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Are you poisoning your children? maighanlivedotcom-CBC Marketplace Report Toxic Brew - AOL Video Cancer occurs when cells are triggered to grow abnormally. Those triggers could include genetics, radiation, and carcinogens and they go off with alarming frequency.
Most people who are diagnosed with cancer will eventually die from it: 38 per cent of Canadian women and 44 per cent of Canadian men will one day be told by their doctors that they have some form of cancer. Lung cancer continues to claim more lives (20,200) than any other cancer more than colorectal (8,900), breast (5,400) and prostate (4,300) cancers combined. In 2008, just over 166,000 Canadians were diagnosed with cancer, with almost 74,000 losing their battles. There were more new cases of prostate cancer (24,700) which strikes men only as there were diagnoses of breast cancer in women (22,400). That's the bad news. The good news is that we're getting a lot better at detecting, fighting and beating most cancers. Mortality rates are falling for men in all groups and for women under the age of 70. And rates are falling the most for children and adolescents.
Source: Chronic Disease Surveillance Division, CCDPC, Public Health Agency of Canada About 1,300 Canadian children develop cancer each year, but due to advances in the treatment of the most common cancers, the number of deaths is less than one-fifth the number of cases. On the whole, Canadians are living longer and the longer you live, the greater your chance of contracting some form of cancer. In 2006, 43 per cent of new cancer cases and 60 per cent of deaths due to cancer occurred among those who were at least 70 years old. The Canadian Cancer Society touts its seven steps to health:
Still, you could do everything to reduce your risk of contracting cancer but still develop the disease. You don't have to be a smoker to be diagnosed with lung cancer, for example, although the vast majority of lung cancer cases are linked to smoking. There are certain cancers you can get from a virus human papilloma virus (HPV) is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. It is spread through sexual contact and is said to infect half of all sexually active women between the ages of 18 and 22 in North America. In most women, the virus clears up on its own, but if the infection persists, it can lead to cervical cancer. Health Canada has approved a vaccine for the virus that would protect females between the ages of nine and 26. In its March 2007 budget, the federal government allocated $300 million over three years for a national vaccination program administered by the provinces and territories. Many school boards across the country have made the vaccine available to girls starting in the seventh grade. Researchers have also established a strong link between the hepatitis B virus and liver cancer. It's believed that 10 to 20 per cent of people infected with hepatitis B will develop liver cancer. It is a major problem in the developing world, especially parts of Asia and Africa, but in countries where hepatitis B has been a problem and where newborns are routinely vaccinated against the virus, the risk of infection has fallen as have liver cancer rates. On Feb. 4, 2000, the World Summit against Cancer for the New Millennium a gathering of scientists, medical professionals, government agencies, patient and volunteer organizations involved in the battle against cancer established World Cancer Day, with the goal of establishing a co-operative approach to research, advocacy, prevention and treatment. The International Union Against Cancer establishes themes for each year's World Cancer Day. In 2009, the message is I love my healthy active childhood. The International Obesity Taskforce estimates that 10 per cent of school-age children around the world are overweight and that two to three per cent or 30-45 million of children between the ages of five and 17 are obese. Being overweight or obese has been linked to an increased risk of some cancers in adults. This year's World Cancer Day is aimed at raising awareness of the link between overweight, obesity and cancer and by taking steps to improve the health of children now, the health of future generations of adults can be markedly improved. By some estimates, at least 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect the public. Yet, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, nearly seven million people will die of cancer this year around the world. That number is expected to grow by 50 per cent by 2020. Cervical cancer incidence and death rates have dropped steadily over the past few decades, in large part owing to regular Pap test screening. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, incidence rates have declined two per cent per year from 1995 to 2004. Still, nearly 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2006, according to health officials. They say this cancer can be prevented and, in most cases, can be cured if treated early. What is cervical cancer?This type of cancer begins in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus or womb, which opens into the vagina. Early changes in the cells of the cervix can happen without pain or other symptoms. If not found and treated, cell changes in the cervix can grow into cancer, which can spread to other parts of the body. There are two main types of cervical cancer. The most common type, squamous cell cancer, starts in the cells that line the surface of the cervix. Adenocarcinoma, which is less common, starts in