The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Poisons

  • Your tooth paste is loaded with killer poisons…3

    Inevitably, this series has to jump the gun. This installment should be the second. But, last week, the Printer’s Devil was at work, and the first part of the series was mistakenly published as the second. If the series has to maintain the natural sequence, today’s installment will pass, also, as the second, and that would create confusion. The Printer’s Devil has created enough trouble with the misnumbering of the first as the second installment.

    Thanks, Mr. Erondu Obisike an agro-consultant of Aba, for calling me on the telephone to ask about when the first part was published. So, to avert new confusion, this second part of the series now goes as the third.

    Last week, this column, on the international discussion of the terrible poison toothpaste has become, and of how, in countries enlightened about this travail, many people are making their own toothpastes at home or switching over to more expensive and safer toothpastes made with natural products and not poisonous man-made chemicals. The public castigation of fluoride and other poisons in popular toothpastes underscores how science and medicine lead humanity to the ruin of human health today, only to discover their folly tomorrow, cry wolf the day after and try to salvage the wreckage they have caused. Many toothpastes are still advertised on Nigerian televisions as the best for dental and oral care whereas, in the countries from where flouridised toothpaste came into Nigeria, such toothpastes have been named as the culprit behind many diseases. These poisons are said by scientists to raise blood sugar, and lower insulin blood levels, thereby predisposing some people to diabetes, damage the endocrime system, cause hormonal imbalances, damage or discolour the teeth, cause canker sores and, in some cases, set the stage for cancer. One of the readers of this column said that, when he discussed the column with a medical doctor, the gentleman dismissed such possibilities with a wave of the hand.

    At a group meeting where we discussed this issue with the aim of reviving interest in Nigeria traditional ways of cleaning the teeth, gums and mouth, almost everyone who spoke felt sorry for this doctor. For it was either that he was an unbalanced person, a professional jingoist, pathologically indisposed to, or opposed to Alternative (or natural) Medicine or simply, an “educated illiterate”. It is disturbing to imagine that this is a doctor thousands of people depend upon to stay healthy.

    Why would he not examine the claims and investigate them before jumping into conclusions? Is he saying leading researchers and doctors in those countries whose views have influenced government and legal decisions are sub-professionals? Thankfully, many Nigerians now know that we live in a world poisoned by man-made chemicals, and that, it is better to return to Mother Nature in every matter which may affect their health.

    Natural Options

    Our discussion group recalled the good, old Nigerian chewing stick. Of the pack of many varieties, I remember four :

    • Ijebu chewing stick
    • Calabar chewing stick
    • Orin ata (r:m … r:r), the Yoruba name kagara, the peppery chewing stick from which medicinal extracts have been made for ameliorating symptoms of sickle cell disease.
    • Dongoyaro (neem) chewing stick.

    The discussion group wondered why these chewing sticks cannot be commercially produced and powderised.

    If you googlePakoIjebu (Ijebu chewing stick), it should present you with a study on this chewing stick and Orin ayan (r:m: .. d:m), also called Orin ata. The study involved 60 primary school children aged 12 years old. They were divided into three groups. One group was given toothpaste and toothbrush. Another group was given PakoIjebu (MassulariaAcuminata)The third group was placed on Orin ayan (benthamianus). The experiments to find out effects on the different mouth, gum and teeth cleaners ran for six weeks. At the end of it all, toothpaste exhibited no superiority over the others. The best results were achieved in the group which chewed Orin ayan.

    Mr. Azeez Oyeniyi from Ogbomoso, who lives in Lagos, reminds me that some people chew sticks from the stem of the mango tree or from that of Jathropha (IgiLapalapa, Yoruba). When I was a university student in the 1970s, I chewed the twigs of Neem tree whenever I had no toothpaste. Neem is medicinal. The French wife of former Senegalese President Wade once told me she made anti-malaria syrup for Senegalese children from the ripe seeds of Dogonyaro (Neem) tree. When Dogonyaro leaf powder is sprinkled in the corners of a room, the aroma chases away pests and rats. Dogonyaro soap clears skin blemishes and is antiseptic.

    ccording to www.m.webmd.com/…/neem/sources, “Neem has medicinal properties useful for bleeding nose, eye disorders, leprosy, fungal and viral infections etc. In 1992, the United States National Academy of Sciences published a report on neem tree ‘for solving global problems’ Neem is anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-pyretic, hypoglycemic (lowering blood sugar), anti-gastric ulcer, spermicidal (sperm killing in contraceptive) etc.

