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Posted by: | Posted on: December 24, 2024

The Dangers of Inhaling Petrochemical Fragrances and Scented Products


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/12/24/harmful-chemicals-perfumes-scented-products.aspx

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     December 24, 2024

harmful chemicals perfumes scented products

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Perfumes and scented products often contain undisclosed synthetic compounds due to regulatory loopholes, leaving consumers unaware of the harmful chemicals labeled simply as “fragrance”
  • Many scented products release chemicals that contribute to indoor air pollution and increase your risk of health issues like allergies and respiratory problems
  • Some fragrance chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, increasing the risk of reproductive, developmental and metabolic problems, particularly in vulnerable groups like children
  • Synthetic fragrances pollute waterways and harm ecosystems, with some chemicals persisting long-term
  • Choosing fragrance-free or naturally scented products will reduce your exposure; advocate for transparency in labeling as well to push the industry toward safer practices

Perfumes have captivated people since ancient times. Today, fragrance has evolved into a massive global industry, with revenue reaching a whopping $50 billion in 2023 and projected to hit $70 billion by 2036.1

The average adult uses about a dozen scented personal care products each day.2 Yet, few consider what goes into making these scents — a surprising mix of undisclosed synthetic chemicals. These compounds aren’t limited to perfumes; they’re also in everyday products like shampoos, lotions and household cleaners.

Research3 found that up to 99.1% of the population is exposed to at least one scented product every week, either through personal use or indirect exposure from others. This leads to inhaling or absorbing dozens, if not hundreds, of different compounds, which have been linked to various health and environmental concerns.

Harmful Chemicals Lurking in Perfumes and Scented Products

According to the International Fragrance Association,4 over 3,500 fragrance chemicals are used in products today, many of which are derived from petrochemicals and formulated to enhance or prolong the scents.

However, due to legal loopholes, manufacturers are not required to disclose each chemical. Instead, they’re allowed to simply label these substances under the umbrella term “fragrance” to protect their “trade secret.” According to a report published in the Journal of Xenobiotics:5

“Personal care products (PCPs) are formulated with several classes of organic chemicals (e.g., fragrances, antiseptics, additives, fixatives, preservatives and solvents) that can enter all environmental compartments and pose considerable risks to human health and marine and terrestrial wildlife.”

In this context, “organic” simply means the compound contains carbon or hydrogen; it doesn’t imply that the substances are natural or eco-friendly. In fact, the study outlines an array of synthetic agents found in scented products, including alkylphenols, antimicrobials, bisphenols, cyclosiloxanes, ethanolamines, parabens, phthalates and benzophenone. These are just a few classes among hundreds of substances used.

The authors also note that synthetic fragrances, which are largely petroleum-based, are of particular concern, as they’re cheap and therefore widely used, making them a major contributor to declining indoor air quality and increasing personal exposure and health risks. They list a cocktail of hard-to-pronounce ingredients:6

“Synthetic fragrances include derivates of several chemical structures and organic functions: acids, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, acetals, nitrogen heterocycles, oximes, amides, amines, nitriles, Schiff base, oxygen heterocyclics, lactones, coumarins, ethers, sulfur heterocycles, thiols, sulfides, thiocyanates, dithiazides and hydrocarbons.

For instance, the transformation of alkenes, alkynes, dienes, and enynes results in carbo- and heterocyclic fragrances with natural and tunable scents.”

Each of these categories of chemicals poses significant health and environmental risks, especially with consistent and cumulative exposure. Many of these compounds don’t simply dissipate but will build up in your body and the environment, leading to long-term effects that are not immediately apparent.

Fragrance Chemicals Contribute to Indoor Air Pollution

The study in the Journal of Xenobiotics7 highlighted the dangers of fragrances to indoor air. The authors explained that these chemicals are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which easily evaporate into the air and contribute to indoor air pollution. These VOCs are especially harmful in enclosed spaces like homes and offices, where ventilation is limited.

What’s particularly alarming is that indoor VOC concentrations are higher than what is typically found outdoors, contributing to a range of health issues, including headaches, dizziness and respiratory irritation, as well as long-term risks such as asthma and cardiovascular or neurological problems. The study also highlighted the dangers of VOCs to children:8

“Due to the vulnerability of children at an early age exposed to VOCs, the fragrances in children’s products are pollutants of concern since they appear as potential carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, phytotoxins and skin sensitizers.

In a study of 42 fragranced baby products, over 600 emitted VOCs were detected, of which approximately one-third are hazardous. These VOCs comprised different chemical classes but predominated the fragrance compounds limonene, α-pinene, linalool, β-myrcene, β-pinene and acetaldehyde (additive/fragrance) and the solvents (ethanol, acetone).”

Moreover, these VOCs react to indoor air, leading to the formation of secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde, a well-known respiratory irritant and carcinogen, as well as ultrafine particles, which penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream due to their minuscule size, contributing to cardiovascular stress and systemic inflammation.9

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Some Fragrance Chemicals Are Endocrine Disruptors

Fragrance chemicals not only pollute indoor air but also disrupt the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating growth, metabolism and reproduction. These compounds, often referred to as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), mimic, block or alter natural hormones, leading to serious health implications.

