Navigating the toxic maze safely

YOU will be surprised that the food we eat and the things around us can literally "poison" us and adversely affect our health. Navigating this "toxic maze" safely can reduce potential health risks to you and your family. Let us look at some of the common "toxins" in our environment.

Milk bottles, canned drinks and water bottles

Before buying a milk bottle, a canned drink or a sports water bottle, check for the presence of BPA or bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are commonly used in milk bottles, food and drink containers. Epoxy resins are used to coat the lining of food cans and bottle tops.

Research has shown that BPA present in containers can seep into food or beverages. Exposure to BPA may have a negative impact on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It may also adversely affect children's behaviour and blood pressure.

However, buying a BPA-free product does not guarantee safety as many manufacturers who have invested significantly in machines that produce bottles by the extrusion process are unwilling to change them into other forms of manufacturing process.

As a result, these "BPA-free" containers are made from BPA alternatives such as BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPZ, BPP, BHPF, etc. The problem is that they are all "BP" products and carry the same chemical structure of a bisphenol.

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In mice experiments, BPA and its alternatives disrupt the process of transmission of genetic material from generation to generation, resulting in a decrease in sperm counts in males and a reduction in egg quality in females.

Hence, if you want to avoid BPA and its alternatives, here are some useful lifestyle tips:

Cosmetics, nail polish, toys and dialysis

What does applying make-up, putting on nail polish, playing with toys and going for kidney dialysis have in common? They all involve products that may contain phthalates.

Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thereby increase their flexibility and durability. As phthalates are not chemically bonded to the plastic substrate, they are released from the plastic product easily, for example, by heating or by removal with solvents.

Phthalates are the ubiquitous "everywhere chemical", being present in pills, supplements, lubricants, cosmetic products, nail polish, hair spray, liquid soap, adhesives, detergents, building materials, toys, household PVC products, meat and dairy products, fast food, medical tubings and fluid bags. Those at increased risk of phthalates exposure include those involved in painting, printing, plastics processing or are dialysis patients.

Foetuses and children, especially males and pubertal children, are the most vulnerable to the effects of exposure to phthalates.

For adults, women seem to be more affected as they are more likely to use cosmetic products.

For toys and products for children under three, phthalates such as BBP, DBP and DEHP are permanently banned as DBP and DEHP have been shown to damage the reproductive systems in animal experiments, especially males. In addition, BBP may be cancer-causing in animals and DEHP causes cancer in animals. Another three more phthalates - DiDP, DINP and DnOP - are presently being banned from toys that can be put into mouths of children. DiDP can cause skin and eye irritation. DINP has also been shown to cause tumours and developmental problems in animals. DnOP not only causes skin irritation but has also been associated with endometriosis in women.

Avoid phthalate exposure by choosing phthalate-free personal care products, PVC products and toys. Diets high in dairy, meat and fast food are associated with a higher risk of phthalate exposure. For those on dialysis, use phthalate-free medical tubings and bags.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

POPs are chemicals which are omnipresent in the environment, tend to accumulate in the ecosystems and have a detrimental effect on health.

The most common POPs are pesticides, such as DDT, industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as dioxins.

As these toxins are passed along the food chain, the highest concentrations of POPs are found in those at the pinnacle of the food chain. Exposure to POPs can result in increased cancer risk, reproductive disorders, immune system abnormalities, behavioural impairment, endocrine disruption and increased birth defects. More than 90 per cent of human exposure is through food, mainly meat and dairy products, fish and shellfish. POPs such as PCBs and dioxins are higher in farmed as compared to wild salmon.

Sugar candy, chocolates, baby food and fruits juices

Studies in the United States on baby food, sugar candy and chocolates have raised concerns on the prevalence of lead in some of these food products, because either the lead-based ink on the wrapper had leached out or the food contents had lead. Baby foods that contained sweet potato and carrots generally had higher lead content. Dark chocolate had more lead than milk chocolate. Among the fruit juices, grape juice, apple juice and mixed fruit juices were more likely to have lead.

Lead is especially harmful to infants, young children, pregnant women and their foetuses, affecting the development of the brain and nervous system of the young. This can result in learning disabilities, behavioural changes and decreased IQ. Careful scrutiny of labelling and understanding the source of these food products can help to reduce exposure to lead.

Big fish and shellfish

While eating fish seems to be a good dietary choice, some of the larger fish at the higher end of the food chain (including king mackerel, marlin, shark, swordfish and tuna) are more likely to accumulate a toxic form of organic mercury, methylmercury.

Most of the methylmercury accumulated in humans comes from eating fish and shellfish. A high level of methylmercury damages the nervous system causing visual impairment, speech difficulties, muscle weakness and impairs the development of the brain in children. In contrast to methylmercury, inorganic mercury poisoning comes mainly from inhaling mercury in a vapour form when it is absorbed through the lungs. In addition to impairment of the nervous system, it can also cause kidney damage, respiratory failure and even death.

Rice

There is a high content of toxic inorganic arsenic in the groundwater of countries such as Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, India, Mexico and the US.

Drinking water and crops irrigated with contaminated water are the main reasons for human arsenic exposure. Hence, rice grown in countries with a high soil content of arsenic are more likely to result in higher arsenic levels when consumed.

Hence, in some countries, rice-based snacks are discouraged for young children. Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause cancers (skin, bladder, lungs), diabetes, heart attacks, kidney failure and impaired brain development. Rice from non-contaminated soils can be consumed safely.

In summary, your family and you can navigate this "toxic maze" safely by making the right choices in your journey towards achieving a healthy lifestyle.

This series is produced on alternate Saturdays in collaboration with MWH Heart, Stroke & Cancer Centre