Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World (Dr

Weil's Healthy Living Guides)

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DR. WEIL’S HEALTHY LIVING GUIDES
Andrew Weil, MD, Series Editor

Integrative Medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including
all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is
informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies.

Published and forthcoming titles:

Optimal Men’s Health by Myles Spar
Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World by Aly Cohen and Frederick vom Saal
Optimal Aging by Mikhail Kogan and Len Sherp
Optimal Skin Health by Robert Norman
Optimal Wellness by Farshad Marvasti and Richard Carmona
 ADVANCE PRAISE FOR NON-TOXIC

“The idea that our home environment and product choices can make us sick
is a powerful motivator for cleaner living. Drs. Cohen and vom Saal reveal
the dangers lurking within our food, water, clothing, personal care products,
household products, and cellular technology, and share practical, cost-
effective, tips and recommendations to battle the challenges of ‘clean’
living in a world without meaningful regulations. This is an important and
timely guide to understanding our toxic world and what we can all do to
protect our bodies from harmful exposures and their chronic health
consequences.”
—Mark Hyman MD, best-selling author of numerous books, including
Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and
Our Planet One Bite at a Time
“What could be more important than the health of our brain! Non-Toxic
shares practical information to help reduce harmful brain exposures—from
pregnancy all the way through old age—and empowers readers to take
control of the chemical world around them.”
—Dhru Pirohit, creator/host of Broken Brain podcast
“Non-Toxic reveals the vast extent our ever-increasing exposure to toxins
coupled with the failure of governmental agencies to intervene for our
protection. The text not only makes it clear that to protect our health we
have to serve as our own advocates, but also provides clear strategies
enabling us to accomplish this goal. This is a clear and eloquent
presentation of where we are, how we got here, and what we can do moving
forward to offset some of the most important health threats of our modern
world.”
—David Perlmutter, MD, Author, #1 New York Times bestsellers,
Grain Brain and Brain Wash
“As the founder of the Cancer Schmancer Movement and an ardent believer
that how you live equals how you feel, I can speak firsthand that Dr. Aly
Cohen, who is one of our medical advisors, is the real deal! Read this book
and learn how to live well, be well, and stay well!
—Fran Drescher, Actor, Producer, Author, Health Activist, and Public
Diplomacy Envoy on Health, US State Department
“Non-Toxic is the blueprint for staying healthy in an increasingly complex
environment. You CAN reduce harmful exposures without turning your
whole life upside down or breaking the bank. When misinformation
abounds, a scientifically based resource with practical recommendations for
making safer choices for everything from food to home furnishings, is truly
a treasure. I will be recommending this book to all my patients and
colleagues.”
—Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Pecos, NM, Integrative Physician and
Author, Healthy at Home
“If your doctor has never told you how important it is to reduce toxic
chemical exposures in your food, water and home, you might need a new
doctor. You definitely need Non-Toxic, a book so indispensable to good
health its purchase ought to be covered by insurance. Dr. Aly Cohen and
Professor Fred vom Saal lucidly explain how toxic chemicals hurt you and
prescribe practical steps you can take to get them out of your life.”
—Ken Cook, President, Environmental Working Group
“Every day I witness increasing concern for both personal health and
planetary ecological health, especially as humanity experiences global
interconnectedness in real time. In Non-Toxic, the authors provide
rigorously researched assessments of what we’re faced with as well as
practical actions to protect ourselves and others. As more of us make these
changes, our collective impact will be a reduced toxics burden for all life. I
enthusiastically recommend Non-Toxic as a superb guide to meaningful
personal and global action.”
—Shana S. Weber, Ph.D., Director, Office of Sustainability Princeton
Environmental Institute, Princeton University
“An authoritative and accessible guide to how we got into the chemical
pickle we are in, what it means for your health, and how you can take
positive, practical action to navigate through the chemical onslaught that
comes at us every day.”
—Pete Myers, Ph.D., co-author Our Stolen Future
Non-Toxic
Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World

