In 2003, The Environmental Working Group (EWG), in partnership with Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, released The Body Burden Study: The Pollution in People. The Study consisted of 9 individuals whose bodies were tested for 210 chemicals.

The Body Burden Study Found:

• Subjects contained an average of 91 industrial compounds, pollutants, and other chemicals in the blood and urine.
• 76 chemicals were directly linked to cancer.
• Participants had a total of 48 PCBs, which were banned in the U.S. in 1976.
• The people tested do not work with chemicals on the job, and do not live near an industrial facility.

The Body Burden study clearly demonstrates how toxins in the environment (i.e. air, food, water and soil) wind up in our body.

It is important to keep in mind that this was a test for 210 chemicals and the subjects contained an average of 91 chemicals. There are more than 80,000 chemicals in the United States environment and approximately 700 more are introduced each year. People now carry within their bodies a modern-day chemical cocktail derived from industrial chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, food additives and heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury), plus the residues of pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.

The result of the intake of these chemicals is what is called bio-accumulation, which is a buildup of toxins in the body over time. Bio-accumulation seriously compromises our physiological and psychological health. Over the last ten years, hundreds of studies have demonstrated the dangers to our health from toxic bio-accumulation.

The daily toxins that assault us in today’s environment have so overloaded the body’s systems and organs that they are no longer capable of detoxifying us on their own. In short, these systems need help.

Symptoms like excess weight, dull skin, persistent bloating and gas, constipation, fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, unexplained headaches, allergies and chronic insomnia are some of the ways in which your body reacts to toxic overload.

Completing a detoxification program makes you feel like a “different person” – and in fact you are different, because you have expelled toxins, congestive wastes and excess fat deposits from your body.  Our world today is overflowing with chemical toxins – with no decrease in sight.  This accumulation of toxins is unavoidable in today’s world, so it is essential to have a system to eliminate them.

According to EPA Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, in just “26″ seconds after any exposure to chemicals through your skin or by breathing in their vapors, chemicals and/or pesticides can be found in every organ in your body. Most chemicals are not biodegradable and as a result can accumulate in body tissues. Chemicals and toxins are very difficult to eliminate from the body and can slow healing and/or full recovery of a health problem.

3 Toxic Chemicals that you may be exposed to on a daily basis:

1. DEA (Diethanolamine)
When applied to the skin, resulted in clear evidence of carcinogenic (causing or contributing to cancer) activity. This chemical is an ingredient formulated into soaps, detergents and surfactants and is found in over 600 home and personal care products. These products include shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry and dishwashing detergents.

2. Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol is the main ingredient in anti-freeze we use in our car radiators to keep the engines running cooler in the summer and from freezing up in the cold winters. Should any pet lick up a spill on the garage floor (it’s sweet tasting to animals) the die a grueling death called Organic Phosphate Poisoning. Propylene Glycol is found in cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoos, deodorants, baby shampoos, lotions, and even in some foods. Check all your labels. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
It is used as a surfactant to break down the surface tension of water (makes water wetter to help penetrate the surface applied to). Found in hundreds of personal care products and is a favorite for degreasers and toothpaste manufacturers.

What can SLS do to your organic tissue? Plenty!
1. SLS can be a mutagen. In sufficient amounts it is capable of changing genetic material found in cells.
2. SLS has been used in studies to induct mutations in bacteria.
3. SLS corrodes hair follicles and impairs the ability to grow hair.
4. SLS enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain just from skin contact (shampoos, toothpaste, etc.)
5. SLS denatures protein and can impair proper structural formation of young eyes.
6. SLS can damage the immune system, cause separation of skin layers, and cause inflammation to the skin.

Product recommendations:

Soap: Waleda, Dr. Bronners, Kiss My Face
Toopaste: Waleda, Kiss my Face
Shampoo: Aubrey, Avalon, Soignee
Skin: Dr. Hauska, Waleda, Avalon
Household: Seventh Generation, Ecover
These products can be purchased at most local health food stores

Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
There is growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal development and childhood when exposures can have long lasting effects. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible.
Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all of the data used to create these lists already considers how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
How This Guide Was Developed
The produce ranking was developed by analysts at the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2005.

FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE

1 (worst) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 96
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 83
7 Cherries 75
8 Lettuce 69
9 Grapes – Imported 68
10 Pears 65
11 Spinach 60
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 55
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 46
19 Oranges 46
20 Grapes-Domestic 46
21 Cauliflower 39
22 Tangerine 38
23 Mushrooms 37
24 Cantaloupe 34
25 Lemon 31
26 Honeydew Melon 31
27 Grapefruit 31
28 Winter Squash 31
29 Tomatoes 30
30 Sweet Potatoes 30
31 Watermelon 25
32 Blueberries 24
33 Papaya 21
34 Eggplant 19
35 Broccoli 18
36 Cabbage 17
37 Bananas 16
38 Kiwi 14
39 Asparagus 11
40 Sweet Peas-Frozen 11
41 Mango 9
42 Pineapples 7
43 Sweet Corn-Frozen 2
44 Avocado 1
45 (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)

According to EPA Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, in just “26″ seconds after any exposure to chemicals through your skin or by breathing in their vapors, chemicals and/or pesticides can be found in every organ in your body. Most chemicals are not biodegradable and as a result can accumulate in body tissues. Chemicals and toxins are very difficult to eliminate from the body and can slow healing and/or full recovery of a health problem.

3 Toxic Chemicals that you may be exposed to on a daily basis:

1. DEA (Diethanolamine)
When applied to the skin, resulted in clear evidence of carcinogenic (causing or contributing to cancer) activity. This chemical is an ingredient formulated into soaps, detergents and surfactants and is found in over 600 home and personal care products. These products include shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry and dishwashing detergents.

2. Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol is the main ingredient in anti-freeze we use in our car radiators to keep the engines running cooler in the summer and from freezing up in the cold winters. Should any pet lick up a spill on the garage floor (it’s sweet tasting to animals) the die a grueling death called Organic Phosphate Poisoning. Propylene Glycol is found in cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoos, deodorants, baby shampoos, lotions, and even in some foods. Check all your labels. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
It is used as a surfactant to break down the surface tension of water (makes water wetter to help penetrate the surface applied to). Found in hundreds of personal care products and is a favorite for degreasers and toothpaste manufacturers.

What can SLS do to your organic tissue? Plenty!
1. SLS can be a mutagen. In sufficient amounts it is capable of changing genetic material found in cells.
2. SLS has been used in studies to induct mutations in bacteria.
3. SLS corrodes hair follicles and impairs the ability to grow hair.
4. SLS enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain just from skin contact (shampoos, toothpaste, etc.)
5. SLS denatures protein and can impair proper structural formation of young eyes.
6. SLS can damage the immune system, cause separation of skin layers, and cause inflammation to the skin.

Product recommendations:

Soap: Waleda, Dr. Bronners, Kiss My Face
Toopaste: Waleda, Kiss my Face
Shampoo: Aubrey, Avalon, Soignee
Skin: Dr. Hauska, Waleda, Avalon
Household: Seventh Generation, Ecover
These products can be purchased at most local health food stores