Hazards
in our environment
by Dr M Khalid Munir
Hyderabad, India
http://drkhalidmnir.googlepages.com
medlifeasia@gmail.com
Sample medical case
Someone with diffuse and otherwise
unexplained symptoms such as stomach
upset,
hair loss, and fainting spells or someone with
heart disease may be concerned about how
much mercury his or her body carries, since
some studies link mercury to these problems.
A change of diet can usually lower levels of
mercury, if biomonitoring data indicates that
an individual’s levels are high.
Lead
Lead and lead compounds are used in storage batteries,
ammunition, metal products (solder and pipes), roofing,
gasoline, and devices to shield people from X-rays.
Because of health concerns, lead had been BANNED from
gasoline, ceramic products, paints for residential use, and
solder used on food cans.
Industrially, lead and lead-contaminated dusts are released
into the environment from the burning
of fossil fuels or waste.
Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust from this type
of paint are the primary sources of lead exposure
in the home.
Cadmium
In industry and consumer products, it is used for batteries,
pigments, metal coatings, and plastics.
Cadmium gets into the environment from the weathering of
rocks and minerals that contain cadmium.
Cadmium exposure can also occur from exposure to
cigarette smoke.
Cadmium
The kidney is a critical target for cadmium.
Renal tubular damage and glomerular damage can be
caused by high-dose chronic exposure
Increased urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus and
decreased hydroxylation of vitamin D metabolites that
accompany advanced tubular damage may result in overt,
and often painful, osteomalacia or osteoporosis, typified by
a condition known as “Itai-Itai disease” that afflicted
women living in a cadmium-polluted region of Japan.
Antimony
Acute inhalational exposure to antimony has been associated
with irritation of the respiratory tract
Antimony is used in storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe
metal, bearings, castings, and pewter. Antimony oxide is added to
textiles and plastics to prevent them from catching fire. It is also
used in paints; ceramics; fireworks; and in enamels for plastics,
metal, and glass.
Antimony gets into the environment from natural sources and
from industry. Exposure to antimony can come from food,
drinking water, or air.
Inorganic antimony salts irritate the mucous membranes, skin, and
eyes.
Hazardous chemicals in
cosmetics, perfumes and
soaps
Major toxic chemicals
•Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)/Sodium Laureth Sulfate
(SLES)
•Mineral Oil
•Synthetic Fragrance
•Phthalates
•Imidazolidinyl Urea And DMDM Hydantoin
•Triclosan
•DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), TEA
(triethanolamine)
•FD & C (Food Drugs and cosmetics) Color Pigments
•Propylene Glycol (PG), Ethylene glycol
•Isopropyl Alcohol
Major toxic chemicals
These can cause:
•Premature aging
•Autism in children (a mental abnormality)
•Dermatitis
•Reduces immunity
•Asthma
•Headache
•GI disorders
•Hormonal disturbances
Major toxic chemicals
These can cause:
•Premature aging
•Autism in children (a mental abnormality)
•Dermatitis
•Reduces immunity
•Asthma
•Headache
•GI disorders
•Hormonal disturbances
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)/Sodium
Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
These are used as detergents and surfactants (an agent
such as a detergent or a drug that reduces the surface
tension of liquids so that the liquid spreads out, rather
than collecting in droplets) and are found in soaps at car
washes, cleaners for your garage floors and engine
degreasers.
Both SLS and SLES are utilized more extensively as one
of the major ingredients in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair
conditioners and about 90% of all shampoos.
They cause allergies, GI disorders and also increase
incidence of mouth ulcers
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is a frequent ingredient in commercial lotions, creams and
baby care products. It is clear, liquid oil that has no scent and will not
go bad.
It is manufactured as a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from
crude oil.
Mineral oil is the surplus liquid and is a very copious product—
therefore very cheap.