Key EDCs commonly found in fragrances include phthalates, synthetic musks, parabens, benzophenone, eugenol, isoeugenol, octinoxate and oxybenzone.10 Even in trace amounts, these ingredients disturb the delicate hormonal balance necessary for normal biological processes.11

Phthalates, in particular, interfere with estrogen and testosterone pathways, affecting reproductive health in both men and women. Research has linked it to issues such as reduced sperm count, fertility problems and developmental abnormalities in children exposed prenatally.12,13 Synthetic musks accumulate in body tissues and mimic hormone activity, further altering your body’s endocrine function.14

The subtle hormonal shifts that result from constant exposure to these EDCs daily in environments like homes, workplaces and schools eventually increase your risk of thyroid issues, metabolic disorders and hormone-sensitive cancers. Children are particularly susceptible to EDCs, as their developing bodies are sensitive to hormonal disruptions.15

During important stages of development, such as the prenatal period, infancy and puberty, EDCs have lasting impacts on growth, brain development and reproductive health. Early exposure has been linked to accelerated puberty, behavioral shifts and metabolic disturbances later in life.16

Health Issues Linked to Fragrances and Other Personal Care Products

A review published in the Journal of Dermatology and Cosmetology17 took a deep dive into the health risks associated with perfumes and scented personal care products like cosmetics, concluding that fragrance ingredients must meet the same requirements for safety as other cosmetic ingredients. According to the researchers, chemicals in these products are linked to:18

Contact dermatitis — This type of skin rash manifests in two forms — allergic and irritant. Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed reaction, appearing hours to days after exposure and presenting as red, inflamed and itchy skin. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs from repeated exposure to mildly irritating substances, leading to immediate skin damage and rashes.
Contact urticaria (hives) — This condition involves itchy, raised welts on the skin, commonly triggered by fragrance allergens. Contact urticaria sometimes escalates into angioedema, where deeper layers of skin swell, causing pain and warmth. In extreme cases, exposure leads to anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.
Phototoxicity — Phototoxic reactions occur when certain chemicals in perfumes or cosmetics become reactive under sunlight. This leads to a severe sunburn-like effect, damaging your cell membranes and DNA in the skin. Phototoxic compounds, such as furocoumarins, absorb UV light and cause visible skin damage, leaving long-term discoloration or burn-like injuries.
Photoallergy — Unlike phototoxicity, photoallergic reactions are immune-driven and develop only after repeated exposure to both a chemical and sunlight. This reaction is relatively rare but causes chronic skin irritation and discoloration. Photoallergic reactions occur after using certain medications or personal care products with photosensitizing agents.
Cancer — Phthalates, benzene derivatives and formaldehyde-releasing agents in perfumes are absorbed through the skin or inhaled as aerosols, disrupting hormone pathways and increasing the risk of hormone-related cancers. Additionally, certain fragrance chemicals bioaccumulate in your body, raising long-term exposure risks and leading to cellular changes associated with cancer development.
Reproductive problems — Chemicals in fragrances have been linked to fertility issues, menstrual irregularities and other reproductive and thyroid health problems. Products like bubble baths or shower gels, if used near your sensitive areas, introduce risks of infections, hormonal imbalance and even cancer in reproductive organs.
Lung diseases — Inhalable chemicals from powder-based cosmetics and fragrances damage your lung tissues over time. Particulate ingredients in talcum powder, for example, cause respiratory issues such as allergies, asthma exacerbation and chronic lung irritation, particularly in people with existing respiratory sensitivities.
Irritation and redness — Certain ingredients, such as benzene, phenol, salicylic acid, resorcinol and phosphoric acid, cause intense stinging or burning sensations within minutes of application. Although these reactions subside after several minutes, frequent use leads to ongoing sensitivity and redness, especially if your skin’s pH balance is disrupted.
Hair and scalp problems — Many hair products, including dyes and styling sprays, contain harsh chemicals that cause scalp irritation, dandruff and even hair thinning. Hair dyes, in particular, are associated with toxic allergic reactions leading to burning, itchy scalp and respiratory irritation.
Headaches and neurological effects — VOCs trigger headaches, nausea and dizziness. For people experiencing migraines, these compounds significantly worsen symptoms, leading to chronic headaches or neurological disruptions with prolonged exposure.

The Impact of Fragrances on the Environment

The chemicals in your scented products don’t just affect your body — they have a significant impact on the environment, too. When you shower with fragranced products or spray perfumes or air fresheners, these chemicals wash down the drain, seep into soil or drift into the air.

Many fragrance compounds are particularly stubborn — they resist breaking down in water treatment plants and persist in rivers and streams for years. Studies have found these synthetic fragrances accumulate in marine life, disrupting ecosystems and contributing to air pollution.19,20

Musk compounds have been detected in human breast milk, ocean sediments, and even Arctic ice.21 These chemicals travel thousands of miles from their source, affecting wildlife and environments far from where they were initially used. Even the packaging of these products, like plastic containers and aerosol cans, adds to mounting waste.

Given what we know about the health and environmental impacts of fragrances, it’s time for a serious reconsideration of your use of synthetic fragrances. Pleasant scents may be appealing, but the true cost of artificial fragrances is far too high — a price that neither your health nor the planet can keep paying.

Freshen Yourself and Your Space with Safe, Natural Alternatives

A report published in Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health22 found that there’s now a growing demand for fragrance-free environments, with over half of the survey participants expressing a preference for fragrance-free workplaces and health care settings. This shift reflects a rising awareness of the health risks associated with conventional fragrances and a demand for safer, nontoxic options.

