CDC analysis shows Americans are loaded with toxic chemicals

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: chemicals, toxins, health news

(NaturalNews) For more than a decade, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been conducting bio-monitoring studies to see what types of chemicals people are harboring in their bodies. The most recent report from 2009 shows that there are 212 -- and counting -- artificial chemicals lodged in human tissues and circulating throughout the blood, many of which are known carcinogens.

Modern society, despite all its conveniences, is a minefield of toxins. Personal care products, food, clothing, furniture, cookware -- all these things and more are loaded with harmful chemicals that destroy health. Bisphenol-A (BPA), for instance, is so common in food and beverage containers that most people likely consume more of it on a daily basis than they can expel through urine, which has untold, long-term health consequences.

Earlier this year, NaturalNews highlighted six of the most common chemicals found in the human body today (https://www.naturalnews.com/027980_synthetic_...). These include BPA, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOAs), acrylamide, mercury, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Flame retardant consumer products, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant clothing, gasoline, certain types of food packaging, and even overcooked, heavily-fried foods all contain one or more of these chemicals.

Knowing how much of these chemicals each person has and what effects they have in combination with one another is difficult to ascertain, say scientists, but they recognize that there is a serious problem nonetheless. Either way, the research shows that chemical contamination is far-reaching.

"For the public, I think the basic point is just the understanding that chemicals ... in our environment do in fact actually get into your body," said Dr. John Osterloh, chief medical officer of the CDC's division of laboratory sciences.

With this in mind, it is vital to take active steps to reduce exposure. Buying organic, avoiding chemical cleaning products, and cooking with stainless steel or cast iron are some examples of a few simple ways to avoid toxic chemical exposure.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-he-b...