We have become a world dependent on modern conveniences. No doubt this is in response to our fast-paced, stress-filled lifestyles. There simply is no time to do things the "old-fashioned way". We have become prepackaged, plastic-wrapped, instant-gratification-seeking humans. Some would call this progress. What makes all this progress possible?
Chemicals. Lots and lots of chemicals.
Worldwide chemical production increased by 3.1% in 2007. In 1997 the chemical made in the largest quantity was sulfuric acid or hydrogen sulfate (H2SO4). In the US, about 40 million tons were produced that year.
In its pure form, sulfuric acid is an oily liquid, also known as oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is very dangerous because it reacts quickly with water, releasing a large amount of heat. Sulfuric acid is usually sold in a dilute solution, which is much easier to work with. Sulfuric acid is used in a wide variety of processes in almost every major industry. About 65% of it is used to make phosphate fertilizers. It is also important in the manufacture of explosives, dyes, paper, glue, and lead-acid batteries. But sulfuric acid is only one of many we encounter in our everyday lives.
According to OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) 1,3-Butadiene ranks 36th in the most produced chemicals in the United States. Three billion pounds per year are produced in the United States and 12 billion globally. 1,3-Butadiene is produced through the processing of petroleum and is mainly used in the production of synthetic rubber, but is also found in smaller amounts in plastics and fuel. Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene mainly occurs in the workplace, including the following industries: synthetic elastomer (rubber and latex) production, petroleum refining, secondary lead smelting, water treatment, agricultural fungicides, production of raw material for nylon, and the use of fossil fuels. Exposure can also occur from automobile exhaust; polluted air and water near chemical, plastic or rubber facilities; cigarette smoke; and ingestion of foods that are contaminated from plastic or rubber containers.
Acute low exposures to 1,3-Butadiene may cause irritation to the eyes, throat, nose, and lungs. Frostbite may also occur with skin exposure. Acute high exposures may cause damage to the central nervous system or cause symptoms such as distorted blurred vision, vertigo, general tiredness, decreased blood pressure, headache, nausea, decreased pulse rate, and fainting.
Phthalates: This chemical is stored in the body fat where it can damage the kidneys, liver and reproductive organs, especially the developing sex organs in males. These are especially dangerous to pregnant women’s fetuses. It can also disrupt hormonal processes and increases breast cancer risk. These chemicals are widely used in beauty products such as lipsticks, hair sprays, perfume and nail polishes.
Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that DEHP may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen. (Ref. 5.8) IARC designated DEHP to Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) (Ref. 5.9).
DEHP is principally used as a plasticizer in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and vinyl chloride resins. Estimates are that at least 95% of the DEHP produced ends up in these uses. PVC is flexible and is used in many common items such as toys, vinyl upholstery, shower curtains, adhesives, coatings, and as components of paper and paperboard. PVC is also used to produce disposable medical examination and surgical gloves, the flexible tubing used to administer parenteral solutions, and the tubing used in hemodialysis treatment. Non-plasticizer uses include the use of DEHP as a solvent in erasable ink; as an acaricide in orchards; as an inert ingredient in pesticide products, cosmetics, and vacuum pump oil; as a component of dielectric fluids in electrical capacitors; to detect leaks in respirators; and to test air filtration systems. DEHP is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. The principal route of human exposure to DEHP is ingestion of contaminated food, especially fish, seafood, or fatty foods, with an estimated daily dose of about 0.25 mg. The highest exposures to DEHP result from medical procedures such as blood transfusions or hemodialysis, during which DEHP may leach from plastic equipment into biological fluids. Workers in industries manufacturing or using DEHP plasticizer may be frequently exposed to above average levels of this compound. (Ref. 5.8)
Sodium Laurel or (Lauryl) Sulfate (SLS) / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): This harsh detergent is found in car washes, engine degreasers, and garage floor cleaners as well as in over 90% of the personal care products. It is used for its foaming action. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes and allergic reactions. SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier and easily penetrates the skin allowing other chemicals to easily penetrate the skin as well. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into “nitrosamines”, a potent class of carcinogens. The American Journal of Toxicology states that SLS stays in the body up to 5 days. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural personal care products as “comes from coconut”. It is believed to cause hair loss and scalp irritation similar to dandruff.
