BPA Tied to Impotence in Men
BPA, impotence, Male sexual dysfunction
(DrEddyClinic News) Exposure to high levels of the controversial plastics chemical bisphenol A (BPA http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32616) significantly raised the risk of sexual dysfunction (http://bit.ly/erectile-dysfunction-natural-treatment), including impotence and low sex drive, among Chinese factory workers, a new study has found.
The researchers stressed that the workers were exposed to BPA levels about 50 times higher than what most Chinese or Americans would be exposed to in everyday life.
Even so, they said the study adds to a growing body of research that shows that the ubiquitous chemical may be harmful to humans. BPA, used to make polycarbonate plastic (hard, clear plastic) and epoxy resin, is found in electronic and medical equipment, cars, sports safety equipment, and food and drink containers, including plastic bottles and the lining of cans.
"We found that male workers who had high exposure to BPA in the workplace had a much higher risk of male sexual dysfunction compared to other workers in the same city who were matched for age and other factors," said lead study author Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. "A caveat here is those workers did have a much higher BPA exposure than most Americans or Chinese in the general population."
The study is published in the Nov. 11 online edition of Human Reproduction.
In the study, Li and colleagues examined 230 workers in four Chinese factories near Shanghai that either manufactured BPA or used BPA to manufacture epoxy resin. The men worked as packagers, technical supervisors, laboratory technicians and maintenance workers.
The workers were compared to 404 workers in factories that made products ranging from textiles to machinery, in which there was no heightened BPA exposure. The workers from the two groups were matched by age, education, gender and employment history.
Workers in the BPA factories were four times more likely to report erectile dysfunction, reduced sexual desire and overall dissatisfaction with their sex life. They were also seven times more likely to have ejaculation difficulties.
BPA workers were also more likely to report reduced sexual function within one year of beginning employment at the factory, the researchers found.
Researchers measured BPA exposure levels by taking air samples, reviewing factory records and interviewing workers about personal hygiene habits, use of protective equipment and exposure to other chemicals. Levels of BPA in the urine was also tested for a subset of workers.
Among BPA workers, the higher the exposure, the more likely they were to have sexual difficulties.
Most human exposure to BPA http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=32615 occurs when the chemical leaches into food and drink from packaging. Earlier this month, Consumer Reports announced that tests showed BPA in nearly all of 19 brand-name canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna and green beans.
In recent years, concern about the effects of BPA, particularly on fetuses and young children, have been growing. Animal studies have shown that BPA can cause reproductive abnormalities in both males and females by disrupting the endocrine system, according to background information in the study.
Other research has linked BPA to an increased risk of diabetes http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/dd/diabetes.php, cancer and heart arrhythmias http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/hh/heartarrhythmias.php. Male sexual dysfunction may be an early indicator of BPA-related problems that take longer to develop, Li said.
One chemicals industry representative took issue with the findings. Steven Hentges, executive director of the American Chemistry Council's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, said the occupational exposure of these factory workers far exceeds what the average person would ingest. Furthermore, the study did not make clear if the factories or the workers were following adequate worker-protection measures, such as wearing gloves and face masks and having proper ventilation.
"It is important to note that the study has little relevance to average consumers who use products that contain trace levels of BPA," said Hentges.
Dr. Hugh Taylor, director of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University School of Medicine, said the findings are "very suggestive" but do not prove cause and effect.
"The results of the study are probably important for people who are working at BPA factories, but the results don't support condemning BPA based on what people are exposed to at normal levels," Taylor said.
Yet Taylor recommends that pregnant women and children in particular avoid BPA. Well-controlled animal studies have shown the chemical is linked to reproductive harm that may be irreversible during critical stages of development. In response to such concerns, some countries have banned the sale of baby bottles made with BPA.
"The totality of the literature suggests BPA has terrible consequences for human health," Taylor said. "I tell my patients to stay away from hard plastics and canned goods while pregnant."
