Toxic exposure seems to be synonymous with living in a highly modernized and industrialized society. Being exposed to toxins was not much of a focal point until recent years.
Scientists and environmental experts have found an increasingly strong link between toxins found in everyday products and severe health problems, which has led to the rise of more organic versions of different products.
Today more than ever, people are becoming conscious of the harmful effects of environmental toxins. So what are environmental toxins and how can these toxins impact our health?
Environmental Toxins
Environment toxins are chemicals that can be either human-made or can occur naturally in the environment. Naturally-occurring chemical compounds include lead, mercury, radon, formaldehyde, benzene, and cadmium. Most of these naturally occurring toxins are found in all parts of our environment – from the air that we breathe down to the soil in our gardens and to the food (most especially fish) that we eat.
Lead exposure is known to cause stunted development among children, anemia, and learning difficulties. Adults can experience an increase in blood pressure, decreased kidney function, and reproductive problems.
Exposure to air that is contaminated with radon is known to cause lung problems and even lung cancer. Formaldehyde and benzene can cause physiological effects such as skin and eye irritation, dizziness, nausea, and tremors. Elevated or extended exposure to these environmental toxins can lead to more severe side effects and even death.
Aside from naturally occurring toxins, there are also environmental toxins that are synthetic. Human-made chemicals are commonly found in everyday household products, plastic items, cosmetics, toys, pesticides, and even the liners of food cans. Toxic synthetic chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and pesticides are some that can potentially cause the most harm to our health.
How can Environmental Toxins Affect Our Health?
Many environmental toxins, especially those that are industrially produced, are called endocrine disruptor chemicals or EDCs. These toxins pose several threats to our health; the worst part is that almost no one is spared from exposure, even unborn babies.
Various glands, such as the thyroid and the pituitary glands, comprise our endocrine system. EDCs can negatively impact the hormonal process at the cellular level, affecting hormones’ production and how the different tissue and organs absorb these hormones. Hormones play a vital role in several physiological functions, and this interference in the production of hormones can affect many of our body’s systems.
Among the widely-used products containing EDCS are airbags, cigarette smoke, cosmetics, food, detergents, plastic packaging, plastic cups, bottles, plates, and even children’s toys made of plastic.
What are the Adverse Health Effects of EDCs?
EDCs are linked to several health problems, especially pertinent to pregnant women, as these toxins can severely impact prenatal development. Infants are also at a greater risk of the adverse effects of EDCs, as their organs and neural systems are still in the process of forming.
One of the most notorious EDCs is BPA, which used to be commonly found in plastics. Over the recent years, several countries have banned or placed a strict restriction on BPA use. Plastics containing BPA can emit this harmful toxin whenever it is washed, heated, or stressed.
Even at low levels, exposure to BPA may lead to various health issues, including obesity, infertility, hormone-depended cancers like prostate and breast cancer, and low sperm count and testosterone levels. BPA can also cause an early onset of puberty among children, as well as erratic aggressive behavior.
Pesticides are another widely-used EDC. Almost all of us are exposed to pesticides, as the produce that we eat could have been treated with pesticides, although our exposure to pesticides this way is generally low. People who are constantly exposed to pesticides, such as farmers, can experience a host of physical illnesses, such as headaches, insomnia, dizziness, hand tremors, and fatigue. They are also at a higher risk of developing neurological symptoms and are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
Phthalates, a chemical used in softening plastics, is another EDC present in everyday products, such as plastic bottles, shampoo, lotions, deodorants, and cosmetics. Prenatal exposure to phthalates can lead to behavioral problems among children. Adults exposed to high levels of phthalates can develop thyroid dysfunction.
The threat of environmental toxins is real, and we simply may not know it. While completely avoiding these environmental toxins can be nearly impossible, we can make lifestyle and diet choices that can significantly reduce our exposure.