The good news is, if you’re looking to avoid harmful chemicals, there are many nontoxic fragrance options available. All-natural products made from organic essential oils, like lavender, citrus, eucalyptus, rosemary, sandalwood, peppermint and other botanical sources provide an alternative to synthetic fragrances.

Natural anti-odor ingredients like baking soda, witch hazel, tea tree oil, activated charcoal, coconut oil and aloe vera are also effective alternatives for neutralizing odors. For more on using these options, check out my article, “How to Make a Natural Odor Eliminator.”

While natural scents are subtler, their formulations are clearer and simpler. They’re free of petrochemicals, phthalates or synthetic musks, so they’re better for both your health and the environment. When shopping, it helps to look for products labeled as “phthalate-free,” “paraben-free” or “unscented.” However, don’t rely solely on these claims — read the full ingredient list.

Keep in mind that your skin absorbs what you put on it, so making your choice of personal care products is just as important as your diet. Choosing products thoughtfully will help lower your exposure to harmful chemicals and safeguard your health in the long run.

Advocate for Healthier Skin and Body Care Products

The fragrance and personal care industry has operated unchecked for too long, flooding the shelves with products full of questionable chemicals while hiding behind weak regulations. While we need a comprehensive reform of the laws governing this industry, we don’t have to wait for new regulations to protect ourselves.

The first step is simple — flip over your products and read the labels. If you can’t pronounce most ingredients or if the word “fragrance” appears repeatedly, it’s time to rethink your choices. Look for products with ingredients you recognize, and remember — simpler is typically safer. Here are additional ways to drive even more positive changes:

1. Get informed — Use resources like the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database23 to understand what’s in your products and make informed decisions.

2. Support brands that prioritize safety — Choose to buy from companies that are transparent about their ingredients and put consumer safety first.

3. Advocate for safer chemistry — Encourage schools and universities to teach green chemistry practices, which pave the way for safer, more eco-friendly products.

4. Think about the planet — Look for products that aren’t just safe for you but also kind to the environment.

5. Rethink beauty standards — Take a moment to evaluate the societal norms that prioritize appearance, or in this case, scent, over health. Consider whether artificial fragrances in products like hand soap or lotion are truly necessary for you.

Your choices matter. Each time you skip artificially fragranced products in favor of safer alternatives, you send a clear message to manufacturers: “We demand better.” The growing market for natural and fragrance-free products proves that change is possible — and it starts with informed consumers making smarter choices.

Progesterone Helps Mitigate the Effects of EDCs in Fragrances

The best way to minimize your exposure to endocrine-disrupting fragrance chemicals is to avoid using them altogether. Sometimes, the best scent is no scent at all. The obsession with masking natural odors has led to the overuse of fragrances in nearly every product. By breaking free from this cycle, you not only protect yourself but help create a market for safer alternatives.

However, if you find yourself frequently using scented products, one way to counteract the effects of EDCs is through the use of transmucosal progesterone combined with vitamin E, as detailed below.

Progesterone is a hormone that acts as a switch to “turn off” estrogen’s activity, helping mitigate the effects of phthalates and other estrogenic compounds. By counteracting the effects of these disruptive chemicals, progesterone helps restore balance in your body’s hormonal systems.

How to Use Progesterone

Before you consider using progesterone, it is important to understand that it is not a magic bullet, and that you get the most benefit by implementing a Bioenergetic diet approach that allows you to effectively burn glucose as your primary fuel without backing up electrons in your mitochondria that reduces your energy production. My new book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy,” covers this process in great detail.

Once you have dialed in your diet, an effective strategy that can help counteract estrogen excess is to take transmucosal progesterone (i.e., applied to your gums, not oral or transdermal), which is a natural estrogen antagonist. Progesterone is one of only four hormones I believe many adults can benefit from. (The other three are thyroid hormone T3, DHEA and pregnenolone.)

I do not recommend transdermal progesterone, as your skin expresses high levels of 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which causes a significant portion of the progesterone you’re taking to be irreversibly converted primarily into allopregnanolone and cannot be converted back into progesterone.

Ideal Way to Administer Progesterone

Please note that when progesterone is used transmucosally on your gums as I advise, the FDA believes that somehow converts it into a drug and prohibits any company from advising that on its label. This is why companies like Health Natura promotes their progesterone products as “topical.”

However, please understand that it is perfectly legal for any physician to recommend an off-label indication for a drug to their patient. In this case, progesterone is a natural hormone and not a drug and is very safe even in high doses. This is unlike synthetic progesterone called progestins that are used by drug companies, but frequently, and incorrectly, referred.

Dr. Ray Peat has done the seminal work in progesterone and probably was the world’s greatest expert on progesterone. He wrote his Ph.D. on estrogen in 1982 and spent most of his professional career documenting the need to counteract the dangers of excess estrogen with low LA diets and transmucosal progesterone supplementation.

He determined that most solvents do not dissolve progesterone well and discovered that vitamin E is the best solvent to optimally provide progesterone in your tissue. Vitamin E also protects you against damage from LA. You just need to be very careful about which vitamin E you use as most supplemental vitamin E on the market is worse than worthless and will cause you harm not benefit.

It is imperative to avoid using any synthetic vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate — the acetate indicates that it’s synthetic). Natural vitamin E will be labeled “d alpha tocopherol.” This is the pure D isomer, which is what your body can use.