This is a petroleum by-product that covers the skin just like wrapping
it in plastic wrap. It clogs the pores, hindering the skin’s ability to
eliminate toxins, promoting skin disorders and decelerates skin
function and cell development
Synthetic Fragrance
The chief motive for using synthetic fragrances is the
price. Synthetic lemon “fragrance,” is approximately 50
times cheaper than true lemon oil.
These are just some of the synthetic fragrances that you
might find:
Chronic Asthma, long term allergies, skin irritation,
dermatitis, headaches
Synthetic Fragrance
•Amyl acetate (banana fragrance)
•Benzophenones 1 to 12 (rose fragrance)
•Lilac fragrance (anisyl acetate)
•Mango fragrance
•Melon fragrance
•Methyl acetate (apple fragrance)
•Methyl salicylate (wintergreen or birch fragrance)
•Plum fragrance
•Peach fragrance
•Phenethyl alcohol (rose fragrance)
•Strawberry fragrance
•Verataldehyde (vanilla fragrance)
Phthalates
Known technically as dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1,2benzenedicarboxylic acid.
Here are a few personal care products that may contain
phthalates and which kind:
•Powders- (DEP)
•Fragrances- (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DEP)
•Nail Polishes- (DBP)
•Hair Preparations- (BBP, DMP, DBP, DEP)
•Skin Creams- (DEP)
•Deodorants- (DBP, DEP)
•Aftershaves- (DEP)
Imidazolidinyl Urea And DMDM
Hydantoin
These two chemicals are just two of many preservatives that
release formaldehyde. They are called formaldehyde-donors. It is a
colorless liquid or gas with a pungent, distinctive smell. It is utilized
in the manufacturing of synthetic resins that are used in adhesives
for plywood, particle board, coatings for paper and textiles, in
molded plastics and for sound insulation. It is extensively used in
the textile and apparel industries
Formaldehyde is used in nail treatments and polish, moisturizers,
eye make-up, lip make-up, shaving products, shampoos and even a
couple of baby shampoos.
Imidazolidinyl Urea And DMDM
Hydantoin
Vairous names:
•Paraformaldehyde
•Benzylhemiformal
•2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol
•5-bromo-5-nitro-1, 3-dioxane
•Diazolidinyl urea
•Quaternium-15
•DMDM Hydantoin
•Sodium hydroxymethyl
•Glycinate
•Methenamine
Triclosan
Antibacterial chemical - included in detergents dish
washing fluids, soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions,
creams and toothpaste.
The EPA, USA registers it as a pesticide
Prolonged exposure to antibacterials causes emergence
of ‘superbugs’ that it cannot kill.
DEA (diethanolamine), MEA
(monoethanolamine), TEA
(triethanolamine)
DEA may react with other ingredients in the cosmetic recipe to form
a particularly potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine
(NDEA). NDEA is promptly absorbed via the skin and has been
connected with stomach, esophagus, liver, and bladder cancers.
Formation of N-Nitrosodiethanolamine from Diethanolamine in Lake
Water and Sewage has been demonstrated
FD & C (Food Drugs and
cosmetics) Color Pigments
Most of these chemicals are suspected carcinogens.
Hair dye- After applying the product and then thoroughly
washing hands with soap and water, the hands still
retained from 26 mcg to nearly 80 mcg of lead per hand
Propylene Glycol (PG), Ethylene
glycol
Ethylene glycol is also a component in photographic
developing solutions, hydraulic brake fluids and in inks
used in stamp pads, ball point pens and print shops. In
other words, it is used in industry to break down protein
and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is
found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions,
after-shaves, deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpastes.
American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH) recommends a maximum level of 127 milligrams
of ethylene glycol per cubic meter of air (127 mg/m3) for a
15-minute exposure.
