If you just read this book cover to cover, you’re officially an ailment and treatment alternative expert. Then again, maybe you decided to dive in and jump to the most relevant and timely ailments for your child.
Either way, you’ll note that we focused on treating common conditions to give you practical tools to help your kids. However, we think prevention is so important to promoting children’s health that we’ve included this appendix on environmental issues.
When you think about childhood ailments, you likely picture germs changing hands at toddlers’ play dates or that coughing kid in fifth grade who should have stayed home from school. Diseases, though, are not simply a human-to-human infection phenomenon. There are a host of environmental threats to children’s health that can lead to serious conditions such as asthma, cancer, and neurological issues.
This is not a call to keep your kids in the house until high school graduation. View this appendix as a precautionary tale on preventing the most common environmental exposures. After all, prevention is more effective than treatment when it comes to toxins like heavy metals and pesticides. Then again, there are some natural remedies (predominantly nutritional, though some are herbal) that can help to both prevent and remediate damage done by toxins.
Not to be confused with distorted guitars and big-hair shrieking, heavy metals in this section refer to toxic elements that cause harm to the environment and to people. The most common examples include arsenic, lead, and mercury. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when one of these elements is ingested, inhaled, or absorbed in large amounts —or in small amounts over a long period of time. The most common sources of exposure are from industrial pollution and can include the following:
• Arsenic: contaminated water, paints, hazardous waste sites
• Lead: paint, batteries, pesticides
• Mercury: fish, medical equipment (old thermometers or blood pressure devices), biological preservatives (thimerosal)
Symptoms vary depending on the heavy metal exposure and on the individual’s ability to excrete the toxin (detoxification). Some of the most common symptoms of heavy metal poisoning include: headache, confusion, visual impairment, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and changes in skin pigmentation. Heavy metal toxicity is most serious for pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, and infants and children.
In dealing with heavy metal toxicity, a number of treatments have been researched and found to be potentially effective. Remember, though: prevention is always preferred to treatment when it comes to environmental exposures.
• Chelation therapy: This is the process of cleansing the body of damaging heavy metals and is done through the use of DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid), DMPS (2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid) and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), typically administered orally or intravenously. These agents bind to the metals and help the body excrete them more quickly and efficiently than would typically be expected. Note, though, that chelation is a serious medical procedure with the potential for major adverse reactions and should only be used under the supervision of an experienced clinician. There are also gentler and natural forms of chelation to consider, particularly from foods such as garlic and cilantro.
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C): may reduce brain and cellular damage associated with toxicity of lead
• N-acetyl cysteine, zinc, and selenium: a combination of all three may reverse damage caused by mercury exposure
• Melatonin: may reduce toxicity from exposure to high levels of arsenic
Sources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17959157
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22056337
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21424224
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15664430
Synthetic chemicals that interfere with the functioning of the body’s hormones are considered endocrine disruptors. Some of these chemicals actually change the way the body produces hormones like estrogen and testosterone, thereby damaging an otherwise healthy endocrine system. These exposures can lead to early or delayed puberty, impaired fertility, or certain cancers.
Examples of endocrine disruptors include agricultural chemicals (such as diethylstilbesterol or DES), pesticides (such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT), and herbicides. They can also be found in detergents, cosmetics, and plastics (like phthalates and bisphenol A or BPA). Fetal exposure to BPA and other plasticizers is particularly dangerous. This explains why some states and countries are banning its use, and manufacturers are finally removing it from baby bottles and other products.
Avoidance of these chemicals is the first crucial step. Interestingly, there are some natural remedies that may help protect us from the damage from these exposures. Specific probiotics such as Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult (BbY) and Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS), have been shown to protect the body from absorbing BPA. Broccoli, cauliflower, and other organic cruciferous vegetables contain indole-3-carbynol compounds that promote the body’s ability to rid itself of endocrine disruptors.
Sources:
www.epa.gov/endo/pubs/edspoverview/whatare.htm
www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=bpa%20probiotics
Pesticides are chemicals typically used to protect produce and crops from pests such as bugs, insects, birds, rodents, and weeds. Unfortunately, human exposure to pesticides can cause health problems ranging from minor (e.g., skin irritation) to major (e.g., asthma, cancer, and neurological problems).
Beyond just crop protection, pesticides are also found in many bug and insect repellants. DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is applied topically to protect the human body from insects or bugs that may bite, sting, or carry diseases. It also has the potential to cause health problems from skin rashes to severe issues like neurological and neuromuscular disorders (including paralysis and trouble breathing). Permethrins, members of the pyrethroid class of pesticides, are the active ingredient in most over-the-counter lice treatments and may cause neurological toxicity at high doses.
The best way to reduce or eliminate kids’ pesticide exposure is to choose pesticide-free home, garden, and cleaning products and organic fruits and vegetables when possible—these are grown without pesticides. The microbes found in probiotics may help reduce pesticide toxicity by binding to the chemicals to make them more easily excretable.
