Environmental Toxins: The polar bear in the desert

Mark Pettus MD

March 11, 2015

www.thehealthedgepodcast.com

The Polar Bear in the Desert

Disease-death by a thousand cuts.

Root Causes (what are their origins)Gene-Epigenome-Environment

Nutrition Movement Stress Response Environmental toxins Sleep Social Connection Trauma Conflict Management

Mindfulness Spirituality-Meaning in Work, Love, Play

Core Metabolic Imbalances (what drives them)Environmental Toxins-detoxification

Insulin ResistanceInflammation

Microbiome (Gut-Immune)HPA Axis (fight-flight)

Disease (how things appear)Pre-diabetes, Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Heart Disease, Stroke, Depression, Autoimmunity, Alzheimer’s,

Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigueADDHD, GAD, PTSD, Autism spectrum

Long-Latency Diseases

Learning objectives

• Review some common sources of environmental toxins that pervade daily living.

• Examine how the growing burden of environmental toxic exposure effects health and quality of life.

• Examine lifestyle, behavioral, and supplement strategies that can reduce our toxic burden and optimize our capacity for detoxification.

The Precautionary Principle

“We as physicians must act on facts…and on the most accurate interpretation of them, using the best scientific information. That does not mean that we must sit back

until we have 100% evidence about everything. When the state of the health of the people is at stake…we should be prepared to take action to diminish those risks even when

the scientific knowledge is not conclusive”

Horton. Lancet. 1998;352(9124):251

Exposure to environmental toxins

• Since WWII, more than 85,000 new synthetic chemicals have been released into the environment.

• As a species we are exposed to 6 million lbs mercury and 2.5 billion lbs of other toxic chemicals each year.

• Most have not been tested for potential toxicity in adults (few in children)

• Over 4 billion lbs of pesticides are used annually in the US.• Current law allows 350 pesticides to be used on the foods we eat.• The average home contains 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials.• Traces > 280 synthetic chemicals can be found in the average

newborn

Toxic Load

FoodSupply

HouseholdProducts

Mind-Body Skin Care

Mercury

The Effects of Toxins

• Fatigue• Muscle aches / joint

pain• Brain fog• Headaches• Sinus congestion and

allergies• Digestive problems• Skin problems• PMS and hormone

imbalances• Weight gain

Plausible evidence links toxic exposure with risk of:

• Immune: Autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, chronic dermatitis, and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)

• Mitochondrial and Metabolic: Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, PD, autism spectrum, obesity, insulin resistance

• Endocrine and reproductive disorders: weight gain, PMS, PCOS, Infertility, Endometriosis, Fibroids

• Digestive disorders: IBS, nausea and vomiting• Neurological disorders e.g. Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, autism

spectrum, and multiple sclerosis• Behavioral health disorders e.g. depression, anxiety, attention deficit and

hyperactivity• Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

• Parkinson’s, Autism, ALS, MS, Dementia

• Fibromyalgia• Chronic fatigue• Complex pain syndromes• Congestive heart failure• Pre-diabetes/diabetes

• Phthalates are used in many common products easily released into the environment. Exposure is airborne, from food and from direct contact.

• They disrupt endocrine function and are associated with cancer e.g., breast

Prevalent environmental toxic exposures:

• Persistent Organic Pollutants “POPS” e.g. PCBs, dioxin, DDT, organochlorine pesticides, petrochemical fertilizers, herbicides

• Perfluorooctanoic acid “PFOA”: water repellant in scotchguard, gortex, carpeting, upolstery and PTFE in teflon

• Polybrominated compounds: PBDEs, flame retardants in TVs, computers, etc. “21st century PCBs”

• PCBs in meat, fish, dairy

• Bisphenol A “BPA” polycarbinated plastics, canned foods, cash register receipts

• Atrazine agricultural pesticide and herbicide seeps into drinking water

Cosmetics: looking good ≠ good health

Phthalates and Parabens (hair and skin care products)Fragrance (shampoos, deodorants, skin and body care)Diethanolamine (DEA)Triethanolamine(TEA) (found in many cosmetics)Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, and Quarternium-15 (skin and hair products)…all release formaldehyde..sensitivities

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) found in makeup, shampoos, conditioners and toothpaste. When combined with DEA and TEA they form nitrosamines which are carcinogenicTriclosan: a synthetic antibacterial in skin cleaners and household products…a hormone disrupter

Cosmetic Safety Database www.cosmeticdatabase.com

Natural Cosmetics: www.drhauschka.com; www.avalonorganics.com; www.evanhealy.com; www.sumbody.com

Fish and mercury

High•Bluefish•Grouper•Marlin•Tuna (yellowfin, blue, albacore)•Tilefish•Seabass•Mahi•Swordfish

Low•Arctic cod•Anchovies•Catfish,•Crab•Flounder•Haddock•Herring•Mackerel•Non-farmed salmon•Trout•Tilapia•Oysters•Tuna (skipjack and chunk light)

Mercury

• Environmentally ubiquitous: levels 30x higher last 2 generations• Enters the air and rain from coal- and oil-fired power plants, incinerators, waste

and manufacturing plants that use mercury to produce chlorine-containing plastics, PVC piping, pesticides, etc.

