The Tribune

By Dr Monique Thompson

From the air we breathe to the food we eat to the water we drink to the personal care products that we use daily, women are affected by the enviroment.

In celebration of National Women’s Week - the theme for which is “Women and the Environment: Creating Partnerships for Sustainable Development” - I want to shed some light on how toxins affect the female body.

There are many concerns about how women are affected by the use of plastic bottles and plastics in general. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a product of polycarbonate found in plastic bottles. Humans are mainly exposed to BPA through diet. It has been shown to have negative effects on thyroid hormone function, increases the overall cancer risk, alters breast tissue and increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Furthermore, research suports the idea that fetuses exposed to this “foreign estrogen” is a contributing factor to the sharp rise in breast cancer over the last half century. Exposing plastics to high temperatures and using abrasive chemicals on them, such as cleansing agents or acidic products, causes BPA to be released from plastic containers.

To lower the risk of being exposed to BPA, avoid using containers that are not BPA-free and avoid canned foods as BPA is used in the lining to prevent the food’s direct contact with cans. If you do use plastic containers, do not microwave food in them, do not place them in dishwashers and avoid the flimsy water bottles that you can crush with undue effort.

With rates of breast cancer being so high in the Bahamas, I recommend that if you have a significant family history of breast cancer, make the switch to glass storage containers as BPA is not the only toxic component of plastics. In the big scheme of things, it is a small price to pay.

It would be remiss not to comment on the use of anti-perspirant deodorant and the development of cancer.

First, the skin is the largest organ of the body and one of its main functions includes excretion. By sweating, our skin is a means by which we get rid of toxins that have accumulated in our bodies. When we hinder the excretion of toxins, we add to our body’s toxic burden. In fact, after you complete a good workout and are drenched in sweat, it is best to rinse off immediately so that the toxins you released cannot be reabsorbed.

Second, aluminum is the main ingredient used in anti-perspirants to shut off the sweating mechanism. Research suggests that once the aluminum is absorbed, it does cause changes in estrogen receptors of breast cells, and because estrogen can promote the growth of both cancer and non-cancer breast cells, it is reasonable to conclude that anti-perspirants can be a risk factor in developing breast cancer.

Organophosphates (OP) are a group of chemicals very toxic to humans and animals. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned its use around homes in 2001 it is still found in many pesticides, herbicides and nerve agents, used agriculturally on fruits and vegetables and used to kill mosquitoes.

This toxin can enter the body through the skin, being ingested, inhaled or injected. With the exception of parathion and a few other chemicals, OPs, though very toxic, have not been shown to cause cancer. However, OP exposure is linked with an increased risk for children to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

A study conducted in 2010 found that when fetuses were exposed to OPs in the womb, even at very low levels, these children had lower birth weights, were born prematurely, and were more likely to develop attention disorders. Again, because OPs are sprayed on fruits and vegetables, an organic diet is an effective way to reduce exposure to the OP pesticides.

I know we sometimes battle with the question of whether it is necessary to sacrifice and buy organic fruits and vegetables. In this case, children’s level of OPs fell near or below detectable levels after giving them organic produce for several days.

Parabens and phthalates are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. They were banned by the European Union in 2003 as both have been shown to be carcinogenic and particularly linked to breast cancer.

Parabens are the most widely-used preservative in cosmetics (make-up, moisturisers, shaving creams, lotions, toothpaste etcetera) and can mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. Parabens are used as fragrance ingredients and interfere with hormone function.

The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has listed parabens as Category 1 priority substances. However, an estimated 75 to 90 per cent of cosmetics still contain parabens at low levels, which readily go through the skin. Parabens have been detected in human breast cancer tissues, suggesting a possible association between parabens in cosmetics and cancer.

Skin aging and DNA damage also occurs when methylparaben is used on the skin and reacts with sunlight. Naturally, parabens are found in very low levels in food, but the process of digestion, absorption and assimilation in the body reduces the potential of its harmful effects. Problems occur when a synthetic form of the chemical is applied directly to the skin - there is more direct access to the bloodstream, which potentiates the estrogenic effect of the chemical.

Like parabens, phthalates are used as fragrance ingredients in many cosmetics, and in polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC) to make it flexible. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a particular phthalate used in nail products and as a plasticiser that prevents nail polishes from becoming brittle. There is evidence that DBP interferes with hormone function; is toxic to reproduction, potentially causing harm to unborn children including reproductive defects in male fetuses when the mother is exposed; impairing fertility; and leading to early puberty in girls.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of over 100 different chemicals, some of which are known to cause cancer. Exposure to PAHs usually occurs by eating foods that have been grilled (like jerk chicken), foods grown in soil contaminated with PAHs such as some flours and cereals, as well as breathing in fumes from vehicle exhaust, cigarette/tobacco smoke, agricultural burning, burning waste from the dump and air contaminated by wildfires or coal tar.

A study examining the link between breast cancer and PAHs found in petroleum jelly revealed that the breast tissues of women with breast cancer were 2.6 times more likely to have increased amounts of PAHs attached to their DNA than the breast tissue of women without breast cancer. Mineral oil, a petroleum derivative, actually impairs skin cell development and leads to premature aging of the skin.

Other common environmental toxicants include triclosan and talc. Triclosan is another highly toxic anti-bacterial chemical that is allowed on the market. It is found in antibacterial cleansers, toothpaste and household products. It is also used as a pesticide and has been categorised by the EPA as a carcinogen. Triclosan disrupts hormones, affects sexual function and fertility and may foster birth defects. Talc can be found in makeup, kids and adult powders, and foundation. It has been linked to ovarian cancer.

Although it seems as though there is harm at every turn in our environmental lives, all is not lost. The key recommendations are avoidance and detoxification.

Avoid the toxins you are aware of by buying certain produce organic, using deodorant that’s not necessarily an anti-perspirant, buying phthalate and paraben-free personal care products, etc. It is important to follow a good detoxification regimen at least once or twice per year to reduce the body’s toxic burden.

This is not an exhaustive list of toxins, their use or their health effects. However, it is my hope that we will take strides to better our own health - and the health of those around us - by sharing this information.

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of Cornerstone Healing Institute, her integrative medical practice, where detoxification is paramount. Contact 356-0083 for more information or visit www.chibahamas.com.