    When I survey with a bird’s eye view, the opportunities which abound in Nature for keeping the gums and teeth healthy without resorting to poisonous toothpastes, I cannot help wondering how stupid we are in this country. A lot of money is stolen every year from the public treasury. Maybe the thieves can be forgiven if they spend the loot to improve the wellbeing and health of the people they trample.

    In Lagos and some other Nigerian cities, local initiative is handsomely paying off. Two brands of powder mouth cleaners rule the dental and oral care market. One is called MAYOWA. The other is JIMS. On the product label, Mayowa is described as made from Calcium, Alligator pepper, Saccharin etc.

    Saccharin serves as a sweetener. How I wish it is not a part of the formula. For Saccharin is one of the ingredients naturalists object to in the regular toothpaste, for which reason some toothpaste manufacturers go for another sweetener which, unfortunately degrades into formaldehydes, a cancer-causing agent. JIMS is made from natural substances, as the product label says. There are alligator pepper and Aloe Vera in the formula.

    any Nigerians should remember wood ash and charcoal. Charcoal is a wonderful teeth whitener. Our mothers cleaned our teeth with it when we were children. If you wish to know how powerful against germs charcoal can be, watch Nigerian women. When they grind pepper in the market for cooking back home, they recognize that, in the time lag between when they leave the market and when they arrive home, germs can degrade the pepper puree. Evidence of this is the altered taste and aroma, in addition to a foam over the puree. Experienced Nigerian women would place a piece of wood charcoal on the pepper puree, and this would inactivate any degrading germ action. For mouth and dental care purposes, I would recommend Activated Charcoal. Activated Charcoal is purified charcoal. It is “magnetic” and attracts germs, wastes, poisons etc which it drags out of the body when it is consumed internally. Charcoal is not digested by the body. Thus, it is used as a marker to test digestive system efficiency. If it comes out in the stool about 18 hours after ingestion, the digestive system is said to work well. Many years ago this column suggested it be kept in the family medicine chest. When anyone complains of “stomach” pain and is given a charcoal capsule to swallow, or the capsule is unscrewed and the content is poured into the mouth and washed down with water, the trouble often subsides. Thus charcoal is a good oral health agent. It may be suspended, say, in coconut oil, another antimicrobial, and brushed across the teeth.

    According EDMARK

    “95 percent” of the world’s Toothpastes are Fluoride Toothpastes.

    Is Fluoride Harming Your Teeth?

    2007 – American Dental Association first warned the public that infants should not use fluoride due to fluorosis.

    2010 – Journal of The American Dental Association published a story that “fluoride is actually bad for your teeth”.

    U.S  Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state:

    ‘In children younger than 8 years, of age, combined fluoride exposure from all sources-water, food, toothpastes, mouth rinse, or other products-contributes to enamel fluorosis’.

    RISKS FROM INGESTING FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE INCLUDE:

    • Permanent Discoloration (Dental Fluorosis): Dental fluorosis is defect in tooth enamel caused by excessive fluoride intake during the tooth –forming years (age 0-8).
    • Stomach Ailments: poison Control Centres received thousands of reports in US alone due to excessive ingestion of fluoride toothpastes and other fluoridated dental products.

    Fluoride ingestion can cause a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, pain and vomiting. In 2006, National Research Council in US called for research on the level of fluoride in the stomach to cause these symptoms.

    • Acute Poisoning: children who swallow too much fluoride toothpastes can suffer acute poisoning, even death.

    In the early 1990s (prior to FDA warning), 1,000 poisoning reports received each year from fluoride toothpaste.

