I believe that the synthetic organic compounds like Teflon, Silicones,

[KlatooBNikto]

and many others that are in use in vast quantities everywhere and which do not exist in nature have now entered our blood. As the concentration of these chemicals have increased from one generation to next, diseases that were formerly rare, are showing vast increases in the most susceptible parts of our populations. I think one can say breast cancers, childhood leukemia and autism are all suspects in my opinion.

Any one more knowledgeable than I am have any opinions on my theory?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Well, we do have a pResident that nothing will

stick to.... so you are probably onto something... musta chewed on pots and pans as a kid....


http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-06-06-schroeder_x.htm

Nothing stuck to 'Teflon' president
By Patricia Schroeder
Remember how we were promised a big tax refund, a huge increase in military spending and a balanced budget? Selling that was like selling a hot-fudge-sundae diet. When the national debt grew during his administration, you couldn't blame Reagan. He came across with that Irish twinkle.

[Hershman]

2. without studies its tough to say

although I can't imagine it'd be helpful for all this stuff to be in our system. But it could be a cause. The trouble would be to delineate the factor of say teflon vs. perchlorates vs. MTBE, etc.

[radwriter0555]

6. oh there are studies... Corning, Dow have all done the studies. But we're

not privy to them.

[calico1]

3. I am not an expert but I believe that too.

I don't use Teflon or microwave in plastic containers or use silicone bakeware. I use cast iron, stainless and use glass or corelle when I need to nuke something. I just don't feel safe and I do think that someday they will find a correlation between the rise of some of these diseases and some of the changes we have undergone in the way we cook, eat, etc. in the past few decades.

[KlatooBNikto]

7. I think the culprits are very stable compounds like Teflon that do not

break down easily.But as they enter our bloodstreams they may very well trigger reactions with our tissues that may lead to the type of cancers that are on the increase. The other area I suspect is our lawn care and home care chemicals, which are obnoxious to begin with and can multiply in our systems from generation to generation. And, don't even get me started on the food additives.

Is there any research related to these things? If not why not?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

16. PhD input, link, excellent explanation.....

http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum/HuntingtonsDiseaseF/HDTreatment.GeneExpression.htm


Ronald B. Keys, JD, PhD wrote:
>
A CLINICAL CONTEXT FOR TREATMENT OF FRIEDREICH'S ATAXIA

Dear PATIENT XXXXXX,

Clinical toxicology refers to clinical evaluation and clinical context of the science that treats of the origin, nature, properties and effects of poisons, of their detection in the organs or tissues, of their antidotes, and of the treatment of diseases due to poisoning. The failure of your cytochrome P-450 phase I detox system is toxicogenic or tending to produce poisons internally.

A toxin is any toxic matter generated in living or dead organisms or any of a class of more or less unstable poisonous compounds elaborated by animal, vegetable or bacterial organisms and acting as causative agents in many diseases. usually after an incubation period. The toxins, in your case, are EXCESSIVE FREE RADICAL MEDIATED/INDUCED that over-accumulate in nervous and muscle tissue, leading to wasting and destruction of that tissue.

Simply and elegantly put, you are being progressively poisoned to death. Free radicals also know as REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES, when produced in excess, become POISONS to the maintainance, function and integrity of living tissue.

In free radical biology and medicine, when the net accumulation of free radicals or random oxygen species (ROS) occurs faster than their rate of removal at specific sites, tissue damage occurs with compromise in cell, tissue and organ function. But, it is normal in all tissues for ROS to be involved as free radical storms or cascades to break down normal tissue so thet it may be replaced, as part of positive nitrogen balances in anabolism; the single and double strand replacements of polypeptide chains are involvied in normal, day to day protein synthesis and cellular repair following ROS damage.

It must first have a mechanism to break down tissues in order to build the tissues and its systems back up. ROS release and damage is part of that normal process. Free radical activity is a necessary part of all growth and repair processes in human metabolism because all tissues have to be broken down first in order to be repaired later. In degenerative or catabolic states, called CATABOLISM, involving negative nitrogen balances and protein wasting, there is excessive release of ROS or mounting free radical bursts in tissues that waste instead of serving as a basis for later repair of that same tissue.

When this happens, the free radical bursts with ROS release, become POISON RELEASERS with each separate free radical at that point becoming a POISON.

[Johonny]

15. Wait

you don't use silicone but you use glass? You know glass is just SiO2 also.

[KlatooBNikto]

20. You are mistaking silicone which is an organic molecule with silicon

which is an inorganic element.

[Johonny]

28. No

Silicone is semi-organic chain which contains SiO2 in a chain. Sure there are some organic groups on it. Pretty sure I'm not confusing it with silicon the element.

[KlatooBNikto]

32. Silicones contain repeat units of Si--O--Si as the backbone with

side groups containing C--H in various configurations.This is a far cry from having SiO2 in the chain.