Aly Cohen MD, FACR

Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Cohen, Aly, 1973– author. | Vom Saal, Frederick S. author.
Title: Non-toxic : guide to living healthy in a chemical world /
by Aly Cohen MD, FARC, Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2020] |
Series: Dr. Weil’s healthy living guides | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2020013831 (print) | LCCN 2020013832 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780190082352 (paperback) | ISBN 9780190082376 (epub) |
ISBN 9780190082369 (pdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Environmental toxicology—Popular works. |
Environmental health—Popular works.
Classification: LCC RA1226 . C63 2020 (print) | LCC RA1226 (ebook) | DDC 615. 9/02—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013831
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013832
This material is not intended to be, and should not be considered, a substitute for medical or other
professional advice. Treatment for the conditions described in this material is highly dependent on
the individual circumstances. And, while this material is designed to offer accurate information with
respect to the subject matter covered and to be current as of the time it was written, research and
knowledge about medical and health issues is constantly evolving and dose schedules for
medications are being revised continually, with new side effects recognized and accounted for
regularly. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with
the most up-to-date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and
the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulation. The publisher and the authors make no
representations or warranties to readers, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of
this material. Without limiting the foregoing, the publisher and the authors make no representations
or warranties as to the accuracy or efficacy of the drug dosages mentioned in the material. The
authors and the publisher do not accept, and expressly disclaim, any responsibility for any liability,
loss or risk that may be claimed or incurred as a consequence of the use and/or application of any of
the contents of this material.
 For my loving parents,
my profoundly supportive husband,
and my two beautiful sons, Asher and Landon–
whose future inspires me every day to get it right, be fearless, and speak up.
—Aly Cohen, MD, FACR

For my mother who taught me how to fly, my wife whose love and
encouragement inspire me every day, and our family that brings such joy to
our lives. Also, to the fantastic close-knit group of colleagues/friends who,
together, have provided much of the information presented in this book,
often facing backlash from those who profit from the hazards we identify.
—Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
—Serenity Prayer, by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971)
 Contents

Series Foreword

Introduction
1. Overview of Environmental Exposures: How We Got into This Pickle
2. How the Human Endocrine and Immune Systems Are Disrupted by
Chemical Exposures
3. Chemicals and Kids: What Parents and Parents-to-Be Need to Know!
4. We Are What We Eat: Chemicals in Our Food
5. What Is REALLY in Our Drinking Water?
6. Medications Are Chemicals Too
7. The Air We Breathe: Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality
8. Is My Antiperspirant Harming Me? Personal Care Products and
Chemicals
9. Squeaky Clean: How to Stay Clean without Toxins!
10. Insecticides, Herbicides, and Other Pesticides: Chemicals Designed to
Kill
11. Home Furnishings: How to Avoid Flame Retardants and Other Toxic
Chemicals
12. Radiation: Safer Use of Cell Phones, Tech Toys, and Gadgets
13. Detoxification Methods That Work

Appendix 1 Detox Recipes

Appendix 2 Travel Tips
Appendix 3 Gym Tips
Appendix 4 Reputable Labs
Appendix 5 Abbreviations
Appendix 6 Glossary
Appendix 7 Tear-Off Refrigerator Sheet
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Index
 Series Foreword
Andrew Weil, MD
Series Editor

The authors of this book, Drs. Aly Cohen and Frederick vom Saal, a
clinician and a researcher, collaborated previously on an academic text,
Integrative Environmental Medicine, published by Oxford University Press
in 2017 as part of the Weil Integrative Medicine Library series. It addressed
a serious deficiency in the training of physicians and allied health
professionals: lack of education about environmental causes of illness and
what to do about them. Many people today are rightly concerned about
toxic exposures, air and water pollution, chemicals in food and household
products, and the dangers of cell phones and other electronic devices. Too
often, doctors have been unable to answer their questions or help them
navigate the confusing and often contradictory data available.
Now, Drs. Cohen and vom Saal have produced a book for the reading
public, a volume in Oxford’s Dr. Weil’s Healthy Living Guides. It not only
summarizes the best evidence about environmental toxins, it gives practical
advice about what you can do to reduce the risk of being harmed by them.
I have long stressed the basic elements of healthy living: good nutrition,
regular physical activity, adequate rest and sleep, practices to neutralize
harmful effects of stress and optimize mental and emotional wellness, and
wise use of preventive medical services. Sad to say, I must now add to that
list: awareness of environmental toxins and hazards and ways to protect
yourself from them. This book gives you the information you need.
Tucson, Arizona
February 2020
Andrew Weil MD
 Introduction
The Story of Truxtun, Aly’s Golden Retriever

