breast cancer risk zero until 1970s - Canada and Greenland

new_direction

Perfluorinated compounds are related to breast cancer risk in Greenlandic Inuit: a case control study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21978366

Genes can't explain this. They might be the reason someone more easily develops cancer when exposed to certain Chemicals - but close to zero people got breast cancer in these areas before 1970.

mercuryfilled polar bears, rising temperatures and Water, dioxins in fish - power and money above nature - and us?

So it would be interesting to find out all the sources of fluoride. Maybe I will post later. This is not a battle we all do together, but one we have to do individually, i guess.

 

dlb823

I had to look this up to be sure, but it looks like PFC's are primarily in Teflon and Scotchguard.

And, yes, so often it's profits over people and the environment.  Very sad.

Thanks for the link!    Deanna

leggo

Very interesting link. Thanks. I think Teflon is responsible for several diseases. THROW THOSE PANS AWAY!!!! (and all the nylon, non-stick, and plastic kitchen tools). If I could rip the scotchguarded seats out of my car, that would be awesome too. You can't even ask for a car without it and if you ask me, the sh*t doesn't even work.  I agree Deanna. Money-grubbing companies. Ugh. I wonder if they'll ever grow a conscience.

leggo

While we're on the subject, I think the MOST important thing anyone can do is use clean, filtered water for drinking and cooking. The look, smell and taste of municipal water is seriously sketchy...no matter how safe they say it is. 

new_direction

http://www.sharecare.com/health/what-is-bioaccumulation/can-toxic-bioaccumulation-be-prevented

"It is difficult to totally avoid the bioaccumulation of toxic substances in the developed world. In the last century, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been formulated and, in the United States, billions of pounds of harmful chemicals are dispersed annually. The Center for Disease Control says their research has shown high levels of harmful chemicals in almost all individuals, even in newborns and in mothers' milk. We also accumulate natural environmental toxins such as mold and radon. The following are some ways to help prevent or reduce the bioaccumulation of toxic substances:

• Do not put harmful substances (e.g., used motor oil) into the water system or storm drains. Contact a recycling center for methods of safe disposal.
• Avoid toxic chemical pesticides.
• Eat certified organic foods when possible. Always wash fruits and vegetables before consuming.
• Avoid fishing or spending time in contaminated areas.
• Avoid plastics.
• Use cleaning products that are gentle on the environment.
• Choose fish wisely, as many contain unsafe levels of toxins."

"Spending time in contaminated areas"
"Avoid plastics"

- so this is not even about consumption but exposure. It makes it almost impossible not to avoid. Ive always been suspicious towards my computer - i feel better when I'm not around it for too long. Is it harmful to just TOUCH plastic?

 

leggo

Yes, exposure. That's the quandry. I believe that my cancer was caused by stress and exposure. The stress I can control, the exposure, not so much. I try to eat organic, but often wonder, in the grand scheme of things, what's the point. Sure, natural pesticides, no GMO, etc., but if the crops are being irrigated with our water supply, what's the point. You know, the water supply to which people dump their garbage, toxic substances, medications. It makes your head spin. I recently read an article which made me seriously reconsider spending all that extra money on organic foods. It just made me think that it might not really be worth it, considering all the factors. Hopefully, someone will convince me to keep eating organic, because as things stand, with the state of our planet, I'm seriously starting to look for a real reason to continue to do so. I'd certainly like to spend three or four times less on my grocery bill. 

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2011/07/18/mythbusting-101-organic-farming-conventional-agriculture/

dlb823

http://healthybody.buzz/organic-food-better/#sthas...

