Genes and lifestyle affect chemical sensitivities. — Environmental Health News

Genes and lifestyle affect chemical sensitivities. — Environmental Health News

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Chemical Question: What is stain-resistant carpet treated with?

Most carpets manufactured today are coated with a mixture of stain-resistant "fluorochemicals" sold under familiar brand names like Stainmaster, Scotchgard, and nearly anything advertised as "nonstick" or "water repellant." These coatings are effective at preventing stains, but in some studies have been identified as a likely human carcinogen and associated with developmental harm in newborn lab animals. There are currently many studies underway looking at the specific effects on humans.

This answer comes from the files of the Environmental Working Group, an influential group of scientists, engineers, policy experts and lawyers who work to expose threats to our health and the environment.

In the News: Reductions in Toxic Chemical Exposure Would Make Americans Healthier, Wealthier

As someone who monitors the news and medical studies on a daily basis, I can say with confidence that there is overwhelming evidence that points to the serious health effects associated with chemicals.

According to a new study released today, "The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act," the U.S. has the opportunity to prevent chronic disease and reduce health care costs by overhauling federal chemical policy - a policy which has not been updated since 1976. Chemical exposure is clearly contributing to the rise in many chronic diseases.

Here are some notes from the report:

•Leukemia, brain cancer, and other childhood cancers, which have increased by more than 20% since 1975

•Breast cancer, which went up by 40% between 1973 and 1998. While breast cancer rates have declined since 2003, a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is now one in eight, up from one in ten in 1973.
•Asthma, which approximately doubled in prevalence between 1980 and 1995 and has stayed at the elevated rate.
•Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 40% more women in 2002 than in 1982. The incidence of reported difficulty has almost doubled in younger women, ages 18–25.
•The birth defect resulting in undescended testes, which has increased 200% between 1970 and 1993.
•Autism, the diagnosis of which has increased more than 10 times in the last 15 years.
In the 34 years since TSCA was enacted, the Environmental Protection Agency has required testing on just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals produced and used in the U.S. over that same period.
Shocking...

It boggles the mind that chemicals have been associated with so many problems and yet there is still such a resistance to fully recognizing MCS.