M3.1 Biomonitoring
In the CNN news report titled "Body Burdens" of Potentially Toxic Chemicals, I was first surprised by how much blood is needed for testing the body burden test to assess for the quantity of chemical exposures. Especially for neonates or pediatrics, 120cc of blood is a significant amount which could certainly cause more issues for the patient. The levels of chemicals were higher in the children than the adults. This is not surprising considering that pediatric patients are at higher risk and more easily susceptible to exposures.
Rowan's level of PPDE (flame-retardants) were almost seven times the level than that of his parents. The neurotoxins affect overall brain function. The EPA does not research or thoroughly test every chemical used in our environment. Moreover, even banned items are still found in some individual's body burden's blood tests, through cosmetics, products from other countries, and even not properly tested items. Although the results are alarming, they are not very surprising. The number of artificial, man-made products continues to increase, although review processes are not continuing to grow alongside them. The problem will only continue to grow, as companies try to make more money by creating cheaper profitable products, the lack of policy change, and lack of "healthy" product options available on the market.
Rowan's level of PPDE (flame-retardants) were almost seven times the level than that of his parents. The neurotoxins affect overall brain function. The EPA does not research or thoroughly test every chemical used in our environment. Moreover, even banned items are still found in some individual's body burden's blood tests, through cosmetics, products from other countries, and even not properly tested items. Although the results are alarming, they are not very surprising. The number of artificial, man-made products continues to increase, although review processes are not continuing to grow alongside them. The problem will only continue to grow, as companies try to make more money by creating cheaper profitable products, the lack of policy change, and lack of "healthy" product options available on the market.
It seems to me that consumers have more faith in companies to put safety over profits than they should. I assume if consumers really knew what they were being exposed to and what their children were being exposed to, there would be a heavy backlash and push for stronger pre-market regulation. Do you think there is anything we as consumers or professionals can do to bring awareness to this issue?
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