Your doctor may soon be telling you to back off on the use of plastics, eliminate the use of toxic chemicals in your home, and find natural alternatives for pesticides and herbicides. You may even be encouraged one day in the future to check your home for toxic mold.
The following press release was issued this week:
The American Medical Association's (AMA) House of Delegates adopted a resolution calling on the AMA to work with the federal government to enact new federal policies to decrease the public's exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
The resolution, introduced by The Endocrine Society, reflects the findings and recommendations of The Endocrine Society’s peer-reviewed Scientific Statement on EDCs released by the Society this past June. Adoption of this resolution means that it is now AMA policy and is wholly supported by the House of Medicine.
What are these EDCs?
An endocrine disrupter is a chemical that disrupts or interferes with the proper functioning of the endocrine system.
Examples of these agents include phthalates, PCBs and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, brominated flame retardants, dioxins, DDT, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), organochlorine pesticides, bisphenol A, and some metals.
Where do you find these agents?
In common household pesticide and herbicide products, meat supplies, fish, household plastics, water bottles, and more.
What does all of this have to do with toxic mold?
The mycotoxins released by molds such as stachybotrys, aspergillus, penicillium, and others have the same impact on the body as the poisonous substances referred to in this statement.
I know this from personal experience. Our endocrine systems have still not recovered from our mold exposure. Here are some of the conditions we're still battling:
Adrenal fatigue, diabetes, excessive menstrual bleeding, halted menstrual cycles, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, gynecomastia (swelling of breast tissue in boys), thyroid dysfunction, and more.
Dr. Michael Gray was the first doctor to explain to me the effects of endocrine disrupters. He urged us to avoid plastics, buy organic, and explained why we were seeing so much hormonal imbalance in our family. He wrote this in the article titled Molds, Mycotoxins, and Human Health (italics are mine):
Mycotoxins produced by structural molds--meaning molds imported into the residences, workplaces, and public buildings on the paper covering the drywall, and other wood based composite materials--often represent some of the most toxic substances known to humankind.
The climate of "deregulation" that has prevailed since the early eighties has favored the proliferation of new construction in which building codes requiring pretreatment of building materials with anti-fungal agents have simply not been adequately enforced.
This in turn has led to circumstances, which when coupled with "corner-cutting" structural defects, have led to the conditions which favor water intrusion that has all too often allowed the appearance of truly toxic levels of mold spores and mycotoxins, which are, in turn, capable of inducing serious diseases resulting from the presence of agents with the potential for damaging the human immune system, inducing allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disease, neurological disease, endocrine disruption, birth defects, cancer, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, and general metabolic disorders.
What does the AMA resolution mean for the average consumer?
The Natural Resources Defense Council offers these suggestions to reduce your exposure to EDCs:
- Educate yourself about endocrine disruptors, and educate your family and friends.
- Buy organic food whenever possible.
- Avoid using pesticides in your home or yard, or on your pet--use baits or traps instead, keeping your home especially clean to prevent ant or roach infestations.
- Find out if pesticides are used in your child's school or day care center and campaign for non-toxic alternatives.
- Avoid fatty foods such as cheese and meat whenever possible.
- If you eat fish from lakes, rivers, or bays, check with your state to see if they are contaminated.
- Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing fatty foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap.
- Do not give young children soft plastic teethers or toys, since these leach potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
- Support efforts to get strong government regulation of and increased research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
I am excited about this AMA statement. The tide continues to turn and there is hope for change.
In my opinion, it's one small step for the AMA, one potential giant leap for mankind.
About Andrea Fabry
I am a former journalist and the mother of nine children ranging in age from 28 to 12. My husband Chris, myself, and our children find ourselves in the desert of Arizona attempting to rebuild our health and our lives following a massive toxic mold exposure. The organization momsAWARE comes out of this crisis as a means to help educate and empower others on the subject of environmental health. Our family has also launched a natural line of personal care products called Just So, available at our Online Store.
