This document discusses various sources of toxicity in the environment and consumer goods. It provides information on the prevalence of toxic chemicals used commercially and approved for foods. Several statistics are presented showing the widespread detection of chemicals in human samples. Common sources of toxins discussed include air pollutants, chemicals, and heavy metals. Specific chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and pesticides are examined in more detail regarding their sources and health effects.

1. Detoxification
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2. Toxicity in the Environment
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3. Toxicity in Consumer Goods
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4. 4

5. Toxicity
 Toxic exposure is unavoidable and exceeds the body's natural ability to remove toxic waste.
 The EPA estimates over 70,0000 chemicals are used commercially for agriculture, building
materials and consumer goods.
 3,000 chemicals are approved for use in our food directly.
 Over 10,000 chemicals are used in food processing, preserving and storage.
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6. Toxicity
 From 1999-2004 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found 219 different
chemicals in blood and urine; 75 were never seen before.
 From, 2007-2008, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) research detected 287 chemicals
in the umbilical cord blood of newborns.
 Of that total, 180 are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain
and nervous system and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development.
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7. Toxicity
 In 2009 the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals was released.
 The Fourth Report includes results for 75 chemicals measured for the first time in the U.S.
population.
 These chemicals are in the following groups:
 Acrylamide and glycidamide adducts
 Arsenic species and metabolites
 Environmental phenols, including bisphenol A and triclosan
 Perchlorate
 Perfluorinated chemicals polybrominated diphenyl ethers
 Volatile organic compounds
 Some additions to chemical groups previously measured
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8. Toxicity and Disease
 Environmental toxicity continues to worsen with each generation.
 The bioaccumulation of toxins has caused a new era of sickness, illness, and disease.
 Columbia University School of Public Health reports that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and
the accumulation of toxins.
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Health Effects

10. Toxic Symptoms and Health Effects
 Physical symptoms: fatigue, headache, stress, joint and muscle pain, frequent colds and flu,
allergies, hormone imbalance, chemical sensitivity, cold hands and feet, psoriasis and other
skin conditions, insomnia, dark circles under the eyes, depression and anxiety.
 Psychological symptoms: poor concentration, memory loss, mood changes, mental confusion,
brain fog and changes in behavior.
 All of these toxic symptoms are directly associated with MCS, Chronic Fatigue, Lyme,
Diabetes, Obesity, Osteoporosis, Cancer and autoimmune diseases.
 These diseases are direct results of living in a world overrun with toxins, chemicals, heavy
metals and environmental byproducts.
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11. Sources of Toxins
 Air Pollutants: Air Toxics
 Over 187 hazardous air pollutants
 Chemicals
 Pesticides, Phthalates, DDT, hydrofluoric acids, chlorine, and compounds such as methyl alcohol,
medications, and poisons
 Heavy metals
 Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Copper, Aluminum, Chromium
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12. Air Pollutants
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13. Global Air Pollution
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14. Deaths From Air Pollution
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15. Air Pollution
 Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological
materials that:
 Cause discomfort, disease, or death to humans
 Damage other living organisms such as food crops
 Damage the natural or built environment.
 Primary Pollutants produced by human activity include: Sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides,
carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates, persistent free radicals, toxic
metals, chlorofluorocarbons, ammonia, odors, radioactive pollutants, peroxyacetyl nitrate,
benzene, perchlorethlyene, methylene
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16. Chemical Air Pollutants
 Chemicals include volatile organic chemicals, chemicals used as pesticides and herbicides,
inorganic chemicals, and radionuclides.
 Many of these chemicals are used for a variety of purposes in the United States today.
 Chemicals produced by human activity include: sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon
monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates, persistent free radicals, toxic metals,
chlorofluorocarbons, ammonia, odors, radioactive pollutants, peroxyacetyl nitrate, benzene,
perchlorethlyene, methylene
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17. Chemical Air Pollutants
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18. Sources of Air Toxics
 Human-made sources, including mobile sources
 Stationary sources
 Indoor sources
 "Major" sources are defined as sources that emit 10 tons per year of any of the listed toxic air
pollutants, or 25 tons per year of a mixture of air toxics. These sources may release air toxics
from equipment leaks, when materials are transferred from one location to another, or during
discharge through emission stacks or vents
 “Area” sources emit less than 10 tons per year of a single air toxic, or less than 25 tons per
year of a combination of air toxics.
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19. Sources of Air Toxics
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20. Exposure to Air Toxics
 Breathing contaminated air
 Eating contaminated food products, such as fish from contaminated waters; meat, milk, or
eggs from animals that fed on contaminated plants; and fruits and vegetables grown in
contaminated soil on which air toxics have been deposited.
 Drinking water contaminated by toxic air pollutants.
 Ingesting contaminated soil. Young children are especially vulnerable because they often
ingest soil from their hands or from objects they place in their mouths.
 Touching (making skin contact with) contaminated soil, dust, or water (for example, during
recreational use of contaminated water bodies).
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21. Air Pollution and Health Risk
 Health risks are dependent on level of hazard and exposure
 Less Serious
 Skin rash, cough, headache nausea, dizziness
 More Serious
 Asthma, chronic bronchitis, kidney and liver damage
 Most Serious
 Cancer, nervous system damage, miscarriages, birth defects, and death
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22. 22

