Ironic that I'm listening to Barbara Kingsolver's excellent "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" as this report gets released. This "new" news about the dangers of chemicals in our food, water and air isn't surprising. It is yet another confirmation about the importance of being vigilant about what we take into our bodies, especially for pregnant women and children.
And this time it comes from mainstream science and medical worlds: The President's Cancer Panel, the current members of which were appointed by President George W. Bush. So, we're not talking about alternative medicine , organic food eating, Prius driving ex-hippies extremists here!
Nicholas Kristoff of the NY Times says in an op-ed piece today that the report is a " warning that our lackadaisical approach to regulation may have far-reaching consequences for our health (and) calls on America to rethink the way we confront cancer, including much more rigorous regulation of chemicals. "
"In particular, the report warns about exposures to chemicals during pregnancy, when risk of damage seems to be greatest. Noting that 300 contaminants have been detected in umbilical cord blood of newborn babies, the study warns that: “to a disturbing extent, babies are born ‘pre-polluted.’ ”
The report blames weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority, as well as the existing regulatory presumption that chemicals are safe unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary.
“Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety,” the report says. It adds: “Many known or suspected carcinogens are completely unregulated.”
Kristoff continues: "Some 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and they include Democrats and Republicans alike. Protecting ourselves and our children from toxins should be an effort that both parties can get behind — if enough members of Congress are willing to put the public interest ahead of corporate interests...One reason for concern is that some cancers are becoming more common, particularly in children. We don’t know why that is, but the proliferation of chemicals in water, foods, air and household products is widely suspected as a factor. I’m hoping the President’s Cancer Panel report will shine a stronger spotlight on environmental causes of health problems — not only cancer, but perhaps also diabetes, obesity and autism."
Watch to see how industry responds to this report with spin and counter-claims.
Some of the reports recommendations:
¶Particularly when pregnant and when children are small, choose foods, toys and garden products with fewer endocrine disruptors or other toxins. (Information about products is at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com or www.healthystuff.org.)
¶For those whose jobs may expose them to chemicals, remove shoes when entering the house and wash work clothes separately from the rest of the laundry.
¶Filter drinking water.
¶Store water in glass or stainless steel containers, or in plastics that don’t contain BPA or phthalates (chemicals used to soften plastics). Microwave food in ceramic or glass containers.
¶Give preference to food grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and growth hormones. Avoid meats that are cooked well-done.
¶Check radon levels in your home. Radon is a natural source of radiation linked to cancer.
And, I would add, read (or listen to it on CD) Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" - it's an entertaining and educating book about her family's adventures in raising food and eating locally, and why such "radical" actions are important and not as hard as you think it might be.
Also, anything by Michael Pollan - who's food mantra is: "Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much."
Read Kristoff here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/opinion/06kristof.html?src=me&ref=homepage
Find the report here: http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/pcp.htm
"Animal, Vegetables, Miracles - A Year of Food Life " by Barbara Kingsolver here:
http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/
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