More information
There's more on bisphenol A at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm
Prescription drug abuse exceeds heroin, cocaine and ecstasy
by: David Gutierrez
drug abuse, pharmaceuticals, health news
(DrEddyClinic News) Rates of prescription drug abuse worldwide are higher than those for the use of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin, combined, according to a new report by the United Nations' International Narcotics Control Boards (INCB).
"Abuse of such drugs has been spreading over the world in recent years," said report co-author Hamid Ghodse of St. George's University in London. "It needs to be tackled urgently."
Ghodse said that prescription drug abuse is a "hidden problem," and it is difficult for authorities to get comprehensive data on the scale of the abuse. Recent high-profile celebrity deaths from prescription drug abuse, such as that of Michael Jackson, have brought more attention to the issue, however.
The INCB report notes that in the United States alone, an estimated 6.2 million people were addicted to prescription drugs in 2008, or roughly 2 percent of the population. Among illegal drugs http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=65, only cannabis use exceeds this figure.
The report further estimates that between 1 and 3 percent of Canadians abuse prescription http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=112&t=36436 opioids alone. Students in a number of European countries, including France, Italy, Lithuania and Poland, are estimated to abuse sedatives and tranquilizers at a rate of 10 to 18 percent.
The problem is fueled by the prevalence of poorly regulated online pharmacies, which often sell diverted, fake or stolen drugs without a prescription.
The INCB also warned that as governments and the pharmaceutical industry have cracked down on illicit distribution of the sedative Rohypnol (known generically as flunitrazepam and colloquially as "the date not allowed drug"), less tightly controlled drugs have begun to displace it among sexual predators. In particular, the use of ketamine and gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) in sexual assaults has risen.
"Since in many countries these drugs are easily available, they frequently fall into criminal hands," Ghodse said.
Organized crime has stepped into the business of prescription drugs, using methods from theft to manufacture to secure their products, INCB president Sevil Atasoy said, and continually seeking out new ways to get these products to market.
Sources for this story include:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61N24B20100224
Here's what gets activated in your body when you eat just ONE teaspoon of turmeric every day
by: J. D. Heyes
turmeric, spontaneous healing, natural remedies
(DrEddyClinic News) Though it may be unfamiliar to many people, those who know about turmeric http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=32285 are well aware of its health benefits. In fact, they know that just one teaspoon per day of this "Queen of all spices," which has been prevalent in natural medicine http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=123&t=35701 for some 4,000 years, will help keep inflammation, pain, toxins and even some cancers http://www.preventcancer.news/ at bay.
Turmeric has long been known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and detoxification properties, but recent studies have indicated that this spice can also be used to effectively treat Alzheimer's disease http://www.alzheimers.news/.
Here are seven ways that just a spoonful of turmeric a day can prove to be your secret miracle spice:
1. Battling inflammation naturally: As you may know, chronic inflammation is believed to be at the root of many modern illnesses. Turmeric's active ingredient, curcumin, has been found by researchers to be a very effective and potent anti-inflammatory, even exceeding the performance of drugs intended to fight inflammation.[1]
2. Brain protection: Turmeric can protect against the development of cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disease, two conditions often associated with Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or BDNF, a type of growth hormone. Scientists have discovered that curcumin positively affects the BDNF levels in the brain, and may delay or even reverse a number of brain diseases or age-related degenerative conditions.[2]
3. Risk reduced for several types of cancer: In reality, turmeric http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=33602 could very well be one of the most potent natural anti-cancer agents there is. Not only can it prevent the growth of cancer cells, but it also blocks the development and spread of cancer and, some believe, may even hold the cure for several cancers.[3] You can read more about that here http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=35700.