MANUFACTURERS MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET ON SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE
Ingredients: SULPHURIC ACID, MONODODECYL ESTER, SODIUM SALT; (SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE) Ingredient Sequence Number: 01
Unusual Fire And Explosion Hazards: EMITS TOXIC FUMES ON THERMAL DECOMPOSITION
Health Hazard Data
Route Of Entry - Inhalation: YES
Route Of Entry - Skin: YES
Route Of Entry - Ingestion: YES
Health Hazard Acute And Chronic: ACUTE: CAUSES MILD IRRITATION ON CONTACT WITH SKIN, EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES. SKIN CONTACT COULD CAUSE IRRITATION OR ALLERGIC REACTION. MODERATELY TOXIC BY INGESTION.
CHRONIC: TESTS ON LAB ANIMALS INDICATE MATERIAL MAY CAUSE MUTAGENIC EFFECTS
Emergency/First Aid Procedure:
EYES: FLUSH THOROUGHLY WITH WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES
SKIN: WASH THOROUGHLY WITH SOAP & WATER.
INHALATION: REMOVE TO FRESH AIR.
INGESTION: IF STILL CONSCIOUS, INDUCE VOMITING.
GET MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ALL CASES OF EXPOSURE
Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
KEEP CONTAINER CLOSED. STORE AT CONTROLLED ROOM TEMPERATURE. DO NOT BREATHE DUST. DO NOT GET IN EYES, ON SKIN, ON CLOTHING. DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY.
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH/MSHA APPROVED RESPIRATOR APPROPRIATE FOR EXPOSURE OF CONCERN (FP N)
Ventilation: MATERIAL SHOULD BE HANDLED OR TRANSFERRED ONLY IN AN APPROVED FUME HOOD OR W/ADEQUATE VENTILATION.
Protective Gloves: NEOPRENE, PVC OR EQUIVALENT GLOVES.
Eye Protection: ANSI APPROVED CHEMICAL WORKERS GOGGLES (FP N).
Other Protective Equipment: EYE WASH & SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE.
Work Hygienic Practices: WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING.
Supplementary Safety & Health Data: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Label Required: YES
Technical Review Date: 17MAY95
Label Date: 17MAY95
Label Status: M
Common Name: SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE, DX2495
Chronic Hazard: YES
Signal Word: WARNING!
Acute Health Hazard: Moderate
Contact Hazard: Moderate
Fire Hazard: None Reactivity Hazard: None
Special Hazard Precautions:
ACUTE: CAUSES MILD IRRITATION ON CONTACT WITH SKIN, EYES OR MUCOUS MEMBRANES. SKIN CONTACT COULD CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTION.
MODERATELY TOXIC BY INGESTION.
CHRONIC: TESTS ON LAB ANIMALS INDICATE MATERIAL MAY CAUSE MUTAGENIC EFFECTS.
Protect Eye: YES
Protect Skin: YES
Protect Respiratory: YES
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Overexposure: May cause skin irritation. May cause burns to eyes.
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic overexposure: Prolonged skin contact my cause dermatitis and skin sensitization. May cause eye burns.
Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: Sensitive skin.
Ingestion: Relative to other materials, as single dose of this product is rarely toxic by ingestion. Irritation of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach can develop following ingestion.
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a fact sheet developed by manufacturers describing the chemical properties of a product. Material Safety Data Sheets include brand-specific information such as physical data (solid, liquid, color, melting point, flash point, etc.), health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, handling, disposal, personal protection and spill/leak procedures. As required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the target audience for information in a MSDS is the occupation worker who may be exposed to chemicals at work. However, much of the information is also relevant to consumers.
MCS is a condition medical science began to recognize in the 1950’s. At that time it was
exceedingly rare and initially had no agreed-upon name. Its name implies the presence of
synthetic chemicals. In 2003 approximately 80,000 synthetic chemicals existed which had
not yet been invented in 1950. DDT, a biological warfare agent declassified for
agricultural and garden pesticide use, was the most widely used toxic chemical in 1950. From
1960 to 2003, synthetic chemical production rose from approximately 10 billion pounds per year to an estimated annual release of about 35 billion pounds into soil, air and water in the US alone. Of these only about 600 are known to be carcinogenic, neuro-toxic and/or teratogenic because the rest have never been tested for safety.