Isopropyl Alcohol
One of the foremost defenders your body has against viruses,
bacteria, fungus, and other perpetrators, is the natural acid mantle
your skin possesses. Isopropyl alcohol is a solvent and denaturant
(substance that changes another substance's natural qualities), and
has an uncanny ability to completely strip the natural acid mantle of
your skin, leaving you more vulnerable to the aforementioned
issues.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is added to various hair color rinses, body creams,
hand lotions, after shave lotions, fragrances and many other
cosmetics. Isopropyl alcohol’s primary function is to increase
absorption of other ingredients in such cosmetics as body, face, and
hand lotions, yet only serves to rob your skin of its natural pH and
acid mantle.
In exposure studies with rats, inhalation had the capacity to
paralyze the respiratory system, cause broncho-constriction,
hypotension, and in some cases, fatalities.
Chemicals which lead to
infertility and miscarriage
in pregnancy
Chemicals which lead to
infertility and miscarriage
in pregnancy
Chemicals which lead to
infertility and miscarriage
in pregnancy
Chemicals which lead to
infertility and miscarriage
in pregnancy
Chemicals which lead to Developmental
defects in newborns
Altered puberty onset
Bisphenol A (BPA) –plastics and resins
Chlorinated hydrocarbons – dioxins, furans, PCBs
Chemicals which lead to Developmental
defects in newborns
Altered puberty onset
Organochlorine pesticides –DDT/DDE, linuron
Pesticides –herbicides,rodenticides,fumigants
Cigarette smoking-passive and active
Food products causing infection
Salad dressings
Condiments such as mustard and mayonnaise
Chopped garlic-in-oil, garlic-flavored oil
Butter (whipped, not whipped, salted, unsalted)
Margarine
Cheeses
Filled bakery products (crème vs. cream)
Vegetable-stuffed breads, such as focaccio
Food contamination
Fruits and vegetables to be washed properly due to
pesticide contamination
Food adultration
Govt of Gujarat’s initiative
Adulteration in milk, edible oils, ghee, iodized salt, sweets,
sherbet, silver foil on sweets and colour mixing in spices
can be detected easily with the kit
Food adultration
Rasoi Kasauti (Hindi)
This book provides information and comes with a kit to
identify common adulterants that generally make their way
into the food people routinely consume.
Dr Brijmohan Sharma
Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation
Scientists, Dehra Dun
Biomonitoring
Biomonitoring of an individual person is the detection of
toxic substances in body. It is difficult and expensive (
about Rs.150000) for 1 person.
Collective biomonitoring and periodic lab tests for a group of
individuals more that 50 is both feasible and cost effective.
Computer games
Heightened aggression has been shown in individuals
who have played video games.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendonitis, and other muscle
disorders have been reported by gamers.
Computer games have been shown to contribute to social
isolation.
Computer games
Games have the ability to lower a person’s intelligence
level.
Games cause lack of development due to lack of social
interaction with other people.
Possible transference of aggression brought on by games
to the real world ( killing of dozens of people by 'healthy,
civilized' teenagers not criminals.
Television
A 1982 report by the National Institute of Mental Health
confirmed an earlier study done by the Surgeon General
and concluded that "Violent programs on television lead to
aggressive behaviour by children and teenagers who
watch those programs."
Children's TV shows contain about 20 violent acts each
hour.
Television
From the National Institute on Media and the Family: By
the time an average child (one who watches two to four
hours of television daily) leaves elementary school, he or
she will have witnessed 8,000 murders and over 100,000
other acts of violence
The American Psychological Association passed a
resolution in February 1985 warning the public of the
potential dangers of children watching violent television
programs.
Television
The Research Showed children who watch a lot of
violence on television are:
More likely to become less sensitive to the pain and
suffering of others.
More fearful of the world around them.
More likely to behave in aggressive ways toward others.
Television
More likely to act out the violence they see on TV in
playing.
More likely to commit violent acts.
Less bothered by violence in general.
More likely to eventually commit crimes.
For more health information on the internet with
details and website links:
http://drkhalidmunir.googlepages.com
E mail- medlifeasia@gmail.com
Thank you