4. Improve your digestion: Daily consumption of turmeric can reduce gas and bloating, stimulate the gallbladder and prevent inflammation of the digestive tract. That said, turmeric should not be taken on a daily basis by people suffering from gallbladder disease, as the over-stimulating properties of turmeric can worsen that condition.[4]
5. Heart health: Curcumin can reduce LDL – or bad cholesterol – which will then prevent blood clotting, while removing arterial plaque buildup.[5]
6. Eases arthritis: Scientists admit that more research is needed in this particular use of turmeric, however, that said, many people have reported various levels of improvement in this condition when they consume a teaspoon of the queen of spices per day. The theory is that the curcumin in turmeric helps battle chronic inflammation and thereby reduces the pain associated therewith. Some even say that curcumin supplements work much better than over-the-counter or prescription medications aimed at reducing inflammation – and all without any side-effects.[6]
7. Delays aging and increases longevity: Being able to live longer http://www.longevity.news/ and stay healthier seems to be on everyone's mind these days. One of the secrets to achieving this may lie in magical turmeric. Free radicals and inflammation are both believed to cause premature aging, and curcumin has proven in many cases to reverse those conditions.[7]
As noted further: http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=19763
Turmeric contains phytochemicals and nutrients with several beneficial effects such as protecting body organs from damage, reducing cholesterol levels, improving blood-vessel health, controlling inflammation, combating infection, and more.
Curcumin, turmeric's most precious component, is very effective against cancer, too. It prevents the formation of, and neutralizes free radicals, or molecules that destroy other molecules in healthy cells and tissues.
It enhances the effect of antioxidant enzymes http://www.antioxidants.news/ in the body and also acts as an antioxidant itself. It stops DNA changes that lead to cancer, as well as interfere with enzymes that are needed for cancer progression.
Something to be aware of is that curcumin, turmeric's most active and healing compound, is not well-absorbed by the body. One way to improve absorption is to add just a pinch of black pepper to your teaspoon of turmeric.
Sources:
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19594223
[2] http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0031211
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18462866
[4] https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric
[5] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19233493
[6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407780
[7] http://www.immunityageing.com/content/7/1/1
http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=32285
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=123&t=35701
What Are Saponins? Discovering Their Health Benefits
(DrEddyClinic News) Saponins are naturally occurring plant glycosides; which is to say they are phytochemicals — chemicals found in plants. They possess soap-like qualities and produce a lather when mixed with water.[1]
Over one hundred families of plants contain saponins and there are more than eleven classes of saponins including dammaranes, tirucallanes, lupanes, hopanes, oleananes, taraxasteranes, ursanes, cycloartanes, lanostanes, cucurbitanes, and steroids.[2] It’s believed many other varieties of saponins remain undiscovered.
The word saponin is derived from sapo, Latin for “soap.” True to its name, the root of the Saponaria, or soapwort plant, has been traditionally used as soap.[1]
Saponins offer tremendous health benefits. Studies have shown they may support the immune system http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=123&t=34548, promote normal cholesterol levels, and support overall wellness.[3]
Why Are Saponins Beneficial?
Saponins have a unique chemical structure that produces foam when mixed with water, just like a detergent. And, also like detergent, saponins can bind with water as well as fats and oils. This means that, in the digestive tract, saponins produce an emulsification of fat-soluble molecules. Specifically, saponins bind to bile acids and help eliminate them from the body, preventing cholesterol from being reabsorbed. You might even say saponins “wash away” various toxins.
What Are the Health Benefits of Saponins?
The unique chemical structure of saponins allows them to offer a number of prospective health benefits. It’s believed saponins have a favorable effect on cholesterol, can help boost the immune system, have an antioxidant effect, and may even support bone strength.
Saponins and Cholesterol
Saponins seem to help promote normal cholesterol levels. The body uses cholesterol to produce the bile necessary for digestion. Saponins bind with bile and prevent cholesterol from being reabsorbed back into the bloodstream; rather, it’s simply excreted. Many cholesterol medications operate in the same way.