Sources:
www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/children-live.html
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15952424
Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide, and nitrogen oxide are all examples of air pollution that can impact the atmosphere. Breathing these pollutants can pose a risk to both humans and animals. A range of sources cause air pollution, including aerosol deodorants and hairspray, smoke stacks, and transportation sources (like buses, cars, and boats). Direct exposures affect breathing, but of equal concern is the affect of air pollution on pregnant women and their babies. Air pollution exposure in these cases can lead to premature labor and neurological problems for the unborn child.
The risk from exposure to air pollution can be reduced in a number of ways, including:
• Choosing transportation methods that do not emit harmful gases
• Utilizing recyclable and renewable forms of energy
• Properly ventilating living spaces to prevent respiratory problems from pollutants
Maintaining healthy antioxidant and nutrient levels through intake of organic fruits and vegetables may also help limit the ill effects of air pollution.
Sources:
yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/outdoor_air_pollution.htm
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21868304
Cigarettes and cigars are the biggest culprits when it comes to tobacco smoke. The numerous chemicals found in tobacco smoke are easily absorbed by the lungs. The chemicals also affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems. It has been known for a number of years that smoking tobacco can lead to a variety of cancers, respiratory problems, heart attacks, stroke, and emphysema.
For children the bigger risk is secondhand smoke. The toxic chemicals exhaled by smokers can actually cause more health problems than those experienced by the person smoking. For children, this can lead to asthma, bronchitis, ear infections, or pneumonia. It is also thought to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in babies. Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk of premature birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight. More recently, data has clearly shown the negative effects of third-hand smoke—that is, the effect on infants and children (including those in utero) via tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette has been extinguished.
Besides avoiding exposures to environmental tobacco smoke, loading up on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been found to reduce the risk of lung disease following smoke inhalation. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in eggs, fish oils, nuts, and flax seeds. Also, turmeric and green tea extracts have a detoxifying effect that can protect the body from the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
Sources:
www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm
www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke
www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/health/research/03smoke.html
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10351918
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15149152
Marked variations in weather patterns describe climate change. It’s responsible for extreme temperature changes (like mild winters), floods, droughts, and hurricanes. While much of climate change is a natural occurrence, some is manmade from irreversible changes to the planet’s climate caused by pollution, deforestation, and carbon dioxide. Global climate change clearly affects the environment and only now are we recognizing the major impact it has on human health.
Climate changes affect our health by affecting food supply—both crops and livestock. It also increases pollution, thereby affecting air quality and leading to respiratory problems, particularly in young children.
Climate change will also alter the areas in which insects can live and thrive. This poses a problem in that insects that carry diseases will be more easily spread throughout the world. Pollens and molds also thrive in warmer temperatures.
Changes in the earth’s ozone layer lead to health problems in several ways. Breathing increased ozone is associated with respiratory problems like asthma. An increase in warmer weather means more exposure to harmful ultraviolet light. Studies also suggest that children who live in areas with known problems with air pollution are at risk of vitamin D deficiency and could therefore benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D, in fact, may be protective against a number of climate change–related health effects.
Additionally, just as with many other environmental exposures, improving antioxidant status is helpful to limiting toxic damage. Glutathione, one of the body’s main natural antioxidants, depends on adequate production of compounds like n-acetylcysteine (NAC). Ingesting NAC supplements may increase levels of glutathione. Healthy levels of glutathione are associated with improved immune and detoxification functions.
Sources:
www.epa.gov/climatechange/downloads/Climate_Change_Health.pdf
www.epa.gov/glo/health.html
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12138058
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18628525
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21986034
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21412082
While exposure to high levels of radiation can have devastating effects on one’s health, so can low levels of radiation when one is exposed over a period of time. Radiation exposure occurs through gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays, infrared rays, microwaves, and radio waves.
Ionizing radiation, the type that is high in frequency, has the potential to cause damage to human DNA and has carcinogenic properties. Ionizing radiation is found in gamma rays, X-rays, and some UV rays. Types of cancer associated with ionizing radiation include breast, lung, skin, and thyroid cancers.
Though levels of radiation are relatively low in single X-rays, cumulative or sporadic high-dose exposure (via CT scans, for example) may endanger the growing bodies of young children. Radiation can also cause birth defects in growing fetuses.
Exposure to high levels of radiation (specifically the iodine isotope 131I) through catastrophic disaster exposure causes a major increase in the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Potassium iodide can greatly reduce the risk of developing thyroid cancer following exposure to radiation.
Allylmethylsulfide (AMS), a derivative of garlic, serves as a radioprotective agent, helping to protect the body from the potentially devastating effects of radiation. Eating garlic is also thought to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer as a result of UV exposure.
Sources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15900042
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19627202
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/radiationexposure.html
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are fields of energy that result from the use of electrical devices. Cell phones are a common example and research is inconclusive thus far on the long-term dangers of prolonged usage. There are concerns raised by heat and EMF exposure to the brain through the thin area of the skull near the ear.
Extract from Silybum marianum, better known as milk thistle, may serve as a protective agent in cases of EMF exposure. When used in extract form, astragalus—an herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine—can also help protect the body against radiation damage.
Sources:
www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/OtherCarcinogens/MedicalTreatments/radiation-exposure-and-cancer
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/electromagneticfields.html
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20653235
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21075176