There are also other vitamin E isomers, and you want the complete spectrum of tocopherols and tocotrienols, specifically the beta, gamma, and delta types, in the effective D isomer. As an example of an ideal vitamin E, you can look at the label on our vitamin E in our store. You can use any brand that has a similar label.

You can purchase pharmaceutical grade bioidentical progesterone as Progesterone Powder, Bioidentical Micronized Powder, 10 grams for about $40 on many online stores like Amazon. That is nearly a year’s supply, depending on the dose you choose.

However, you will need to purchase some small stainless steel measuring spoons as you will need a 1/64 tsp, which is 25 mg and a 1/32 tsp, which is 50 mg. A normal dose is typically 25-50 mg and is taken 30 minutes before bed, as it has an anti-cortisol function and will increase GABA levels for a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, this vendor frequently runs out of product, and if that’s the case, then you can use Simply Progesterone by Health Natura. It’s premixed with vitamin E and MCT oil. Again, while Health Natura states that its product is for “topical use only,” I recommend applying it transmucosally, by rubbing it on your gums.

If you are a menstruating woman, you should take the progesterone during the luteal phase or the last half of your cycle, which can be determined by starting 10 days after the first day of your period and stopping the progesterone when your period starts.

If you are a male or non-menstruating woman, you can take the progesterone every day for four to six months and then cycle off for one week. The best time of day to take progesterone is 30 minutes before bed as it has an anti-cortisol function and will increase GABA levels for a good night’s sleep.

This is what I have been personally doing for over a year with very good results. I am a physician so do not have any problems doing this. If you aren’t a physician, you should consult one before using this therapy, as transmucosal progesterone therapy requires a doctor’s prescription.

Posted in Hormones, Pollution, Toxins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: December 23, 2021

How Do We Stop Our Dangerous Addiction to Plastic?


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/12/22/plastic-effects-human-health.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate, and will not be bullied into removing it.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola     Fact Checked     December 22, 2021

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • A number of chemicals found in plastic products are known to act as endocrine disruptors. Some of the most pervasive and well-known include phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA)
  • As the harms of BPA have become more widely known, many companies have started replacing it with other chemicals. However, these replacement chemicals also have no safety record, and as time goes on, we’re finding they’re just as hazardous as BPA
  • A study showed that 97.5% of children and adolescents had detectable levels of BPA in their urine; 87.8% had BPS; and 55.2% had BPF. All three chemicals correlated with an increased risk for obesity, even after the researchers controlled for caloric intake
  • A scientific review found BPB has endocrine disruptive effects; it affected reproductive function, damaging sperm and lowering egg production, lowered testosterone production and had estrogenic activity, “similar to or greater than BPA”
  • For the second year in a row, The Coca-Cola Co. was found to be the most polluting brand in a global audit of plastic trash. Coca-Cola is responsible for more plastic litter than the next top three polluters combined

This article was previously published November 5, 2019, and has been updated with new information.

A number of chemicals found in plastic products are known to act as endocrine disruptors. Some of the most pervasive and well-known include phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Being similar in structure to natural sex hormones, these chemicals interfere with the normal functioning of those hormones.

This is particularly problematic in children who are still growing and developing, as the glands of your endocrine system and the hormones they release influence almost every cell, organ and function of your body.

Your endocrine system as a whole is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function and metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes. And, endocrine-disrupting chemicals have in fact been linked to a number of reproductive health problems.

In the video1 above, Pete Myers,2 Ph.D., an adjunct professor of chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University and founder, CEO and chief scientist of Environmental Health Sciences, talks about what we know about plastic chemicals and their impact on the human endocrine system.

According to Myers, there’s evidence plastic chemicals are harming the health of future generations through intergenerational endocrine disruption, so clearly, this is no small concern.

Interestingly, Myers attributes the premature birth of his own granddaughter to wildfires that took place in the months before the delivery in the area where his daughter lived. As reported by Environmental Health News:3

“Many homes, full of plastics, burned during the fire, releasing contaminants such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates that are linked to the ‘very condition that forced that premature birth,’ [Myers] said.”

Myers also points out that no plastic in existence has ever been thoroughly tested for safety, and that the testing that is used is based on “16th century principles.”

To address the known and unknown harms of plastics, Myers is calling for redesign to make sure the plastic is nontoxic, and regulatory reform to account for the fact that even low doses may cause harm.

Health Effects Associated With Phthalates and BPA

Phthalate exposure has been linked to a wide range of health problems, including but not limited to:

  • Birth defects4 and miscarriage5
  • Low sperm count6,7
  • Polycystic ovary disease8
  • Early or delayed puberty9
  • Autistic behavior,10 reduced IQ and impaired brain function in children11

Similarly, BPA, which mimics the hormone estrogen, has been linked to:

Neurological perturbations due to neurotoxicity12
Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness and impaired learning
Increased fat formation and risk of obesity in both children13 and adults14
Altered immune function15
Preterm birth16
Hormone-associated cancers17
Disruption of female sex hormone production,18 ovarian toxicity19 and reduced fertility due to reduced viability of eggs20
Stimulation of prostate cancer cells, increased prostate size, decreased sperm production and hypospadias21 (penis deformation)
Heart disease22
High blood pressure23
Reduced efficacy of chemotherapy treatment24
Erectile dysfunction25

According to a report by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Program titled “State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals,”26 issued in 2014, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may need to be banned across the board to protect the health of future generations.

