The 10 Most Common Toxins

The following toxins are among the most prevalent in our air, water and/or food supply. This list is by no means all-inclusive, as thousands of other toxins are also circulating in our environment. Keep reading to find out tips to avoid these toxins and others as much as possible.

• PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls): This industrial chemical has been banned in the United States for decades, but guess what? It's still present in our environment. 

Risks: Cancer, impaired fetal brain development
Major Source: Farm-raised salmon. Most farm-raised salmon (which btw, accounts for most of the supply in the United States) are fed meals of ground-up fish that have absorbed PCBs from the environment. Avoid them if you can. 

• Pesticides: According to the EPA, 60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides and 30% of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. And pesticide residue has been detected in between 50% and 95% of our food here in the U.S.

Risks: Cancer, Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, nerve damage, birth defects, impaired absorption of food nutrients
Major Sources: Food (fruits, vegetables and commercially raised meats), bug sprays

• Mold and other Fungal Toxins: One in three people have had an allergic reaction to mold. Mycotoxins (fungal toxins) can cause a range of health problems with exposure to only a small amount.

Risks: Cancer, heart disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes
Major Sources: Contaminated buildings, food (peanuts, wheat, corn) and alcoholic beverages

• Phthalates: These are chemicals are used to lengthen the life of fragrances and soften plastics.

Risks: Endocrine system damage
Major Sources: Plastic wrap, plastic bottles, plastic food storage containers. All of these can leach phthalates into our food. Look for higher-grade storage. It is available, and minimizes leaching.

• VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds): VOC's are a major contributing factor to ozone, an air pollutant. According to the EPA, VOC's can be two to five times higher in indoor air than in outdoor air . . . most probably because they're present in so many household products.

Risks: Cancer, eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment
Major Sources: Drinking water, carpet, paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellants, air fresheners.

• Dioxins: Chemical compounds formed as by-products of combustion processes, such as commercial or municipal waste incineration, and from burning fuels (like wood, coal or oil).

Risks: Cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, chloracne (a severe skin disease with acne-like lesions), skin rashes, skin discoloration, excessive body hair, mild liver damage
Major Sources: Animal fats: Over 95% of exposure comes from eating commercial animal fats.

• Asbestos: This insulating material was widely used from the 1950s to 1970s. When the material becomes old and crumbly, it releases fibers into the air.

Risks: Cancer, scarring of the lung tissue, mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer)
Major Sources: Insulation on floors, ceilings, water pipes and healing ducts from the 1950s to 1970s.

• Heavy Metals: Metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium . . . which can accumulate in soft tissues of the body.

Risks: Cancer, neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease, foggy head, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, damage to blood vessels
Major Sources: Drinking water, fish, vaccines, pesticides, preserved wood, antiperspirant, and building materials

• Chloroform: A colorless liquid that has a pleasant, nonirritating odor and a slightly sweet taste . . . and which is used as a common ingredient when manufacturing chemical compounds.

Risks: Cancer, potential reproductive damage, birth defects, dizziness, fatigue, headache, liver and kidney damage.
Major Sources: Air, drinking water and food.

• Chlorine: A highly toxic, yellow-green gas. One of the most heavily-used chemical agents around.

Risks: Sore throat, coughing, eye and skin irritation, rapid breathing, narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing, blue coloring of the skin, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, pain in the lung region, severe eye and skin burns, lung collapse.
Major Sources: Household cleaners, drinking water . . . even the air when living in close proximity to manufacturing facilities that use chlorine in in the processes.

Kind of a mess. A big, seemingly unmanageable mess. But that does kind of bring us back to the notion of nutritional cleansing. Some great alternatives for you next time!