the mucous-secreting glandular tissue of the cervix. The cervix has these gland cells along the inside of the passageway that runs from the cervix to the womb. What causes cervical cancer?A virus called human papilloma virus (HPV) is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. HPV is spread through sexual contact. The virus is said to infect half of all sexually active women between ages 18 and 22 in North America. In most women, the virus clears up on its own, but if the infection persists, it can lead to cervical cancer. On July 2006, Health Canada approved a vaccine that protects against the human papilloma virus. Gardasil has been approved for females between nine and 26 years of age. "Until now, we have only been able to react to the effects of HPV in women," said Dr. Guylaine Lefebvre, the president-elect of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. "Now we are talking about preventing most of the serious diseases caused by HPV." Since the vaccine doesn't prevent infection from all strains of HPV, women would still need to get a Pap test to screen for the virus. Other factors that appear to increase the risk of cervical cancer include:
What are the symptoms?In general, early cervical cancer produces no signs or symptoms. As the cancer advances, the following symptoms may appear:
How is cervical cancer detected?The Pap test is used to detect cervical cancer before it has fully developed and when treatment can be effective. During the test, the doctor brushes cells from the cervix, smears them onto a glass slide, and then sends the sample to a lab. According to Health Canada, the death rate from cervical cancer has dropped almost 50 per cent since the introduction of the Pap test. What treatments are available?Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. It may include the following:
Exposure to Toxic Chemicals: The federal government says it will take action to reduce Canadians' exposure to eight of 19 chemicals it earlier identified as possible threats to human health. Among the chemicals are a pigment used in some printer cartridges, a colouring agent used in cosmetics, and a dye used in detergents and cleaners. The review is part of the government's Chemical Management Plan, in which 200 chemicals are assessed in batches. The current list of chemicals makes up Batch 3 of 12. The program, run by Environment Canada and Health Canada, was announced on Dec. 8, 2006. The 19 chemicals included in Batch 3 are:
Health Canada says the four chemicals that are of concern to human health are:
Health Canada is proposing that C.I. Pigment Red 3 be added to the Cosmetic Inredient Hotlist, a list of substances that are either banned or tightly controlled in cosmetics. In addition, Health Canada says four other chemicals Disperse Blue 19, PDDAM, Pigment Red 251 and 2-Ethoxyethanol acetate do not pose immediate risks to human health or the environment, but could be harmful if they were widely used. The government is proposing measures that would require the chemicals to be reassessed before they can be used in future products. Interested parties have until early April 2009 to argue why action should not be taken to reduce people's exposure to these eight chemicals. It was under the same program that former Health Minister Tony Clement announced a public consultation on April 18, 2008 of the import and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing bisphenol A. Clement said the chemical could affect early development in infants and newborns. Studies in peer-reviewed journals had indicated that even at low doses, the chemical can increase breast and ovarian cancer-cell growth and the growth of some prostate cancer cells in animals. The plastics industry vigorously defended the safety of the chemical, noting it has been used in a range of products for 50 years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said the chemical does not pose a significant risk as only trace amounts of bisphenol were found to leach from food containers into food. Critics suggested the federal agency relied on industry-funded studies in its evaluation. The federal government is currently in the process of reviewing 200 chemicals to determine whether they pose a risk to human health or the environment and should be more closely regulated. It's part of the government's Chemical Management Plan, which was unveiled on Dec. 8, 2006. The review was dubbed the "Challenge." Under it, 200 chemicals were identified and divided into groups of 15-30 substances that would be examined over three years. A total of 12 batches of chemicals are being reviewed, with results announced approximately every three months. Interested parties have 60 days to comment once the results are released. It's the same program under which the federal government announced it would ban the import and sale of baby bottles made with bisphenol A. The following chemicals were included in the second batch: Cyclohexasiloxane, dodecamethyl (D6) D6 belongs to a group of compounds that are found in volatile, low-viscosity or thin silicone fluids. It is found in or used to make soap, cleaning compounds, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, polishes, pesticides, paints, lacquers and varnishes. It's not manufactured in Canada but is imported. D6 is persistent in the environment and is bioaccumulative organisms absorb it at a rate greater than it can be processed. It can harm aquatic organisms at low concentrations. There is research which suggests D6 is safe. That research was funded by Centre Europιen des Silicones a trade