Similarly, an Endocrine Society task force issued a scientific statement27,28 on EDCs in 2015, noting that the health effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals are such that everyone needs to take proactive steps to avoid them.

EDCs like BPA and phthalates are particularly concerning for pregnant women and young children, as they can interfere with normal physiology and maturation even in extremely minute amounts.

BPA Substitutes Are Just as Hazardous

As the harms of BPA have become more widely known, many companies have started replacing it with other chemicals. However, these replacement chemicals also have no safety record, and as time goes on, we’re finding they’re just as hazardous as BPA.

This includes bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol B (BPB). Judging by their names alone, you can tell these chemicals are in the same family as BPA, and as noted by Environmental Health News,29 “Replacing BPA with similar chemicals does nothing to mitigate the harms chemical exposure has on our health.”

For example, a recent study measuring BPA, BPS and BPF levels in children and adolescents found 97.5% had detectable levels of BPA in their urine; 87.8% had BPS; and 55.2% had BPF.

All three correlated with an increased risk for obesity, even after the researchers controlled for caloric intake.30 As noted by lead author Melanie Jacobson, a research scientist at NYU School of Medicine:31

“Although diet and exercise are still understood to the main drivers of obesity, this research suggests that common chemical exposures may also play a role, specifically among children.”

Another scientific review,32 published October 16, 2019, found BPB (just like BPA) has endocrine disruptive effects. Studies looking at subchronic intake found it affected reproductive function, damaging sperm and lowering egg production.

Others found it lowered testosterone production and had estrogenic activity, “similar to or greater than BPAs.” According to the reviewers, “The available in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro data … coherently indicates that BPB meets the WHO definition of an endocrine disrupting chemical currently used in a regulatory context.”

The take-home message from this is that “BPA-free” labels are not a guarantee that the plastic in question is free of EDCs. Chances are they simply replaced BPA with one of the other bisphenols, all of which are likely to have similar endocrine-disrupting effects.

We’re Drowning in Plastic Waste Unnecessarily

When we look at plastic pollution, plastic bags, plastic food packaging and bottled beverages are among the top offenders. In the CBC News Marketplace special report, “Raging Against Plastic,” the reporter takes an in-depth look at how grocery stores and food manufacturers are contributing to the plastic pollution problem by wrapping every conceivable item in nonbiodegradable plastic.

Eliminating some of this unnecessary packaging could go a long way toward reducing plastic waste, and it can be done. “Raging Against Plastic” features Andrew Thornton, owner of Thornton’s Budgens, a local U.K. grocer, whose store went plastic-free in just 10 weeks.

The products affected by the store’s plastic ban include everything from fresh produce to eggs, fish, bread, cheese and packaged foods. The store even sells plastic-free bacon packaged in paper instead. They also use a plant-based cellulose film as an alternative to plastic wrap. It looks and acts like plastic, but it’s not. The cellulose is biodegradable, so you can put it in your compost bin.

Not only is Budgens helping curb plastic waste, but it’s making more money, too. “We didn’t set out to do it for commercial reasons, but there is a commercial benefit,” Thornton told Marketplace.

To achieve its plastic-free goal, the store worked with Frankie Gillard of the environmental group A Plastic Planet, who points out that big supermarkets have the power to get major brands to switch to more sustainable packaging methods:

“You basically say, ‘We’re going to delist your product otherwise.’ They have the power to make or break a brand. So, of course, they have the power to say how it should be packaged.”

Beverage manufacturers could also make a very big dent — not just in pollution but also in adverse health effects — were they to revert back to inert and easily recyclable glass bottles.

Many companies have promised to tackle plastic pollution, yet virtually nothing is actually being done. One glaring example is The Coca-Cola Co. Last year, James Quincey, president and CEO of The Coca-Cola Co., announced a “World Without Waste” campaign in which the company promised to “collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells globally by 2030.”33

In reality, the facts suggest Coca-Cola is doing next to nothing to reach its stated goals — especially in poorer countries.34 The effects of Coca-Cola’s pollution are illustrated in raw detail in a 2019 documentary by the German public broadcaster DW, “Plastic Tide: Choking on Coke.”35

It’s a riveting exposé, showing how Coca-Cola deceives customers and environmentalists about its plastic pollution. I will discuss that documentary in another article in the near future.

Coca-Cola Named ‘Most Polluting Brand’

Up until the early 1980s, Coke was in many areas still sold in glass bottles for which the customer paid a deposit. You got your deposit back when you returned the empty bottles.

Coca-Cola’s switch to plastic bottles that required no deposit and no return effectively outsourced the problem and the costs of pollution to consumers and taxpayers — and it shows. As reported in an October 2019 article in The Intercept:36

“Coca-Cola was found to for the second year in a row to be the most polluting brand in a global audit37 of plastic trash conducted by the Break Free From Plastic global movement. The giant soda company was responsible for more plastic litter than the next top three polluters combined …

After Coca-Cola, the next biggest contributors to the plastic pollution in the audit were Nestle, PepsiCo, Mondelez International — purveyor of snack brands like Oreo, Ritz, Nabisco, and Nutter Butter — and Unilever …

Coke was the top source of plastic in Africa and Europe and the second largest source in Asia and South America. In North America, the company responsible for the most plastic found in the cleanups was Nestle, followed by the Solo Cup Company … and Starbucks. Coca-Cola ranked fifth among the companies responsible for plastic waste in North America.”