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Hello Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI have never 'Blogged' before but feel compelled to do so right now. I have been following your family's journey about the mold since last year and feel so horrible for all of you. I am so glad you are healing, physically and emotionally. I personally know the feelings of frustration and exhaustion and other feelings that are almost impossible to put into words! Several months ago, I thought I smelled mold in my condo but only a small 'whiff' now and then. A few weeks ago, I noticed it was getting very noticeable so I removed things from under the bath and kitchen cabinets and saw it! Water damage and BLACK mold. I called the management company and they want nothing to do with it. When I called my insurance company, I was given a claim number and was told to begin the work. I had remediation 'started' and they removed and disposed of the walls, cabinets, counter tops, etc. and found 'the leak'. Now, my insurance 'closed' the claim;leaks are not covered. The restoration company has stopped all work until they can be sure to be paid. Everything is at a standstill. The affected rooms are still covered with plastic containments along with the mess from the remediation. I have a pro-bono attorney that is very hard to get a return call/email from and I'm not sure where to turn. I live with my 15 year-old who was VERY sick from recurring respiratory illness, diagnosed and documented by our physician. He has been staying with his father and is 99% better. I read "Our Mold Journey" and saw your list of illnesses...WOW! SO MANY of them fit the bill here! Moving out, for me, is not an option. I lost my job a few months ago. I was denied a loan modification even before losing my job. The proceedings of foreclosure have begun; so, moving somewhere is not an option. I have a question, but I must preface it first: The restoration company removed the walls, and scrubbed all the mold that was EVERYWHERE. They have not 'sealed' anything yet. After they left, I scrubbed the floors with bleach water and used "Resolve" on the traffic paths of my carpet. It has been one week today (Thursday) since the work was 'done'. From reading that you had to leave everything in your home, lost everything, should I have done the same? Is everything in my home 'contaminated' too? I, too, am afraid I know the answer. I am so overwhelmed I can't stand it! I know God has a reason for this. I am praying for wisdom, energy and strength to do all that needs to be done. I know you know what I mean! God bless you all! I feel like you are family and I know in God's family, we are! I have listened to your radio programs and now Chris'. You are beautiful people and stronger than you know! Thanks for listening to me! In Him,
Vicky
Thank you for sharing this good news. I am a MCS sufferer and rejoice over these positive changes!
ReplyDeleteI am SO sorry to hear. You're right. I do understand overwhelmed you feel.Our family's situation is extreme. I know many people who successfully remediated and remained in their home.
ReplyDeleteStill, I always border on caution. The best advice we ever received was to treat mold as you would a fire. Your son's improvement is a good example. By leaving the "fire" he was saved.
We watched the movie "Up" the other night. As the man watched his memories float away with his house he said "lt's just a house." I cried because it's hard to let go.
Nothing is easy when it comes to black mold. Nothing. I am sorry you have not had the help you need.
Trust your instincts, Vicki. You'll know what comes next. Please email me if there's any way I can help.
My dream is to establish a fund/resource for people in your situation. If anyone reads this and knows of one please let us know.
just a little fyi,
ReplyDeleteCostco is FINALLY selling Glass versions of tupperware containers.. the lids are the 'safe plastic' but the containers are glass,and not odd shapes like pyrex.. really practical for storage in fridge, freezer OR pantry, the lids are fantastic!
We are thrilled, we bought one box, but will need more.. if we don't want to use too many ziploc bags & icky plastic containers, this is a great alternative.. and the cost was about the same as the cheap stuff
every step in the right direction helps
That's great about the glass containers being available in the store. I use pretty much only glass for leftovers, etc.
ReplyDeleteI washed and removed the labels of various sizes of glass jars (jars from applesauce, juice, nut butters, baby food, etc.etc.) Basically anytime I use up something that was in a glass jar, I consider recycling that jar into a leftover-type container. I have a decent-sized collection of glass jars in my cupboards now.
These are great to use for storing all sorts of items--nuts in the pantry, half an avocado in the fridge, homemade chicken broth, leftovers in the freezer, etc.etc. The baby food jars are great for small items, such as a half-used clove of garlic. I use smaller jars that had jam in them as water glasses in the bathroom. I also have some glass custard-sized type of bowls, and I use these for half-used onion or piece of fruit, etc. I do use those "shower cap" plastic things over the tops of those, but I figure a little bit of plastic is OK...I hope. Glass is so much prettier and classier than plastic, too!