Environmental Toxicityand the Effect on Health

Walter J. Crinnion, ND

Outline1. What is our current toxic burden ?2. How does it affect our health?3. What do the patients and their

doctors need to help with this huge problem?

4. Metametrix is the “go-to lab” for environmental medical testing

What is Our Current Toxic Burden?

Are you toxic?

Better Living Through ChemistryThere are over 80,000 chemicals

registered for use by the US EPA.Over 3,800 of those are “high-use”

chemicals.Less than half of high-use

chemicals have been assessed for toxic effect on humans.

Less than 9% have been assessed for toxic effects on children.

Environmental Working Group (EWG) Neonatal Toxicity Study

www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/

10 babies born in US hospitals

287 chemical compounds identified in their cord blood

Average of 200 chemicals per infant

Toxins in the Cord Blood of US Newborns

EWG Adult Burden Study9 persons

Including several international environmental activists

210 different chemicalsAverage of 91 chemical

toxins per personwww.ewg.org/reports/

bodyburden1/

Bill Moyers’s Burden

Phthalates (plasticizers) in Urine(289 persons from CDC NHANES)Two phthalates in all urine samples testedTwo more were found in over 75% of

the samples as well

Xenobiotics in Meconium(in utero exposures)Nicotine

Lowest but still detectable even in non-smokers

Two metabolites of organophosphate pesticides (DEP and DETP) were found in 19/20 and 20/20 samples

Mercury In 6.4% of the maternal

blood and 46.1% of the meconium

US Children’s Urine Studies1,4-dichlorobenzene in 96% of Arkansas

childrenChlorpyrifos in the urine of 93%, carbaryl

in 45%, malathion in 33% in MinnesotaOP metabolites DMTP and DETP were

found in 70-75%, at least one was present in 99% of samples in Seattle preschoolersOnly one child whose parents

fed them organic food was clear of pesticides in the urine

The Weight…What we are all carrying

1. OCDD 9. Ethylphenol2. HpCDD 10. DDE/T3. HxCDD 11. PCBs4. PeCDD 12. Phthalates5. Styrene 13. Chlordanes6. Dichlorbenzene 14. OP pesticides7. Xylene 15. Pb, Hg, Cd, As,

etc.8. Parabens 16. PAHs

?The Question About Human Toxic BurdenNOT — IF you are toxic

BUT — IF toxins are a causative factor in your health care problem(s), and — IF toxins are an obstacle to cure

Why We Are ExposedPart of mom’s toxic burden passed to usNew compounds added to body

daily through our nasty habits:Eating, Drinking, Breathing

Biggest Sources:Indoor air in our homes

and workplacesFood

Why They Build UpOur bodies are designed to

hold on to fatNeeded for healthy bodiesHistorically hard to come by

Fats cannot leave by urination or defecationReabsorption of fats — recycling

These fat-resorption mechanisms cannot differentiate between good fats (EFA, fat-soluble vitamins) and DDT!!!

Photo by graham

Worse with Weight LossWeight loss increases circulating levels of

persistent fat-stored pollutantsSame increase seen after bariatric

surgery (increases of 24-52%)

Chevrier J, et al. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000;24:1272-8Hue O, et al. Obes Surg 2006;16:1145-54Imbeault P, et al. Int J Obes 2001;25:1585-91Charlier C, et al. In J Obes 2002;26:1465-8

Photo by slushpup

Do These Toxins Cause Health Problems?

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt

In Total, the Nine EWG Subjects Carried:Ü 76 chemicals linked to cancer in humans or animals

(average of 53)Ü 94 chemicals that are toxic to the brain and

nervous system (average of 62)Ü 86 chemicals that interfere with the hormone

system (average of 58)Ü 79 chemicals associated with birth defects or

abnormal development (average of 55)Ü 77 chemicals toxic to the reproductive system

(average of 55)Ü 77 chemicals toxic to the immune system

(average of 53)

What are The Main Targets?These compounds clearly

affect:Immune system

Allergies/Asthma Chronic infections Autoimmunity

Nervous systemEndocrine/hormonal systemGenerational

How They Cause DamageMitochondrial toxicity

Reduce function of mitochondria Reduced function of cell/organs that contain

mitochondria

Oxidative damageNeurotoxicity

Solvents diminish neural functioning

Pesticides are neurotoxins by design

Photo by get directly down

Associated Adverse OutcomesCancer incidences are increasing

“Boomers” have higher rates of cancer than any previous generation

Childhood brain cancers are risingAsthma rates are rising worldwideAutism and ADD/ADHD rates are increasingChemical SensitivityChronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency

SyndromeGulf War Syndrome

Presenting As:FatigueObesityDiabetesFibromyalgiaCognitive difficulties

Brain FogMood disordersTremorsChronic neurological

illnesses

AsthmaAllergiesChemical sensitivitiesAutoimmune conditionsChronic bacterial,

fungal, and viral infections

Certain cancersInfertilityHormonal imbalancesEtc.

