Nexus - 0702 - New Times Magazine-pages

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an increase in fluoride in the drinking water corresponded with people never realise what made them sick. increases in deaths from liver cancer, bone cancer and oral squa- The past few decades have seen the emergence of "new" dis- mous cell tumours (another form of cancer). Other symptoms eases like multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), appropriately included gastrointestinal disturbances, convulsions, aching bones, enough also known as environmental illness (EI), which affects bloody vomit and skin rashes. 15 per cent of the population. Whether diagnosed with MCS or Yiamouyiannis documents in great detail the research conduct- not, many people react negatively to environmental pollutants and ed by scientists from the United States, Japan, Venezuela, the for- chemicals—perfume, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, fabric soften- mer Soviet Union and South Africa (the list is extensive), show- er, cleaning fluids and powders, gasoline. ing the genetic defects and illnesses from fluoride damage and the The list of irritants is endless, as are the symptoms they create: efforts of industry and government officials to hide the damning headaches, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, rashes, research and keep fluoride on the market. The extensive docu- joint pain, swelling, blurry vision, even emotional instability. In mentation on this issue has only been recently declassified by the addition, there are as many allergic reactions as there are people government—and even so, some of the records have portions to experience them. The term "allergic reactions” (which has missing. This is not a conspiracy buff's fantasy; the mainstream become a catch-all phrase to describe negative responses to chem- press is finally reporting what insiders in the toothpaste industry icals), like the word "toxin", has lost much of its meaning. But have known for a long time: that fluoride is a well-established the seriousness of the reaction becomes clear when you under- poison. stand what an allergy actually is: the body's response (usually Regina Miskewitz, director of research and development for through the production of histamines) to expel foreign proteins oral and personal care at Arm & Hammer products, was recently (allergens) that are so large that they lodge in the joints and tis- quoted as saying: "When I receive the fluoride here, it has a sues, irritating the cells, disrupting metabolic functioning and cre- skull-and-[cross]bones on it."* ating even more waste materials. That is why allergic responses By law, all toothpaste containing fluoride must warn the con- are so varied and have such far-reaching effects. sumer to "seek medical help or contact As if this weren't enough, chemicals a poison control centre immediately" if are also directly responsible for more toothpaste than is "normally" used increases in birth defects, attention for brushing is accidentally swallowed. Since 1950, most of the new deficit disorder (ADD) and other But young children, who tend to like chemicals that have been learning disabilities, emphysema, saccharine-flavoured concoctions and . . asthma, digestive disturbances, skin may not spit out something that is easy introduced into the conditions, lack of motor control, enough to swallow, are particularly vul- cancers and multiple sclerosis (MS). nerable to being poisoned. John marketplace have never This is just the tip of the iceberg. All Yiamouyiannis's book covers many been tested for long-term or these conditions, and more, have been instances of children suffering intense linked to toxic chemicals. symptoms, or even death, after applica- even short-term safety. The multitude of symptoms that one tions of fluoride in the dentist's chair. can develop from toxic chemicals is not Yet too few people have heard of this surprising if you realise that chemicals book. have been on Earth only during our Information like the story of fluoride—which should be the most recent history. Two authors note that if our whole stay on headline of the six o'clock news—is not easy to obtain. What is Earth "stretches from Los Angeles to New York City, the chemi- commonplace and heavily advertised becomes popular fiction, cal revolution occupies only the last 211 feet [64.3 metres]". Or, which people eventually accept as the truth. if humans have been on Earth for the equivalent of one year, we As long as industry has the legal and financial support of our —_— have been immersed in this "drastically altered environment dur- government to swindle and lie to the public, people will believe ing only the last 7.5 minutes". that these dangerous chemicals are harmless. They will also con- tinue to suffer poor health from a highly chemicalised environ- The Disappearing Skull and Crossbones Ea didn't have hat mant nti Since 1950, most of the new chemicals that have been marketplace have never been tested for long-term or even short-term safety. The Disappearing Skull and Crossbones Forty years ago, we didn't have to guess what was or wasn't a poison. Even very young children knew to avoid containers bear- ing the explicitly clear, scary-looking skull and crossbones. But this dramatic and effective symbol was replaced by warning labels that are required on all poisons by the United States Government Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances. The text on the labels may be informative, but it lacks the dramatic graphic quality of its prede- cessor, the skull and crossbones—and is certainly less intelligible to young children who can't read. Today, many poisonous clean- ers are packaged in flashy containers designed to appeal to con- sumers—but they also arouse the curiosity of unsupervised chil- dren who can easily mistake them for colourful playthings. We have the chemical manufacturers to thank for the abolition of the skull and crossbones. They lobbied against the symbol because it hurt their sales. Sadly, the only awareness that most people have today of the skull and crossbones is as a symbol on the flag of a pirate ship. ment. Since 1950, most of the new chemicals that have been intro- duced into the marketplace have never been tested for long-term or even short-term safety. Many of these caustic materials are byproducts of the petrochemical industry and are known neuro- toxins, destroying the brain and nerve cells. Some chemicals migrate to organs and glands, while others remain trapped in the fatty tissue. The body cannot excrete these toxins because it was never designed to metabolise them. Unable to perform routine life processes smoothly, the body is forced to cannibalise its own nutrients so that it can remain in some sort of balance. Muscle tissue might be broken down for the vital amino acids of which it is comprised, in order to regulate liver function. Or calcium is leached from the bones to make it available for crit- ical metabolic processes. These crisis activities further debilitate the system and increase the person's vulnerability to disease. As more poisons are absorbed, severe sensitivities and chronic, often debilitating diseases develop. The process is so gradual, most 44 - NEXUS introduced into the FEBRUARY — MARCH 2000