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M3.1 Biomonitoring

The following chemicals were found at levels for which there are no “safe” levels:
Chemical(s)
Potential Health Effects 
Dioxins
Carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, cognitive disfunction
DDT 
Reproductive toxicant
Organophosphate
(pesticide) neurotoxicant, Parkinson’s
Lead
Neurotoxicant, kidney toxicant, insomnia, impotence
Solvent
Liver toxicant, neurotoxicant
PCBs
Carcinogen, toxic to immune, neuro, and repro systems
Phthalates
Repro toxicant (infertility), testicular damage, endometriosis, endocrine disruptor
If I received the above lab results, my first thought would be to wonder what having an unsafe level of these toxins in my body means for my health now and longterm and what it means for my future children's health if I decide to have them one day. My initial feelings are hopelessness and sadness because it feels like there is nothing I can truly do to avoid these toxins if I want to live in this country and in the densely populated Bay Area. I think that the government is the only body that has incentive and is capable of actually protecting us from exposure to these toxins but historical evidence shows that they are not likely to do anything without immense public pressure and even then, much of the environmental toxins we are at risk of exposure to are obfuscated by powerful companies that have a financial interest in hiding these facts and continuing to use these toxins in their products. I know there have been a few successful campaigns to reduce or ban use of certain toxins but it feels like our exposure increases across the globe at an exponential rate and without a system put in place by the government to review and regulate all environmental toxins before they are brought to market, these campaigns are all too late to really protect our health. I would like to understand exactly what these toxins do at very low levels and all the ways my health is impacted on a more granular level. 

Comments

  1. KJSeptember 15, 2019 at 1:34 PM

    Knowing that our government knows how deadly these toxins are to us, but not fighting tooth and nail to protect their people from these private factories and companies is disheartening. The crazy thing is that some of these chemicals are in everyday items that we use, so with proper awareness it seems as though we must fight to protect ourselves.

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