| Almost all of us know someone who has
| |
| | People are also exposed to toxic
|
| cancer, or who has died from it. We all
| |
| | chemicals everyday through commonly used
|
| know the anguish, suffering and grief
| |
| | products in the home, such as perfumes,
|
| that it causes. It has become so common
| |
| | shampoos, air fresheners, cleaning
|
| that we treat it as if it's a part of
| |
| | products, furniture and appliances,
|
| life that we just can't avoid.
| |
| | frying pans and food and beverage
|
| People are being diagnosed with cancer at
| |
| | containers.
|
| unprecedented rates. Melanomas, breast
| |
| | Even our food can contain chemicals that
|
| and prostate cancers, colon cancer,
| |
| | are harmful to human health, through
|
| testicular cancer and multiple myeloma
| |
| | pesticide sprays on fruits and
|
| are all increasing. During the 25 years
| |
| | vegetables, or by being grown and
|
| from 1976 to 2001, the age-adjusted
| |
| | processed in ways that prevent key
|
| incidence of cancer among males increased
| |
| | cancer-fighting compounds from being
|
| by 27.7%, and the female rate increased
| |
| | created.
|
| by 17.8%. (Canadian Cancer Statistics
| |
| | Astonishingly, you can read entire tracts
|
| 2006)
| |
| | about cancer published by the American
|
| After examining 10 million people over a
| |
| | Cancer Society and the word carcinogen
|
| 70-year period, a recent Swedish study
| |
| | never comes up. These seemingly
|
| found that 90% of cancers were caused by
| |
| | authoritative agencies have framed the
|
| the environment, where "environment"
| |
| | cause of the disease as a problem of
|
| means everything outside our bodies that
| |
| | behavior rather than as one of exposure
|
| can make its way in, including tobacco
| |
| | to disease-causing agents.
|
| smoke, toxic chemicals, alcohol,
| |
| | - Dr. Sandra Steingraber says: Chemicals
|
| radiation from nuclear power plants, and
| |
| | have replaced bacteria and viruses as the
|
| the sun, processed foods high in sugars,
| |
| | main threat to health. The diseases we
|
| fats and additives, some pharmaceutical
| |
| | are beginning to see as the major causes
|
| drugs, medical x-rays, and more.
| |
| | of death in the latter part of (the
|
| These are avoidable toxins, which should
| |
| | 1900's) and into the 21st century are
|
| not be getting into our bodies. With
| |
| | diseases of chemical origin.
|
| changed policies, and industrial
| |
| | Yes, the environment is the leading cause
|
| agricultural practices that focus on
| |
| | of cancer. Research in genetic and
|
| prevention and precaution, and healthier
| |
| | hereditary diseases is starting to
|
| diets and other personal habits, we can
| |
| | demonstrate that cancer is often promoted
|
| prevent this epidemic.
| |
| | by the environment rather than by genetic
|
| Toxic Nation
| |
| | predisposition. Yet, we have the power to
|
| In 2005, Environmental Defence Canada
| |
| | influence our environment. We can choose
|
| released a report called Toxic Nation,
| |
| | the chemicals that enter our houses or
|
| which summarized the results of 'body
| |
| | the quality of the food we breathe, the
|
| burden' tests on 11 Canadians from coast
| |
| | amount of exercise we practice, and even
|
| to coast, including renowned wildlife
| |
| | the quality of our sleep, which is
|
| artist Robert Bateman. Each had blood and
| |
| | essential for cell regeneration. A factor
|
| urine tested for 88 toxic chemicals, many
| |
| | rarely discussed is also the quality of
|
| of them carcinogens. Sixty chemicals
| |
| | our thoughts and our general 'happiness'.
|
| showed up in the combined results,
| |
| | Our immune system 'listens' to our
|
| including 41 known or suspected
| |
| | general well-being and fights depression.
|
| cancer-causing substances such as
| |
| | Negative thoughts have been demonstrated
|
| benzene, PVC, formaldehyde and some
| |
| | to lower the immune system's ability to
|
| pesticides.
| |
| | fight disease and rid itself of the
|
| No one deliberately chooses to be exposed
| |
| | ever-present bacteria and cancer cells.
|
| to man-made carcinogens, except perhaps
| |
| | In this view, it becomes important to
|
| for smokers. The chemicals that end up in
| |
| | monitor our thoughts, to find activities
|
| our bodies are a by-product of many
| |
| | that promote well-being, such as
|
| industrial processes, released from
| |
| | meditation and relaxation. In this way,
|
| facilities such as pulp & paper and
| |
| | our toxic environment will not find a
|
| chemical plants into the surrounding air,
| |
| | hold inside the body to develop cancer
|
| water and soil. Agricultural chemicals
| |
| | while the immune system is strengthened
|
| and emissions from nuclear facilities
| |
| | by a positive outlook on life. Think
|
| also contribute to our toxic load.
| |
| | about it.
|
