Guest guest Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 http://mercola.com/2004/mar/3/toxic_world.htm Dr. Rapp Gives You a Wake-Up Call You Can’t Afford to Miss in " Our Toxic World " we learned that everyday we are exposed to numerous chemicals, many without even knowing, that wreak havoc upon our health. These chemicals saturate our environment from the air we breathe to the water we drink. They’re in the homes we live in and the products we use, and all of us are at risk. Dr. Doris Rapp, board certified in environmental medicine, pediatrics and allergy, has written a highly important new book, Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call, that thoroughly addresses this topic--it is truly " a wake up call " that we all need. Below, Dr. Rapp discusses how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the toxins that are so prevalent in today’s world, and discusses the far-reaching implications that these chemicals could have on humanity. Why should people read " Our Toxic World " ? There are epidemics of illnesses like cancer, autism, attention deficit disorder (ADD), muscular conditions and infertility, and many people are unaware that these epidemics can be due to chemical exposures. The general view in our society is to treat disease after it occurs-- " Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call " emphasizes prevention and this is a necessity as these toxins are so widespread. Who would benefit from reading this book? Anyone who reads this book will pick up numerous tidbits that will help their personal health. So, the general public would benefit, children included, along with anyone who is experiencing debilitating health including sexual dysfunction. People living near toxic waste sites or other hazardous dumps would also benefit greatly. Scientists would like the book because there are many documented references, though the book is written in everyday language. Anyone who is not feeling up to par could read this book and it is very likely they will be able to find out why they’re not feeling their best. Are there certain basic steps (nutritional, emotional, environmental or otherwise) that you suggest any person should take immediately to protect their health? There are two basic steps that everyone should take: Take measures to stop polluting your body (at home, school and work) Get the stored toxins or chemicals out of your body Our bodies are basically toxic waste dumps--there are over 90 chemicals in everyone’s body. What most people don’t realize is that chemicals can affect any part of their body, resulting in all kinds of illnesses beyond those that are typically thought of as chemical sensitivities or allergies. Some of the basic steps to stop polluting your body include: Get an air purifier for your home Get a water purifier for both your kitchen faucet (drinking water) and shower Don’t microwave your food or baby bottles Avoid food in plastic containers or wrappings Don’t use high heat under Teflon cookware Eat organic foods and avoid GM and irradiated foods as much as possible Buy natural fabrics Use a non-synthetic mattress with 100 percent cotton sheets Use natural personal care products (pure soaps, non-fluoride toothpaste, natural sanitary products) and cosmetics (lipsticks, foundations, etc.) For infants, use cotton diapers (if you must use disposable diapers, Tushies brand is better than the others) Use only natural cleaning products Use natural pesticide control Run (don’t walk) away from chemical exposures (exposure to even a tiny amount of toxin for seconds can affect your body or an unborn infants Read labels on products to be sure the ingredients are natural If you’re considering vaccinations, look into the pros and cons before making a decision Consider using muscle testing or pendulums to determine which products are better for you. Though scientific studies certainly need to be done to determine why pendulums or dowsing works, when you’re looking for a fast, easy and safe way to sort among various products, like various brands of vitamin C supplements for example, it appears that, in the hands of some, it is possible that pendulums are better than a guess. To begin ridding your body of toxins: Drink more water. You’ll urinate more and be able to eliminate more toxins, and it will help to soften your bowel movements so this waste is also eliminated more easily Use a wet or dry sauna to perspire (again removing more toxins) Make sure your house is environmentally safe. Use only natural disinfectants, deodorizers, furniture etc. Build up your immune system with nutrients, minerals and essential fatty acids A very few might have to consider removal of the metal fillings in their teeth How did you become interested in environmental medicine? I had been practicing pediatric allergy for about 25 years and thought I was very knowledgeable. I was even told that I had received the highest grade in the country when I took the national pediatric allergy board examinations. However, in everyday practice, traditional allergy wasn’t giving me the answers for some children. I realized that the typical accepted allergy tests missed many food allergies. I realized that there were better ways to practice allergy and any area of the body could be affected by dust, molds, foods, pollen and chemicals. If you could give our readers only one bit of advice from " Our Toxic World, " what would it be? If you become ill, find out what you ate, touched or smelled right before the onset of the symptoms. You may feel ill from exposure to a chemical within seconds and to dust, pollen, mold or food within 15 minutes to an hour. There can also be delayed reactions to foods that occur 8 to 24 hours or