Truxtun was like every golden retriever you’ve probably ever met. A fluffy
ball of love, wildly flirtatious, filled with boundless energy, and just plain
gorgeous to look at. So it came as a bit of a surprise when, shortly after
turning 4 and a half, he started to huff and puff and peter out after just a few
rounds of catch in the yard. Even Sir Commodore Thomas Truxtun, the
18th-century naval officer and commander of the USS Constitution (now
docked in Baltimore Harbor), for whom he was named, would have had
enough energy to climb a simple flight of stairs—especially in his home
built on land once visited by Sir Commodore Thomas Truxtun himself! But
Truxtun was a good sport, so even while resting comfortably on the
carpeted floor, at the feet of his two human brothers, he feigned a healthy
appearance and smiled with delight.
Between diaper changes for our second son, who was around 6 months at
the time, and chasing our older son (who was then 2 and a half) around the
house, Truxtun, our “first born,” was no longer the sole recipient of our
attention. He dealt with it rather gracefully, entertaining himself more
outdoors, sitting in the sun, holding that red plastic toy solidly in his jaw,
waiting patiently for his turn at affection.
The panting was not obvious at first. Between busy work hours, crying
babies, and sleepless nights, Truxtun’s heavy breathing did not create
immediate concern. When he stopped eating his food, and especially his
dog treats, my husband, Steve, and I knew something was up and quickly
set up an appointment with our vet. Maybe he swallowed a sock? They
were among his favorite contraband items to pilfer. Or maybe it was some
kind of virus from doggy daycare, where he spent time on occasion. The
first vet he saw did not find anything on exam, so I took him home rather
frustrated as to why he was still panting. The next day, however, Truxtun
had had enough, and he laid down on the kitchen floor, blocking foot
traffic, and I just knew: this dog was sick.
 I took him back to see another vet at the clinic, and this time the vet
pointed to the yellow discoloration (known as jaundice) inside Truxtun’s
ears, clearly indicating liver problems. I took him to the large-animal
hospital for further testing that afternoon, and Steve met me there. Blood
was drawn, chest x-ray and ultrasound of his abdomen were performed, and
then the doctor came in to talk with us. On ultrasound, Truxtun had a liver
the size of a baseball, shrunken and too small to maintain the normal
workings of his body. The vet suspected autoimmune liver disease, also
seen in humans, but incredibly rare in dogs (especially golden retrievers).
With autoimmune liver disease, the body’s immune system is somehow
triggered to attack its own liver, causing inflammation and dysfunction, and
eventually the liver shrinks to a size too small and ineffective to maintain
normal function. I gasped. I cried. My heart was broken. As an autoimmune
disease doctor for humans (the irony of such a moment!), I fully understood
what this meant for Truxtun . . . and for us.
Over the next 4 months of Truxtun’s life, our vet, my husband (also a
physician), and I treated him as a human. We ordered steroids and
medications to “quiet” his body’s immune system in order to slow the
progression of his liver disease. Using an ultrasound, our vet marked an
“X” on Truxtun’s belly, indicating the area in his abdomen where enormous
amounts of fluid began to build up because the liver was overwhelmed and
failing. In the evenings, after putting two babies down for bed, Steve and I
would head to the kitchen. We’d unravel intravenous tubing and empty
bags, and one of us would reluctantly stick a long needle into the center of
the “X” on Truxtun’s underbelly, while he stood still and patient, so we
could draw thick, amber-colored fluid out of his body. As time went on, a
quart of fluid removed from his belly turned into a gallon; Truxtun would
immediately begin to breathe more comfortably and we’d all head to bed
only slightly relieved. Although I was a young doctor at the time, a few
years out of training, there was no patient I had ever worked with whom I
loved and cared for more.
Between work, kids, and caregiving for Truxtun, there was not much
time to speculate about what might have caused Truxtun to develop liver