By 1999 MCS was integrated into mainstream medical research and supported by animal
and human experimental investigations, theoretical explanation, therapeutic interventions,
and some statistical and epidemiological data. Below is a list of the signs and symptoms commonly observed with MCS according to the research done by the University of Toronto published in the Archives of Environmental Health , September 2001.
Central Nervous System
Increased sense of smell, problems with concentration, fatigue, confusion, headache,
temporary memory loss, dizziness, sleep disorders (some people can’t sleep, others sleep
14 hours every night), anxiety, hyperactivity, and generalized sense of disorientation and
confusion (following exposure) known as “brainfog”, a term coined by a famous MCS patient, the Chief Librarian of the United States Library of Congress (he was a patient of Dr. Randolph’s), intolerance to bright light and to heat and cold.
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Joint pain, backaches, muscle spasms, swollen joints or limbs, muscle twitching, and
severe muscle weakness.
Respiratory System Symptoms
Frequent colds or bronchitis, asthma, heavy chest, shortness of breath.
Hematological System
High or low platelets (depending on status of immune function), easily bruised, anemia or
leukemia.
Genitourinary Symptoms
Water retention, frequent urination and urgency, inability to void, chronic infections of
urinary tract, enuresis, infertility.
Gastrointestinal Tract Symptoms
Nausea, diarrhea, bloating, constipation or all of these in rapid succession, often followed
by vomiting.
Cardiovascular Symptoms
Rapid heartbeat, irregular beat, hypertension, severe flushing of the face (sometimes
involving the whole upper body) when exposed to an offending chemical or reduced
oxygen supply), tingling in hands and feet.
Ear, Nose and Throat Symptoms
Chronic stuffiness and runny nose, earaches, frequent ear infections, watery and itchy
eyes, frequent sinus infections, intolerance to noise.
Dermatological Symptoms
Rough skin, sores, generalized itching, intolerance to certain fabrics.
It is important to note that MCS patients may have many of these symptoms at the same
time, not necessarily in the same order or combination, or progressing to the same
severity level. This makes them such a challenge for doctors not trained in environmental
medicine who attempt to treat all these many symptoms traditionally: one at a time, or
refer the patient to a psychiatrist – the doctor of last resort. Of course, each of these
symptoms could also, when presented in isolation and without a history of chemical
exposure at home or at work, be responsive to standard medical intervention. In the final
analysis, the history and the multiplicity of symptoms should alert the doctor to the
possibility of environmental illness.
I will be the first to agree that not all chemicals are villians. However, there is definitely a lack of sufficient testing before products are released, and insufficient labeling on products that have not been adequately tested. This is most prevalent with fragrances and fragranced products. There does seem to be a correlation between increased chemical production/use and increased health problems.
Once considered a minor ailment affecting only a small portion of the population, asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of childhood, and affects an estimated 6.2 million children under the age of 18. The fact that asthma runs in families suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease, however, environmental factors also contribute to the disease process.
Although recent studies indicate that the number of autism cases is increasing dramatically each year, the causes of this disorder are not well understood. Twin and family studies suggest an underlying genetic vulnerability to autism, and a growing area of research indicates that the disease may be caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. One hypothesis is that the disease may be triggered during early fetal development, and that environmental exposures during pregnancy could cause or contribute to the disorder.
According to the American Cancer Society, this chronic disease is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. with half of all men and one-third of all women developing some form of cancer during their lifetimes.
Research has shown that exposure to environmental pollutants may pose the greatest threat to reproductive health. Exposure to lead is associated with reduced fertility in both men and women, while mercury exposure has been linked to birth defects and neurological disorders. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine disruptors, chemicals that appear to disrupt hormonal activity in humans and animals, may contribute to problems with fertility, pregnancy, and other aspects of reproduction. (From 1980-2005 there was a 41% increase in thyroid cancer in the U.S.)
Many immunotoxicologists say that exposures to certain chemicals can have a significant effect on immune function. Studies have shown that chemical exposures can affect immunity in two major ways: by causing hypersensitivity reactions, including allergy, which can be harmful to organs and tissues, and autoimmunity, in which immune cells attack self; or by causing immunosuppression, a reduction in the responses and activities of the immune system.
After all is said and done, we are left with an overwhelming amount of information about chemicals and their effects. As conscious consumers and concerned humans, we should educate ourselves as much as possible and limit our exposure to synthetic chemicals whenever possible.
Perhaps the answer is to pursue a simpler life.
Until next time...become the change you imagine.
