Avoidance After Diagnosis

Humans and animals live in a soup of toxic environmental chemicals found in the air, water, and food systems. Even the womb offers scant protection from toxic chemicals and emerging research is indicating that early life exposures may put humans at risk for certain cancers throughout the lifespan.

There are several cancers caused directly by occupational exposures to dangerous chemicals, yet for many with a cancer diagnosis, it is difficult to prove causality from exposure to a particular environmental chemical.

Peace of Mind
After a diagnosis of cancer, there may be a tendency to view every item touched, ingested, or inhaled as the primary culprit. While decreasing exposure to these chemicals has not been proven to prevent cancer recurrence, there is a certain peace of mind found when proactively engaging in behaviors that reduce exposures.

Toxicity vs Altering Gene Expression

Most products, and the chemicals in them are placed on the consumer marketplace with limited pre-market testing. Governmental agencies intervene if there are reports of harm. Using the principle that “the dose equals the poison”, these governmental agencies conduct toxicity (the ability of a substance to cause obvious harm in animals and humans) studies on environmental chemicals to determine the levels of contamination that are considered acceptable. However, researchers working in the field of developmental biology have found that even low levels of certain environmental chemicals, called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), can detrimentally act on cells without causing overt toxicity. Gene expression controlling immunity, metabolism, hormones, and other crucial functions can be altered, which then leads to disease, often times, decades after exposure.

Be cautious and proactive without being paranoid

Unfortunately, in the current regulatory environment, the burden to avoid toxic chemicals is placed on the consumer public. And at first glance, the number of recommendations may seem daunting. It is best to start with small, achievable changes and build from there. For some that may mean tossing old makeup and thoroughly researching products on recommended websites. For others, focusing on changing out cooking pots and pans would be the place to begin. Some may consider changing out a wood burning stove to improve indoor air quality (some rebate programs exist).

Ultimately, the market will respond to consumer demand for safer products:

• Demand for organic produce continues to increase (USDA Article)

Goal: Limit Exposure

The recommendations found in this toolkit are based on avoiding exposures as much as possible. Over time, limiting exposures to toxins reduces the body burden of harmful environmental chemicals, which can help protect and enhance health.