Chemical Body Burden

admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 02:12:41 +0000

Chemical Body Burden refers to the hundred or so industrial chemicals that scientists have detected in the blood of human-beings around the world. The medical phenomenon is a new one. Prior to World War II and the chemical revolution, the majority of these chemicals didn’t exist. And while the chemical revolution has afforded (and continues to afford) society with many wonders, these wonders have come at a price. For every action, there is a reaction.

According to a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group in conjunction with Rachel’s Network, 9 of 10 randomly selected samples of cord blood tested positive for BPA, an industrial petrochemical produced by the millions of tons annually to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA has been implicated in a lengthening list of serious chronic disorders, including cancer, cognitive and behavioral impairments, endocrine system disruption, reproductive and cardiovascular system abnormalities, diabetes, asthma and obesity.

In addition to BPA, there were another 231 chemicals found in the blood of the newborns during the study. Legendary journalist Bill Moyers also had his own medical samples taken for a documentary, Trade Secrets, and discovered 84 chemical substances in his blood, including dioxins, PCBS, and the endocrine disrupting phthalate DEHP. The exact effect of this toxic soup remains unknown.

The reason for this chemical body burden is simple: An estimated 42 billion pounds of chemicals enter American commerce daily, according to the University of California Berkeley. That is enough chemicals to fill up 623,000 tanker trucks every day, a string of trucks that could straddle the United States if placed end to end! The EPA has required testing on less than 200 of those pollutants. In fact, the EPA has banned only five chemicals since the agency’s creation over twenty-five years ago.

And if that wasn’t already enough cause for alarm, there is more. According to the Endocrine Society, which is made up of 14,000 hormone researchers and medical specialists in more than 100 countries, “even infinitesimally low levels of exposure (to chemicals and other pollutants)… may cause endocrine or reproductive abnormalities… Surprisingly, low doses may even exert more potent effects than higher doses.”

The American Medical Association Board of Delegates has called on the federal government to minimize the public’s exposure to BPA and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The measure was advanced by the Endocrine Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Today Senator Frank Lautenberg has introduced The Kid Safe Chemical Act that would replace the moribund Toxic Substances Control Act. The Toxic Substances Control Act grandfathered approximately 62,000 chemicals into the market, with no testing or review, chemicals that included the nuerotoxin ethyl benzene, among others.

If you are interested in finding out more about chemical body burden, check out Toxic Soup, a documentary that features insight on chemical body burden.