Toxicity and its effect on health is quickly becoming a growing concern for both patients and practitioners. As more and more chemicals and toxins are used in products that increase the "convenience factor" of our busy lives, there have been staggering increases worldwide in certain diseases and chronic illnesses.
This presentation will cover:
Toxic burden
Toxic effect on health
Symptoms of underlying toxicity
How we are exposed to toxins
This presentation is on environmental toxins and health by Dr. Walter J Crinnion, Environmental Health Specialist.
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Learn more about how to assess toxic burdens at the Metametrix.com website:
Also see: Environmental Medicine, Part 1: The Human Burden of Environmental Toxins and Their Common Health Affects on PubMed. (This link will take you off this site)
Walter J. Crinnion, ND
Walter J. Crinnion, ND, received his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from the University of San Francisco in 1975. He received his degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, where he was a member of the first graduating class, and Dr. Crinnion is now considered one of the leading experts on environmental medicine and toxicology. After graduating, Dr. Crinnion spent 20 years practicing in Seattle, helping treat patients with chronic conditions through diet and nutrition. Dr. Crinnion discovered that most of the chronic health complaints he treated were rooted in toxicity, and began to expand his practice to include environmental medicine. After 20 years of practice, Dr. Crinnion felt led to teach other practitioners about toxicity and health. Today, he is the Chair of the Department of Environmental Medicine at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona.
Environmental Toxicity and the Effect on Health - Presentation Transcript
Environmental Toxicity and the Effect on Health - Walter J. Crinnion, ND
Outline
What is our current toxic burden?
How does it affect our health?
What do the patients and their doctors need to help with this huge problem?
Metametrix is the “go-to lab” for environmental medical testing
What is Our Current Toxic Burden? Are you toxic?
Better Living Through Chemistry
There are over 80,000 chemicals registered for use by the US EPA.
Over 3,800 of those are “high-use” chemicals.
Less than half of high-use chemicals have been assessed for toxic effect on humans.
Less than 9% have been assessed for toxic effects on children.
Environmental Working Group (EWG)Neonatal Toxicity Study
Toxins in the Cord Blood of US Newborns
EWG Adult Burden Study
9 persons
Including several international environmental activists
210 different chemicals
Average of 91 chemical toxins per person
www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden1/
Bill Moyers’s Burden
Phthalates (plasticizers)in Urine(289 persons from CDC NHANES)
Two phthalates in all urine samples tested
Two more were found in over 75% of the samples as well
Xenobiotics in Meconium(in utero exposures)
Nicotine - Lowest but still detectable even in non-smokers
Two metabolites of organophosphate pesticides (DEP and DETP) were found in 19/20 and 20/20 samples
Mercury - In 6.4% of the maternal blood and 46.1% of the meconium
US Children’s Urine Studies
1,4-dichlorobenzene in 96% of Arkansas children
Chlorpyrifos in the urine of 93%, carbaryl in 45%, malathion in 33% in Minnesota
OP metabolites DMTP and DETP were found in 70-75%, at least one was present in 99% of samples in Seattle preschoolers
Only one child whose parents fed them organic food was clear of pesticides in the urine
The Weight…What we are all carrying
OCDD 9. Ethylphenol
HpCDD 10. DDE/T
HxCDD 11. PCBs
PeCDD 12. Phthalates
Styrene 13. Chlordanes
Dichlorbenzene 14. OP pesticides
Xylene 15. Pb, Hg, Cd, As, etc.
Parabens 16. PAHs
The Question About Human Toxic Burden
NOT — IF you are toxic
BUT — IF toxins are a causative factor in your health care problem(s),
and — IF toxins are an obstacle to cure
Why We Are Exposed
Part of mom’s toxic burden passed to us
New compounds added to body daily through our nasty habits:
Eating, Drinking, Breathing
Biggest Sources:
Indoor air in our homes and workplaces
Food
Why They Build Up
Our bodies are designed to hold on to fat
Needed for healthy bodies
Historically hard to come by
Fats cannot leave by urination or defecation
Reabsorption of fats — recycling
These fat-resorption mechanisms cannot differentiate between good fats (EFA, fat-soluble vitamins) and DDT!!!
Worse with Weight Loss
Weight loss increases circulating levels of persistent fat-stored pollutants
Same increase seen after bariatric surgery (increases of 24-52%)
ChevrierJ, et al. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000;24:1272-8
Hue O, et al. Obes Surg 2006;16:1145-54
Imbeault P, et al. Int J Obes 2001;25:1585-91
Charlier C, et al. In J Obes2002;26:1465-8
Do These Toxins Cause Health Problems?
In Total, the Nine EWG Subjects Carried:
76 chemicals linked to cancer in humans or animals (average of 53)
94 chemicals that are toxic to the brain and nervous system (average of 62)
86 chemicals that interfere with the hormone system (average of 58)
79 chemicals associated with birth defects or abnormal development (average of 55)
77 chemicals toxic to the reproductive system (average of 55)
77 chemicals toxic to the immune system (average of 53)
What are The Main Targets?