    Today (after FDA warning), 23,000 reports a year are received from fluoride toothpaste.

    • Skin Rashes (Perioral Dermatitis): The use of fluoride toothpastes my cause or aggravate perioral dermatitis (a rosacea-like skin rash around the mouth. In addition, it may also cause Stomatitis (Mouth ulcers, “canker sores”).
    • Impairment in Glucose Metabolism: The use of fluoride tooth paste can cause an increase in glucose levels in the blood, and decrease levels of insulin. Increase in glucose levels can contribute to Diabetes.

     

    WILL YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH LEAD?

    Then why are you using fluorides?! Fluoride is more toxic than lead, and only slightly less toxic than arsenic.

    Replacing Fluoride with Xylitol and Chlorophyll

    Another recipe comes from everydayroots.com; teethwhite.com, offered by CLAIRE GOODHALL. He suggests strawberry, sea salt and Baking Soda with Coconut oil. Another is Baking Soda and lemon juice paste.

    Proprietary Blends on the Nigeria market today, there are some factory formulated natural toothpastes oil claiming to be fluoride free. They are sold on the network marketing. They may be obtained at cheaper costs by any-one who wishes to permanently change over to them one of these days. Aloe BRIGHT TOOTPASTE was introduced to me by Mrs MonilolaAiyesimoju. It comes from Forever Living Products in a formulation of Aloe Vera, the specialty of FLP, and Bee Propoles with spear mint and pepper mint for freshening flavor. Aloe Vera hardly needs any introduction as an anti-microbial, tissue regenerator and rehydrator. Propolis is the antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal substance, the honey bees coat their hives with, to keep infections agents away. This toothpaste certainly is much more health promoting than commercial toothpaste.

    When eternal network came to Nigeria, I gave the link to Pa Akinjide Shoboyede who should be Seventy Eight (78) or thereabout next year. From eternal he buys eternal toothpaste which he informs me has helped many people to stop their gums from bleeding. He told me last week: “Eternal toothpaste is the one I use.” The product literature says; it’s one tooth paste, but with triple cares!

    he first care is CIFC-free and moth-proofing: white Tea Essence CaGP Calcium glycerophosphate) + Xylitol (xylitol) compound Ingredients, which strengthens the tooth root and solidify the tooth. Thereby preventing teeth cavities.

    The second care is deep Cleanness: antibacterial TCS + high-quality clean tooth both abrasive, which make your oral cavity healthy and clean.

    The third care is consolidating the gums: strontium chloride + Aloe extract compound ingredients, which can strengthen the tooth root and toughen the tooth.

    The constituent ingredients are: Water, scorbic sugar alcohol hydrated silica, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, xylose alcohol, essence, polyethylene glycol-32, cellulose gum, xanthan gum, saccharin sodium, tea, (CAMELLIA SINESIS) leaf, extract, aloe extract, triclosan, glycerin calcium, phosphate, chlorinated strontium hexahydrates mint kefone glycerin ketal, trisodium phosphate, mentol and sodium benzoate.

    ARGUABLY, SPLINA CHLOROPHYLL TOOTHPASTE FROM EDMARK is the latest natural proprietary blend in town. Among EDMARK’S well-known products from which this tooth-paste factored is SPLINA LIQUID CHLOROPHYLL. This product is made from ALFALFA (Arat) word which means father of all plants because it has about the longest root system (250 ft) which brings to the plant some of the rarest nutrients not found in other plants.

    Alfalfa is one of the richest plants in chlorophyll, a cleanser, detoxifier, antimicrobial e.t.c

    Xylitol is a chemical categorized as a polyalcohol or sugar alcohol.

    It is a 100 percent natural, safe and convenient sugar substitute with long lasting benefits. Xylitol-containing toothpastes have been adequately studied and have the potential for use in specific or generalised health programs to promote oral health and reduce tooth decay.

    The World Health Organisation has even given Xylitol its safest rating for food additives.

    In dental plaque prevention, xylitol has been shown to have an active protective effects by reducing tooth decay.