And, leggo, I don't think the article you posted addresses the issue of GMOs, which virtually all non-organic seeds are these days, giving us an unhealthy dose of built-in herbicides and pesticides.

leggo

I recently read an article in the NATIONAL POST that GMO's are used in organic farming as well. We just don't monitor or have a test for it. That's the other thing about organic farming. I suspect an organic farmer is going to get away with what he can get away with. YKWIM? If they can up their profit, their gonna. I'm at a total loss. Organic is the less of two evils, but still.

dlb823

I'm sure that could be true for large commercial operations that may also do some organic farming.  I'd like to believe that smaller organic farmers, especially the ones you find at farmers markets, care deeply about their product and want it to be as wholesome and organically grown as possible, so don't use Monsanto seeds.  But I could be wrong.  I know I've occasionally read articles about the pressure Monsanto puts on farmers who attempt to use heirloom type seeds.  But then again, you never know what interest group is really behind any study or article, so I take a lot of them with a grain of salt.  For example, I recently read that it a fast food association that responsible for an article trashing avocados.  Pretty hard to find fault with an avocado, but that's the kind of stupid PR stuff that's out there. 

leggo

What you say, Deanna, makes so much sense. Unfortunately, the inhospitable climate where I live, farmers' markets are an option for 4 weeks out of the year. The rest of the time, I have to rely on the grocer's word that the products are organic. What they are claiming IS organic looks a little too perfect to actually be. Might be that I'm a little jaded, but I'm a little skeptical that the bin of organic peppers are all the same size, shape and pretty, blemish-free color. Peppers I grow in my yard aren't pretty. Not that that's safe either. We back onto a green space that the city is constantly spraying for vermin and mosquitos with "safe, natural pesticides". Right. If it's killing a gopher and/or killing its reproductive system....well.

dlb823

I had a feeling when I mentioned farmers markets, that probably wouldn't be an option for everyone.  I'm fortunate living in California, where there are not only an abundance of farmers markets, but many of them (at least in this area) are certified organic farmers markets.

And I know what you mean about having to trust grocers.  I ran into that just the other day when neither the regular zucchini nor the organic zucchini had any stickers on them.  And they looked absolutely identical.  The produce guy assured me that they just forgot to put the sticker on the organic ones, LOL.  Needless to say, I bought something else that wasn't questionable.  I've also noticed quite a bit of organic produce from Mexico in some of our markets, and I'm suspicious of that too, because I know not all countries have the same standards for organic.

leggo

You are very lucky to live where you do. Wouldn't it be ironic, considering the title of the article, because I'm in Canada and we rely so heavily on other countries' produce, that's the reason I'm here? Ugh. Could make myself nuts thinking about it all. Still on the fence about continuing to buy organic. I'll have to see what happens. As things stand lately, not sure I can justify the outrageous price anymore.  

new_direction

I found this great site (but it's in Danish - perhaps you will be able to use Google translate and read it?)
http://www.forbrugerkemi.dk/kemi-i-din-hverdag "chemistry in your daily life"

It says here that computers will "excrete" flame retardants and that there is an American study which showed a correlation between blood concentrations and how often someone washed their hands.

The site is really informative about all the chemistry that is in our environment and that surrounds us. In the left site it lists all cat.egories.

Sadly it seems impossible to stay away from it all but I'm starting to think it's just as important to try and reduce this as it is what we eat...

 

new_direction

The human experiment: A documentary that explores chemicals found in everyday household products.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1802529/

trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WvhB5hkIjc

 

leggo

Thanks for the link. My family doctor told me about a year ago not to drink/eat anything that isn't naturally orange, like sports drinks, kool-aid, jello, kraft dinner, etc. Apparently that color comes from flame retardant. How companies get away with this stuff is beyond me. Remember Subway and their "yoga mat" bread debacle? These scum companies don't change anything until they're caught. Makes me painfully aware how nobody's looking out for us but ourselves.

What really irks me, is Subway ran their apology campaign and everyone just accepted it and it's as busy as ever. May they burn in hell for filling kids' (who live on take-out) bodies with toxic foam.

new_direction

I had not heard about that! I'm so angry, disappointed and sad people can do this intentionally.

