The Ecologist draws attention to the industrial and everyday chemicals that contribute to the growing incidence of obesity

An article in The Ecologist draws attention to the industrial and everyday chemicals that contribute to the growing incidence of obesity. Well worth reading.

Energy saving light bulbs emit carcinogens when switched on

Read the report in the Telegraph. It is by no means the first time that there have been reports of cancer-causing chemicals in energy saving light bulbs, as you will see if you type something like 'light bulb cancer warning' into your favourite search box. But it has become a greater and more pressing problem for us now because of the "EU direction to phase out traditional incandescent lighting by the end of this year." There is also the big problem of the mercury that is contained within these bulbs. The mercury may well become a big contamination problem on landfill sites of the future. We little realised the multiplicity of costly, harmful problems that being a member of the EU would prove to be, when, with no mandate to do so, a former Tory government signed us into membership of this wasteful, kleptocratic and dangerous federation.

Dangerous chemicals lining some junk food wrappers are being ingested along with the food

"University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood." - Read ScienceDaily news item here.

Is the perfume you use harming you? harming your children? harming other people who come near to you?

See Dr Mercola's article about the Fragrance Industry.

Study suggests use of cleaning sprays, air fresheners and mould removers may increase risk of breast cancer

Based on retrospective self-reporting of use of household cleaning chemicals, higher use appeared to be linked to the doubling of breast cancer risk. Many such products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to breast cancer in laboratory experiments on rodents. Read article in the Independent.

Processed meat risks health, studies suggest; fresh meat OK.

BBC News reports that a Harvard University team which looked at studies involving over one million people from 10 countries found just 50g of processed meat a day increased the risk of heart disease and diabetes, while there was no such risk from unprocessed meat, such as beef, lamb or pork. They posit that the difference may be explained by the salt and preservatives added to processed meats (like bacon, sausages, salami and other luncheon meats).

Well I've been saying for years on my website and in my blogs that salt intake and dodgy added chemicals in processed 'foods' promote degenerative disease and obesity.
See Sodium in foods.

Should you avoid using products containing the antibacterial chemical triclosan?

I think I'll do my best to give it a miss after reading this WebMD article. Mind you, I do routinely try very hard to avoid unnecessary pharmaceutical drugs and iffy chemicals and I deplore the way they are used ever more widely and inappropriately.

Britain still permits controversial chemical Bisphenol-A to be used in the manufacture of a range of plastic products

Britain still permits controversial chemical Bisphenol-A to be used in the manufacture of a range of plastic products, including water bottles and the lining of food and beverage cans, like "the lining of 18 out of 20 best-selling canned food items including Heinz baked beans, Napolina tomatoes, and John West and Princes fish, as well as in tuna and sardines cans from major UK retailers Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda."

See report in the Independent and report in Food Safety News.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup: personally I avoid it.

I try to avoid all those iffy chemicals found lurking in nutrition labels. A chemical that does not occur in food naturally and has been 'invented'/developed in the laboratory is not something I am inclined to want to ingest. HFCS comes high in that category. Here's the latest study that suggests that HFCS isn't good for health: cnn report on corn syrup.

And here's a YouTube lecture about the harm that High-Fructose Corn Syrup does to the body: The Bitter Truth. You'll need to settle down to watch for well over an hour, but it's entertainingly delivered and very interesting, and if it persuades you to avoid HFCS then it will be time well spent.

Diet drinks do not help you to lose weight. Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! Try it!

Who drinks diet drinks? - Well, mostly it's fat folk, and they mostly stay fat and get fatter, don't they? - Don't drink diet coke and other diet drinks if you want to lose weight. Drink water instead. - It's cheaper, healthier and safer and it doesn't contain iffy chemicals.

Here's what to do to lose weight fast and really easily, and it's perfectly safe:

LOSE WEIGHT

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

Sodium in foods

Fat retention and fat excretion: the importance of getting enough calcium.

A reminder that cosmetics and skincare products sometimes contain potentially harmful chemicals

A timely reminder in this Telegraph report that cosmetics and skincare products used by women contain many ingredients and additives (a figure of 515 chemicals is suggested), some of which have been linked to cancer, hormone problems, skin conditions and allergies.

I know I sometimes look at the list of ingredients on these products and feel uneasy about some of them. - At least I now can buy body lotion and shampoo without SLS and parabens in the ingredients list.

Pizzas could be contaminated by toxic chemicals found in take-away boxes, and could, therefore, be harmful to human health, according to a new study.

Pizza boxes could harm human health
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Scientists found boxes made from recycled material sometimes contain toxic inks, glues and dyes which could be transferred to food when heated.

One chemical, diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), is causing particular concern because of fears it could affect sex hormones.

DIBP is part of the phthalate group of chemicals, which according to the Food Standards Agency "may have a harmful affect on human reproductive development because they have been reported to be endocrine (hormone) disrupters."

German paper and cardboard manufacturers have stopped using the chemical for fear of its potential dangers.

Monica Bononi, lead scientist in the research, explained that as hot pizzas are placed in boxes there is a chance food will be exposed to chemicals in the cardboard."

Fears are growing over the safety of a chemical, bisphenol A, or BPA, found in plastic baby bottles.

Baby bottles contain 'harmful' chemical

Extract from the Telegraph:

"American scientists have issued a warning over bisphenol A, or BPA, which they say can affect the reproductive, neurological and immune systems.

Now the National Childbirth Trust has asked for all plastic baby bottles to be clearly labelled for BPA content.

The US retail giant Wal-Mart has already said it would stop selling bottles made with the chemical, while the Canadian government wants it banned altogether.

Scientists with the US National Toxicology Programme concluded that BPA “can cause changes in behaviour and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland and the age at which females attain puberty”."

Toxic make-up? Toxic shampoo? toothpaste? window sprays? etc. - Channel 4 programme.

http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/T/toxic/ - I watched this Channel 4 programme - presented by Sarah Beeny - on Thurs Oct 11th evening and found it interesting. - A lot of iffy chemicals are being absorbed into the bodies of users of make-up and of commonly-used household products. And when pregnant women use these products the babies growing inside them can be harmed by the chemicals. Also breast-feeding mothers can transfer the chemicals to their babies in their breast milk.