[radwriter0555]

4. The top scientists I know, and I know a couple say that silicone continues

to be an inert substance.

Teflon however, is cancerous, and moreso, PLASTICS. Plastics are the true cancer causing agents affecting every aspect of our DNA, and I mean that LITERALLY.

Plastics in particular to be concerned with are those put in microwaves. When put in a microwave and in contact with food, plastics change radically and once ingested, affect your DNA forever, and not in a good way.

Top research scientist Doc at harvard telling me this scared the crap out of me.

[Dookus]

5. hard to say

Teflon has been in widespread use for well over 40 years, so it's unlikely any recent rise in disease can be traced back to it.

Breast cancer is another tough one. It's known that women with no or few pregnancies have an increased risk for breast cancer - and we know women today have far fewer pregnancies than in the past.

A lot of the increase in autism is likely the result of better diagnosis.

Without specific tests showing that the substances you mention cause the diseases you mention, it's just pure speculation, which isn't a very helpful scientific tool.

[KlatooBNikto]

8. Is there even research that has determined how much of these chemicals are

present in the U.S. population?

[Dookus]

10. I don't know....

but probably, yeah.

I don't doubt that modern synthetic chemicals can be dangerous, and probably contribute to disease in the general population.

But I think specifying certain chemicals and linking them with certain diseases just on a hunch isn't productive.

[KlatooBNikto]

25. To me our approach to these chemicals should be the same as our

approach to GWB. Suspect the worst and the son of a gun(s) will go you one better!

[KT2000]

26. those studies are few

and hard to get through.
Washington state just did a study on farmworkers and their blood levels of pesticides - it was bad!

Look at the site for Environmental Working Group:
http://www.ewg.org

they have done a study that measured the level of certain chemicals in people. not sure if they did blood and/or fat tissue.

The problem with Tefln is twofold. Heated to a high temp it emits a toxic gas (warnings are issued that it should not be used around birds as the gas will kill them). Also as Teflon ages it flakes off and is ingested.

Chemicals do not have just a dose/response toxicity concern.
Some chemicals mimic hormones and can alter the development of fetuses (especially sensitive to that is the developing neurological system, BRAIN DAMAGE) and are suspected of causing cancers - breast, ovarian, prostrate, uterine, cervical.

[FogerRox]

36. Male sperm counts gave dropped in half since 1947---does that fit?

[wideopen]

9. I am sure this is the case

This is such a logical conclusion I am suprised EVERYBODY hasn't try realized it. We are allowing industry to fuel our economy, with gov. complicity,by destroying our health and enviroment. Look at the players;chem co.'s,health care,ins. co.'s,oil,war,etc.

[bonito]

11. Yes I'm a caregiver for my wife

7 years now and nobody can really define her condition, been every where in fl. closest dx is ms. but nobody believes it, nor I, but I will not give up doing the best I can,( such IS life)what bothers me most is they blame her for her condition because they can't dx it, its in her head, stupid people, We've been married for over 30 years I'd know. well any way I could wright a book on our journey. all I really want to say is I hope we can live and learn to correct our mistakes.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

17. In case you don't go back and check posts as they appear... link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=228&topic_id=3890&mesg_id=3907

[bonito]

29. Thanks I think

I will check this out. the best i can. Thank you!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

31. You are welcome... and I recommend you read here,

www.lef.org

http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-077.shtml
Multiple Sclerosis
Updated: 07/09/2004

* Symptoms
* Epidemiology
* Etiology
* Diagnosis
* Prognosis
* Treatment
* Daily Supplement Protocol


www.nutritionfocus.com

www.alternativemedicine.com

www.vitaminshoppe.com

[calico1]

34. bonito, you might want to do some research on

gluten sensitivity if you already haven't. I mention it because I am gluten sensitive myself and the authors of most of my books on that subject talk about all the illnesses they believe gluten is linked to (they include Autism and MS). Among my symptoms were joint pain, eczema, memory loss and a number of digestive problems. Once the gluten was eliminated from my diet these symptoms disappeared. It may not have anything to do at all with your wife's condition but its worth looking into.

[B. P. R. D.]

12. Home | Discussion Forums | Articles | Demopedia (BETA) | Campaigns

[Imalittleteapot]

13. No scientic smarts here, but I agree and would like to

add my suspicion of nail polish and hair color to the breast cancer issue, and a host of chemical insectides and fertilizers to increased cancer.

[Johonny]

14. Silicone

is natural. SiO2 found in nature. Only dangerous as a particulate. Very unlikely to be extremely harmful or life on earth not possible.

Teflon. Harder to say. Strong C-F bond makes it rather chemically inert. Fluorine is not a good leaving group making it unlikely to be a mutagen. However upon heating can release C-Fs which I think are a little scary.