organization representing major producers of silicones in Europe. The government has proposed that D6 be added to schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Cyclopentasiloxane, decamethyl (D5) Like D6, D5 is a low viscosity silicone fluid used in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and cleaners as well as inks, textiles, rubbers and fuel additives. It is not manufactured in Canada but is imported. Its many uses mean that it is widely found in the environment. D5 is also bioaccumulative and can harm aquatic organisms at low concentrations. The government has proposed that D5 be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Cyclotetrasiloxane, octamethyl (D4) D4 is yet another low-viscosity silicone fluid used in types of rubbers, plastics, soap, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics including creams, lotions, hair care products and anti-perspirants as well as pesticides, paints, lacquers, varnishes, inks, textiles, leather goods and fuel additives. The federal government says experimental data has shown that D4 is persistent in the environment and can harm aquatic organisms at low concentrations. The European Commission has also classified it as an agent that could be harmful to reproductive systems. It is not made in Canada but is imported into the country. The government has proposed that D4 be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Phenol, 2,4,6-tris (1,1-dimethylethyl) - (2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol) This chemical is primarily used as a fuel and oil additive. It's not made in this country but is imported. Because 98 per cent of it is used in fuel and oil, it's either destroyed by combustion or spewed into the environment. Initially, 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol was not seen as a human health concern but it is found widely in soil, water and sediments. It is bioaccumulative and there are indications that it may cause harm to aquatic organisms. The government has proposed that Phenol, 2,4,6-tris be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Benzene, 1,3-bis(1-isocyanato-1-methylethyl) - (Tetramethyl-m-xylylene diisocyanate) This chemical, which is part of a group of compounds that is incorporated into polymers. Polymers are large chains of repeating structural units which are connected by chemical bonds. Examples of polymers include plastics, proteins and DNA. Tetramethyl-m-xylylene diisocyanate is neither manufactured in Canada nor imported into the country. However, the polymers that make up the substance are used in products such as specialty coatings, inks, sealants, adhesives and lacquers. Experimental data indicate that tetramethyl-m-xylylene diisocyanate is persistent in the environment and bioaccumulative, and can harm marine organisms at low concentrations. The government did not recommend that benzene, 1,3-bis be classified as toxic. Benzenesulfonic acid, 3,3'-[(9,10-dihydro-9,10-dioxo-1,4 anthracenediyl) diimino] bis [2,4,6-trimethyl-, disodium salt (Acid Blue 80) Acid Blue 80 is a synthetic organic colourant that is used in cleaning, sanitation and colouring agents as well as non-agricultural pesticides, preservatives, disinfectants and cosmetic products intended to come into contact only briefly with the skin. It is not currently manufactured in Canada but is imported into Canada. It may be released to the environment as part of the waste from industrial or commercial processes. Acid Blue 80 is widely found in the environment. It is bioaccumulative and can harm water-based organisms at low concentrations. The government has proposed that Acid Blue 80 be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Spiro [isobenzofuran-1(3H),9'-[9H]xanthen]-3-one, 2',4',5',7'-tetrabromo-3',6'-dihydroxy- (D & C Red No. 21) D & C Red No. 21 is used in the printing ink industry as well as in cosmetics, soaps and cleaning products. It can also be used in the staining of tissues that are difficult to stain. It is neither made in nor imported into Canada. Still, the compound is persistent in the environment and bioaccumulative, and can harm aquatic organisms at low concentrations. The government did not recommend this chemical be classified as toxic. Benzenesulfonic acid, [(9,10-dihydro-9,10-dioxo-1,4-anthracenediyl) bis(imino-4,1-phenyleneoxy)]bis-, disodium salt (Acid Green 40:1) This chemical is neither manufactured in nor imported into Canada. It is a green dye used in the textile industry. It is persistent in the environment and bioaccumulative, and can harm aquatic organisms at low concentrations. The government did not recommend this chemical be classified as toxic. Benzenesulfonic acid, 2,2'-[(9,10-dihydro-5,8-dihydroxy-9,10-dioxo-1,4-anthracenediyl)diimino]bis[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-, disodium salt (ADIBSS) ADIBSS is another synthetic organic dye that is used in the pigment/dye/printing ink industry sectors. The compound is neither made in nor imported into Canada. It is persistent in the environment and is bioaccumulative, and can harm aquatic organisms at low concentrations. The government did not recommend this chemical be classified as toxic. 