23. Chemicals
 Chemicals compounds are present in the air, water, food, soil, dust, and consumer products
 Currently, more than 300 environmental chemicals or their metabolites are measured in
human samples (e.g. urine, blood, serum, breast milk, and meconium).
 Of the 70,000 chemicals being used commercially in the country, the EPA considers 65,000 of
them to be hazardous to your health.
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25. Chemicals
 Acetaldehyde
 Sources: body metabolism of alcohol, wood stoves,
incinerators, smog, diesel exhaust, fungal infections
 Effects:
 DNA and chromosome damage
 Binds to liver and other cells causing autoimmune responses
 Upper respiratory irritation
 Metabolic disruption
 Lung damage
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26. Chemicals
 Benzenes
 Sources: gasoline (auto exhaust & interiors, gas stations)
diesel exhaust, building materials, plastics,
polypropylene food containers, cooked foods, printers,
printed & copied paper, copy machines, incinerators,
tobacco smoke, wood smoke, marijuana smoke
 Effects: bronchial, colon, and liver damage; leukemia; DNA damage; tumors including brain, liver,
stomach, lung; cardiac abnormalities, eye irritation, drowsiness, unconsciousness, no coordination,
heart attack
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27. 27

28. Chemicals
 BHT (butylated hydroxy-toluene)
 Sources: migration from polyethylene food packaging, additive in foods (cereals, fats, meats,
potatoes, cosmetics, others)
 Effects: allergic reactions, possible cancer, possible kidney damage
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29. Chemicals
 Carbon Disulfide
 Sources: solvents, dry-cleaning, painting, spray painting, glue work, varnishes, fumigation, cereal
mills, insecticide, manufacturing rayon, cellophane, carbon tetrachloride, vacuum tubes, volcanoes
 Effects: peripheral nerve damage, emotional instability, insomnia, lessening of libido, affects nervous
system
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31. Chemicals
 Carbon Monoxide
 Sources: wood smoke, tobacco smoke, auto and diesel exhaust
 Effects: lung damage and irritation; carboxy-hemoglobin neutralizes blood oxygen transport
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33. Chemicals
 Chlorobenzene Pesticides
 DDT, lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, mirex
 Sources: primarily used in industrial and chemical synthetic processes, chemical
intermediates in synthesis of dyes, pesticides, and other industrial products,
solvents for pesticides and auto parts degreasers
 Acute Exposure: EPA has found chlorobenzene to potentially cause anesthetic effects and impaired
liver and kidney function from short-term exposures at levels above the MCL, paralysis
 Chronic Exposure: Chlorobenzene has the potential to cause liver, kidney and central nervous system
damage from long-term exposure at levels above the MCL
 Cancer Exposure: There is inadequate evidence to state whether or not chlorobenzene has the
potential to cause cancer from a lifetime exposure in drinking water.
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35. Chemicals
 Chloroform, Carbon Tetrachloride
 Chloroform is used to make other chemicals and can also be formed in small
amounts when chlorine is added to water.
 Sources: solvents, incinerators, groundwater
 Effects: liver- lung- & enzyme damage, cancers, kidney damage, cardiac abnormalities, heart attack
 Affected Organ Systems: Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Vessels), Developmental (effects during
periods when organs are developing) , Hepatic (Liver), Neurological (Nervous System), Renal (Urinary
System or Kidneys), Reproductive (Producing Children)
 Cancer Effects: Known as a human carcinogen
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36. Chemicals
 Chlorpyrifos
 Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide that is a white crystal-like solid with a strong odor.
 Sources: food residues; widely used home and agricultural pesticide, herbicide; active metabolite
found in urine of 5.8% of U.S population
 Effects: peripheral nerve damage, autoimmune disease, antibiotic allergy, memory loss, multiple
chemical sensitivity, headaches, nausea, muscle cramps; effects are accelerated by other
organophosphate pesticides
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37. Chemicals
 DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate)
 Sources:
 plasticizer for polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other polymers including rubber, cellulose and styrene,
 vinyl blood bags: leaches into blood during storage
 packaging materials and tubings used in the production of foods and beverages are polyvinyl chloride
contaminated with phthalic acid esters, primarily DEHP.
 insect repellant formulations, cosmetics, rubbing alcohol, liquid soap, detergents, decorative inks, lacquers,
munitions, industrial and lubricating oils, and as pesticide carriers
 Production of DEHP increased during the 1980s, from 251 million lbs in 1982 to over 286 million lbs. in
1986, with imports of 6 million lbs. In 1986, it was estimated that industries consumed DEHP as
follows: plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride, 95%; other uses, 5%.
 Acute Effects: mild gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, vertigo., lung irritation
 Chronic Effects: damage to lungs, liver and testes; reproductive effects.
 Cancer: There is evidence that DEHP causes cancer from lifetime exposure
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38. Chemicals
 Dioxins
 Sources: environmental pollutants; contaminant in pesticides, herbicides; now worldwide in air,
water, meat, fish, human body (especially fat, liver); formed in incineration, electrical fires, wood
smoke, chemical reactions (possibly sewage sludge)
 More than 90% of human exposure is through food, mainly meat and dairy products, fish and
shellfish. Many national authorities have programs in place to monitor the food supply.
 Effects: can cause reproductive problems and genetic damage, vitamin A dysregulation, liver toxicity,
altered fat metabolism, chloracne (skin cysts, scarring) thymus atrophy, impaired resistance to
infection, breast cancer, nerve transmission damage, and cancer
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40. Chemicals
 Ethanol
 Sources: glue, alcoholic beverages, alcohol, cologne spirit, ethanol, EtOH, grain alcohol
 Exposure routes: inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
 Target organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system, liver, blood, reproductive
system
 Effects: fetal damage, developmental delay, neurologic damage, cirrhosis of liver, zinc and selenium
deficiencies; accelerates liver damage of chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and nitrosamines;
interferes with body processing of styrene, xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethylene,
benzene
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42. 2010: A Year of Rapidly Changing Ethanol Trade Patterns
In the United States, ethanol is primarily made from corn. In Brazil, the world’s second-largest ethanol producer,
sugarcane is the primary feedstock. Together, the United States and Brazil account for approximately 88 percent
of global ethanol production and trade.
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43. Chemicals
 Formaldehyde
 Sources: solvents, printing, fabrics, mattresses, tobacco smoke, wood smoke, foam insulation, particle
board, press wood products, car and diesel exhaust, smog, groundwater, urea-formaldehyde foam
insulation (UFFI), durable press drapes, other textiles, foam insulation, and glues.
 Classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
 Effects: lung damage, impaired memory & dexterity, immediate and delayed hypersensitivity
reactions; asthma, rhinitis; irritation of eyes and respiration, wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin
rash, and nausea
 Cancer: association between formaldehyde exposure and several cancers, including nasopharyngeal
cancer and leukemia.
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44. Formaldehyde Sources
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45. Indoor Concentration of Formaldehyde
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Measured and calculated indoor concentrations of formaldehyde and the air exchange rates in 8 houses. House 1 and 2
are wooden houses, House 3, 4 and 5 are light-gauge steel houses, while Houses 6, 7 and 8 are reinforced concrete
buildings.
High emission rates of formaldehyde were observed from the cloth furniture and fixtures, such as curtains, sheets and
carpets, while low emission rates were observed from building materials. The effect of the intake of formaldehyde from
inside closets, inside walls, and under roofs on the indoor formaldehyde levels cannot be ignored.

46. Chemicals
 Glycol Ethers
 Sources: solvents for resins, lacquers, varnishes, gum, perfume, dyes, inks, as a constituent of paints
and pastes, cleaning compounds, liquid soaps, cosmetics, hydraulic fluids, glue, sealants, caulking
compounds, printed circuit boards, antifreeze
 Health Effects: reproductive poisons, red blood cell damage, liver damage
 Acute exposure to lower levels: conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract irritation, headache, nausea,
and temporary corneal clouding
 Acute exposure to high levels: narcosis, pulmonary edema, severe liver and kidney damage.
 Chronic exposure: fatigue, lethargy, nausea, anorexia, tremor, and anemia
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48. Chemicals
 Carbon Hexachlorobenzene
 Source: cleaners, fungicide; when heated to decomposition, emits toxic fumes of chlorides.
 Effects: hepatic, reproductive, and developmental toxicity and carcinogenesis, immune suppression,
reduced T&B cell responses
 The most common hepatic exposure related effect is porphyria.
 Exposure-related developmental effects include impaired neurological development, cleft palate,
renal agenesis and minor skeletal abnormalities.
 DHHS, IARC, and EPA consider hexachlorobenzene to be a probable human carcinogen.
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50. Chemicals
 Hydrazine
 Source: food additives, photographic supplies, herbicides, pesticides, textiles, drugs, plastics
 Effects:
 Acute Effects: coughing and irritation of the throat and lungs, convulsions, tremors, or seizures.
 Chronic Effects: liver and kidney damage, autoimmune disease, as well as serious effects on reproductive organs.
 Eating or drinking small amounts of hydrazines may cause nausea, vomiting, uncontrolled shaking, inflammation
of the nerves, drowsiness, or coma.
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51. Chemicals
 Methanol
 Source: glue, antifreeze, paint, cement,
ink, windshield-wiper solvent; industrial uses
 Effects: neurologic damage, blindness, lung and
gastro-intestinal problems; irritation eyes, skin,
upper respiratory system; nausea, vomiting,
dermatitis, dizziness, headache
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52. Chemicals
 Nitrogen dioxide
 Sources: incinerators, wood smoke, smog, auto and diesel emissions; coal, oil & gas stoves
 Effects: lung& respiratory damage, pulmonary fluid, fatty acid oxidation, bronchitis, childhood
bronchitis; forms methemoglobin in blood
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54. Chemicals
 Nitrosamines
 Sources: consumer rubbers (tires, baby nipples and pacifiers), soaps, cosmetics, tobacco smoke, food
& food containers and packaging, marihuana smoke, pesticides, herbicides, industrial uses
 Effects: DNA damage, cancers, cell death
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55. Chemicals
 Ozone
 Sources: incinerators, photochemical smog, diesel and auto exhaust, laser printers
 Effects: lung immune system damage (B-cells), bronchial constriction, fatty acid oxidation, enzyme de-
activation
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57. Chemicals
 PBBs (polybrominated biphenyls)
 Sources: flame retardants in rugs, plastics, and clothing; furniture, upholstery, electrical equipment,
electronic devices, textiles, and other household products
 Effects: immune depression, endocrine system disruptor, neuro-developmental toxicity, toxicity to the
kidney, thyroid, and liver, dermal disorders
 PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
 Sources: leakage from transformers; disposal of copy papers, paints/plasticizers pesticide extenders,
flame retardants, adhesives, coolants, inks, hydraulic fluids; human, fish, and animal fat; groundwater
 Effects: genetic damage causing developmental & cognitive retardation, vitamin A dysregulation,
chloracne, immune depression, peripheral nerve damage, liver damage, respiratory problems, thyroid
hormone dysregulation, decreases in reaction time, spatial learning, short-term memory; excess
pigmentation
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58. Chemicals
 Phenols
 Sources: used as a general disinfectant and antiseptic in various products, including toilet and floor
disinfectants; used in medical preparations such as mouthwashes and throat lozenges; used in
insecticides, fungicides (especially citrus fruit), food additives, tobacco, marihuana, natural food
occurrences, incinerators, used in the production of phenolic resins and in the manufacture of nylon
and other synthetic fibers
 Effects: irritant and corrosive substance by all routes of exposure (inhalation, oral, dermal), can
produce internal burns and necrosis, nausea, vomiting, paralysis, seizures, coma
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59. Chemicals
 Styrene
 Sources: photocopiers, copy paper, laser printers; a high production chemical primarily used in the
production of polystyrene plastics and resins, copolymers such as styrene-acrylonitrile and
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and styrene-butadiene rubber, or formulated with unsaturated
polyester resins for use as fiberglass reinforcement materials; consumer products containing styrene
include packaging materials, insulation, fiberglass, plastic pipes, automobile parts, shoes, drinking
cups and other food-use items, and carpet backing.
 Effects: genetic mutations, chromosome aberrations; interference with liver enzymes, dermatitis; skin,
nasal & respiratory irritations, fatigue, irritability; decreases in manual dexterity, concentration, and
reaction times
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60. Chemicals
 Trichloroethylene
 Sources: dry-cleaning, painting, spray painting, glue work, de-waxing and degreasing agents,
insecticides, drain cleaners, printing inks, solvents, varnishes; incinerators
 Effects: disruptions in memory and understanding; heart problems, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac
abnormalities, heart attack, nausea and vomiting, serious liver injury, dizziness, headache,
neurological problems; eyes, nose and throat irritation; probable carcinogen
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61. Chemicals
 Vinyl Chloride
 Sources: plastic wraps (‘Saran Wrap’), PVC plastics, pipes and connectors; packing materials, wire and
cable coatings, footwear, spray-propellant gas, hard flooring, vinyl records, groundwater
 Effects: Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of consciousness; altered blood flow in the hands; long-
term exposure resulted in alterations in the liver ranging from hypertrophy and hyperplasia to
hepatocellular degeneration; breathing vinyl chloride over many years have shown an increased
incidence of liver cancer; immune system damage, fatty acid oxidation, enzyme de-activation
 The EPA considers vinyl chloride to be a known human carcinogen.
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63. Chemicals
 Xylene
 Sources: industrial solvents, synthetic intermediates, and solvents in commercial products such as
paints, coatings, adhesive removers, and paint thinners; polystyrene cups, cleaners, paper, smog,
groundwater; they are also a component of gasoline; occurs naturally in petroleum and coal tar and is
formed during forest fires
 Effects: primary effects of xylene exposure involve the nervous system by all routes of exposure, the
respiratory tract by inhalation exposure, and, at higher oral exposure levels, hepatic, renal, and body
weight effects; dermal exposure of humans to xylene causes skin irritation, dryness and scaling of the
skin, and vasodilation.
 The nervous system effects include subjective symptoms of intoxication at higher concentrations
and impaired performance on tests of short-term memory, reaction time, and equilibrium at lower
concentrations.
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65. Heavy Metals
 “Heavy Metals": antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium,
gold, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, platinum, silver, tellurium, thallium, tin, uranium,
vanadium, and zinc
 Small amounts of these elements are common in our environment and diet and are actually
necessary for good health; large amounts of any of them may cause acute or chronic toxicity
(poisoning).
 Heavy metal toxicity can result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function, lower
energy levels, and damage to blood composition, lungs, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs. Long-
term exposure may result in slowly progressing physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative
processes that mimic Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, and multiple
sclerosis. Allergies are not uncommon, and repeated long-term contact with some metals (or their
compounds) may cause cancer
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66. Heavy Metals
 Mercury
 Lead
 Cadmium
 Arsenic
 Copper
 Aluminum
 Chromium
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67. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 Mercury is a powerful metal, more toxic than lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
 Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
 When mercury is released from industries into the air, it can travel long distances and be
deposited on soil and in lakes where small organisms change the mercury to a form of organic
mercury (methylmercury) that builds up in the bodies of fish.
 Metallic mercury has been found at 714 hazardous waste sites nationwide.
 Exposure Routes: inhalation, drinking and eating, touching
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68. 68
Mercury in the Environment

69. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 3 Forms of Mercury
 Methylmercury:
 Organic form of mercury and the form of mercury that is most easily bioaccumulated in organisms; leads to high
concentrations in predatory fish, which, when consumed by humans, can result in an increased risk of adverse
effects in highly exposed or sensitive populations
 Elemental or Metallic Mercury
 A major source of exposure for elemental mercury is through inhalation in occupational settings.
 Another source of exposure to low levels of elemental mercury in the general population is elemental mercury
released in the mouth from dental amalgam fillings
 Exposures can occur when elemental mercury is spilled or products that contain elemental mercury break and
expose mercury to the air, particularly in warm or poorly-ventilated indoor spaces.
 Inorganic or Organic Mercury Compounds
 Limited exposure could occur through the use of old cans of latex paint, which until 1990, could contain mercury
compounds to prevent bacterial and fungal growth
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70. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 Methylmercury Health Effects
 For fetuses, infants, and children, the primary health effect of methylmercury is impaired neurological
development.
 Impacts on cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills
have been seen in children exposed to methylmercury in the womb.
 Exposure to high levels of mercury (Hg) can cause neurologic and kidney disorders
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71. Mercury Health Effects on the Fetus
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72. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 Elemental Mercury Health Effects
 causes health effects when it is breathed as a vapor where it can be absorbed through the lungs
 Symptoms include these: tremors; emotional changes (e.g., mood swings, irritability, nervousness,
excessive shyness); insomnia; neuromuscular changes (such as weakness, muscle atrophy, twitching);
headaches; disturbances in sensations; changes in nerve responses; performance deficits on tests of
cognitive function.
 At higher exposures there may be kidney effects, respiratory failure and death.
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73. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 Elemental Mercury Vapor, “Smoking Teeth”
 Elemental mercury is a heavy, shiny, silver-white, odorless liquid. It is nonflammable, but releases toxic
vapor, especially when heated. Odor does not provide any warning of hazardous concentrations.
 Inhalation is the primary route of exposure to elemental mercury vapor or aerosols, which are readily
absorbed. Virtually no elemental mercury is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract or by the skin.
Mercury crosses the placenta and can be transferred to infants via breast milk.
 Inhalation of mercury vapor is the primary route of exposure to elemental mercury. Inhaled vapor is almost
completely absorbed by the lungs (75-80%). Neither liquid mercury nor mercury vapor has an odor
 Mercury vapor is heavier than air and may therefore accumulate in poorly ventilated or low-lying areas
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74. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 Inorganic and Organic Compound Mercury Health Effects
 High exposures to inorganic mercury may result in damage to the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous
system, and the kidneys.
 Both inorganic and organic mercury compounds are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and
affect other systems via this route.
 Symptoms of high exposures to inorganic mercury include: skin rashes and dermatitis; mood swings;
memory loss; mental disturbances; and muscle weakness. People concerned about their exposure to
inorganic mercury should consult their physician.
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75. Heavy Metal: Mercury
 Additional Health Effects
 The major route of exposure to elemental mercury is inhalation of mercury vapor. Symptoms of acute
toxicity following high-level exposure to mercury vapor occur within hours of the exposure.
 Respiratory symptoms include corrosive bronchitis with fever chills and dyspnea, which can progress
to pulmonary edema or fibrosis. Abdominal cramps, diarrhea, renal dysfunction, visual disturbances,
and central nervous system damage leading to neuropsychiatric disturbances and intention tremors
may also occur.
 Mercury can cross the blood-brain and placental barriers. It is also excreted in breast milk. Children
may be at increased risk for pulmonary toxicity and are more likely to develop respiratory failure.
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Mercury Health Effects

77. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Lead occurs naturally, but much of its presence in the environment stems from its historic use
in paint and gasoline and from ongoing or historic mining and commercial operations.
 The past use of lead in gasoline and paint can result in high lead levels in soil.
 Lead is still used widely in commercial products and accumulates in the environment.
 The body absorbs organic lead (as was used in leaded gasoline and is used in occupational
settings) faster than inorganic lead and reacts easily with acids, alkalis, and other chemicals.
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78. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Sources
 Inorganic Lead
 Old paint, soil, pipes, packages or storage containers, production sources, mining, smelting, workplaces
 Leaded gasoline exhaust contributed to ambient inorganic lead contamination.
 Organic Lead.
 Leaded gasoline contained organic lead before it was burned; however, since the elimination of lead from gasoline in
the U.S. starting in 1976, exposure to organic lead is generally limited to an occupational context.
 Organic lead can be more toxic than inorganic lead because the body more readily absorbs it.
 Potential exposures to organic lead should be taken very seriously.
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79. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Sources
 Homes and Buildings: paint, pipes
 Water: pipes, faucets, solder, plumbing
 Food and Beverages: production, processing, packaging, storage, uptake from soil, atmospheric lead
deposition into leafy vegetables, grinding or cutting equipment during processing, some pottery and
ceramics, certain ‘natural’ calcium supplements, certain imported candies
 Commercial Products: automotive batteries, bridge paint, computers, jewelry, pewter, ceramic glaze
 Natural Environment: mines, smelters, waste sites, small garages, dust and soils
 Workplaces: battery manufacturing plants, construction in housing renovation and rehabilitation, rubber
products and plastics, soldering, steel welding and cutting, bridge maintenance and repairs, municipal
waste incinerator workers, radiator repair mechanics,
pottery and ceramics industry employees
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80. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Lead Exposure
 Most human exposure to lead occurs through ingestion or inhalation.
 Lead exposure is a global issue. Lead mining and lead smelting are common in many countries, where
children and adults can receive substantial lead exposure
 Lead paint is a primary source of environmental exposure to lead. Lead may be released from old
paint in home environments if the paint is disturbed (e.g., renovation), deteriorated (peeling,
chipping, and chalking), or subject to friction or impact (doors, windows, porches, etc…).
 Workers in many industries (and secondary exposure to their families) may have occupational
exposure to lead.
 Contaminated drinking water, food, alcohol, and home remedies are sources of environmental
exposure to lead.
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81. 81
Lead Entering
the Cell

82. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Lead Health Effects
 Absorbed lead that is not excreted is exchanged primarily among three compartments:
 Blood
 Mineralizing tissues (bones and teeth), which typically contain the vast majority of the
lead body burden
 Soft tissue (liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, spleen, muscles, and heart)
 Lead toxicity affects every organ system
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83. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Lead in the Blood
 Although the blood generally carries only a small fraction of total lead body burden, it does serve as
the initial receptacle of absorbed lead and distributes lead throughout the body, making it available to
other tissues (or for excretion).
 The half-life of lead in adult human blood has been estimated to be from 28 days to 36 days.
 Approximately 99% of the lead in blood is associated with red blood cells; the remaining 1% resides in
blood plasma.
 In addition, the higher the lead concentration in the blood, the higher the percentage partitioned to
plasma. This relationship is curvilinear –as blood lead levels (BLLs) increase as the high-end plasma
level increases more.
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84. 84
Lead in the Blood

85. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Lead Mineralizing Tissues (Bones and Teeth)
 Mineralizing tissues (bones and teeth), which typically contain the vast majority of the lead body
burden
 The bones and teeth of adults contain about 94% of their total lead body burden; in children, the
figure is approximately 73%.
 Lead in mineralizing tissues is not uniformly distributed. It tends to accumulate in bone regions
undergoing the most active calcification at the time of exposure
85

86. Heavy Metal: Lead
 Lead Neurological Effects
 The nervous system is the most sensitive target of lead exposure.
 There can be a difference in neurological effects between an adult exposed to lead as an adult, and an
adult exposed as a child when the brain was developing.
 Childhood neurological effects, including ADHD, may persist into adulthood. Lead-exposed adults may
also experience many of the neurological symptoms experienced by children, although the thresholds
for adults tend to be higher.
 Effects Include: decreased libido, depression/mood changes, headache, diminished cognitive performance,
diminished hand dexterity, diminished reaction time, diminished visual motor performance, dizziness,
impotence, increased nervousness, irritability, lethargy, malaise, paresthesia, weakness, fatigue,
forgetfulness
86

87. Heavy Metal: Lead Poisoning Symptoms
Lowest Exposure:
Decreased learning and memory
Lowered IQ
Decreased verbal ability
Impaired speech and hearing functions
Early signs of hyperactivity or ADHD
Low Exposure:
Myalgia or paresthesia
Mild fatigue
Irritability
Lethargy
Occasional abdominal discomfort
87
Moderate Exposure:
Arthralgia
General fatigue
Difficulty concentrating/Muscular exhaustibility
Tremor
Headache
Diffuse abdominal pain
Vomiting
Weight loss
Constipation
High Exposure:
Paresis or paralysis
Encephalopathy
Leadline on gingival tissue

88. 88

89. Heavy Metal: Cadmium
 Cadmium, a heavy metal, is produced by refining zinc ores.
 Cadmium metal is practically insoluble in water but some cadmium salts are water soluble.
 Powdered cadmium will burn and can release corrosive fumes
 Cadmium, a rare but widely dispersed element, is found naturally in the environment. Most
cadmium ore (greenockite):
 exists as cadmium sulfide,
 is refined during zinc production, and
 occurs in association with zinc
 It is released into the environment through mining and smelting, its use in various industrial
processes, and enters the food chain from uptake by plants from contaminated soil or water.
89

90. Heavy Metal: Cadmium
 Cadmium Sources
 Cadmium has been widely dispersed into the environment through the air by its mining and smelting as
well as by other manmade routes:
 Usage of phosphate fertilizers
 Presence in sewage sludge
 Various industrial uses such as NiCd batteries, plating, pigments and plastics
 Industrial Processes
 The most important sources of airborne cadmium are smelters. Other sources of airborne cadmium
include burning fossil fuels such as coal or oil and incineration of municipal waste such as plastics and
nickel-cadmium batteries. Cadmium also escapes into the air from iron and steel production facilities.
 Cadmium is used mainly in metal plating, in producing pigments, in NiCad batteries, as stabilizers in
plastics, and as a neutron absorbent in nuclear reactors.
90

91. Cadmium Sources
91

92. Heavy Metal: Cadmium
 Cadmium Health Effects
 The most sensitive targets of cadmium toxicity are the kidney and bone following oral exposure and
kidney and lung following inhalation exposure.
 The effects observed in humans include renal tubular damage, glomerular damage, decreases in bone
mineralization, increased risk of bone fractures, decreased lung function, and emphysema. These effects
typically occur after long term exposure to cadmium.
 Some studies have cadmium workers have found increases in the risk of lung cancer.
 DHHS and IARC consider cadmium to be a human carcinogen. EPA considers cadmium to be a probable
human carcinogen by the inhalation route.
92

93. Cadmium Toxicity
93

94. Cadmium Toxicity in the Lungs
94

95. Heavy Metal: Arsenic
 Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust.
 In the environment, arsenic is combined with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur to form inorganic
arsenic compounds.
 Arsenic in animals and plants combines with carbon and hydrogen to form organic arsenic
compounds.
 Inorganic arsenic compounds are mainly used to preserve wood.
95

96. Arsenic Contamination
96

97. Heavy Metal: Arsenic
 Sources:
 Ground water, mineral ore, geothermal processes
 Arsenic cannot be destroyed in the environment; it can only change its form or become attached to or
separated from particles.
 Arsenic attached to very small particles may stay in the air for many days and travel long distances.
 Arsenic in soil may be transported by wind or in runoff or may leach into the subsurface soil. Arsenic is
largely immobile in agricultural soils, therefore, it tends to concentrate and remain in upper soil layers
indefinitely.
 Transport and partitioning of arsenic in water depends upon the chemical form. Soluble forms move
with the water and may be carried long distances. Arsenic may be adsorbed from water onto
sediments or soils.
97

98. 98

99. Heavy Metal: Arsenic Health Effects
 Inhalation of inorganic arsenic may cause respiratory irritation, nausea, skin effects, and increased risk of
lung cancer.
 Acute high dose oral exposure to inorganic arsenic may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiovascular
effects and encephalopathy.
 Long term oral exposure to low levels of inorganic arsenic may cause dermal effects (such as
hyperpigmentation and hyperkeratosis, corns and warts) and peripheral neuropathy characterized by a
numbness in the hands and feet that may progress to a painful “pins and needles” sensation. There may
also be an increased risk of skin cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer.
 Oral exposure to MMA may result in gastrointestinal damage. Kidney effects may be observed following
chronic exposure.
 Chronic oral exposure to DMA may result in urinary bladder and kidney effects.
99

100. Arsenic Poisoning
100

101. Heavy Metal: Copper
 Copper is an essential element in plants and animals (including humans), which means it is
necessary for us to live.
 Plants and animals must absorb some copper from eating, drinking, and breathing.
 Copper compounds are commonly used in agriculture to treat plant diseases like mildew, for
water treatment and, as preservatives for wood, leather, and fabrics.
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102. Heavy Metal: Copper
 Source
 Copper is a metal that occurs naturally throughout the environment, in rocks, soil, water, and air.
 Copper is used to make many different kinds of products like wire, plumbing pipes, and sheet metal.
 Copper is also combined with other metals to make brass and bronze pipes and faucets.
102

103. Heavy Metal: Copper
 Health Effects
 Everyone must absorb small amounts of copper every day because copper is essential for good health.
 High levels of copper can be harmful.
 Breathing high levels of copper can cause irritation of your nose and throat.
 Copper toxic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, low blood pressure, anemia, and heart problems
 Very-high doses of copper can cause damage to your liver and kidneys, and can even cause death.
103

104. Heavy Metal: Aluminum
 Aluminum is a silvery-white metal. In nature it is found in soil, rocks (particularly igneous rocks),
and clays as aluminosilicate minerals.
 Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust.
 Due to high reactivity, aluminum does not exist as the metal in the environment; it exists in a
combined state with other elements.
 Aluminum cannot be destroyed in the environment. It can only change its form or become attached
to or separated from particles.
104

105. Heavy Metal: Aluminum
 Sources:
 Aluminum metal is used to make a variety of products including beverage cans, pots and pans, automotive
components, siding and roofing, and foil.
 Aluminum compounds are used in diverse industrial applications including water treatment, abrasives, and
furnace linings. Powdered aluminum metal is used in explosives and fireworks.
 Aluminum compounds are also used in consumer products such as foil and antiperspirants, over the counter
and prescription drugs such as antacids, buffered aspirin and in food additives.
105

106. Heavy Metal: Aluminum
 Exposure
 Consumption of food (mainly processed foods), water, and aluminum containing medicinals, such as
antacids, buffered analgesics, anti-diarrheal agents, or anti-ulcerative medication.
 Refining of the primary metal and in secondary industries that fabricate aluminum products (such as aircraft,
automotive, and metal products) and aluminum welding.
 Routes of Exposure
 Oral – primary route of exposure for the general population. Aluminum is found in food, drinking water, and
medicinal products such as antacids and buffered aspirin.
 Dermal (skin) contact – minor route of exposure; aluminum is found in some topically applied consumer
products such as antiperspirants, first aid antibiotics, and sunscreen and suntan products.
 Inhalation – generally limited to occupational exposure
106

107. Heavy Metal: Aluminum
 Health Effects
 The most sensitive target of aluminum toxicity is the nervous system. Impaired performance on
neurobehavioral tests of motor function, sensory function, and cognitive function have been observed in
animals. Neurobehavioral alterations have been observed following exposure of adult or weanling animals
and in animals exposed during gestation and/or lactation.
 Respiratory effects, such as impaired lung function and fibrosis have been observed in aluminum workers.
 Aluminum-containing over the counter medications such as antacids and buffered aspirin are assumed to be
safe in healthy people at recommended doses based on historical use. There is some indication that skeletal
effects (e.g., osteomalacia) can result from long-term use in some individuals.
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108. 108

109. Heavy Metal: Chromium
 Chromium exists in three common stable valence states: chromium (0), (III), and (VI).
 Cr(III) is an essential dietary nutrient. Its deficiency in the body has been associated with diabetes,
infertility, and cardiovascular disease.
 Hexavalent Chromium - Cr(VI) is carcinogenic.
 Chromium is one of the most widely used industrial metals.
 The metallurgical, chemical, and refractory industries are the fundamental users of chromium.
 It is one of the major contaminants in various hazardous waste sites worldwide, including the
Superfund sites in the United States
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110. Heavy Metal: Chromium
Sources:
 Naturally occurring chromium is usually present as trivalent Cr(III).
 Hexavalent Cr(VI) in the environment is almost totally derived from human activities
 AIR: According to the Toxics Release Inventory, in 1997, the estimated releases of chromium were 706,204
pounds to the air from 3,391 large processing facilities which accounted for about 2.2% of total environmental
releases.
 WATER: According to the Toxics Release Inventory, in 1997, the estimated releases of chromium was 111,384
pounds to water from 3,391 large processing facilities which accounted for about 0.3% of total environmental
releases.
 SOIL: According to the Toxics Release Inventory, in 1997 the estimated releases of chromium was 30,862,235
pounds to soil from 3,391 large processing facilities accounted for about 94.1% of total environmental releases
 Total chromium has been identified in 939 soil and 472 sediment samples collected from 1,036 National Priority
Lists.
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111. 111
Hexavalent Chromium Found in 31 U.S. Cities
In 2010, the Environmental Working Group did a
study of U.S. tap water and found hexavalent
chromium in 31 of 35 cities tested. The levels in
all 31 cities exceeded the public health goal for
hexavalent chromium.
California EPA has determined that hexavalent
chromium is a likely carcinogen in drinking water.
This graph represents the amounts of chromium
in each city by surface area.

112. Heavy Metal: Chromium
 Exposure
 Chromium is one of the most widely used industrial metals. Several million workers worldwide are
estimated to be exposed to chromium compounds in an array of industries such as pigment production,
chrome plating, stainless steel welding, and leather tanning. Additionally, it is one of the major contaminants
in various hazardous waste sites worldwide, including the Superfund sites in the United States.
 The general population is exposed to chromium by inhaling ambient air, ingesting food, and drinking water
containing chromium.
 The presence of chromium compounds at hazardous waste sites can contribute to the exposure of
populations residing or working nearby such sites. These populations may be exposed through to air
containing particulates or mists of Cr(VI) compounds, through drinking water if soluble forms of Cr(VI) leach
into groundwater, or through skin contact with soil at hazardous waste sites.
112

113. Hexavalent Chromium found in tap water; carcinogenic to humans - EPA
113

114. Heavy Metal: Chromium
 Health Effects:
 In general, chromium(VI) compounds are more toxic than chromium(III) compounds.
 The most sensitive targets of chromium(VI) are the respiratory (nasal and lung irritation and altered
pulmonary function following inhalation exposure), gastrointestinal (irritation, ulceration, and stomach and
small intestine lesions following oral exposure), hematological (microcytic, hypochromic anemia), and
reproductive (decreased sperm count and epididymal damage) systems.
 The primary targets of chromium(III) compounds are the respiratory (following inhalation exposure) and
immunological systems. Chromium allergic dermatitis is typically elicited by dermal contact in sensitized
individuals.
 DHHS, IARC, and EPA have classified hexavalent chromium(VI) as a human carcinogen.
 IARC has classified chromium(III) and metallic chromium as not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to
humans.
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115. 115
Far Infrared Detoxification