    Xylitol reduces the levels of mutans streptococci in plaque and saliva, thereby limiting the level of enamel-demineralizing lactic acid produced by these bacteria.

    Xylitol is superior to sorbitol (found in other toothpaste) in that it is completely non-acidogenic and non –carciogenic. It has actively prevented tooth decay.

    BENEFITS OF CHLOROPHYLL

    Chlorophyll helps improve oral health

    Aside from improving bone structure, chlorophyll can actually help improve the strength of your teeth.

    Chlorophyll can help kill bad breath “Halitosis”. It is rich in Magnesium and Iron that helps to reduce foul smells.

    Clears up pyorrhea (infection of the gums) and Gingivitis (bleeding gums).

    Chlorophyll reduces destructive acids which caused bacterial growth and tooth decay.

  • Your tooth paste is loaded with killer poisons…(2)

    The last thought on your mind when you are brushing your teeth and gums with your choice toothpaste is that, rather than clean and freshen them, you are actually loading them with poisons and instalmentally killing them and other cells in the body. Yet this is the truth. For almost all ingredients in today’s popular toothpastes are loads of poisons, according to many scientific revelations. And for this reason, many toothpaste producers do not make a full ingredients disclosure on the product label as the law demands they do. What are these ingredients? Why are they used to make toothpastes? And why, scientifically, are they considered poisonous?

    The ingredients:

    There are about seven of them in most toothpastes. Check the product label of your choice toothpaste for them. They are:

    • Sodium fluoride
    • Triclosan
    • Sodium Lauryl sulfate (SLS)
    • PROPYLENE Glycol, and
    • Diethanola, (mine DEA)
    • Hydrated silica
    • F.D & C colour dyes

    Sodium Fluoride

    This is a waste product from the manufacture of aluminium, a dangerous metal which damages the brain. When the aluminium industry couldn’t meet the huge bills of safety requirements for its disposal according to law, it sold sodium fluoride to dentists as a dental health substance. Dentists accepted it. And, to have the approval of dentists for their products, toothpaste producers factored sodium fluoride in to toothpaste. And the dental care market accepted the idea. Today, dentists educate us that sodium fluoride prevents tooth decay, builds strong teeth. But sodium fluoride appears in rat poisons and industrial pesticides. According to Akron regional poison centre in www.lifestrong.com:

    “Ingesting one per ten of an ounce of fluoride can kill a hundred adults, ingesting a small amount of sodium fluoride may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Yet despite its dangers, sodium fluoride continues to be a staple in all leading brands of toothpaste”. Adults and children swallow small amounts of toothpaste every time the teeth and gums are brushed with regular, that is, poisonous toothpaste.

    Triclosan

    The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies Triclosan as a pesticide and emphatically suggests that it poses a health risk to humans and the environment. Research scientists describe Triclosan as a “chlorophenol,” a chemical said to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) in humans.

    Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

    Toothpastes need a foaming agent. This product serves that purpose in toothpastes. We are told it offers us detergent and cleansing help. It should be of interest to people who have vision challenges that Sodium Laurel Sulfate can damage the eyes, cause skin irritation and labour the breath. According to www.lifestrong.com, quoting the American College of Toxicology:

    “Sodium Laurel Sulfate may stay within the body for up to five days, accumulating in the heart, liver, lungs and brain. When combined with certain other chemicals, Sodium Laurel Sulfate transforms into nitrosamins, a class of powerful carcinogens that cause the body to absorb harmful nitrates.

    Propylene Glycol

    This chemical is an anti-freeze agent which serves as a wetting substance and surfactant in toothpaste. Yet the MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET, which advises handlers and users of chemicals about their safety or poisonous effects, says of PROPYLENE GLYCOL:

    “The chemical can be rapidly absorbed through the skin, with prolonged contact leading to brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. Yet it doesn’t stop the chemical from being used in common health, care products.

    Diethanolamine (DEA)

    This chemical is present in products which foam, including toothpastes. But DEA disrupts hormonal balances and produces cancer-causing nitrates. Dr. Samuel Epstein, professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois said, “repeated skin exposure to DEA can lead to increased risk of liver and kidney cancer”.

