The Chemicals and Toxins That Harm You Every Day Aetas Protocols

Your to-go coffee cup, your frying pan, and your tap water can harm you

Over the past 100 years, our environment has become increasingly polluted, and every day we are exposed to hundreds of toxins, resulting in greater toxic burdens than ever before. When you sip from your to-go coffee cup, cook food on your favourite non-stick pan, or simply take a sip of cool tap water, you may not be aware of the potential health risks lurking right in front of you. Chemicals and toxins integrated into the materials around us pose a hidden danger that affects our health. Some of the most common chemicals we encounter in everyday life include PFAS, BPA, parabens, phthalates, MTBE, and Glyphosate. The thresholds for when these substances are harmful to humans have been underestimated for many years, perhaps even downplayed, but today we know much more about the harm they can actually cause, even at very low levels. This should give cause for thought when official institutions set new levels up to 20,000 times lower for some chemicals without much attention from the media.

Forever Chemicals

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been a part of human life since the 1950s with properties such as stain resistance, water repellency, and non-stick surfaces. However, their impact on human health is serious, as these synthetic chemicals are carcinogenic, hormone-disrupting, and environmental pollutants.

With their robust carbon-fluorine bonds, PFAS constitute one of the most stable compounds in organic chemistry. This makes them resistant to breakdown, both during use and in environmental contexts. Their ability to easily travel long distances from their sources increases their widespread presence in the environment – in soil, water, air, and food. PFAS are released into the environment through industrial processes not directly related to food production, as well as through the use and disposal of products containing PFAS. The consequence of this is that they end up in our food, as is the case with many other persistent pollutants. The main sources include vegetables grown near contaminated areas, but also drinking water is a critical source. Some PFAS also accumulate in the human body through fish and seafood, meat, eggs, milk, and dairy products. We are exposed to them every day at home, at our workplaces, and through the environment, such as the food we eat, drinking water, and the use of cosmetics, clothing, and non-stick pans.

The majority of PFAS compounds are persistent in the environment, meaning that people and other living organisms will experience increasing concentrations of PFAS as the compounds continue to be released into the environment. Even if all PFAS emissions were to cease tomorrow, they would still persist in the environment and in people for generations, which is why these chemicals are also called forever chemicals. The serious health effects of PFAS include cancer^{1Steenland, K., & Winquist, A. (2021). PFAS and cancer, a scoping review of the epidemiologic evidence. Environmental Research, 194, 110690.}, hormonal and endocrine disruptions^{2Mokra K. (2021). Endocrine Disruptor Potential of Short- and Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)-A Synthesis of Current Knowledge with Proposal of Molecular Mechanism. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(4), 2148.}, and birth defects during pregnancy^{3Szilagyi, J. T., Avula, V., & Fry, R. C. (2020). Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Their Effects on the Placenta, Pregnancy, and Child Development: a Potential Mechanistic Role for Placental Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). Current environmental health reports, 7(3), 222–230.}.

BPA – One of the Most Produced Chemicals Globally

Over the past two decades, the understanding of the effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) has significantly expanded. The large body of available evidence is robust, and the conclusion is unequivocal: even small amounts of BPA can impact our organs and are associated with a wide range of diseases. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established new limits for Bisphenol A based on the latest scientific literature. The safe intake limit for Bisphenol A is set at a maximum of 0.2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day. This limit is 20,000 times lower than the previous standard, which was a maximum of 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day^{4European Food Safety Authority. (2023). PLS: Re-evaluation of the risks to public health related to the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in foodstuffs. European Food Safety Authority.}. Furthermore, EFSA has examined various scenarios showing that both individuals with average and high intake of the substance will significantly exceed the new limit and potentially be exposed to health risks.

These health risks include cancer^{5,Khan, N. G., Correia, J., Adiga, D., Rai, P. S., Dsouza, H. S., Chakrabarty, S., & Kabekkodu, S. P. (2021). A comprehensive review on the carcinogenic potential of bisphenol A: clues and evidence. Environmental science and pollution research international, 28(16), 19643–19663.6Dumitrascu, M. C., Mareș, C., Petca, R., Sandru, F., Popescu, R., Mehedintu, C., & Petca, A. (2020). Carcinogenic effects of bisphenol A in breast and ovarian cancers (Review). Oncology Letters, 20(6), 1.}, immune system disturbances^{7Xu, J., Huang, G., & Guo, T. L. (2016). Developmental Bisphenol A Exposure Modulates Immune-Related Diseases. Toxics, 4(4), 23.}, neurological problems^{8Akash, M. S. H., Haq, M. E. U., Sharif, H., & Rehman, K. (2021). Bisphenol A and Neurological Disorders: From Exposure to Preventive Interventions. In Emerging contaminants and associated treatment technologies (pp. 185–200).}, and a decrease in sperm count^{9Santiago, J., Silva, J. V., Santos, M. a. S., & Fardilha, M. (2021). Fighting Bisphenol A-Induced Male Infertility: The power of antioxidants. Antioxidants, 10(2), 289.}, among others. Therefore, it is essential to address the widespread presence of harmful chemicals in our daily lives and reduce exposure.

