a serious major health problem, especially for children.

#9 Nicotine

Tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor allergens, and cigarette smoking remains the single most preventable cause of cancer deaths in the US. Breathing smoke is unhealthy. Everyone is exposed to tobacco smoke in varying degrees, resulting in typical allergic symptoms. It is estimated that cigarette smoke alone kills 434,000 Americans each year. Science has proven that second-hand smoke is unhealthy.

People that suffer from symptoms, with no apparent cause, often are having an allergic reaction or sensitivity to something. It can be determine with kinesiology (muscle testing) if your symptoms are due to an allergy or chemical sensitivity.