Archive for Environmental toxins
July 15, 2008 at 9:17 pm · Filed under Nutrition, Environmental toxins
Organic Produce by: Neal1960
The pressure to buy solely organic produce is heavy. I am often debating the toxins and pesticides in the conventionally grown produce versus the exorbitant price tag of the pristine organic variety. At other times, the organic version of the fruit or vegetable is unavailable, what to do? One of my favorite organizations, EWG(Environmental Working Group) has heroically come to the rescue. EWG is a non-profit organization “which uses the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.” They tested 43 fruits and vegetables for their pesticide load and ranked them based on which ones absorb the most pesticides and those which absorbs the least. Some fruits and vegetables simply do not absorb high levels of pesticides, therefore buying either conventional or organic will result in very low pesticide exposure. Read the rest of this entry »
June 4, 2008 at 8:39 pm · Filed under Environmental toxins
Photo credit: Seligmans Dog
You’re changing your babies diaper and notice that his skin is littered with gelatanious beads. If you use disposable diapers, this scenario is familiar. What are those mysterious gel-like beads? This is sodium polyacrylate, also known as a “super absorber.” Sodium polyacrylate can absorb 400-800 times it weight of water. It is ubiquitous in disposable diapers and allows them to be used for prolonged periods of time. I have been leery of this substance, especially when I find it stuck to my babies skin.
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February 11, 2008 at 9:09 pm · Filed under Environmental toxins
Papayas, a source of folic acid
As the basis of many disease states is increasingly thought to be genetic, the idea that in utero injuries can give rise to adult-onset illnesses is not implausible. Bisphenol A(BPA), a chemical used in copious magnitude to create polycarbonate plastics, has been linked to metabolic syndrome, reproductive disorders, and reproductive organ cancers in animal models. Plastics, are composed of monomers(single units) linked together to form a long chain(polymer). Although the polymerization process links the monomers together tightly. There has been shown to be some breakdown of that bond with resultant leakage of the chemical constituents into the surrounding environment. In fact, BPA has been shown to be present in 95% of human urine samples.
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February 9, 2008 at 8:58 pm · Filed under Environmental toxins
Photo Credit: Adiri bottles: BPA Free, Phthalate Free, PVC Free , originally uploaded by thesoftlanding.
Plastic is a ubiquitous substance of modern life. Our lives are riddled with plastic products. From water bottles, to food containers, to toys and cell phones, the list is all-pervasive. What is this material? Plastics are made via a process called polymerization. Polymerization involves linking multiple single units (monomers) into a long chain (polymer) using extremely high temperatures and pressure. Although the polymerization process is supposed to tightly bind the constituent molecules together and make them inert and non-toxic, the process is not flawless and different chemical constituents do leak out of the plastic material into surrounding substances. One such molecule under intense scrutiny is Bisphenol A (BPA). Bisphenol A is a monomer used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics. The chemical bonds linking Bisphenol A together are subject to breakdown; thus leaking BPA into the surrounding environment. Bisphenol A is found in plastic baby bottles and may be harmful to young infants who have immature digestive tracts, reproductive tracts, nervous systems, and organs. Read the rest of this entry »