failure, but obvious questions came to mind. Was his food contaminated? It
had not been long since news had spread of dog food contamination in the
United States, due to melamine, a toxic industrial chemical. Perhaps we
gave him a bad batch of dog food? What about his dog treats? I didn’t know
much about pesticides at the time, but I knew they couldn’t be good for you,
and we lived next to about 200 acres of farmland. Could he have gotten sick
because of our proximity to the regular pesticide spraying in our backyard?
What about his flea and tick medicine, which is also a pesticide? Having no
formal knowledge of their health risks, I had a bad feeling every time I
squeezed that stinky liquid onto the back of his neck. And that red plastic
toy, called a Kong, that he NEVER dropped out of his mouth, except to eat,
give it a toss, or lick our faces. After chewing off the actual wood siding of
our home at 12 weeks of age, we gave him the Kong to distract him, and it
served as the perfect remedy for puppy total home annihilation. Truxtun
loved that toy so much, he slept with it in his mouth, dropped it on the
baby’s lap for a game of catch, and ecstatically dove for it in the pool. No
matter how cracked, decayed, discolored, and dirty that Kong was, Truxtun
held it proudly in his mouth.
I wasn’t trained in toxicology (other than for medications in medical
school) and never thought twice about the world around me having any
kind of deleterious effects on my body, or Truxtun’s for that matter. Hell, I
drank Diet Dr Pepper every day for years and had been eating Cheez Wiz
and Oreos like they were their own food group. Diet and nutrition were not
on my radar, nor had I been taught anything about these topics in medical
school (even today, students only get a total of ~5–8 hours of diet/nutrition
education over 4 years of medical school)—of course harmful
environmental exposures, such as food chemicals, plastic chemicals,
personal care product chemicals, cleaning chemicals, fabric chemicals,
water contaminants, didn’t even cross my mind at the time of Truxtun’s
illness.
Heartbroken and confused about Truxtun’s illness, I decided, in between
diaper changes, work, and trying to survive the rigor of young married life,
that I would research how a dog might acquire autoimmune liver disease. I
read about drinking water, food additives, pesticides, and bug sprays. I read
position statements from the World Health Organization and the American
Academy of Pediatrics. What about that red plastic toy that was always in
Truxtun’s mouth? I found a few case reports in the medical literature about
young healthy people working in plastics factories who developed
autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune liver disease. I discovered
vast bodies of medical literature on plastic chemicals such as polyvinyl
chloride (vinyl), phthalates, and bisphenol A, and health effects in both
animal and human studies. I was shocked. I was enraged. Where were the
regulations? The labeling? Where was the appropriate testing to evaluate
whether chemicals were safe for humans (and pets!) BEFORE they are
allowed in all of our products?
Soon, I started to make changes in my home; I got rid of liquid “plug-in”
air fresheners (I had 10 different fragrances stocked in my kitchen drawer),
swapped out pungent cleaning products with products that contained
ingredients that my grandmother used. I started to eat more “cleanly,”
reducing processed foods (yes, I gave up Cheez Wiz and Oreos), weaned
myself off of my addiction to diet sodas, used fewer cosmetics and personal
care products, and invested in a water filter under my kitchen sink. The
more I read, the more I realized the problem; we are inundated with literally
thousands of chemicals that are untested for human and pet health, and they
infiltrate every aspect of our lives. Many of these chemicals, tested by
academic researchers and not the manufacturers themselves, mind you, can
affect hormone activity, immune system function, brain function and
development both inside and outside of the uterus, and contribute to cancer
development. What’s more, despite the enormous amount of solid,
reproducible studies in the Western medical literature, I had learned nothing
of this in all my years of schooling. I was pissed.
Truxtun passed away about 6 months after his diagnosis. Steve and I