It’s worth noting that BPA is just one of several different bisphenols. Others like BPS, BPF, and BPAF have been assessed to exhibit similar problematic properties. So even if something is labeled as BPA-free, it may not necessarily be free of bisphenols.

The chemical exists in various forms as a building block in the plastic type called polycarbonate, which is clear, hard plastic used in various everyday products, including water bottles, toys, phones, bottle caps, to-go coffee cups, plastic containers, and baby bottles.

Phthalates

Phthalates constitute a group of synthetic chemicals found in many plastic products to make plastic more flexible, durable, and malleable. Phthalates are also used in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, perfumes, household products, medical devices, and certain types of food packaging. Due to their widespread use, phthalates are found almost everywhere in our environment. Although phthalates have been indispensable in many industries due to their technical properties, there is now significant concern about their harmful effects on humans. Exposure to phthalates is known to have negative effects on development, including increased prenatal mortality, reduced growth, and birth weight. Additionally, a link has been found between phthalates and conditions such as endometriosis, reduced testosterone, ADHD, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer^{10,Wang, Y., & Qian, H. (2021). Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(5), 603.11Eales, J., Bethel, A., Galloway, T. S., Hopkinson, P., Morrissey, K., Short, R. L., & Garside, R. (2022). Human health impacts of exposure to phthalate plasticizers: An overview of reviews. Environment International, 158, 106903.}.

It’s important to note that not all phthalates are the same, and some have been assessed as less harmful than others. Previously, some of the most commonly used phthalates, such as DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), DiBP (Diisobutyl phthalate), and BBP (Butyl benzyl phthalate), were considered harmful to reproductive capacity and are now banned in most productions. However, many other phthalates remain on the candidate list of particularly problematic substances and are still allowed in many countries including Denmark.

MTBE in Gasoline

MTBE, also known as Methyl tert-butyl ether, is a chemical compound that was formerly used as an additive in gasoline to improve its octane rating and thereby reduce air pollution. MTBE has proven to be harmful to health. If gasoline containing MTBE spills or leaks into the ground, MTBE can easily migrate into groundwater and contaminate drinking water sources. This has led to groundwater pollution and water quality issues, prompting restrictions and bans on MTBE in various places. MTBE is also used in small quantities as a laboratory solvent and for some medical purposes. MTBE is not officially classified as a carcinogenic substance yet, but there is evidence suggesting its carcinogenicity.

Glyphosate – The Most Used and Controversial Pesticide in the World

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many pesticides, also known as herbicides. Glyphosate was first introduced in 1974, known as Roundup, and has become one of the most widely used pesticides in the world due to its effectiveness and broad-spectrum action.

There has been significant concern and controversy surrounding glyphosate regarding its potential health effects. One of the claims is that glyphosate may be carcinogenic. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans. This led to concerns, tightened regulatory limits, and lawsuits against manufacturers of glyphosate-based herbicides. Concerns that we now know should be taken seriously. Glyphosate has been investigated for its role in various health problems, including hormone disruption, immune system disturbances, and neurodegenerative diseases^{14Winstone, J. K., Pathak, K. V., Winslow, W., Piras, I. S., White, J. A., Sharma, R., Huentelman, M. J., Pirrotte, P., & Velazquez, R. (2022). Glyphosate infiltrates the brain and increases pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα: implications for neurodegenerative disorders. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 19(1).}.

Finding unequivocal studies on the connection between glyphosate and its harmful effects on humans is challenging for several reasons. One of the primary factors is the influence of the chemical industry on research. Many studies on glyphosate are either directly funded by companies that produce it or have close ties to the industry. This creates a potential conflict of interest where there is an incentive to present results in a way that supports the safety of the product. Results that do not align with desired outcomes may be hidden or not published (referred to as null-results), creating a biased representation of the overall scientific literature. This means that many available studies on glyphosate are influenced by conflicts of interest and lack transparency.

We know for certain that pesticides are harmful to humans, and long-term exposure, even in small amounts, can lead to life-threatening consequences. In one study, researchers reviewed the research literature on glyphosate and the biological processes associated with cancer^{15Samsel, A., & Seneff, S. (2015). Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases IV: cancer and related pathologies. Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry, 15(3), 121–159.}. They found evidence that glyphosate contributes to the increasing incidence of various types of cancer in humans. The researchers conclude that the prolonged 40-year exposure to glyphosate that humanity has been subjected to can be considered a living laboratory where people have served as test subjects in real-time, and the results are extremely clear and alarming.

In addition to the harmful effects on humans, there is also significant attention on glyphosate’s impact on the environment. Glyphosate contaminates soil, waterways, and groundwater, resulting in enormous negative consequences for ecosystems and animals dependent on these areas. Several leading scientists believe that Glyphosate is one of the most, if not the most, destructive chemical for our planet and ecosystem. Glyphosate has also led to the development of resistant weed species that are difficult to control. This has resulted in increased use of glyphosate and other herbicides, which in turn has even greater environmental consequences.

To avoid pesticides, it is recommended to buy locally grown, biodynamic, or organic produce, as non-organic vegetables and fruits are sprayed with pesticides like glyphosate and therefore have a high content of the substance.