M3.1 Biomonitoring

            Lab Results from Blood and Urine Samples

The following chemicals were found at levels for which there are no “safe” levels 

Chemical(s)	Potential Health Effects
Dioxins	Carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, cognitive dysfunction
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

In your Blog, discuss your first thoughts AND feelings upon getting this news.

            Prior to this module, I was oblivious about the chemicals listed above.  To formulate my own thoughts and feelings, I completed a Google search for each chemical.

Dioxins, DDT & Organophosphate

·      Chemically related compounds identified as environmental pollutants

o   Produced by industrial processes, waste incineration, chemical and predominately pesticide/insecticide manufacturing

·      Accumulates in fatty tissue of animals that are consumed by humans

·      Carcinogenic and highly toxic causing reproductive/developmental issues, immune system,     

    endocrine issues and neurotoxicity

o   Example: “Agent Orange” is a dioxin compound

Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/

Thoughts

            “Agent Orange” is identified as a dioxin compound and it makes me think about my experiences providing care as an ICU RN to Vietnam War Veterans at the VA Palo Alto. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed extremely toxic pesticides known as “Agent Orange” in the battlefields where military service members were exposed. The long-term health consequences are unique to the exposed population compared to the rest of the general population. Service related diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange include: amyloidosis, chronic b-cell leukemias, chloracne, diabetes mellitus type 2, Hodgkin’s disease, ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers and soft tissue sarcomas. Although DDT has been banned in the U.S.A since the late 1970s, WHO has supported its use in low doses in African and underdeveloped countries to counteract the mortality associated with malaria and other mosquito borne diseases. Although dioxins and organophosphates have been documented to be hazardous to humans, they are still used in pesticides in the U.S.A.

Source: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/

            http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Organophosphates

Feelings

            In the U.S.A, dioxins and organophosphates are still used in pesticides. It greatly saddens me as I have seen so much suffering by Veteran patients from exposure to dioxins such as Agent Orange.  Hasn’t society learned from their suffering? In the Anderson Cooper CNN Special about “Body Burden,” an expert Dr. Leo Trassande says, “there is an epidemic of chronic disease in this country, especially in children.” It’s not a surprise that there is an epidemic of chronic disease in this country, if our food source is consistently contaminated with dioxins from pesticides. In undeveloped countries, populations are decimated by poor hygiene and infectious diseases, whereas in developed countries such as the U.S.A, mortality is attributed to chronic disease and this shows the significance of health and maintaining environmental balance and safety.

Lead

·               Lead was the cause of the first recorded occupational disease (lead colic in a 4th century BC 

          metal worker)

·               Primary use is for automobile lead-acid storage batteries

·               Lead-formed alloys are typically found in ammunition, pipes, cable covering, building   

          material, solder, radiation shielding, collapsible tubes, and fishing weights

·               Lead is also used in ceramic glazes and as a stabilizer in plastics

·               In 1977 the use of lead in paint was banned

·               Lead enters the body primarily through inhalation and ingestion

·               Children under the age of six are at risk of developing cognitive health effects even at very low 

          blood lead levels

·               Pregnant women or those who might become pregnant must avoid lead exposure because it is 

          toxic to the fetus

·               Health consequences from lead exposure: neurological effects, gastrointestinal effects, anemia, 

          and kidney disease

Source: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead/

Thoughts

            Lead is an ancient chemical known to humanity. The Romans designated it the chemical symbol “Pb” for “plumbum,” because plumbers would use it to line the Roman water pipes, consequently leading to the eventual decline of the Roman Empire. The English hat makers of the Victorian Age used lead to line hats, which they would lick in the process of making. Ingesting large amounts of lead caused neurotoxicity that presented with hallucinations, delusions and psychotic behavior – hence the term “mad hatter.”

Feelings

            In the U.S.A, lead paint has been banned since the late 1970s, because of evidence that shows severe neurotoxicity resulting from even low levels of lead exposure in children who came into contact with lead based paint in old homes. Yet, why is it still used in other industrial products and hobbies? If the poor health outcomes of lead exposure has been intensively documented throughout history, why does the national government and public health department permit its use in products that are so close to human contact? It seems so unscientific and great disregard to evidence.

Solvents & Phalates

·               Solvents & phalates are ubiquitous in products

·               Health hazards associated with solvent exposure include toxicity to the  nervous 

          system, reproductive damage, liver and kidney damage,  respiratory impairment, 

          cancer, and dermatitis

·               Exposures to solvents are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, 

          shipyard employment, and the construction industry

·               Phalates are found in Vinyl flooring, food equipment & packaging, building materials, 

          children’s backpacks, lunch boxes, personal care products and fragrances

·               Adverse health effects of phalates: infertility, decreased sperm count,             

         undescended testes, malformation of the penis

 Source http://saferchemicals.org/chemicals/phthalates/

            https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/solvents/

Thoughts

            It is difficult to determine if a product has components of phalates and so it is reasonable to ask the manufacturer. Retailers should be encouraged not to sell products containing phalates.

Feelings

            It is appalling to know that children are easily exposed to harmful phalates. This is why there is such as high rate of childhood cancers in the U.S.A.

PCBs

·               A group of man-made organic chemicals consisting of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine 

          atoms.

·               Taste or smell, and range in consistency from an oil to a waxy solid.

·               Domestically manufactured from 1929 until banned in 1979.

·               Due to their non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point and electrical 

          insulating properties, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial 

          applications including:

o        Electrical, heat transfer and hydraulic equipment

o        Plasticizers in paints, plastics and rubber products

o        Pigments, dyes and carbonless copy paper

·               Cause cancer as well as a number of serious non-cancer health effects in animals, 

         including: effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, 

         endocrine system and other health effects

Source: https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/learn-about-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs

Thoughts

            Since PCBs have been banned since 1979, what other products have replaced it? Are they less toxic?

Feelings

            At this point, I feel like everything is so hazardous. It would be interesting to compare and contrast what other countries have or use.