brought him to the hospital when we just knew it was time to relieve his
pain. In true form, he gave us each a big wet lick across the face, and then
his tired body went limp. I didn’t understand at the time that his illness was
the start of a journey that would eventually become my life’s work: to
educate the public about the effects that chemicals and radiation have on the
human body. Only now, almost a decade after his death, I realize that, if he
had not become ill, I would likely never have ventured into “environmental
health.” In that, I find some solace in his passing.
Soon after Truxtun’s death, I began giving community lectures, sharing
information and tips with patients, and spending literally hours in big box
stores reading labels. Having read so much about environmental chemicals
online, specifically from a group based in Washington, D.C., called the
Environmental Working Group (EWG.org), I cold-called them one day to
see if they would take a look at my slides and make sure I was “getting it
right.” This was not really my area of training, and this group is made up of
toxicologists, so why not ask for their input? To my genuine surprise, the
head scientist at the time, Johanna Congleton, called me back. I remember
that she sounded rather surprised on the other end of the phone, even stating
that she had not come across many medical doctors interested in
environmental chemical issues. Soon after, we met in D.C. and began to
create an educational lecture for physicians that would qualify physicians to
earn Continuing Medical Education or CME credit. It took me a year of
reading to understand the basics of low dose exposure, endocrine system
disruption, animal versus human studies, epidemiologic studies relating
health effects to exposures, reading product labels, and regulatory and
legislative issues. Johanna regularly emailed me key scientific articles, and
together we created PowerPoint slides and a solid, “evidence-based”
program that I could present to doctors in academic and community
hospitals across the country.
After three years and 23 lectures at many of the top academic institutions
in the United States, I had to slow down. Sadly, I had not received the
response I was hoping for from physicians and hospital systems; doctors
were unenthusiastic toward the concept of introducing “environmental
health” topics into their daily routine and patient care, and hospital systems
were uninterested in making changes in purchasing (e.g., swapping out
toxic plastics in IV tubing and bags, respiratory care tubing in intensive care
units, neonatology intensive care units [NICU], etc., even after the CDC
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) published data that babies in
NICUs were being massively exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals
leaching from these medical products). It felt like a losing proposition.
Then, one evening while talking with my kids’ teenage babysitter in our
kitchen, she asked if her lip balm and shampoo might be harming her; all of
a sudden, a lightbulb went off in my head. What if I could share this
information with high school students, so they could learn key
environmental health information now, and make healthier, smarter
decisions throughout their lives? I reached out to my local (very forward
thinking) high school principal, Gary Snyder, and high school head of
science, Cherry Sprague, and we began to formulate a pilot project to see if
the students were interested in and receptive to “environmental health”
information. I created several lectures and workshops on topics such as
clean drinking water, personal care products, indoor and outdoor air quality
(including vaping!), pesticides and bug sprays, mental health and
environmental exposures, and safe use of cell phones and cellular
technology. I collected data on baseline knowledge, retention of
information, and even the number of lifestyle changes students made in the
months following the lecture series. The results were amazing. Not only
were the students interested in these topics, they wanted more information
and resources! The data showed that THIS is the demographic to educate.
These kids get it and are ready and willing to make simple lifestyle changes
that will impact their own health and perhaps the health of generations to
follow.