9,10-Anthracenedione, 1,4-bis[(4-methylphenyl)amino]-, sulfonated, potassium salts (AMS) AMS is used to add colour to rubber and plastic products, printing inks, paint, lacquers and varnishes. It can be released into the environment as waste from industrial or commercial processes. AMS is not made in Canada but it is imported into the country. It's believed to be a risk to aquatic organisms at low concentrations. The government did not recommend this chemical be classified as toxic. Thiourea Thiourea is used to extract silver and gold from ore. It is also used in some types of copy paper. The chemical also occurs naturally in some plants and fungi. It may also be released to the environment as waste from industrial or commercial processes. The federal government is taking a closer look at Thiourea after Europe and the U.S. classified it as a compound which should be examined as a possible carcinogen. The chemical persists in soil, water and sediments but is not considered bioaccumulative. It's believed that Thiourea is unlikely to cause harm to aquatic organisms. The government has proposed that thiourea be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. 41,3-Butadiene, 2-methyl-(Isoprene) Isoprene is a volatile organic alkene chemical used to make products such as medical equipment, toys, tires and paints, inner tubes, and some rubber adhesives and glues. The federal government decided to take a closer look at this chemical after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the European Commission, and the U.S. National Toxicology Program classified it as a possible human carcinogen. Isoprene is not believed to be persistent in the environment or thought cause harm to aquatic organisms. The government has proposed that isoprene be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Oxirane, (chloromethyl)-(Epichlorohydrin) Epichlorohydrin is a synthetic chemical that is used to make other chemicals. Its major use is in the production of epoxy resins, which are used in paints and other coatings, in structural composites, adhesives, and other products. It is also used in treating drinking water and wastewater and in the production of food and beverages. About 10 per cent of epichlorohydrin is used to make glycerine, which is an ingredient or processing aid in personal care products, drugs, food, and beverages. Epichlorohydrin is also used to produce materials that are used in products like the powder coating inside latex gloves. The chemical is not made in Canada, but it is imported into the country. It's not directly used by consumers. The federal government is looking at epichlorohydrin based on its classification as a possible human carcinogen by the European Commission, the IARC, the NTP and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The government has proposed that epichlorohydrinbe be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. Acetic acid ethenyl ester (Vinyl acetate) Vinyl acetate has a wide variety of uses, including:
It is a colourless liquid that Ottawa has identified for further consideration based on its classification for carcinogenicity by IARC. The government has proposed that vinyl acetate be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. C.I. Pigment Yellow 34 C.I. Pigment Yellow 34 contains chromium and lead and is used to produce colours from yellow to orange to green. It's mainly used to colour plastics, inks, paints, coatings, adhesives, textiles and sealants. It is also used in artists' supplies, car refinishing, printing textiles, and most vinyl applications such as construction products, medical devices and packaging. The European Commission classified C.I. Pigment Yellow 34 based on concerns that it may be carcinogenic and toxic to the reproductive system. The lead contents also pose developmental problems to young children due to lead's extreme toxicity. Chromium and lead that are released into the environment from this pigment are considered infinitely persistent and harmful to aquatic organisms at very low concentrations. The government has proposed that C.I. Pigment Yellow 34 be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical. C.I. Pigment Red 104 C.I. Pigment Red 104 is another dye that contains chromium and lead. It is used to produce colours from red to orange. It is also known by molybdate orange. The compound is used as a colourant additive for paints and coatings, printing dyes and inks and in plastics. It may be used to make anticorrosion coatings, motor vehicle paint mastics, rubber, plastics, artists' colours, cellulose acetate plastics and traffic paints. Like C.I. Pigment Yellow 34, C.I. Pigment Red 104 was identified for further examination because of its chromium and lead content. The government has proposed that C.I. Pigment Red 104 be added to schedule 1 of the CEPA, which means it would be classified as a toxic chemical More children under four die of accidental poisonings at home than are accidentally killed with guns at home. The average home today contains more chemicals than were found in a typical chemistry lab. Go into your kitchen and your bathroom and look under your sinks where you keep your cleaning and personal care supplies. What have you found? Window cleaner? Bleach? Dishwashing detergent? Shampoo? Toothpaste? If you read the label on toothpaste, it says not to swallow the paste! Points to consider:
It's important to say that household cleaning and personal care products aren't the only source of chemicals in your home, but they are the easiest ones to replace! What can we do? The answer is to start in small ways at home!" More points to consider:
More facts from Indoor Air Pollution :
Our immune system is very powerful, like a janitorial system Giving our bodies good nutrition means our body can repair itself and be able to handle what we face in the world. We recommend using Better/Safer/Less Expensive Alternative Natural Organic Cleaners like:
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