More Evidence Scary Chemicals are In our Bodies

Science Daily today reported on a recent study that found both Teflon and Scotchgard in the milk of nursing mothers. The study turned out to have been done by a wonderful woman scientist I have the privilege of knowing personally, but that wasn't why I clicked through on the headline. It looked like yet another study, like those on plastics and pesticides, which point to hidden causes of the so-called "diabetes epidemic."

Suspected Carcinogenic Chemicals Used To Make Teflon, Scotchgard, Found In Human Milk


If this doesn't scare you, you don't understand much about physiology.

It scares me plenty, not just because these are carcinogens, but because this is yet more proof of the extent to which bizarre, not-found-in-nature, chemicals that are added to food packaging get into our bodies where no one really has much idea of what they do.

The other scary thing about this particular bunch of chemicals is that they don't break down once they are in the body. So whatever the "safe" level might be over time, you are getting more and more of them over time and they are probably being deposited in random places throughout your organs.

These ubiquitous chemicals like bisphenol-A and pesticides may also raise the incidence of diabetes and increase insulin resistance. Things that cause cancer often do.

Many people attribute the diabetes "epidemic" to the huge surge in obesity. There is no doubt that the incidence of obesity has greatly increased, but what people don't understand is that obesity is often the result of genetic damage caused by environmental toxins. In fact, lab scientists usually interpret obesity in animals as a sign that they have experienced genetic damage. A healthy animal won't overeat, but those with genetic damage do.

Note that the article mentions that "Food sources of PFCs [Perfluorinated compounds] include grease-resistant packaging such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, as well as fish and other animals that contain these chemicals. Exposure can also come from personal care products including dental floss and shampoo." And of course, your nonstick cookware is coated with Teflon and it leaches into food, especially when you heat it a bit too much.