Pivotal Moments: Integrative Medicine and Meeting

Dr. vom Saal
In 2011, my husband came across an online 2-year program for physicians
to train in integrative medicine, a “holistic” way of looking at human health
through the use of nutrition, dietary changes, exercise, improved sleep,
management of stress, traditional Chinese and Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine
techniques, and other non-“medicinal” forms of healing. I was skeptical at
first, but I had already seen improvements in my own health (e.g., reduced
migraines, increased energy and mood) with dietary changes to remove
food chemicals, so I applied for the only scholarship available there was for
a rheumatologist, and I was thrilled to be selected. For 2 years I learned
from some of the best leaders in this field: Dr. Victoria Maizes, Dr. Tieraona
Low Dog, Dr. Randy Horwitz, and of course, the “Father of Integrative
Medicine” himself, Dr. Andrew Weil. My tools as a physician grew
exponentially. Despite being trained as a “specialist” in rheumatology, I
could now share dietary recommendations with patients, help with their
sleep problems, work on their stress and mental health issues, and even
offer evidence-based supplements to prevent and alleviate a wide variety of
health conditions. Now, I could treat my rheumatoid arthritis patient, not
just for joint pain, but also for migraine headaches, or high blood pressure,
heartburn, or weight gain—and with fewer medications.
Not long after I completed the fellowship, I was given an exciting
opportunity by Dr. Weil to write the textbook on “environmental medicine”
for his academic Integrative Medicine Library series with Oxford
University Press (there are now 14 books in the series). The offer had one
condition: I would have to partner with an academic researcher (I was a
clinician). So, I began calling a variety of academic researchers, bench
scientists, and even a former surgeon general of the United States, to see if
we made a good fit for this project. But after a dozen phone calls and half a
dozen interviews, I was again back at the beginning. I decided to call one
researcher, in particular, whose journal articles I now regularly consulted. It
was a longshot in my mind, to see if he would get on board, but I had
nothing to lose.
Even though he’s not a member of the Avengers or X-Men franchises, Dr.
Frederick vom Saal is what I call a real life superhero. In the world of
“environmental biology” and toxicology, he is someone who has set the bar
for scientific integrity, tenacity, and perseverance. Perhaps he is best known
for his work on the hormonal effects that come from exposure to certain
chemicals called endocrine disruptors (discussed in chapter 2). Dr. vom
Saal was one of the first researchers in the world, in the 1990s, to uncover
the risks associated with bisphenol A (BPA), a pervasive industrial
chemical used in thousands of consumer products. He is ”the guy” who
painstaking fought to have bisphenol A removed from baby bottles and
sports bottles from the US market in 2012. Dr. vom Saal has written over
200 scientific articles, has contributed to dozens of textbooks, and has been
instrumental in shaping toxic chemical research and public policy in the
United States and abroad. He is the recipient of countless honors and
awards for his groundbreaking research, including the prestigious Heinz
Award for his work on industrial chemicals. He is an international speaker,
is sought after by newspapers and magazines for his expert opinion, has
been invited to testify in congressional hearings and by numerous state
legislatures, and he has appeared in numerous TV and movie
documentaries, as well as on TV news programs such as 20/20, Frontline,
and the Today Show.
So, when I picked up the phone to call Dr. vom Saal that fateful day, it
was as though I was a singer/songwriter from Topeka, Kansas, picking up
the phone to ask Mick Jagger to write an album together. To this day, I can
recall our conversation; not only was he excited by the project, he happened
to be a huge fan of integrative medicine, and fully understood the role that
environmental medicine should play in clinical medicine. It was kismet!
Our textbook, Integrative Environmental Medicine, published in 2017,
was truly a unique collaboration between some of the most renowned
researchers in biology, toxicology, environmental sciences, and practicing
physicians who treat many of the downstream effects from environmental
exposures (e.g., thyroid disease, hormonally sensitive cancers, obesity).
Now, Dr. vom Saal and I have come together to create this guidebook, Non-
Toxic, for the lay person—the person that I was just a handful of years ago
—when Truxtun’s illness set me on this journey.

Why Environmental Health Matters

Our environment has changed profoundly over the past century. While
human beings have been evolving for well over 4.5 million years, it is only
in the last 100 years that more than 90,000 new chemicals have been
seeping into almost every aspect of human life. Not only are these 90,000
chemicals a major part of our day-to-day activities through what we eat,
drink, breathe, and lather onto our skin, they have also been absorbed into
our flesh and blood; laboratory testing now detects many of these chemicals
in our blood, urine, placenta, breast milk, and semen. From the day of
conception to the last breath we take, exposure to thousands of harmful
chemicals has become the human “womb-to-tomb” experience.
After World War II, industrial chemical production began to explode and
was filled with promises of greater convenience, lower cost, reduced need
for natural resources, and improved quality of life for all. A virtual
explosion of synthetic materials saturated the market: nylon, melamine,
rayon, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, styrofoam, naugahyde, plexiglass,
pesticides, and solvents, used to create everything from Hula Hoops to food
packaging, pesticides to air deodorizers. So primative was our
understanding of the effect new chemical inventions might eventually have
that the inventor of the toxic pesticide DDT, Swiss chemist Paul Muller,
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1948. Over a
60-year period, what was once considered extraordinary has evolved into
the ordinary, with billions of pounds of synthetic materials created,
manufactured, used once, and thrown away with abandon. We are both
responsible for and victims of our own pollution. Just take a look at the
numbers:
• Every day, the United States imports about 45 million pounds of
synthetic chemicals.
• Each year, about 1,000 new chemicals are put into use.
• 15 new polymers are patented in the United States every week.
• Over 1000 likely endocrine-disrupting chemicals currently exist—
• BUT only 5 chemicals have ever been banned in the United States
under the Toxic Substance Control Act (passed in 1976), under the
Ford administration. And, the revised Toxic Substances Control Act
(passed in mid-2016) has failed to improve the regulatory response to
toxic chemicals.

