The Environmental Working Group is one of the places I get emails from. They notify me about what’s going on in this country and keep me posted on what we can do better to keep ourselves healthy and in todays email, Chemicals to watch out for.
Now, I have a tendency to take what I hear, research it then see if it makes sense. But today’s email from them makes me think there’s no hope. With all these chemicals we are being exposed to…. and have always been exposed to, I give up.
I just can’t sit and worry about how all the chemicals are going to ‘git’ me.
The only thing I can do? I can make sure I read the labels and when there are things on there I can’t pronounce, and know that it’s not something that’s going into my basket.
But I guess when the EWG talks about endocrine disruptors and “increasing production of certain hormones; decreasing production of others; imitating hormones; turning one hormone into another; interfering with hormone signaling; telling cells to die prematurely; competing with essential nutrients; binding to essential hormones; accumulating in organs that produce hormones” and then give me the 12 worst, telling me how to avoid them, I should pass this along to you.
BPA
This is a chemical “used in plastics imitating the sex hormone estrogen in your body”. They say to avoid it “Go fresh instead of canned – because many food cans are lined with BPA “. They want you to “Say no to receipts, since thermal paper is often coated with BPA”. And last, they want you to “avoid plastics marked with a “PC,” for polycarbonate, or recycling label #7”.
Dioxin
They say that “exposure to low levels of dioxin in the womb and early in life can both permanently affect sperm quality and lower the sperm count in men during their prime reproductive years. Dioxins are very long-lived, build up both in the body and in the food chain, are powerful carcinogens and can also affect the immune and reproductive systems.
How to avoid it? They say you can’t, that our food system is full of it. Their ‘solve’ is by instructing you to eat fewer animal products. I second that.
Atrazine
“What happens when you introduce highly toxic chemicals into nature and turn your back? For one thing, feminization of male frogs. That’s right, researchers have found that exposure to even low levels of the herbicide atrazine can turn male frogs into females that produce completely viable eggs”.
Wow. That’s nice. And you say this chemical is used where?
“Atrazine is widely used on the majority of corn crops in the United States, and consequently it’s a pervasive drinking water contaminant. Atrazine has been linked to breast tumors, delayed puberty and prostate inflammation in animals, and some research has linked it to prostate cancer in people”.
And I guess it’s an easy cure…. just filter your water. And of course, stop eating corn. lol
Phthalates
Phthalates? I can’t even pronounce that one.
“Did you know that a specific signal programs cells in our bodies to die? It’s totally normal and healthy for 50 billion cells in your body to die every day! But studies have shown that chemicals called phthalates can trigger what’s known as “death-inducing signaling” in testicular cells, making them die earlier than they should. Yep, that’s cell death – in your man parts. If that’s not enough, studies have linked phthalates to hormone changes, lower sperm count, less mobile sperm, birth defects in the male reproductive system, obesity, diabetes and thyroid irregularities”.
Again, we’re talking about avoiding plastic again….avoiding plastic wrap made from PVC. You can find phthalate-free personal care products with EWG’s Skin Deep Database: www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Perchlorate
Perchlorate, a component in rocket fuel, contaminates much of our produce and milk, according to EWG and government test data. “When perchlorate gets into your body it competes with the nutrient iodine, which the thyroid gland needs to make thyroid hormones. Basically, this means that if you ingest too much of it you can end up altering your thyroid hormone balance. This is important because it’s these hormones that regulate metabolism in adults and are critical for proper brain and organ development in infants and young children”.
They say that eating iodized salt is one good way to combat it. I don’t know. Replace one bad thing with another?
I think if we do our best to filter our water, and drink only filtered water, and eat better, that solves a lot of these issues.
Fire retardants
“In 1999, some Swedish scientists studying women’s breast milk discovered something totally unexpected: The milk contained an endocrine-disrupting chemical found in fire retardants, and the levels had been doubling every five years since 1972! These incredibly persistent chemicals, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, have since been found to contaminate the bodies of people and wildlife around the globe……that can lead to lower IQ, among other significant health effects”.
EWG suggests you “use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, which can cut down on toxic-laden house dust and avoid reupholstering foam furniture.” But basically they’re saying you can’t avoid fire retardants at this point in time.
Lead
Lead. We’ve heard about lead in fancy glassware and been told not to use pitchers that contain lead. EWG says it makes it harder for your body to deal with high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and depression.
How to avoid it? They say to keep your water clean, and keep crumbling paint out of your home. I think these recommendations are things we all know. At least I do. Do you?
Arsenic, Mercury and Per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
If there’s arsenic in the water… use a filter and you won’t have to worry about that. But what about the ocean?
What fish should you eat? Wild Salmon and farmed Trout they say are good choices. Every thing else can be polluted with Mercury because big business dumps all kinds of things into the ocean. And as far as Per-fluorinated chemicals go? Skip non-stick pans as well as stain and water-resistant coatings on clothing, furniture and carpets. That’s their advise.
Organophosphate pesticides and Glycol Ethers
Obviously we’re watching out for pesticides these days. Many of us are eating strictly organic to avoid those issues and by the way, enjoy better flavor from our foods. Ethers from cleaners? Yes. We know it’s a problem. No surprises there. That’s why companies like Melaleuca are popping up. I think we’re all looking for ways to clean without exposing ourselves to nasty chemicals. I say VINEGAR. Amazing how well it works for cleaning. And you know apple cider vinegar is recommended for your insides, right?
So, there you have it. The worst of the worst.
Any surprises? A few. Do I have you down with your tail between your legs now?
I hope not. Just get that there’s only so much you can control. You can replace your plasticware with glassware…. you know, start saving those marinara bottles and re-use them instead of plastic. Do filter your water. Eat organic when you can. And do ‘meatless mondays’. That’s certainly a place to start.
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian