This document discusses various environmental toxins and their impact on human health, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. It outlines how we are exposed to chemicals through air, water, soil, workplaces and homes. Children and fetuses are most at risk as their bodies are still developing. While breast milk is still the best option, toxins can accumulate in a mother's body and pass to infants through breastfeeding. Specific toxins discussed include mercury, lead, pesticides, BPA, phthalates, and PCBs. Reducing exposure through choices in food, cosmetics, and household products is recommended to protect health, especially for pregnant women and children.

1. Environmental Health
By: Amy Tucker

2. The Environment
The Environment can refer to:
- Where we live
- Where we work
- Where we play
** We live in such a highly industrialized world, so our bodies contain
measureable amounts of chemicals, pesticide's, and other toxic materials. **
We are exposed to these chemicals by:
- The air
- The soil
- The water
- The workplace
- At home

3. Who is the most vulnerable to environmental toxins?
- The Fetus, Infants and Children
• Children experience worse effects then adults do when exposed to the
same dangerous environmental substances.
• Children are smaller and have more vulnerable immune systems, and
their metabolism, physiology, and biochemistry are different from
adults.
• If children are exposed to environmental toxins this can damage their;
nervous system, brain, reproductive organs, and endocrine system.
• Fetuses and infants can be severely affected by environmental toxins
because they are much less able to metabolize and inactivate dangerous
contaminants.

4. Breast Milk Contamination
- Exposure to environmental toxins can continue while a mother is breastfeeding
her child.
- The toxins get easily stored in a women’s fat through the process of
bioaccumulation.
Bioaccumulation: The uptake of toxins at higher rates than those found in the
natural environment and leading to a higher concentration in bodily tissues over
time.
*** Breast milk is still considered the healthiest form of infant feeding in all but rare
cases, because the many benefits are so significant for both mothers & babies.

5. Breast Milk V.S. Formula Fed
 Babies who are formula fed are more likely then babies who are
breastfed to develop: ear infections, diarrhea, asthma, diabetes, lower
respiratory tract infections, and eczema.
 Also, sudden death syndrome (SIDS) and childhood leukemia, while
rare, are more common in children who are formula fed.

6. Lead
 People can be exposed to lead through the air, food, water, dust, and
various products. Lead occurs naturally in the environment and has
many industrial and commercial uses like plumbing pipes and car
batteries.
 Lead is a neurotoxic, which means that it affects our nerve cells.
 Small amounts can even be dangerous, since the substance
accumulates in tissue and bone over time.
 Sickness from lead is often referred to as “lead poisoning”, and acute
exposure can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coma and death.
 Chronic exposure can result in brittle bones, anemia (iron deficiency),
damage to the brain, nervous system, liver, kidneys, blood system and
general weakness.

7. Mercury
 Mercury is used in some thermometers thermostats, auto parts, scientific instruments,
batteries, dental fillings, eye makeup (as thimersol, a mercury based preservative),
over the counter drugs, chlorine production, and lighting which includes tanning beds.
 When mercury is released into the environment its typically from coal fired plants;
metal production, primarily gold production, cement production, waste disposal,
biomass burning, and iron and steel production.
** The last Mercury mine in the United States closed in 1992**
- Mercury can damage the central nervous system, endocrine system, the heart, the
lungs, the immune system and kidneys.
- Exposure can result in; sensory impairment, lack of coordination, seizures,
pneumonia, decreased pulmonary function, depression, memory loss brain damage
and if exposed to high doses; sudden death.
- Symptoms of mercury poisoning include: itching, burning, or pain; skin
discoloration, shedding of skin, muscle weakness, red face, loss of teeth, hair and
nails, and increased sensitivity to light.

8. Tips to Avoid Mercury Poisoning
 Review the ingredients of the cosmetics you buy. Avoid eye makeup
and other products containing thimersosal, which is a mercury based
preservative.
 Use safety when discarding old thermometers and other household
products containing mercury.
 Fish are generally very healthy and nutritious to eat, but pregnant
women and children- groups who are particularly vulnerable to mercury
and PCBS should avoid high-risk fish. High risk fish include: albacore
tuna, king mackerel, shark, tilefish, and swordfish. Fish used in sushi
often contain high levels of mercury.

9. Pesticides
 Pesticides are some of the most commonly and heavily utilized synthetic
products.
 The EPA estimates that more than 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides are used
annually in the United States alone, with 5 billion pounds used worldwide.
 Pesticides are primarily used for pest control and mostly in agriculture, in
industry, and in and around peoples homes.
 Pesticides exposure has been linked to many developmental problems and
effects on the reproductive system including; impact on placenta cells,
delayed neurodevelopment, abnormal ovary and menstrual function,
decreased sperm count, early puberty, delayed testis, prostate, and penis
development; infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth; lowered birth rate; endocrine
disruption; premature birth; and increased risk of cervical, vaginal,
testicular and childhood brain cancers.
 When exposed to pesticides people are very sensitive so they experience
skin, lung, respiratory, and eye irratation.

10. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)
 EDCs are industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals that mimic naturally
occurring hormones.
 They can block or interfere with the complex hormonal messages that
affect many of the body's functions which include; thyroid function,
sexual development and behavior, metabolism, and nervous and
immune system function.
 EDCs are present in our food supply and in the air and water, as well
as industrial municipal waste and in many synthetic household and
personal care products.

11. Where do we find EDCs?
 According to The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX); EDCs
include any chemical or substance that effects development and
function.
 This category is broad but includes; pesticides; materials used in
plastics such as bisphenol A (BPA); flame retardants; some cosmetics;
glues and sealants; and some cleaning products.
 Some EDCs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which means they
stay in the environment for years. Others leave the environment
relatively quickly. But, we experience low level exposure daily
because hundreds and thousands of products and processes contain
EDCs.

12. Bisphenol A or BPA
 BPA is an organic compound that is widely used in hard plastic products,
including reusable food containers, baby bottles, Sippy cups, and the lining
of baby formula containers and canned foods. It can also be present in a
wide range of household items which could be children’s toys to dental
sealant.
 The chemical industry produces 7 billion pounds of BPA in the United
States each year. Exposure occurs when BPA contaminates food and drink.
 This compound is also considered a EDC which I talked about in the
previous slides.
 When a person is affected my BPA there is a long list of problems that can
occur, such as; cancers, infertility, heart disease, liver abnormalities, genital
abnormalities in male babies, early puberty in girls, cognitive and
behavioral impairments, reproductive and cardiovascular system
abnormalities, diabetes, asthma, obesity, and ADD/ADHD.

13. Tips to avoid BPA exposure
 Watch for the numeral 7 on the bottom of plastic containers. That
often means that they contain BPA.
 Don’t microwave plastic food containers made with BPA (better to use
glass or porcelain), and discard old or damaged bottles.
 Choose glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free polypropylene (PP #5)
bottles. Visit Safe Mama (safemama.com) for un updated list of BPA-
free products.
 Minimize the use of canned food and canned drinks.
 Ask your dentist for BPA-free sealants and composite fillings.

14. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
 PCBs are one of the most toxic and hazardous chemicals used in modern
manufacturing. They have been used extensively throughout industry,
specifically in transformers, capacitors, and coolants.
 Concerns about health and environmental effects led to a ban of PCBs for
most uses in the United States in 1979, but some uses are still allowed.
PCBs are persistent contaminants (POPs) that can stay in our bodies and
environment for decades.
 Health problems from PCBs can include; thyroid disorders, breast cancer,
endometriosis, low birth weight, menstrual disorders, and possibly early
puberty, as well as miscarriages and hormonal changes.
 Some areas in the United States are considered PCB hotspots. These
include; along New York’s Hudson River, into which the General Electric
company released thousands of PCBs, strict fish advisories remain for
women of child-bearing age to help minimize their exposure, two hundred
miles of the river, some of which runs through New York City, is considered
a Superfund Cite. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are two other bodies of water
marked as potentially dangerous also.

15. Phthalates
 Phthalates are chemicals that make plastic more pliable. They can be
found in many common products, including; pills, wallpaper, adhesives,
food containers, vinyl, shower curtains, building materials, cosmetics,
medical devices, toys and other children’s items, packaging, water
bottles and soda cans, paints, textiles, polyvinyl chloride (PVC,
commonly used in flooring), pesticides, insecticides, and food.
 Phthalates are slowly being phased out by the United States.
 According to the CDC, nearly all Americans have phthalates in their
urine. The main way this happens is from eating.
 Phthalates exposure is associated with asthma and allergies (especially
in children), autism, endocrine disruption, obesity, decreased sperm
count, low birth weight, premature birth, and ADHD.
 The EPA rates Phthalates are “probable human carcinogens”.

16. What’s in our cosmetics?
- Most women in the United States use multiple cosmetic and personal care
products- including; lotions, toothpaste, and makeup- everyday.
- Women apply these products directly to the most vulnerable parts of their
body everyday. Our skin is permeable; our eyes and mouths offer entry to
the rest of our body; particularly the bloodstream; our lungs inhale hundreds
of potential contaminates.
- Many of these chemicals commonly used in cosmetics are associated with;
allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), asthma, shortness of breath,
changes in hormone function, different cancers, brain development,
reproductive disorders, skin diseases, and birth impairments.
- According to the EWG, 1 in 5 personal care products contain chemicals
linked with cancer.
- Babies are also heavily exposed to personal care products, from baby wipes
to powders. Fetuses in the womb can be exposed also. An example of this
was a study done in 2009, where they found chemicals from cologne
present in the umbilical cords of newborns.

17. Precautions for Pregnant women
 If you are pregnant and work with hazardous substances, you may have
certain rights to a job transfer or paid or unpaid leave.
 Under an amendment to the U.S Civil Rights Act, women “disabled by
pregnancy” must be treated the same as other temporarily disabled
workers, like those who have had heart attacks or accidents.
 Before starting a new job, ask whether the company has a specific
reproductive health policy, and whether is applies to both men and
women.
 Environmental toxins are extremely dangerous to women who are
pregnant and you must protect yourself and your baby!

18. “ Everyday I see research linking chemicals that pollute our environment
with adverse effects on women’s reproductive health, from infertility to
birth [impairments] to early puberty in girls… I am convinced that
countries that do not protect our Earth will not protect their women, and
countries that do not protect their women will never protect their Earth.
The time has come for the U.S to enact policies that do both.”
- Alison Ojanen-Goldsmith, in “Young Feminists-Poison, Earth, Poison
Women: Making the connection.”

19. Discussion Question
 Have you tried any way to protect yourself from harmful
environmental toxins? If so, please explain! Also, do you know anyone
who has been affected from the dangerous toxins that I mentioned in
the powerpoint?

20. Works Cited
Our Bodies, Ourselves. The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. A
touchstone book. New York. Simon and Schuster.