• Enters water and soil from natural deposits, volcanic activity, mining ore, and disposal of wastes e.g. batteries

• Methyl mercury formed in soil and water by algae and bacteria, then ingested by fish; also in fungicides

• Elemental mercury and amalgams used in dental fillings, batteries, electrodes, barometers, fluorescent light bulbs, red tatoo dye, skin-lightening creams and thermostats

• Federal Toxic Release Inventory: over 6 million lbs of toxic waste in the form of mercury compounds in toxic waste generated by industry, most of which is released directly into the environment

Mercury: Health Effects

• Damages enzymes and other proteins by binding sulfhydryl groups, e.g., metallothionein, hemoglobin, glutathione

• Promotes oxidative stress by formation of lipid peroxides, H2O2, and hydroxyl radical

• Depletes glutathione and selenium• Penetrates nerves and binds to cysteines on Ach receptors• Damage to brain and kidneys• Cognitive dysfunction, depression, irritibility, tremors,

changes in vision and hearing• Probable carcinogenic

Food Additives

MSG and Glutamate

Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid found in plant and animal protein.

Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain.Glutamate activates or excites cells to “communicate” important messages

important for growth, development, learning and memory…essentially a brain stimulant.

MSG or monosodium glutamate is a synthetic chemical added to processed foods to make them more palatable.

The scientific literature regarding the health effects of MSG indicates controversy over the potential of MSG to cause various adverse reactions—from headaches and migraines, altered mood and cognition to endocrine disruption.

? Genetic susceptibility; “leaky” blood brain barrier

Principles of Healthy Detoxification

• Minimize your exposure to toxins by eating organic foods, moderating processed foods with refined grain flour, sugar, avoiding large game fish, and …

• Drink filtered water• Keep your bowels moving at least once a day• Use of flax seeds, probiotics, and magnesium citrate• Eat organic animal products.• Eat 6-8 servings of colorful vegetables and fruits including

cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, brussell sprouts, kale) and allium family e.g. garlic, onions, leeks, watercress, green tea, cilantro, berries, etc.

• Eliminate nicotine and moderate alcohol intake (e.g. no more than 1 drink/day)

Principles of Healthy Detoxification

• Exercise: Interval cardio 20-30” twice week; yoga; tai chi; Resistance 20” twice/week; Walk a lot and use stairs

• Eliminate white flour and sugar and HFCS• Minimize char-broiled meats (heterocyclic amines)• Don’t be afraid to sweat e.g. sauna, steam• Mercury and dental amalgams• Home testing for mold• Reduce toxic thought-behavioral patterns e.g. Mindfulness

practice, CBT• Chelation protocols for heavy metals

What else can a person to do to reduce toxic burden?

• Buy and eat organic whenever possible• Consider glass or ceramic containers instead of plastic• Decline stain protection treatments for upholstery or floor

coverings• Ask about VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in paints,

new carpeting, furniture• Avoid polycarbonate plastics with “7” and “3” stamped on

bottom. Consider aluminum instead.• Switch to stainless steel or hard-anodized aluminum pots

and pans when Teflon cookware wears out• Vacuum/dust at least once per week: Air purification

ionizers• Carbon Filter water

Cruciferous and Allium Vegetable Families

Enhance Blood and Lymph Circulation

Aerobic exerciseYogaMassage and body workSauna and heat

therapySkin exfoliation and

brushing

Mind-Body

Detoxification

Ewg.org

Environmental Working Group ewg.org

Free Apps

Supplements

•Multivitamin with mineral supplementation•Milk Thistle•Curcumin/turmeric and rosemary•Probiotics•Magnesium citrate (400-800 mg/day)•N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) (1200-2400mg)•SAMe (400-800)•Vitamin D (2,000-5,000 units/day to level 30+)•Co-Q-10 (200-400mg)•Alpha lipoic Acid (400-1000 mg)

Great web sites to explore

• www.foodnews.org• www.centerforfoodsafety.org• www.orgfood.com• www.diamondorganics.com• www.ewg.org• www.greenhome.com• www.allergybuyersclub.com• www.seventhgeneration.com • www.ewg.org/skindeep

Thank you.