The cholesterol-lowering effect of saponins has been known for decades. A 1977 animal study found that saponins may reduce cholesterol absorption.[4] A separate study found that giving a certain saponin extract to rats with high cholesterol reduced “bad” (LDL) cholesterol without affecting “good” (HDL) cholesterol.[5]
Saponins Boost the Immune System
In nature, plants rely on saponins as a mechanism to fight parasites. Similarly, when consumed by humans, saponins provide a similar defense against harmful organisms http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33326. One study demonstrated this action against Candida cells, specifically.[6] In another study, a specific type of saponin was observed to have antimicrobial activity that favorably influenced oral health.[7] The ability of saponins to act as a broad, frontline shield reduces the burden on the immune system.
Saponins and Cancer
Saponins have several qualities that act against cancer cells. In particular, some saponins have an antioxidant effect[8] and may be directly toxic to cancer cells.[9]
Cancer cell membranes have cholesterol-type compounds. Like cholesterol, saponins are able to bind with these compounds and disrupt the proliferation of cancer cells. According to an article published in the Journal of Nutrition, saponins from soybeans may slow the growth of cancer cells.[10] Other studies have reported saponins have induced the death of cancer cells and slowed tumor growth.[11]
It’s important to realize that most of the research into saponins effects on cancer cells has been preliminary and involved specific enzymes, proteins, or other components of saponins extracted in specific ways and matched against specific cancer cells under specific situations. In other words, it’s not quite as simple as eating a handful of soapberries and thinking it will cure cancer.
Other Health Benefits of Saponins
Investigations into saponins have yielded a number of other, interesting revelations about their qualities. Preliminary research from a 2010 study concluded that saponins from Terminalia arjuna (arjun tree) may offer a therapeutic benefit for kidney or urinary stones.[12] In a 2015 issue of Natural Products Research, it was noted that, in the past ten years, several preclinical reports have suggested that saponins may offer hope as a natural solution for depression http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=109&t=33595.[13]
Other positive qualities of saponins include supporting Kupffer cells in the liver and encouraging normal detoxification. Saponins found in oats and spinach support digestion by accelerating the body’s ability to absorb calcium and silicon. In animal studies, saponins have been found to promote balanced blood sugar and support normal bone density.[14, 15]
Where to Find Saponins
Saponins are a component in over a hundred different types of plants and foods including beans, chickpeas, peanuts, quinoa, and soy. Saponins exist in nightshade vegetables like tomatoes. Herbs like ginseng, Tribulus terrestris http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=33560, jiaogulan http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=35529, bupleurum root http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=34084, osha http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33690, and collinsonia http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=34498 also contain saponins.
Saponins are common in food products, often added as an emulsifier. Some carbonated beverages like root beer rely on saponins extracted from yucca and quillaja to produce a foamy head.
The berry shell from the soapberry plant can be used as a natural laundry detergent http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=34330. The hard shell, which resembles a nut, releases saponins when it absorbs water, acting as a detergent to release grime, dirt, and oil from clothing.
Have you used saponins in any way? Do you have an experience or thought to share? Leave a comment below and add to the conversation.
[img]by%20Dr.%20Edward%20Group%20DC,%20NP,%20DACBN,%20DCBCN,%20DABFM[/img]
References
1. Cornell University. Department of Animal Science – Plants Poisonous to Livestock http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/toxicagents/saponin.html. Updated 09/10/2015 14:58:48.
2. Man S1, Gao W, Zhang Y, Huang L, Liu C. Chemical study and medical application of saponins as anti-cancer agents http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20550961%E2%80%A8. Fitoterapia. 2010 Oct;81(7):703-14. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2010.06.004. Epub 2010 Jun.
3. Shi J1, Arunasalam K, Yeung D, Kakuda Y, Mittal G, Jiang Y. Saponins from edible legumes: chemistry, processing, and health benefits http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15117556%E2%80%A8. J Med Food. 2004 Spring;7(1):67-78.
4. Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Papworth L, Stafford C, Kohler GO, Livingston AL, Cheeke PR. Effect of alfalfa saponins on intestinal cholesterol absorption in rats http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/563169. Am J Clin Nutr. 1977 Dec;30(12):2061-7.