I just saw "the human experiment" has their own website and links to informative sites; http://thehumanexperimentmovie.com/learning/

The only way out of this is speading the word and have people boycotting the unsafe products.

new_direction

I know this is not scientific but we know an older couple. Both are in the late 80s. They have been self-supplying all their life when it comes to vegetables and fruits. They are both very active still.

If there is also doubt whether organic is safe i'm starting to think i should do the same; grow all vegetables myself. I know it takes some Work but it is both safe and cheap - can't find a proper excuse not to do it when we have a garden.

kimag

Interesting discussion about food and effects... I also wonder sometimes is organic I see at the store really organic or just priced as such... farmer markets also an option only from late may to september and pricy... I try to buy organic for my youngest as he is less then a 2 but if i would want to buy organic for all of us family of 5, males except me eating like crazy I would have to go on the street in the middle of the month begging for food ... I wish I could do that, I wish it was not 3-4 times more then regular food... we do avoid processed food, I try to teach my boys what lays behind Safeway colorful cakes, what seats in bright blue slurrpy etc. Growing our own food - quite hard as vegetation period in ALberta is short and it is hard to get good sun in our backyard..

and yet I cannot happen to notice from my own research that old generation is 10 time healthier then I, I saw many older people like 90 and more when doing my university practice and they all looked much better then my generation but when we chatted about diet and so on I learned that it was mainly veggies, some fruit a lot of sour cabbage and pickles and a lot of barley, millet, buckwheat instead of potato and bread, if bread then wholewheat etc. and it was all produced by them locally... I feel sometimes we should by a farm and grow everything ourselves, go back in time and learn how to get all we need but then for this I need to wait for my LOTTO ticket to win

Anonymous

What a great discussion!  Thanks for sharing!

leggo

Kimag, I know what you mean. I have two teenage boys in the house who empty the fridge every day. The organic price tag is enormous, and if I could be sure I'm getting what I'm paying for, it probably wouldn't bother me. I would love to know why the cost of organic is so high. Is the seed that hard to find? Certainly the actual farming of it should be less, not more, right? Or is it because that growing organic results in waste from pests? Is it because hardly anyone buys it? I can't quite figure out why it's three times the price, though I suspect it's the latter. 

 Our climate sure makes it difficult to grow our own stuff. Herbs and stuff we can grow indoors, but anything else just fails with such a short growing season. For one or two months of the year we can eat well. (Maybe....doubtful about that even with the gopher and mosquito spraying). I guess the other option would be to can and preserve, but I really can't stand the texture and taste of a mooshy vegetable, nor do I want to go through the work. What's a salad without some yummy lettuce? We used to buy our meat and eggs from the Hutterite colony close to home, thinking it was better some how,  just because they claimed it to be. Found out they use antibiotics on their chickens just like everybody else. I was thoroughly disappointed. I hope they haven't been using hormones too, or I get to have my boys growing breasts to look forward to. Sigh.

If you win the lotto, I'm making a trip to your farm!

leggo

New direction, thanks for the link on The Learning Center. I signed up, so did one of my sons. Waiting to see what he has to say about the film. He's getting pissy about finding healthy food and products too. Yesterday we had a long conversation about the cheap, crappy, made in China plastic inner workings of the coffee maker. He went online and ordered some ceramic cone to put over a mug for coffee. I had to laugh when I told him it is Made in China and he's going to have to use questionable paper filters. 

new_direction

I have a guess why it's much more expensive.
I saw an article once, somebody spoke about organic eggs; The farmers/suppliers do not earn more (relatively) - the stores do! They know there are buying costumers no matter what and take a much higher price than necessary...

Don't know if Google translate will work here; http://politiken.dk/mad/madnyt/ECE821273/derfor-er-oeko-aeg-dobbelt-saa-dyre/

Leggo - I guess we have to be very imaginative to cut as much out as possible. But a coffee solution has to be found