    Hydrated Silica

    Silica is used in toothpaste as an abrasive agent. Abrasive are needed to dissolve adhesions and make the teeth whiter. In the days of old when surgery was not as popular as it is today, micronised silica was used to dissolve tumors and other growths. For this reason, it has the accolade of the “homeopathic surgeon.” It is a hardener of connective tissue between cells, promotes digestion, chelates (binds to) poisons, germs, heavy metals etc and drags them out of the body through the stool. Besides, it reduces high blood sugar, high cholesterol levels, and promotes healthy skin, nail and hair apart from helping to alkalise the blood and tissue. But Silica would appear to be abrasive for the enamel of the tooth, which is known to be one of the hardest substances in the body.

    In www.tomsofmaine.com- “Hydrated silica is a mild abrasive which gives toothpaste a smoother gel quality” In www.ebay.com, SHIVERS international says: “Hydrated silica: a whitner that damages tooth enamel… is made from a crystalised compound found in quartz, sand, and flint. Tooth enamel remineralises daily from the supply of ionic calcium and phosphorus in the saliva. Scratching the surface of the tooth with an abrasive such as hydrated silica harms the enamel and prevents re-mineralisation, much like using sand to clean glass. Severe wear could eventually occur.

    Dr. Samuel Epstein, who is Chairman of the Cancer prevention coalition and recipient of the Alternative Nobel prize in 1998, states in his book… the amount of irritation caused by toothpaste is minimal but can include sore mouth and gums, wearing away of tooth enamel, sore tongue, and sloughing of mucous membrane. The public is cautioned against excessive use of products containing ‘dioforms, which are abrasive substances that can cause the breakdown of tooth enamel.

    Products containing the ingredients silica and cellulose in particular, should be avoided when disease, tooth decay, sensitivity gum and receding gums are present.

    While these ingredients can remove tartar and make teeth whiter in appearance, they also may do harm to dental health by altering the acidic balance of the mouth, gums and tongue, said Dr. warren Scherer, New York University College of Dentistry, as reported by the Naples Daily News.

    In www.ebay.com, we found a reference to FD & C colour dyes. The site says: ‘There are artificial dyes/colorings often found in familiar toothpaste brands and a wide variety of other products. Recent studies indicate that FD &C Blue Dyes 1 & 2 can trigger a wide number of behavioral, learning, and health problems.

    FD & C color dyes may also cause potential severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness lack of concentration and cancer. Using FD &  C Blue Dyes 1 & 2 is just like ingesting crude oil as it too, is synthesized from petroleum. These dyes were originally made from coal tar oil, which is black, sticky tar by-product of steel making and petroleum distillation, and is source of numerous complex chemicals. Through repeated human exposure, some of these isolated coal tar components were classified as active carcinogens, ultimately leading to US government regulations and restrictions.

    Nowadays, coal tar dyes are synthetically engineered rather than extracted from actual coal tar, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of being contaminated with carcinogenic residuals from the cola itself.

    However, the dyes still contain carcinogenic properties over several decades of use, some of these synthetic dyes have come under greater scientific and government scrutiny due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic activity. Because of this, they are still referred to in the industry as-coal tar dyes-according to the us FDA.

    “Even if toothpaste is never swallowed, these dyes can be absorbed within seconds through the skin on the lips, or through the mucous membrane in the mouth. According to the physicians’ Desk Reference, the efficiency of over 90 percent. Because of this, these carcinogenic gets into your blood, your brain, and your cells in no time at all especially when you consider most people use dental care products two to three times a day.

    Colgate toothpaste

    One of the toothpaste which medical researcher are waging war against in the United States and Europe is Colgate, which is said to contain some of the cancer linked chemicals mentioned above. Tiffany Kary says: For example:

    “Newly released document that supported the FDA’s 1997 approval of Colgate Total toothpaste include indications that its active ingredients, Triclosan, may distrupt hormone functions, says three scientists who reviewed the pages. The maker of Colgate – Palm Olive, says the FDA’s approval and annual product – safety update establish that Triclosan is safe and effective in toothpaste. The chemical Triclosan has been linked to cancer – cell growth and distorted development in animals. Regulators are reviewing whether it’s safe to put in soap, cotton buds and toys. Consumer compound are phasing it out.”

