Mercury Causes Immune System Dysfunction

While mercury has long been proven to be neurotoxic, new evidence shows that mercury is toxic to the immune system as well. Several animal model studies have shown that mercury can increase production of antibodies, or anti-nuclear antibodies, or produce lupus-like symptoms–the same manifestations we see in many auto-immune conditions.
Researchers at the John Hopkins University, [...]

Smelly Paint

Thinking of doing some painting in your living space? Consider using non-toxic paints, which are now available.
Toluene and other organic (i.e. carbon-containing-molecule) solvents have been linked to a host of illnesses: neurological complaints, memory loss, Parkinson’s, fertility problems, lung cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is based on epidemiologic data.
Instead, ask for zero-VOC (Volatile [...]

Mercury May Play Big Role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A study done by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden links mercury and heavy metals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. They found:

That 83% reported long term health benefits following dental amalgam removal; 22% no change, and 2% worsening.
These findings were not only subjective. They found that among persons with CFS, their lymphocytes (or immune cells) were more [...]

Genetic Basis for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Here’s more evidence to support the theory that Multiple Chemical Sensitivity may be caused by an impaired ability to metabolize toxins or chemicals.
This study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, showed that there were significant genetic differences in people with MCS vs controls in two specific genes (CYP2D6 and NAT2) which are known to [...]

Plastics & Puberty

New York Times ran two recent articles on precocious puberty (one,two). It seems that American children are showing signs of puberty earlier than previous generations and this has raised concerns for many.
What’s to blame? It may be a combination of factors: widespread exposure to hormones in meats and milk; hormone-mimicking molecules found in plastics (such [...]

Skin Deep

Should we be concerned about soaps and cosmetics?Absolutely. Our skin is a living organ and absorbs what we put on it, specially substances that are oily or lipophilic (def. capable of combining or dissolving in lipids or fats) like lotions, creams, some soaps and cleansers because these easily pass through our lipid cell membranes.
Many products [...]

Wild vs Farmed Salmon

Farmed salmon has been shown to have 5-10x more PCB’s than wild salmon, and higher levels of pesticides like DDT, flame retardants and other carcinogens.Based on EPA guidelines (updated 1999), humans should not be eating farmed salmon more than once a month. Much less for children or older people. FDA guidelines, which allows for more [...]

Heavy Metal Chelation

Heavy metal chelation is done to pull out heavy metals from body tissues. Before chelation, a provocation test is usually done to measure the baseline heavy metal load of a patient.
Chelation can be done orally with agents like DMSA which binds to heavy metals in the body so that it can be excreted in [...]

Pesticides, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology of 3,531 British veterans of the Gulf war and the war in Bosnia shows that the incidence of “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity was particularly associated with Gulf deployment and self-reported exposure to pesticides.”
Another study published in the Annals of Occupation Hygiene shows that the incidence of chronic [...]