Coca-Cola Undermines Recycling Efforts

In its response to the Break Free From Plastic report, Coca-Cola claims it is “working to address this critical global issue, both to help turn off the tap in terms of plastic waste entering our oceans and to help clean up the existing pollution,” and that it is “investing locally in every market to increase recovery of our bottles and cans …”38

Coca-Cola also says it’s investing in new waste reduction technologies such as “enhanced recycling technologies that allow us to recycle poor quality PET plastic.”

However, while Coca-Cola has worked hard to develop and maintain an eco-friendly image with promises to reduce plastic waste and improve recycling, the company’s behavior in the real world suggests these are mostly empty promises.

Importantly, the company has repeatedly been caught working against efforts to reduce plastic pollution. It’s even been caught undermining recycling efforts. As reported by The Intercept October 18, 2019:39

“Audio from a meeting of recycling leaders … reveals how the soda giant’s ‘green’ philanthropy helped squelch what could have been an important tool in fighting the plastic crisis — and shines a light on the behind-the-scenes tactics beverage and plastics companies have quietly used for decades to evade responsibility for their waste … One possible avenue for boosting recycling rates — a bottle bill — was off the table.”

Bottle Deposit Laws Improve Recycling Rates

Bottle bills, also known as deposit laws, are basically a return to the practices of times past: Companies are required to add a deposit charge to their bottled beverages, which is refunded when the bottle is returned. According to The Intercept:40

“States with bottle bills recycle about 60 percent of their bottles and cans, as opposed to 24 percent in other states. And states that have bottle bills also have an average of 40 percent less beverage container litter on their coasts, according to a 2018 study41 of the U.S. and Australia …”

However, these kinds of bills also place a portion of the responsibility and cost of recycling on the companies selling the bottles. Undoubtedly, this is why Coca-Cola and other beverage makers keep fighting against them whenever they come up.

So, while Coca-Cola promises to improve recycling and help cut down on plastic waste, it keeps working in the opposite direction — using virgin plastic (so-called nurdles, which are a key plastic pollutant) to make bottles rather than using recycled materials, and fighting against any and all legislation that might force it to clean up its act or pay a price.

Coca-Cola Caught Weakening Zero Waste Message

The Intercept also details how Coca-Cola has managed to water down “zero waste” messages across Europe:42

“Hundreds of cities and towns have recently committed to becoming ‘zero waste’ cities … The zero waste movement focuses on a hierarchy that puts the reduction and conservation of plastic and other materials above recycling and emphasizes the reduction of waste at its source.

Yet last October, zero waste advocates noticed that another effort had emerged with the same name but very different goals.

The new zero waste push didn’t have the same comprehensive approach to reducing waste that theirs did, and seemed designed ‘to confuse people on the zero waste hierarchy,’ said [Alexandra] Aubertin [founder of Zero Waste Montenegro].

It was ‘telling people the solution is recycling. But that’s not what the zero waste hierarchy is all about.’ Aubertin was dismayed to learn that the new weakened ‘zero waste’ messaging was in fact coming from the world’s biggest plastic polluter: Coca-Cola.“

Plastic Pollution Affects Entire Food Chain

It’s estimated that a plastic bottle can take 450 years to break down in a marine environment,43 but even then, it never fully goes away. It simply breaks down into smaller pieces that may persist in the environment indefinitely. These tiny pieces of plastic, commonly known as microplastics, also migrate up the food chain as they’re consumed by fish and other marine life.

In 2017, a malnourished and dying whale found off the coast of Norway had to be euthanized. The subsequent autopsy revealed 30 plastic bags and a large amount of plastic packaging waste in its stomach and intestines, which was causing blockages, malnutrition and pain.44

Like the poor marine animals, this microplastic pollution makes its way into your body as well. Microplastics have been found not only in seafood but also in sea salt and drinking water (both tap water and bottled water45).

A study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund found people, on average, consume the equivalent weight of one credit card — about 5 grams — of plastic each week.46

While the full effects of this ingested plastic is unknown, we do know that endocrine disrupting chemicals in the plastic can wreak havoc even at very low levels. As Myers told Consumer Reports, “There cannot be no effect.”47

How to Reduce Your Plastic Exposure

It can be extraordinarily difficult to avoid plastic, and it’s probably not possible to avoid all exposure, considering the exposure routes include air,48 dust,49 water, food, food packaging and bottles, flooring50 and any number of household items. Even cashier receipts are a source of BPA51 that can enter your bloodstream through your skin.