    Minnesota voted in May to ban it in many products. At the same time, milions of Americans are putting it in their mouths every day, by way of a top selling toothpaste that uses the antibacterial chemical to head off gum disease. Colgate Palmolive says, “Total is safe, Colgate is safe, Cuting the rigorous food and Drug Adminstration process that led to the toothpaste 1997 approval as an over-the-counter drug. A closer look of that application process, however, reveals that some of the scientific finding Colgate put forward to establish Triclosan’s safety in toothpaste weren’t black and white…and weren’t, until this year (1997) and made available to the public.

    Colgate, Total application include 35 pages summarising toxicology studies on Triclosan, which the FDA withheld from view. The agency released the pages earlier this year (1997) in response to a law suit over a freedom of Information Act request. Later, following enquiries from Bloombeg News, the FDA put the pages on its websites. The pages show how even with one of the U.S’s most stringent regulatory processes FDA approval of a new drug, the government relies on company backed science to show products as safe and effective. The recently released pages, taken alongside new research on Triclosan, raised questions about whether the agency did appropriate due diligence in approving Total 17 years age, and whether it’s approval should stand on light of new research, said three scientists who reviewed the pages at Bloomberg News’s request.

    “Among these pages were studies showing fatal bone malformations in mice and rats. Colgate said the findings weren’t relevant. Viewed through the prism of today’s science, such malformations look more like a signal that Triclosan is disrupting the endocrine system and throwing up hormonal functioning, according to the three scientists. Colgate application materials also show that the FDA asked questions about the thoroughness of cancer studies which are partly addressed in recently released documents. Some questions about Tricolosans potential impacts on people are, by nature, unanswerable, ”humans are exposed to dozens of chemicals that may interact in the  body, making it almost impossible to link one substance to one disease”, said Thomas Zoeller, a Biology Professor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who specialises in how chemicals affect the endocrine system.

    Huge risk were a system

    Natural toothpastes all over the world, the movement for natural toothpaste is gathering steam. It is possible, going by findings of how chemicalised toothpastes damage health that they are in some ways responsible for the increasing waves of illness in Nigeria.Women suffer from hormonal disturbances and infertility more than in precious decades. For men, low sperm count, infertility and loss of libido are common complains. Some of the recipes for nature toothpaste aim at remineralisation of the enamel clearance of adhesions such as tartar and elimination of fungi and bacteria.

    From wellnessmama.com comes a combination of calcium powder, Diatomaceous Health (DE) and Coconut Oil, with myrrh and cinnamon or mint for flavor. The website acknowledges that a reader said DE may be harsh on the enamel and suggested Baking Soda and xylitol powder. Coconut oil is rich in Lauric acid which kills viruses, fungi and bacteria.

    Taken with meals, Coconut oil has been of great value to the health of HIV challenged people troubled by intestinal opportunistic diseases.