My gut chemical instinct says care more about the perchlorate in your drinking water than these two things!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

18. Sandra Cabot M.D. on supporting liver function in

today's toxic environments.....


http://www.liverdoctor.com/03_detoxpathways.asp <More>



Toxin list: metabolic end products, micro organisms, contaminants/pollutants, insecticides, pesticides, food additives, drugs, alcohol.

Phase One - Detoxification Pathway
An example of the phase one pathway is the Cytochrome P-450 mixed function oxidase enzyme pathway. These enzymes reside on the membrane system of the liver cells (called Hepatocytes).

Human liver cells possess the genetic code for many isoenzymes of P-450 whose synthesis can be induced upon exposure to specific chemicals. This provides a mechanism of protection from a wide variety of toxic chemicals.

To put it simply, this pathway converts a toxic chemical into a less harmful chemical. This is achieved by various chemical reactions (such as oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis), and during this process free radicals are produced which, if excessive, can damage the liver cells. Antioxidants (such as vitamin C and E and natural carotenoids) reduce the damage caused by these free radicals. If antioxidants are lacking and toxin exposure is high, toxic chemicals become far more dangerous. Some may be converted from relatively harmless substances into potentially carcinogenic substances.

Excessive amounts of toxic chemicals such as pesticides can disrupt the P-450 enzyme system by causing over activity or what is called 'induction' of this pathway. This will result in high levels of damaging free radicals being produced.

[KlatooBNikto]

23. Wrong.Silicone is very different from silicon, the element found in nature

as part of sand, Silicon Dioxide. Silicone, with an e at the end is a very different animal altogether. It is synthesized as an organic molecule and is very stable.How stable it is in the presence of bodily fluids is open to question.

[Johonny]

30. hmm

you are clearly wrong. Silicone is not an organic molecule. Silicone is a semi-organic SiO2 chain and is in fact not a different animal all together. It's a rubberized glass. Which no surprise why glass companies make it! The only worry with it would i guess by at high temperature the silicone breaking off organic groups as free radicals.

[KlatooBNikto]

35. I suggest you read up on your organic chemistry then. What does

semi-organic mean? Does silicone occur in nature? or is it a synthesized molecule? Silicones are elastomers because they have high molecular weights and have amorphous structures that give them high elongations when pulled. Try doing that with SiO2!

[KlatooBNikto]

33. Silicone is not natural at all.It is a synthesized organic molecule.

[applegrove]

19. I know nothing about that. Educate me!

[KlatooBNikto]

24. I can't. I am not even qualified. That is why I am asking people at

DU to educate us all.

[KT2000]

21. There ARE studies

lots of studies, especially in Europe where healthcare is more preventative and corporations don't have complete control yet.

The studies that do show problems with synthetics/chemicals are not publicized as much due to corporate media. You will have to search out information you need.

I encourage you to keep up on Environmental Health Perspectives, publication of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, partof NIH. You can access their archives for free now. One example this month is the study on organochlorine pesticides triggering Lupus.
But you will be shocked at what has been found and we are doing nothing about. Worse - we are still slathering our kids in some dangerous chemicals and poisoning the air in our neighborhoods with pesticides.

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/113-3/toc.html

Take an inventory of the chemical products you have in your home. Write down their names and search the web - you will have to get past the industry junk first though.

[DARE to HOPE]

22. What a sweet partner you are to your beloved wife...

and the both of you a model of marriage our country so desperately needs. :-)

As to the possibility of ms or something else--we are poisoning our nervous systems with many of these chemicals, giving rise to diseases like MS and Parkinson's. Allergy often underlies a lot of it, as well as chemical poisoning.

BUT--there is a great deal of hope out there. Look up a good health food store and/or practitioner like a naprapath, chiropractor, or homeopath. There are many herbs and grasses which will detox the body. Look up one of the cutting edge, nutrition based cancer centers if you need additional help.

Then--simplify your diet. Organic eggs, scrambled in butter and coconut oil, is a very healing food. Coconut oil really rebuilds the body's cells (as do organic eggs) and is very healing for the nerves, especially along with vitamin B-complex. Diet pop is poison (NutraSweet destroys the nerves)--find a good source of clean water any way you can and drink that (or green tea.) Throw out the sugar and put in cleansing organic fruits instead. Vegetables like onion, garlic, ginger build up the body, leafy greens, celery and cucumber clean us out.

Knowledge is power, dear friends. The more you talk with others and read on your own, the more empowered you both will feel. Doctors know little besides cutting things out, or giving you MORE chemicals for your body to clear in the drugs they sell you.

God bless you both. I also so believe in prayer. Ask Him, and He will lead you. And after 7 years--you need to both do something FUN. God be with you.

[KT2000]

27. Some more GOOD sites

FYI:

http://www.ehhi.org Environmental health issues - board includes Yale doctors concerned about health issues and chemicals

www.pesticideinfo.org/Index.html pesticide database

http://www.childenvironment.org hope this is still active - this site has good info on the health effects on children from pesticides etc.