Poisoning ourselves at the Fetus... Jane Hoolihan, Toxicologist

According to Jane Hoolihan, toxicologist and previously at Environmental Working Group and creator of the Skindeep database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) 74 billion pounds of chemicals that can enter our bodies on an annual basis. In addition, 1000 chemicals in treated tap water, which are linked to cancer and birth defects. This made me think about what is happening in the North Dakota region with Native Americans, who are trying to stop an oil pipeline from damaging a  water source (http://www.democracynow.org/2016/9/6/full_exclusive_report_dakota_access_pipeline). Some people might say, "well I will just drink bottled water," well think again. Bottled water is just as bad with arsenic, radioactive isotopes and even traces of Tylenol (acetaminophen). 

The problem with our current system of labeling chemicals in our personal products, the food we eat, the packaging that our food comes in or what chemicals we can use, is that there is no way as a consumer or healthcare provider to know what is in these products. In addition to food and water, perfumes and fragrances are the same as they don't list at least half of the chemicals that make them, these chemicals are known as "hidden/secret" chemicals that have not been approved by the FDA.

The chemicals are causing hormones disruption, birth damage, damaged sperm, asthma, and even diabetes. 

For example, triclosan which is an anti-microbial found in soaps, which are hormone disrupting compounds and can block or mimic estrogen has been recently banned by the FDA in the past 5 days (http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/02/492394717/fda-bans-19-chemicals-used-in-antibacterial-soaps). Or it can block or produce male hormones and block thyroid hormones. For girls, breast development starts earlier. The new "normal" for first signs of puberty start in the 1st and 2nd grade, which is crazy because this means little girls, who are not even near their teens are maturing developmentally because of the chemicals in their bodies. This has a psychological and social impact on young women or little girls because some of the young girls are not ready to be in that developmental stage in their lives. According to Jane Hoolihan, women who start periods before 12 have a 50% chance of getting cervical cancer. This means that many young girls may be facing cancer in near future due to the chemicals in their bodies.

If this is the future of our people, of us, lies on the corporate interest then we are slowly letting ourselves be poisoned and we are paying for it as well in the products that we buy. We need to start asking for changes if we are preserve our bodies, our species and our earth.