  • Poisons that affect different parts of the body

    Continued from last week

    The heart and blood vessels form the cardiovascular system. Their function is vital and involves distribution of oxygen, nutrients, heat, and disease fighting cells throughout the body. The system also moves away waste products from the cells to the sites of excretion within the body. Toxins such as carbon monoxide from exhaust fumes, carbon disulphide from industrial wastes, nitrates from fertilizers, and methylene chloride from paint removers can cause malfunctioning of the heart. Many foods and drinks that we consume contain a heart stimulant (cardiac stimulant) and you may sometimes feel a transient chest pain after eating. When you notice more than once that certain foods cause chest pain, study what they contain and find out if they are cardiac stimulants and limit or avoid your intake of such foods. If you feel a sudden strong chest pain, an immediate cardiac tonic is a small dose of aspirin (less than the pain killer dose). It has saved many people who are prone to fatal heart problems. In fact, older people could have some low-dose aspirin available at home as a rescue medicine when needed. Ask your doctor if this could be useful for you. You should not consume aspirin whimsically. (Some chest pains may be due to allergic reaction or other problems and aspirin itself can be allergic). Many plants contain substances that are toxic to the heart. Some of our best known heart medicines come from plants. An example of such plants is Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) which has attractively shaped flowers and an interesting purple colour and is a source of the heart medicine digoxin. Another plant producing substances that affect the cardiovascular system is Rauwolfia serpentina which contains the chemical called reserpine in its bark. The Youruba call it asofeyeje (“the one that produces fruits for birds to eat”). Children can easily play with plants and their parents may not know what chemicals are in the plants. Avoid leaving infants unattended where they can eat plant materials. Teach children to avoid touching plant juices and to wash their hands after picking flowers and plants.

    The reproductive system is the source of progeny, an assurance that the world continues with somebody like you. In men, it includes the testicles, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and the penis and the main function of the system is to produce sperm and hormones and to deposit sperm during intercourse. In women, the reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina and its functions include the provision of eggs for fertilization, production of hormones, reception of sperm, and the nurturing of the new life produced after conception. Toxicity to the reproductive system can cause altered sexual behaviour, altered onset of puberty, altered sperm production, erectile dysfunction, menstrual disorders, infertility, sterility, baby deaths, baby birth defects, and premature menopause. Amongst substances that are known to cause damage to the reproductive system are methyl mercury, lead, and carbon monoxide. However the incidence of reproductive problems in recent times is very high (up to 10%) so that there seems to be unknown key environmental causes. Drugs and household products remain topmost suspects. Many drugs that affect the nervous system or the blood vessels may have secondary effects on the reproductive system which can be adverse to reproduction. These include common medications such as some antipsychotics and some social drugs such as cocaine and tobacco smoke. A list can be found at The Pollution Information Site – Scorecard http://scorecard.goodguide.com/health-effects/chemicals.tcl?short_hazard_name=repro&all_p=t. Some chemicals damage the reproductive system directly. These include cancer causing substances. Lead can cause menstrual disorders and infertility. Carbon disulfide, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs) can cause irregularities in the menstrual cycle. Carbon disulfide, chlordecone (a pesticide), ethylene dibromide (EDB), and dibromochloropropane can damage male reproductive health. Known and suspect drugs that may cause reproductive side effects include (chemical names): acetyl salicylic acid, adriamycin, aminopterin, amiodarone hydrochloride, anabolic steroids, colchicine, cyclophosphamide, diflunisal , etodolac , flunisolide, flurbiprofen, ganciclovir sodium, gemfiborzil , goserelin acetate, haloperidol , hexamethylphosphoramide, hydramethylnon, idarubicin hydrochloride leuprolide acetate, levonorgestrel implants , m-dinitrobenzene , hexamethyl melamine, myclobutanil , nifedipine, nitrofurantoin, paclitaxel , pimozide, ethyl-quizalofop, ribavirin, rifampicin, salicylazosulfapyridine, streptozotocin, sulindac , triadimefon, uracil mustard , and zileuton. That is more than enough drugs, not talking of other chemicals, to stop the human species from propagating. Infertility is one of those “apocalypse diseases”, affecting a large proportion of humanity. “According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), household products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food all contain endocrine [hormone] disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which may be causing significant increases in diabetes, obesity, cancers and increasing infertility.” (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245485.php). Therefore, if you want to reproduce, watch what you are exposed to and what you consume and how you consume.

    Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910

  • Poisons that affect different parts of the body

    Poisons can get into our bodies through breathing, consumption, injection, bites, and contact. There are some well-known poisons that can get into our bodies through environmental exposure. For example smog can precipitate asthma, asbestos causes mesothelioma (a lung cancer), and lead causes learning disabilities. We should be particularly aware of how toxins affect our vital organs and recognize the symptoms of toxicity to these organs.