more after consumption, as in colitis, mouth ulcers and bed-wetting. Then realize that you don’t have to live with many illnesses. Learn what it is that is causing the problem and start living without it. You mention that sperm counts have dropped significantly from 1932 to 1998 and that some respected scientists have predicted that men will be sterile in 70 years. Do you think this is a real threat? Many studies unequivocally show that sperm counts are dropping all over the world. Right now they’ve dropped to about 35 million/ml, down from 125 million/ml in the ‘30s. When the sperm count reaches 25 million/ml, men can no longer reproduce. Many men don’t realize that minute amounts of chemical exposures can cause problems. Animal studies have shown problems at exposures of 1 part per billion or less. Men who fought in the Vietnam War and were exposed to Agent Orange (dioxin) have sperm that have been reported to be contaminated with the chemical today. When these men had children, their unborn child was therefore exposed to dioxin. Today about one in five couples cannot reproduce, and men are becoming impotent at younger and younger ages. There is clearly something wrong here. This is a major threat, and we can’t wait 50 years to find out what’s wrong. What can women (and men) of childbearing years do to protect their fertility and unborn babies? Men and women should do all of the steps mentioned in question #3, plus have their blood and urine checked for chemicals. Traditional medical doctors may not be familiar with these tests. If they cannot order the needed tests, you might need to look for a practitioner in the alternative medical field. If the tests show that you’re loaded with chemicals, you need to detoxify, or get rid of them, and build up your nutrition before trying to have a child. If you do these things you have a good chance of having a healthy baby. Further, you should follow these steps: Avoid herbicides and other pesticides as exposure to minuscule amounts while a baby is in the uterus can increase their risk of problems, such as developmental delays and body deformities Don’t remodel the nursery as even minute exposures to paint, carpet and other synthetics can harm a developing child As mentioned earlier, use cotton diapers or Tushies brand if you must use disposable diapers Use glass bottles for the formula Don’t microwave bottles of formula. The plastic chemicals released can cause girls to develop breasts at 7 years of age or earlier Don’t use formulas that contain GM ingredients, such as corn or soy Pregnant women should not use electric blankets or remain too close to the TV, as the radiation is not good for the developing child Avoid eating non-organic food, as they could be contaminated with pesticides Try to avoid going into polluted areas of your city or breathing polluted air when the lawn spray companies are in your neighborhood Don’t put freshly dry cleaned clothes in the bedroom, exposure to the these chemicals can cause problems for you and the baby Don’t wash your dog with flea solution or use a flea collar. The child of a pregnant woman who was exposed to the chemicals in these products has a five-fold increased risk of developing leukemia, lymphoma or a brain tumor by the age of 6 or 7 years Avoid tobacco smoke because it can increase the chance of a young child developing asthma later on What advice do you have for someone who suspects they have multiple chemical or food sensitivities? When you’re exposed to chemicals, they can affect four major areas of your body. These are the: Immune system: This results in infections, allergies, cancer, etc. Reproductive system: This affects the sex organs, causes infertility etc. Endocrine System: Often the cause of thyroid disease or diabetes. Brain and Nervous System: This can result in birth injuries and developmental delays. Chemicals also provide sensible reasons for some of the behavior problems, panic attacks, and violent and bizarre behaviors that we see today in children and adults. Start asking yourself, what did I eat just before I noticed I became ill. The answer is often quickly evident. Suspect your favorite food items. They are often the problem foods or beverages. Just stop them one at a time for at least five days--do not eat a speck of them. And then eat or drink that craved item on an empty stomach. Within an hour will see how or if it bothers you. You mention on your Web site that many personal care products, from shampoos to body lotions, contain toxins. What suggestions do you have for avoiding these toxins and seeking natural products? The cosmetic industry doesn’t have to tell anyone what ingredients are in their products. They call these " trade secrets. " You can get natural products at a health food store and find out more information by reading books by Samuel Epstein. Do you have plans to write another book? As I was writing " Our Toxic World " there was going to be a chapter about chemicals causing epidemics like ADHD, Alzheimer’s, obesity and many others. There was so much information that it’s now a book in itself titled " Chemicals Cause Epidemics. " It’s 300 pages with 500 references and should be available in six months or less. Further, I wrote " Our Toxic World " because I was perplexed by what we’re doing to our world. For instance, schools use pesticides that they know damage the brain and cause birth defects and cancer. We must ask why when less expensive, safer and better products (800-221-6188) are available. We shouldn’t put all the blame of increased asthma on cockroaches in the kitchen but rather think about the dangers of the chemicals used to kill the cockroaches. 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