I subscribe to a mailing list and website called Medscape. This morning I noticed an article titled “Toxic Chemicals We Consume Without Knowing It.” It is an excellent and scary summary of the toxins in our environment that we regularly take into our bodies. I would love to add a link to that article, but you have to subscribe to Medscape to read the whole article. Instead, I’m going to write about these toxins, where they come from and how we can avoid most of them. I will provide links to other information sources that you can check out for yourself.
Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are shed from plastic containers, plastic bags and other plastic items. They are everywhere in the environment and in most animals, including humans. A recent study found them in the blood of 77% of healthy people tested. Here is a link to a Smithsonian article about that study: Microplastics Detected in Human Blood. Here is a link to another article from Nature about the ubiquity of micro plastics: Microplastics are everywhere – but are they harmful? It is not known if microplastics are harmful to humans, but they are toxic to human cells in tissue culture.
Microplastics are released from plastic containers, especially if they are heated. That means you should never microwave food in plastic containers, nor eat food directly from plastic containers. Water heated for formula in plastic baby bottles also release micro plastics. Microplastic spheres are also in some cosmetics. The best way to avoid ingesting microplastics is to stop using plastic food containers altogether. More about this later in this post.
Phthalates
Phthalates are compounds used to make plastic softer. They are used in vinyl flooring and wall coverings, shower curtains, iv tubing, fragrances, air fresheners. perfumes, plastic wrap and children’s toys. Anything that has the recycle code 3 contains phthalates. They have been known to cause abnormal brain and sexual development in children and decreased testosterone in men. Although they can be inhaled from the dust of vinyl flooring and wall coverings, the main source seems to be ingestion from food containers. The EWG Skin Deep Database has a list of plastic free cosmetics and personal care products. (EWG stands for Environmental Working Group. It is an activist organization that focuses on avoiding environmental toxins).
Bisphenol A (BPA)
BPA is a chemical used to harden plastic. It has been used for forty years and is used in polycarbonate plastics, plastic water bottles, the lining of most canned foods and drinks, CD’s, epoxy, tooth fillings and many other products. A recent study found that 90% of people in the US have BPA in their bodies.
Like many industrial chemicals to which we are exposed, there are no studies that have evaluated toxicity to humans in well designed trials. Possible toxicities are most likely to affect infants and children. In animal models, BPA has been shown to act as an endocrine disrupter (increases or decreases hormone levels). Bisphenols, like BPA may affect both female and male reproductive health although their effects are suggested to be more pronounced in males. They can cause cognitive deficits, slow nervous system development, attention deficit disorder, and depression in children. Recent human studies show that BPA exposure in adulthood is associated with decreased ovarian response, lower fertilization success and embryo quality, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Moreover, BPA may cause male sexual dysfunction, decreased sperm quality, and changes in sex hormone concentrations.
Because of concerns about these effects of BPA on infants and children, the FDA has banned plastics containing BPA in baby bottles and children’s toys. The substitute that industry has used are different bisphenols such as BPS and BPF. Supposedly these were safer, but may cause the same toxicity as BPA.
Dioxins and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Dioxins are mainly byproducts of industrial practices. They are produced from improper burning of municipal waste and burning of trash. PCB’s, which are structurally related to dioxins used to be used in flame retardants and coolants.
There is no question about the human toxicity of these compounds. Some are known to cause cancer and all of them have major effects on endocrine and immune systems. The FDA has banned the use of PCB’s in manufacturing and emission of dioxins have decreased by 90% since the 1980’s. Because all animals have had significant exposure to dioxins and PCB’s, the major way we get them in our bodies today is by eating meat and ocean fish. Farmed salmon have especially high levels of PCB’s. Plant based foods have 5-10 times less PCB’s than meat, fish and eggs.
Pesticides
Over 90% of people in the US have detectable levels of pesticide in their blood. About a billion pounds of pesticides are used in the US annually.
Pesticides have many adverse health effects including increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease and dementia.
Organic foods, if you can afford them have much lower levels of pesticides. Here is a link to a website by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that lists foods highest in pesticides: EWG’s S Dirty Dozen List . Here is another link to EWG’s list of fifteen foods lowest in pesticides: EWG’s Clean Fifteen List.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
These compounds were discovered in the 1930’s and because of their extreme stability in the environment, they are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” They were used in Teflon coated pans. They are not sold anymore because when heated they released these compounds into the air. They were also used in Scotchguard water proofing for fabrics and upholstery. Although no longer used in pans and Scotchguard, PFA’s are still present in fast-food packaging, water- and stain-repellent clothing, firefighting foam, and personal care products. PFA’s have also been found in water supplies, including some personal wells.
Studies have shown that 98% of people have detectable levels of PFA’s in their blood, PFA’s, even at low levels of exposure have been associated with an increased risk for cancer, liver disease, low birthweight, and hormonal disruption. Here is a link to an EPA website about the health risks of PFA’s: Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS.
To decrease exposure to PFA’s tap water should be filtered with either reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters. Avoid fast food and carry-out food, if possible, and avoid consumer products labeled as “water resistant,” “stain-resistant,” and “nonstick.”
Bottom Line
While it is not possible to completely avoid all these actual and potential toxins, it is possible to markedly reduce our exposure to them. Here is a list of things you can do ranked from the least difficult to things that require a fairly significant change in lifestyle.
- Do not eat out of plastic food containers and do not microwave food in plastic containers.
- Do not wash plastic containers in the dishwasher. Wash them by hand.
- A better plan is to use glass containers and not use plastic containers for food at all. Glass food containers can be purchased in multiple sizes with bamboo lids with silicone seals. They can be purchased at a place like Target or Walmart or ordered from Amazon fairly inexpensively
- Do not use vinyl flooring or wall covering if possible
- Limit consumption of meat and fish. Avoid farmed salmon completely. Follow Michael Poulin’s advice: “Eat food, mostly plants, not too much.” Food means anything your grandmother would have recognized as food, which means avoiding highly processed “foods.”
- Use a carbon filter pitcher for drinking water, rather than taking drinking water straight from the tap.
- Avoid canned food and canned drinks as much as possible
- Avoid fast food and carry out food in styrofoam containers or any other plastic containers.
- Avoid consumer products labeled as water resistant, stain resistant or non-stick (non-stick pans with porcelain enamel linings are OK).
- Purchase organic foods if you can afford them.
- Rinse thoroughly any vegetable on EWG “dirty dozen” list. Avoid them if possible. Stick to the EWG “clean fifteen” list if you can.