Fast Food DISASTER: Industrial Chemicals Found Inside Many Samples, NEW Study

AHA Publisher — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 08:00:54 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – If you love fast food like nearly 37% of the United States population who eat it a day, you may be consuming industrial chemicals. That is exactly what a study published by George Washington University recently found. The study examined the top fast food chains in the country by purchasing 64 fast food items from establishments in the San Antonio, Texas area, including Chipotle, McDonald’s, Domino’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. Upon testing their samples, the researchers found small amounts of harmful chemicals called phthalates in most food samples. Phthalates, Anyone? Toxic Plasticizer Is Found in a Host of Products, Even in Your Fast Food Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are commonly referred to as plasticizers. They are commonly used to make plastics soft or more durable. Some are used to dissolve certain materials. These chemicals can be found in all sorts of products, including: Lubricating oil Plastic packaging Hair spray Vinyl flooring Medical tubing Shampoo Garden hoses Soap It is not uncommon for humans to come in contact with phthalates by touching products that contain the chemicals or by eating or drinking foods that have been in contact with other products, such as packaging, which contains phthalates. Particles of the chemicals can also be breathed into the body. Sadly, in fast foods, they are being consumed by millions of people – every day. How do Phthalates Affect Human Health? There are some concerning health issues that are linked to phthalates in humans. Some types have caused problems with the reproductive system in humans and animals. There is not enough research to determine how low levels of phthalate exposure affect humans, but some conditions are believed to be linked to it. These chemicals have also been linked to learning disorders and behavioral and attention disorders during childhood. They have also been found to disrupt the endocrine system and are linked to other health problems, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Shocking Findings Indicate Industrial Chemicals in Over 80 Percent of Food Samples Some of the foods contained higher levels than others, and certain chemicals were more prevalent than others. But, overall, the breakdown was eye-opening: DnBP (DI-n-Butyl Phthalate) was found in 81% of the samples, and DEHP Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate was found in 70% of the samples. These are linked to reproductive and fertility problems in humans and an increased risk of behavioral, attention, and learning disorders during childhood. DEHT (Di-2-ethylhexyl-terephtalate) was found in 86% of the samples. There is no solid research yet to determine just how it affects human health. Fast food meats like chicken burritos and cheeseburgers had the highest levels of phthalates and the highest DEHT levels. In addition, the gloves that were used for food handling at the restaurants also contained DEHT. Of all the foods tested, cheese pizza had the lowest levels of the majority of the chemicals. Reality Check: Government Agencies Fail to Protect the Public from Dangerous Chemicals in the Food Supply At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have any legal thresholds that limit how much phthalates can be in our food. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does have certain guidelines in place regarding thresholds for phthalate levels but what was found in the samples fell below that mark. The FDA has agreed to review the study and consider it a portion of the body of scientific evidence. The chemicalshave been banned from certain products, including toys, but are still used to make industrial tubing, rubber gloves, and conveyor belts – all used in factories that produce or process foods for fast food companies. They are also found in the packaging of those products and the foods. So What Can You Do to Protect Your Family Against These Harmful Chemicals? The best thing you can do is eat as fresh (and organic) as possible. This would include buying local when possible and preparing your food at home. Never underestimate the value of shopping at your local farmers market and eating unprocessed, locally-grown (organic) food. It’s the best! If you’re looking to “indulge” a bit: you can prepare your own ‘fast foods’ like pizza (made from glyphosate-free flour and organic ingredients) or 100% grass fed beef burgers ahead of time, freeze them, and cook them whenever you’re ready. This would be one way to accomplish the time-saving convenience of fast food without the dangers associated with conventional fast food meals. After all, who really wants industrial chemicals with every meal? Sources for this article include: News.Yahoo.com MediaRelations.GWU.edu PublicHealth.GWU.edu CDC.gov To read the original article click here.

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Chemicals Found in Everyday Products Found to Be Harmful to Fertility

AHA Publisher — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 07:00:37 +0000

University at Albany, State University of New York via Newswise – ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2021) – Three studies led by a University at Albany PhD student found that a group of chemicals found in many plastic products are harmful to women who are pregnant and to couples planning a pregnancy – yet the products are often not on the list of things to be avoided. Phthalates — a group of chemicals used to make plastic more flexible, found in items ranging from toys to personal care items and flooring — have long been thought to be associated with infertility but the results have been inconsistent, explained Thoin F. Begum, an environmental health sciences PhD student who led the recent studies. “Phthalates are known to be disruptors to the endocrine system, but the extent and exact outcomes of the exposure is still relatively unknown,” Begum said. “Animal studies have shown that phthalates are reproductive toxicants, so we wanted to determine if phthalates are linked to any reproductive outcomes in humans.” In three separate studies, published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, Reproductive Toxicology and Reviews on Environmental Health, Thoin and colleagues found that several of the environmental chemicals are indeed harmful to the reproductive process and can have harmful effects on the fetus. In one of the studies, the team enrolled over 30 couples visiting a fertility clinic in San Francisco to examine their lifestyle and behavioral patterns, and collected urine samples to determine how much and what types of environmental chemicals they were exposed to. The analysis showed that women who applied several lotions, moisturizers and other personal care products had more exposure to lower molecular weight phthalates, while women who applied nail polish and perfume had more high molecular weight phthalates in their bodies. The male partners of the women who used of lotions and moisturizers also were associated with high molecular weight phthalates, indicating that both women and men face exposure to phthalates through the use of personal care products. When they looked at both partners’ phthalate exposure, the researchers found that greater exposure to the phthalates specific to personal care products (MBP, MHxP and MEHP) were associated with lower likelihoods of a successful pregnancy and live birth. Additionally, the male partner’s exposure to phthalates also mattered when considering the likelihood of conception and having a live baby — suggesting that when thinking about becoming pregnant, both partners should be aware that using personal care products may lead to unwanted exposure to phthalates. “Pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy, including the woman’s partner, should limit their exposure to these chemicals by not using products such as nail polish and perfume, cologne, hair dyes and a slew of other personal care products,” Begum said. “Interestingly enough, and of concern, these things are often not on the list provided by doctors of things couples should avoid during a pregnancy or while planning one.” Begum worked with associate professors Beth Feingold and Xiaobo Romeiko, professor David Carpenter, as well as fellow student Celeste Butts and Michael Bloom, Begum’s MS advisor who is currently at George Mason University. Colleagues at University of California at San Francisco also participated in the research. Though the three peer-reviewed studies indicated that phthalates are a reproductive toxicant, Begum noted that more research on phthalates overall is needed. “While it is quite clear that phthalates are reproductive toxicants, the other effects are a bit unclear,” she noted. “Phthalates appear to be thyroid antagonists in that they reduce thyroid hormone levels with multigenerational and persistent effects. In our review, we found that exposure to phthalates may be associated with a wide range of other health outcomes aside from reproductive outcomes and this requires further research.” To read the original article click here.

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Fast Food DISASTER: Industrial Chemicals Found Inside Many Samples, NEW Study

Chemicals Found in Everyday Products Found to Be Harmful to Fertility