    Breathing may be considered the most vital function for our bodies because if we do not breathe well we cannot think well nor do anything else well. We breathe through an amazing channel starting from the nose, passing through the pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and ending in the lungs. This process brings oxygen to our bodies as we breathe in and expels the waste gas carbon dioxide as we breathe out. Substances such as asbestos, radon, cadmium, benzene, carbon monoxide, moulds, and soot can enter our breathing passage and cause asbestosis, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, fibrosis, or emphysema, and therefore decrease oxygen supply to the body. Asbestos is found in old fashioned ceiling materials. Radon naturally occurs in the ground. Cadmium is a component of old batteries. Benzene is found in some household cleaning products. Carbon monoxide and soot are released from electricity generators using petrol. When you cook outdoors with wood, you could breathe in soot. Avoid standing at the windward side and position yourself at the opposite (leeward) side. Badly maintained kerosene cookers also release soot. All these substances are potential health hazards. One day, I saw a young lady who is a professional cleaner and she was sweeping the street. Perhaps she does this for several hours a day. What struck me was that she carried a baby on her back and that was a lot of exposure to dust for the baby. For the good health of members of the family, we should examine routinely how we cleanse the air in our homes. A clean cooking environment, good home ventilation, and proper storage of hazardous materials are important preventive measures for good lung health.

    The kidneys are vital organs that we cannot live without. They filter the blood and excrete waste and toxins from the blood and these collect as dissolved substances in urine. The urine passes from the kidneys via tubes called ureters and is stored in a sac called the bladder. When the bladder is distended the urine is passed out through a tube called the urethra in the process of urination. In this way the kidneys keep the amounts of salts and fluids in our bodies regulated so that toxic substances do not build up or remain in our bodies. The kidneys and urinary system may become dysfunctional or may develop structural damage or cancer. Substances that can cause such problems include metals such as lead, cadmium, uranium, and mercury. Some industrial products that contain chlorinated hydrocarbons can cause kidney damage. These include paint removers, dry cleaning solutions and degreasers. Some pain relievers that contain aspirin or ibuprofen can cause allergic inflammation in certain persons which can affect their kidneys. Therefore you should not share your prescription pain killers with other persons. When the kidneys fail, there is build-up of waste products in the body. The victim may therefore feel weak and manifest shortness of breath, lethargy, confusion, seizures, and swelling in the leg, foot, or ankle. Some of these symptoms develop slowly. Excess potassium that is not removed from the blood by the kidneys can cause irregular heart rhythms and sudden death.

    The liver works to break down food and store nutrients, to produce clotting factors so that we do not bleed to death when we get a cut, and to degrade drugs and chemicals. If the liver is dysfunctional or damaged, the victim can develop cancers from toxic substances that the liver fails to remove and fat storage problems. A tip to preserve one’s liver is to avoid or limit the consumption of synthetic foods and chemicals, including recreational drugs and unnecessary medication. Chemicals, drugs, food additives, etc., pass through the liver where they are converted into substances that can be excreted. However, their presence in the liver may directly do some damage and this possibly happens regularly. However, even if 80% of the liver is damaged, it can still serve its protective function for the body but the remaining 20% may get damaged faster by overload of chemicals to process. There are many ways we can limit consumption of chemicals. For example, always wash your fruits and vegetables very well to remove pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and antibiotics used in agriculture.

    Alcohol, carbon tetrachloride from adhesives, methylene chloride from car part cleaners and paint removers and vinyl chloride from pipe sealer are examples of substances that are toxic to the liver, therefore working with these in well ventilated and spacious environments and using a face mask limits the user’s exposure. Some medications have a potential to damage the liver. For example, excess acetaminophen (pain killer) causes liver damage. All drugs in general, since most of them are either detoxified or made toxic by passing through the liver, should strictly be used according to the manufacturer’s and health care giver’s instructions. We should always avoid fake drugs and “remedies” marketed by quacks, no matter how exciting, cheap, and easy to get they are. Such drugs and herbal concoctions do not have the backing of scientific scrutiny and do not carry warnings of verified toxicity. If you must buy herbal products, fresh herbs are safer than concoctions.

    Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910