It’s not surprising that as the enormous variety and amount of chemicals in
our environment has dramatically increased, so have the new cases of many
chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, asthma,
allergy, autoimmune disease, autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder
(ADHD), and several cancers. Evidence from around the world reveals that
exposure to chemicals in everyday cleaning and personal care products, air
pollution, food, drinks, building materials and furnishings, and food
packaging have contributed to many of these health issues. In addition,
there are numerous toxic chemicals that can contribute to increased
susceptibility to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, through altering
the baseline inflammatory setting created by exposure. It’s a chemical
“soup” from which we must now extricate ourselves! This toxic chemical
soup that is creating a chronic inflammatory state in our bodies is thus
putting us into a higher risk of severe illness and death when we encounter
infectious diseases.
The public wrongly assumes that chemicals have the same regulatory
oversight and safety testing as medications. Most of us assume that “if it’s
on the shelf, it must be safe,” when in fact, to most people’s surprise, the
vast majority of chemicals in the stuff we love and use every day, lack
safety testing of any kind or prior approval from any US regulatory agency,
prior to going to market!
To add to the chemical pollution of our planet and health effects on our
bodies, radiation sources—such as cell phones, tablets, computers, and a
growing world of WIFI, Bluetooth, and sensor technology—are raising
serious health concerns; there has been virtually no discussion by any US
regulatory agency of the potentially more dangerous levels of EMR
(electromagnetic radiation) from 5th generation wireless technology (5G
WIFI). Because of its high frequency and short transmission range, 5G
requires a huge number of microwave transmitters to be installed in
neighborhoods, and everyone will be exposed. Reminiscent of the VHS
recorders in the 1980s, newer, cheaper, disposable technology has begun to
evolve, pulling in a wider swath of consumers with a younger and younger
fan base, only adding to the potential health risk debate.

What Can You Do to Make Changes, Improve Your

Health, and Live Longer?
Living in modern times, we love the conveniences that many of these
chemicals and technologies have allowed. Throw away, single-use plastics
reduce our need to wash dishes, nonstick pans save us the added sweat
needed for those caked-on recipes, air fresheners cover smells that just
might require extra cleaning, food preservatives and packaging keep the
food from spoiling, and pesticides ward off unsightly bugs that may ruin the
look of a perfect apple. We have opened a Pandora’s box of chemical
creations that have the ability to cause great harm to our health, but are we
willing to give up short-term conveniences for long-term health gains? In
other words, what’s the “buy–in” to change, when we all know change is
not easy?
Whether or not each of us develops illness or disease depends on many
factors, but our genetic makeup (genes from our parents/grandparents), our
lifestyles (e.g., diet, exercise, stress, sleep quality), and our environment
(e.g., food chemicals, water contaminants, personal care-product chemicals,
radiation exposure, air quality) are among the most well-studied by
academic scientists. In addition, our lives are fluid; as children we were fed
by others with their own ideas of health, but later on as adults we make
dietary choices for ourselves, although often prior habits are hard to break.
When we are young, we may live for years in a chemically toxic
environment, but we may move into a cleaner, safer environment later on in
life. Our personal care products often change with time either because of
great marketing or our ability to pay for more expensive products (which
doesn’t mean they are any safer!). With so much moment-to-moment
variability of our environment, this book aims to empower you, the reader,