116. Far Infrared
 Inside the electro-magnetic spectrum, Far Infrared heat is manufactured by the sun.
 It is a portion of the sun’s invisible band. Even though the band of light is not detectable to the human eye, the
heat sensation is felt. In addition, infrared energy is also produced as body heat.
 Far Infrared energy heats things by direct, molecular excitation, without heating the air between the spaces. Far
Infrared rays infiltrate the body’s tissue much deeper than near infrared rays do.
 The body absorbs Far Infrared heat waves that encourage the transfer of water across cellular membranes.
 Once this happens, and the cellular membranes are hydrated, the blood flow is enhanced and ultimately assists
with an assortment of biologically beneficial healing functions.
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117. Far Infrared
117

118. Far Infrared
 The most notable characteristic of Far Infrared heat is its exceptional ability to penetrate far below superficial
skin layers.
 When this occurs, it constructs a natural resonance, which has numerous advantageous properties.
 Infrared energy is measured in wavelengths as microns, and the human body can best absorb infrared energy in
the 3- to 50-micron range—with the best absorption occurring at 9.4 microns (the same as the human body).
 These rays penetrate deep into the body where they gently elevate the body’s surface temperature and assist in
expanding capillaries which stimulates blood circulation.
 By elevating the sub-surface tissue temperature, a series of continual changes constructive to human health will
be instigated.
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119. FIR Resonant Absorption
"These rays are selectively absorbed by the tissues. The internal production of infrared energy
that normally occurs within our tissues is associated with a variety of healing responses and
may require a boost to a maximal level to insure the fullest healing response possible in a tissue
under repair. After boosting a tissue's level to maximum, the remaining rays pass onward
harmlessly. This phenomenon is called Resonant Absorption."
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120. 120

121. Far Infrared Detoxification
 FIR mobilizes toxins from lipid cells and excrete via perspiration
 Invisible waves of energy absorbed by the tissues, muscles, tendons, bones
 Detoxification at the cellular level
 Significant benefits throughout entire body
 FIR therapy used with the ‘Brimhall Six Steps to Wellness Program’ will lead to healthier patients,
and better patient results.
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122. Thermal Life Far Infrared Sauna
122

123. Far Infrared Detoxification
 Removes Toxins at the Cellular Level
 Improves Cellular Health and Function
 Supports a Healthy Nervous System
 Increases Circulation
 Improves Digestive Problems
 Normalizes Blood Pressure
 Enhances Immune System
 Influences Ideal Weight and Cellulite Control
 Reduces Swelling and Inflammation
 Speeds Up Healing Process
 Relieves Spinal Degeneration
 Improves Spinal Corrections
 Improves Stress Management
 Increases Energy
 Reduces Fatigue
 Increases Focus and Clear Thinking
 Encourages Positive Mindset
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124. Detoxification: (List of Toxins)
• Pesticide & Insecticide Residues
• Prescription & Recreational Drugs
• Dioxins
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Formaldehydes
• Hair Dyes, Cosmetics, Deodorants
• Petrochemicals: Xenobiotics & Xenoestrogens
• Heavy Metals: Iron, Copper, Mercury, Lead, Aluminum, Cadmium
• Nitrites
• Radon
• Gasoline
• Chlorinated Water
• Perchlorate
• Industrial Chemicals
• Phthalates
Musculoskeletal Improvements:
• Muscle Spasms are reduced or eliminated
• Traumatic Arthritis
• Adhesions
• Tight Shoulders
• Bursitis
• Joint Stiffness
• Low Back Pain
• Compression Fractures
• Shoulder Pain
• Muscle Tension
• Arthritis, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, DJD
• Post Exercise Muscle Pain
• Sciatica
• Facial Paralysis
Collagen Tissue:
• Increased pliability
• Ligaments, joint capsules, tendons, fasciae, and synovium that have
become scarred or thickened
• Increased Blood Flow
124
Ear, Nose & Throat:
• Nettle Rash
• Chronic middle-ear inflammation of infection
• Sore Throats
• Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)
• Nose Bleeds
Skin Conditions:
• Improved Skin Conditions
• Infrared Therapy is utilized routinely in burn units throughout Asia
• Nettle Rash Improved
• Clogged Pores and Blackheads
• Poor Skin Tone
• Scars and pain from wounds and burns
• Lacerations healed quicker
• Acne improved
• Body Odor improved
• Eczema and Psoriasis respond well
• Sunburn Antidote
• Frostbite with inflammation
• Neurodermatitis
• Ketoids May Be Softened
• Dandruff
• Cellulite Removal
Other Ailments:
• Menopause
• Cold Hands and Feet
• High Blood Pressure
• Radiation Sickness
• Cancer Pain (greatly relieved)
• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (reduced)
• Duocenal Ulcers (eliminated)
• Hemorrhoids (reduced)
• Cystitis (eliminated)
• Cirrhosis of the Liver
• Gastritis (relieved)
• Asthma (cleared up)
• Crohn’s Disease / Ulcerative Colitis
• Leg Ulcers (healed when previously static and resistant to other care)
• Weight Loss

125. Sweat Analysis: 35 minute Thermal Life
Sauna Session
125

126. High Tech Health International
Thermal Life FIR Sauna
www.hightechhealth.com
800.794.5355
info@hightechhealth.com
126