However, you can certainly minimize your exposure by taking a few common-sense precautions. One basic strategy is to opt for products sold in glass containers rather than plastic whenever possible. Another is to look for plastic-free alternatives to common items such as toys and toothbrushes. Other suggestions offered by Consumer Reports include: 52

  • Drink filtered tap water rather than bottled water — Bottled water tends to have far higher amounts of plastic debris than tap water. I recommend filtering your tap water, not only to get rid of potential plastic debris, but also to avoid the many chemical and heavy metal pollutants found in most water supplies.
  • Avoid reheating food in plastic containers — Instead, heat your food in a pot on the stove, an oven-safe pan or a glass container if using a microwave.
  • Store foods in glass rather than plastic — Consumer Reports specifically warns against using plastic food containers marked with the recycle codes 3, 6 and 7, as these contain phthalates, styrene and bisphenols.
  • Ditch processed foods and takeout for fresh food — Most food wrappers and containers, including cans, contain plastic.
  • Vacuum regularly — Microplastic and plastic chemicals are found in most household dust, which can end up being either digested or inhaled. Maintaining your home as dust-free as possible is therefore recommended, especially if you have young children that spend a lot of time on the floor. Ideally, use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter.
– Sources and References

Posted in Fertility, Hormones, Obesity, Plastic, Pollution, Toxins | No Comments »

Posted by: | Posted on: August 19, 2021

New Evidence Shows Link Between Air Pollution and Alzheimer’s


Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/08/19/link-between-air-pollution-and-alzheimers.aspx

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola    Fact Checked    August 19, 2021

link between air pollution and Alzheimer's

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • Alzheimer’s affects an estimated 5 million Americans and nearly 95% of the world is living in areas where pollution is higher than what the World Health Organization deems safe
  • Researchers followed two groups of at-risk adults in Europe and the U.S., finding those exposed to less air pollution had a much lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
  • While air pollution originates from gas powered engines and industrial plants, as much as 51% of nitrogen oxides are off gassed in California from synthetic nitrogen fertilizer used in agriculture
  • Risks associated with air pollution include poor sleep, cardiovascular disease, obesity, lung disease, loss of intelligence and rising problems with seasonal allergies
  • There are lifestyle choices that affect your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, including high blood sugar and insulin resistance, obesity, lack of sleep and sitting for long periods of time

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that is characterized by an accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. New research1 presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2021 has found an association between improving air quality and reducing the risk of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 5 million Americans, a number that is expected to reach 14 million by 2060.2 It continues to be a leading cause of death, with 1 in 3 seniors dying with a form of dementia — more than the number killed by breast and prostate cancers combined.3

With no known cure, researchers have been scrambling to find treatments, often with a misguided focus on the symptoms of the disease — excess beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. Over 300 drug trials have failed4 thus far leading one researcher to comment, “Numerically, you have to say they [the odds] are not good.”

Past studies have found links between air pollution and the development and accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques, but this research team believes this is the first accumulated evidence to show that by reducing air pollution, society can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and all-cause dementia.5

Reducing Air Pollution Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

The researchers followed two groups of adults in Europe and the U.S. who were at-risk of dementia.6 The 10-year study was recently presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2021.7

Researchers undertook the study following past data that linked air quality and cognitive impairment. With rising levels of air pollution and increasing cases of dementia they sought to explore how air pollutants may affect the development of dementia. More importantly, they hoped to identify what a reduction in air pollution may mean for brain health.

Claire Sexton, Alzheimer’s Association director of scientific programs and outreach, was excited by the results of the study, commenting in a press release:8

“We’ve known for some time that air pollution is bad for our brains and overall health, including a connection to amyloid buildup in the brain. But what’s exciting is we’re now seeing data showing that improving air quality may actually reduce the risk of dementia. These data demonstrate the importance of policies and action by federal and local governments, and businesses, that address reducing air pollutants.”

The researchers engaged a group of older women in the NIH-funded Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study Epidemiology of Cognitive Health Outcomes cohort.9 The women did not have dementia at the start of the study and were followed from 2008 to 2018.

Each year the researchers performed a detailed cognitive function test on the individuals and mathematical models were used to estimate air pollution at the homes. The women who lived in areas where the air pollution improved at greater than 10% of the EPA’s standard experienced benefits that were similar to the lower risk level associated with women who were two to three years younger.

This included a slower decline in overall memory and cognitive function, which the researchers tested using working memory, episodic memory and attention executive function tests.

Evidence from the study showed reducing fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and traffic pollution was associated with a slower cognitive decline in older U.S. women. Fine particulate matter reduction was associated with a 14% reduction in dementia risk and reducing traffic related pollutants was associated with a 26% reduction in dementia risk.

The evidence from France showed reducing PM2.5 over 10 years reduced the risk of all-cause dementia by 15% and Alzheimer’s Disease by 17%. Additionally, the study data demonstrated that long-term exposure increased the risk of beta-amyloid levels in the blood, which pointed to a possible biological connection between the physical changes that define Alzheimer’s disease and air quality.

The benefits to the women in Europe and the U.S. appeared to be global without regard to confounding factors such as their level of education, geographic region, history of cardiovascular disease or age. The lead author, Xinhui Wang, Ph.D., commented in the press release:10

“Our findings are important because they strengthen the evidence that high levels of outdoor air pollution in later life harm our brains, and also provide new evidence that by improving air quality we may be able to significantly reduce risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The possible benefits found in our studies extended across a variety of cognitive abilities, suggesting a positive impact on multiple underlying brain regions.”

Surprising Sources of Air Pollution

Air pollution is an insidious problem that does not recognize borders and travels thousands of miles. A collaboration of more than 40 researchers analyzing data from 130 countries called air pollution the “largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today.”11

Fine particulate matter measures 2.5 microns or less in width. For comparison, there are 25,000 microns in 1 inch and PM2.5 particles are about 30 times smaller than a human hair.12 Fine particulate matter is emitted from the exhaust of gasoline-powered engines and other operations that burn wood, oil or coal for fuel.

