Biomonitoring

Chemical(s)
Potential Health Effects 
Dioxins
Carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, cognitive disfunction
DDT 
Reproductive toxicant
Organophosphate
(pesticide) neurotoxicant, Parkinson’s
Lead
Neurotoxicant, kidney toxicant, insomnia, impotence
Solvent
Liver toxicant, neurotoxicant
PCBs
Carcinogen, toxic to immune, neuro, and repro systems
Phthalates
Repro toxicant (infertility), testicular damage, endometriosis, endocrine disruptor

If these chemicals were found in my blood and urine tests, I would feel worried and upset. Initially, I would look up each of the chemicals to learn about their actions, effects, and their half-lives, and how I became exposed. I would be angry that I unwillingly puts these chemicals in my body. Additionally, I would be worried about the potential effects on my children and their growing bodies. Toxic chemicals can have a greater impact on cells when they are dividing and proliferating faster rate. Children’s growing bodies are at an increased risk for toxic chemical exposure.

Honestly, these findings would set me on a complete household cleaning frenzy. I would remove all of products that contain toxic chemicals and replace them with healthier ones. My next step would be to try to keep my kids safer than I had been. I would try to reduce their exposure including removing as many of the products that contain toxic chemicals.
           I recognize that most of these chemicals probably already exist in my body due to unknown previous exposures. Like the majority of Americans, I was unaware that new chemicals are allowed to enter the market without passing safety testing. Instead, the market does the testing for us, and, unfortunately, the public suffers with illness. Why should industry have more rights than the right to protect your own health? The only way to stop this is to advocate for public policy to protect us and future generations. 







Comments for other blogs:

Monica: I agree that it is scary how kids are exposed to so many chemicals. Kids are so much more vulnerable too with their rapidly growing cells and tissues.

Franny: I agree that the medical community just shouldn't accept that these chemicals are in our bodies. We should help health care professionals feel empowered so that they can advocate on behalf of their patients.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Radon, the Real Silent but Deadly Gas

Image
Radon is a noble gas that is odorless and could easily go undetected. Unfortunately radioactive radon isotopes increase the risk of cancer those living with long-term exposure. Radioactive radon is a product of decaying uranium and enters the home through soil, bedrock, and into              basements and homes. Radon is the number two cause of lung cancer in the United States. Every household should be aware of their exposure to radon and how to prevent or decrease their exposure.  I would use some of the common social marketing techniques to educate public and encourage healthy behavior change in a public health campaign. A public health campaign requires collaborating with the local health department, creating ad campaigns, collaborating with outpatient offices/clinics in high risk areas and crafting a catchy message. Brochures can be distributed in public health facilities that include information on how to test for and prevent radon exp...
Read more

Group Exercise: A Fragrance Free School

Image
Particulate matter contributes to 800,000 premature deaths globally. Mortality has been shown to have been linked to cardiovascular disease shortly after particulate matter exposure (Anderson, Thundiyil, & Stolbach, 2012). In addition to cardiovascular disease, particulate matter exposure exacerbates respiratory illness and increases morbidity and mortality due to pulmonary inflammation that leads to anatomical and physiologic pulmonary changes and decrease lung function. Indoor air quality can often be more toxic and damaging than outdoor air because buildings are more energy efficient and air tight. Toxins in an indoor air environment get trapped can become more highly concentrated than if they were outside. Children are at an increased risk for toxic exposure (Suwanwaiphatthana, Ruangdej, Turner-Hanson, 2010). They breathe more, eat more, and drink more than adults per body weight and they have a faster respiratory rate which can bring in more toxin. Additionally, their growin...
Read more

Transportation

Image
Many of us may not realize that transportation impacts our health. More specifically, Metro regions with more access to public transportation have lower levels of air pollution including decreased carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compound emissions. Additionally, when people use public transportation, they are more likely to be more physically active because they walk or ride a bike to and from public transportation. People who use public transportation are less likely to be obese than individuals who drive private cars. Also, public transportation has less fatalities and injuries compared to private cars. Accessible public transportation also lowers social inequalities. Public transportation increases job opportunities and the spread of goods and services. Moreover, low income communities are often located close to highways and are exposed to more pollution than higher income communities that do not live close to transportation lines. The more public transpor...
Read more