5. Hiromichi Matsuura. Saponins in Garlic as Modifiers of the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/3/1000S.full. The Journal of Nutrition. March 1, 2001.
6. Jeffrey J. Coleman†, Ikechukwu Okoli, George P. Tegos, Edward B. Holson, Florence F. Wagner, Michael R. Hamblin and Eleftherios Mylonakis. Characterization of Plant-Derived Saponin Natural Products against Candida albicans http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cb900243b%E2%80%A8. ACS Chem. Biol., 2010, 5 (3), pp 321–332. DOI: 10.1021/cb900243b.
7. K. S. Jyothi1 and M. Seshagiri. In-Vitro Activity of Saponins of Bauhinia Purpurea, Madhuca Longifolia, Celastrus Paniculatus and Semecarpus Anacardium on Selected Oral Pathogens http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3536456/. J Dent (Tehran). 2012 Autumn; 9(4): 216–223.
8. Jagadeesan J, Nandakumar N, Rengarajan T, Balasubramanian MP. Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, exhibits anticancer activity by attenuating lipid peroxidation via enhancing antioxidant defense system during NMU-induced breast carcinoma http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216637%E2%80%A8. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2012;31(2):121-9.
9. Irma Podolak, Agnieszka Galanty, and Danuta Sobolewska. Saponins as cytotoxic agents: a review https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928447/. Phytochem Rev. 2010 Sep; 9(3): 425–474.
10. Rao AV1, Sung MK. Saponins as anticarcinogens https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7884557. J Nutr. 1995 Mar;125(3 Suppl):717S-724S.
11. Yan LL1, Zhang YJ, Gao WY, Man SL, Wang Y. In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of steroid saponins of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19300413%E2%80%A8. Exp Oncol. 2009 Mar;31(1):27-32.
12. A. Chaudhary, S. K. Singla,1 and C. Tandon. In vitro Evaluation of Terminalia arjuna on Calcium Phosphate and Calcium Oxalate Crystallization http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3003167/. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2010 May-Jun; 72(3): 340–345.
13. Abbas G, Rauf K, Mahmood W. Saponins: the phytochemical with an emerging potential for curing clinical depression http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25075957. Nat Prod Res. 2015;29(4):302-7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2014.942661. Epub 2014 Jul 30.
14. Nawel Meliani, Mohamed El Amine Dib, Hocine Allali, and Boufeldja Tabti. Hypoglycaemic effect of Berberis vulgaris L. in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614224/. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Dec; 1(6): 468–471.
15. Ojewole JA1, Adewole SO. Hypoglycaemic effect of mollic acid glucoside, a 1alpha-hydroxycycloartenoid saponin extractive from Combretum molle R. Br. ex G. Don (Combretaceae) leaf, in rodents http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19050993%E2%80%A8. J Nat Med. 2009 Apr;63(2):117-23. doi: 10.1007/s11418-008-0298-0. Epub 2008 Dec 3.
The 5 Worst Things About Flame Retardants
(DrEddyClinic News) Not long ago, I discussed 12 ways toxins are sneaking into your life http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=31911, and while I briefly mentioned the health dangers of flame-retardants, that was just the tip of the iceberg. There’s been a lot of talk lately about these chemicals: namely, that they don’t work as well as claimed. There’s even data suggesting that items treated with flame retardants and those untreated tend to burn at the same rate. So what benefits, if any, are these chemicals providing for us? [1] Well, they’re certainly not helping, and here are 5 ways they’re causing harm.
1. Flame Retardants Cause Cancer
For years, studies have suggested that flame retardant http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=32346 chemicals contribute to cancer. The most recent study in October 2014 tested healthy Americans for the presence of six chemicals. Flame retardant toxins were found in the blood and urine of all the subjects. [2] One of the toxins, TCEP, has never even been seen in the US! Another, chlorinated tris http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=31241, was once used to treat pajamas. Evidence emerged in the 1970s linking it to DNA mutations and cancer, so it was removed from the pajamas. Unfortunately, it is still used to treat furniture foam and many of us remain exposed.