These compounds clearly affect:
Immune system
Allergies/Asthma
Chronic infections
Autoimmunity
Nervous system
Endocrine/hormonal system
Generational
How They Cause Damage
Mitochondrial toxicity
Reduce function of mitochondria
Reduced function of cell/organs that contain mitochondria
Oxidative damage
Neurotoxicity
Solvents diminish neural functioning
Pesticides are neurotoxins by design
Associated Adverse Outcomes
Cancer incidences are increasing
“Boomers” have higher rates of cancer than any previous generation
Childhood brain cancers are rising
Asthma rates are rising worldwide
Autism and ADD/ADHD rates are increasing
Chemical Sensitivity
Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Gulf War Syndrome
Presenting As:
Fatigue
Obesity
Diabetes
Fibromyalgia
Cognitive difficulties
Brain Fog
Mood disorders
Tremors
Chronic neurological illnesses
Asthma
Allergies
Chemical sensitivities
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic bacterial, fungal, and viral infections
Certain cancers
Infertility
Hormonal imbalances
Etc.
Why Some People Retain More Toxins Than Others
Genetic differences in phase one and phase two enzymes (polymorphism)
Nutrient deficiencies (Mg,Se,B6)
High sugar, low protein diet
Stress, emotional stuffing, trauma
Heavy metal presence (esp. Hg)
Increased exposure
The Dirty Dozen - EWG’s 12 most contaminated fruits/vegetables
Peaches
Cherries
Apples
Pears
Bell Peppers, Grapes (imported)
Celery
Spinach
Nectarines
Lettuce
Strawberries
Potatoes
EWG’s 12 Least Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables
Onion
Sweet peas
Avocado
Kiwi fruit
Sweet corn
Bananas
Pineapple
Cabbage
Mango
Broccoli
Asparagus
Papaya
A serving of farmed salmon has up to 40 times more PCB's than other foods.
Source: EWG analysis of data from Axys (2003), Easton et al. (2002), EPA (2000a and 2000b), Fiedler et al. (2000), Jacobs et al. (2002), NMFS (2002), NAS (2003), Schecter et al. (2001), and USDA (2002).
The EPA Recommends:
No more than ONE* meal of farmed salmon per MONTH!
(This is based on CANCER risk, not neurobehavioral, endocrine, or immune effects)
½ meal per month if the Salmon is from Scotland or the Faroe Islands
Butter – The Global PCB Marker
Highest PCB levels in butter from Europe and North America. [i]
Lowest levels were in Australia and New Zealand
Levels of p,p-DDT, p,p-DDE and HCH were highest in butter from areas where those compounds are in regular use (DDT = India and south/central America; HCH = India, China, Spain).
[i]Kalantzi OI, Environ Sci Technol 2001;35(6):1013-1018.
EPA List of Mercury in Fish - www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Efrf/sea-mehg.html
Most Toxic
Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico) 1.45 ppm
Shark 0.988
Swordfish 0.976
King Mackerel 0.730
Tuna (bigeye) 0.639
Orange Roughy 0.554
Marlin 0.485
Grouper 0.465
Mackerel Spanish 0.454
Tuna (fresh/frozen) 0.414
Chilean Bass 0.386
Bluefish 0.337
Lobster 0.310
Croaker, white (Pacific) 0.287
Scorpion fish 0.286
Weakfish (Sea trout) 0.256
Halibut 0.252
Sablefish 0.222
Bass (saltwater, black) 0.219
Snapper 0.189
Least Toxic
Clam ND
Ocean Perch ND
Salmon (canned) ND
Shrimp ND
Whiting ND
Tilapia 0.010
Oyster 0.013
Salmon (fresh/frozen) 0.014
Hake 0.014
Sardine 0.016
Haddock 0.031
Crawfish 0.033
Pollock 0.041
Anchovies 0.043
Herring 0.044
Flounder/Sole 0.045
Mullet 0.046
Catfish 0.049
Scallop 0.050
Atlantic Mackerel 0.050
What Do Patients and Clinicians Need?
A Current Dilemma(another inconvenient truth)
Natural medicine is built upon finding the nutrient, supplement, or protocol the patient is deficient in which will bring a return to health
All patients are toxic and will NOT get better until the obstacle to cure is identified and removed
What Patients Face
Chronic health problems that current allopathic, naturopathic, and alternative methods are not working for
Realization that this world is toxic
Fear that their problems are caused by a toxic buildup and that no one can help
What Clinicians Face
Chronically ill patients in whom their sure-fire therapies are not working
An influx of illnesses caused by toxicity (ie. Chemical sensitivity and chronic neurologic problems)that they cannot treat
A knowledge (great or small) that toxins may be the culprit, but not sure how to proceed to confirm the diagnosis
For more information on toxicity testing contact Metametrix at 800.221.4640 or visit www.metametrix.com/toxicity