Fine particulates can also form in the atmosphere from pollution emitted from power plants as it reacts with gases and droplets. Because of the nature of air pollution, these chemical reactions can happen miles from the origin of the pollution. Within the U.K., the greatest emissions as reported by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs13 are from road vehicles and industrial emissions.

Particles of this size are small enough to pass through lung tissue and enter your bloodstream, which can trigger chronic inflammation and chronic disease. Although California has one of the strictest car emission standards in the U.S., the state continues to be plagued by nitrogen oxides pollution. Researchers have found nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere from synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers.14

The vast agricultural lands in California may be responsible for as much as 51% of nitrogen oxides off-gassed across the state.15 “Nitrogen oxides” is a catch-all term used to designate nitrogen nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, both of which react with oxygen and sunlight to produce ozone in lower atmospheric levels.

This can trigger respiratory conditions in children and the elderly, including asthma and emphysema. In California, children living in the Central Valley have the highest rate of asthma in the state and the San Joaquin Valley within the Central Valley has the highest rate of asthma in the U.S.16

As I discuss in “Surprising Sources of Air Pollution,” nitrogen-based fertilizers also damage the soil below the surface by affecting the soil microbiome, which plays a significant role in nutrient uptake and signals plant development.17

Synthetic fertilizer adversely affects the soil microbiology and reduces diversity, affecting plant growth. However, by switching to regenerative agricultural practices, farmers can help restore the soil microbiome, raise the nutritive value of the foods they produce and reduce nitrogen oxides pollution.

More Risks Linked to Contaminated Air

Nearly 95% of the world live in areas where the pollution is higher than what the World Health Organization deems safe.18 Once PM2.5 is in the body, it can deposit in any of the organ systems. It also has been linked to inflammation that leads to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease,19 obesity,20 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease21 and cancer.22

One study that evaluated the ambient air pollution in Europe discovered the problem was far worse than previously measured.23 One 2015 study24 discovered a link between black carbon, which is a marker of traffic-related air pollution, and sleep in participants of the Boston area Community Health survey.

Long-term exposure may be associated with shorter sleep duration. In children, PM10 was associated with sleep disturbances,25 as was secondhand smoke. Children with asthma who were regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home were more likely to suffer from sleep problems,26 including longer delays and falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, sleep-disordered breathing and overall sleep disturbance.

Sleep disturbances are a well-known trigger for obesity27 and may contribute to diabetes.28 Additionally, sleep deprivation also has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One study29 found a higher risk of dementia was associated with sleep duration of six hours or less in individuals who are 50 and 60 years old.

One small study30 published by the NIH found that losing just one night of sleep increased the amount of beta-amyloid production. Conversely, studies31 have also suggested that getting enough deep sleep will help protect against the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers collected data32 from 20,000 people living in China and believe the findings are relevant to the entire world. They found language and math skills were affected when individuals were exposed to toxic air pollution. The average impact on those tested was equivalent to losing one year of education.

In this study, the longer people were exposed, the greater the damage they experienced. One of the major components to air pollution is carbon dioxide. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions,33 carbon dioxide makes up 76% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Plants and trees use this for photosynthesis, which you may think may be good for plant life. But like most things, plants need a balance. As the level of CO2 rises, plants produce more pollen,34 which in turn raises your exposure and produces more severe seasonal allergies. However, the pollen has a lower protein level, which does not offer long-term nutrition for honeybees.35

Lifestyle Choices Associated With Raised Risk of Alzheimer’s

In addition to the raised risk for Alzheimer’s disease when you’re exposed to air pollution or a lack of sleep, there are other lifestyle factors that have been linked to the development of the disease.

In an interview with me that you can watch at “Lifestyle Factors Linked to Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Dale Bredesen, director of neurodegenerative disease research at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, proposes there is a genetic code that predisposes a person for Alzheimer’s disease.

He notes there an estimated 75 million Americans have the single allele for the ApoE4 gene, which increases the risk of developing the disease by 30% over their lifetime. The predisposition does not guarantee the disease will develop but, rather, that environmental stressors may have a greater impact on an individual.

One of those environmental stressors is insulin resistance and diabetes. Overindulgence in grains and sugar can overwhelm the brain with consistently high levels of insulin. Eventually insulin and leptin signaling become profoundly disrupted, which leads to impairments in cognitive abilities and memory.

One study36 published in Diabetes Care found Type 2 diabetes is associated with a 60% increased risk of dementia. Another study37 featured in The New England Journal of Medicine noted even a mild elevation of blood sugar, such as 105 or 110, is associated with an elevated risk for dementia.

A third study38 revealed a high-carbohydrate diet increases your risk of Alzheimer’s, whereas eating a high-fat diet lowers it. A study published in 201839 also linked too much sitting with memory problems in middle age and older adults. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated brain thinning in the medial temporal lobe in participants who sat for extended periods of time.

I don’t believe that a failing memory and eventual dementia are par for the course for aging. Nor do I believe that Alzheimer’s is inevitable. There are many contributing factors, but there are also preventive strategies that can be used that reduce your overall risk and prevent cognitive impairment. You’ll find many suggestions in “Research Highlights Importance of Good Sleep For Prevention of Alzheimer’s.”

 

– Sources and References

Posted in Alzheimer's, Brain, Pollution | No Comments »