2. Flame Retardants Contaminate the Environment
Like most pollutants, once flame-retardants are in the environment, they tend to stay there. They’re even getting into the bodies of certain gulls. Since these birds aren’t eating furniture, what’s the source? In this case, it’s contaminated fish. So how then are those fish becoming toxic http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=34094? The answer points to one unlikely source — laundry. Flame retardants are sneaky in that they tend to travel around in dust. [3] Dust gets on clothes, clothes are washed, and the water from the laundry machine becomes runoff, eventually filtering into our ecosystem. A recent study actually looked at laundry waste water samples and found 18 different flame-retardants.
3. Furniture is a Huge Point of Exposure
A Duke University study looked at the urine samples of 22 women and 26 children and found evidence of exposure to the flame retardant TDCPP in all of them; another found that 85% of couch cushions contain some form of flame retardant http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=32346. [4] [5] As the most common application is mattress foam, sofas, pillows, and carpet padding, it’s not really a question of if you will be exposed, but when. Currently, only California requires products containing TDCPP and other flame-retardants to have warning labels. Here’s hoping other states follow suit.
4. Flame Retardants Encourage Obesity
Introduced in 2003, Firemaster 550 (FM550) was originally meant to serve as an alternative for the toxic pentabromodiphenyl ether. There’s recent evidence, however, that exposure to this flame retardant not only contributes to fat production http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=119&t=34025, but also speeds up bone loss http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/bb/osteoporosis.php. [6] Remember how I mentioned that flame-retardants often travel in dust? Well, these dust-borne toxins can be inhaled at an alarming rate. In addition to hormone disruption and cancer risk, FM550 also brings the threat of obesity and osteoporosis.
5. Flame Retardants are Linked to Leukemia
All flame-retardants can be toxic to your health, but I want to focus on one more group — polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. PBDEs are no longer made or used in the US due to an increased risk of liver, thyroid, and neuro-developmental issues; however, they can still be found in imported products or older US-manufactured products. As with all flame-retardants, PBDE persists in the environment as well. Clearly, PBDE http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32639 is a lingering threat, and rightly so. In addition to the health concerns connected to these chemicals, a recent study even suggests a link to leukemia http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/cc/leukemia.php. [7]
One Final Thought
With all the terrible news surrounding flame retardants, is there any hope? Senator Charles Schumer offers a glimmer with his proposed ban on 10 flame retardants in children’s products. Well, it’s a start. What do you think about these chemicals? Be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
1. Natural Resources Defense Council. Toxic Chemicals in our Couches http://www.nrdc.org/health/flame-retardants/toxic-couch.asp. NRDC Fact Sheet.
2. Silent Spring Institute. A Previously Unrecognized Flame Retardant Found in Americans for the First Time http://www.silentspring.org/sites/default/files/Press%20Release.pdf. Silent Spring Institute
3. Schreder, E. Flame Retardant Transfers from U.S. Households (Dust and Laundry Wastewater) to the Aquatic Environment http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es502227h. Environmental Science & Technology 48 (19), 11575-11583.
4. Stapleton, H. et al. Metabolites of Organophosphate Flame Retardants and 2-Ethylhexyl Tetrabromobenzoate in Urine from Paired Mothers and Toddlers http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es5025299. Environmental Science & Technology 48 (17), 10432-10438.
5. Stapleton, H. et al. Novel and High Volume Use Flame Retardants in US Couches Reflective of the 2005 PentaBDE Phase Out http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/5-worst-things-flame-retardants/. Environmental Science & Technology 46 (24), 13432-13439.
6. Wendee, N. More Fat, Less Bone? http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/122-A312/ Environmental Health Perspectives. 122 (11).
7. Tillett, T. Zeroing In on a Risk Factor? PBDE Exposure and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/122/10/ehp.122-A282.alt.pdf. Environmental Health Perspectives. 122 (10).