Why Some People Retain More Toxins Than Others Genetic differences in phase

one and phase two enzymes (polymorphism)

Nutrient deficiencies (Mg,Se,B6)

High sugar, low protein diet Stress, emotional stuffing, trauma Heavy metal presence (esp. Hg)

Increased exposure

Photo by get wili hybrid

The Dirty DozenEWG’s 12 most contaminated fruits/vegetables

1. Peaches 7. Cherries2. Apples 8. Pears3. Bell Peppers 9. Grapes (imported)4. Celery 10. Spinach5. Nectarines 11. Lettuce6. Strawberries 12. Potatoes

www.ewg.org

EWG’s 12 Least Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables1. Onion 7. Sweet peas2. Avocado 8. Kiwi fruit3. Sweet corn 9. Bananas4. Pineapple 10. Cabbage5. Mango 11. Broccoli6. Asparagus 12. Papaya

Notes: The levels shown on this figure represent the sum of the 12 PCB compounds that resemble dioxin, widely recognized as the most toxic of all industrial pollutants, and linked to cancer as well as to damage of the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems. PCB concentrations are shown as toxic equivalents (TEQs) of 2,3.7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, the benchmark of dioxin chemical. Source: EWG analysis of data from Axys (2003), Easton et al. (2002), EPA (2000a and 2000b), Fiedler et al. (2000), Jacobs et al. (2002), NMFS (2002), NAS (2003), Schecter et al. (2001), and USDA (2002).

The EPA Recommends:No more than ONE* meal of farmed salmon per MONTH! (This is based on CANCER risk, not

neurobehavioral, endocrine, or immune effects)

• ½ meal per month if the Salmon is from Scotland or the Faroe Islands

Butter – The Global PCB MarkerHighest PCB levels in butter from Europe

and North America. [i] Lowest levels were in Australia and New ZealandLevels of p,p-DDT, p,p-DDE and HCH were

highest in butter from areas where those compounds are in regular use (DDT = India and

south/central America; HCH = India, China, Spain).

[i] Kalantzi OI, Environ Sci Technol 2001;35(6):1013-1018.

EPA List of Mercury in Fishwww.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Efrf/sea-mehg.html

Most Toxic Least Toxic1. Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico) 1.45

ppm2. Shark 0.9883. Swordfish 0.9764. King Mackerel 0.7305. Tuna (bigeye) 0.6396. Orange Roughy 0.5547. Marlin 0.4858. Grouper 0.4659. Mackerel Spanish 0.45410. Tuna (fresh/frozen) 0.41411. Chilean Bass 0.38612. Bluefish 0.33713. Lobster 0.31014. Croaker, white (Pacific) 0.28715. Scorpion fish 0.28616. Weakfish (Sea trout) 0.25617. Halibut 0.25218. Sablefish 0.22219. Bass (saltwater, black) 0.21920. Snapper 0.189

1. Clam ND2. Ocean Perch ND3. Salmon (canned) ND4. Shrimp ND5. Whiting ND6. Tilapia 0.0107. Oyster 0.0138. Salmon (fresh/frozen) 0.0149. Hake 0.01410. Sardine 0.01611. Haddock 0.03112. Crawfish 0.03313. Pollock 0.04114. Anchovies 0.04315. Herring 0.04416. Flounder/Sole 0.04517. Mullet 0.04618. Catfish 0.04919. Scallop 0.05020. Atlantic Mackerel 0.050

What Do Patients and Clinicians Need?

A Current Dilemma(another inconvenient truth)

Natural medicine is built upon finding the nutrient, supplement, or protocol the patient is deficient in which will bring a return to health

All patients are toxic and will NOT get better until the obstacle to cure is identified and removed

Photo by zedzap

What Patients FaceChronic health problems that current

allopathic, naturopathic, and alternative methods are not working for

Realization that this world is toxic

Fear that their problems are caused by a toxic buildup and that no one can help

Photo by DerrickT

What Clinicians FaceChronically ill patients in whom their

sure-fire therapies are not workingAn influx of illnesses caused by toxicity

(ie. Chemical sensitivity and chronic neurologic

problems) that they cannot treat

A knowledge (great or small) that toxins may be the culprit, but not sure how to proceed to confirm the diagnosis

For more information on toxicity testing contact

Metametrix at 800.221.4640 or visit

www.metametrix.com/toxicity