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