Toxic Truths: Would You Pass an FDA Inspection?
Have you ever wondered whether or not your body would pass an FDA inspection?

Too often we go about our daily lives without thinking about the countless toxins we’re carrying around in our cells and tissues, but the reality is that our health may suffer the consequences. What follows is a brief overview of an average morning routine for many Americans—one that reveals the truth about the overwhelming number of toxins.

A Day in the Life

7:00 a.m. | 7:10 a.m. | 7:15 a.m. | 7:30 a.m. |
7:35 a.m. | 7:45 a.m. | 7:55 a.m. |
8:00 a.m. | 8:15 a.m. |
8:30 a.m.

7:00 a.m.
You awake from a restful night’s sleep atop a bed that was likely treated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), toxic flame retardants used in a vast number of consumer products including your carpets, furniture and electrical appliances to keep them from catching fire. (As of July 1, 2007, all mattresses manufactured or imported into the United States must be treated with these fire-retardant chemicals.) Also present is toluene—a chemical emitted from the polyurethane foam in your mattress. In studies, scientists have shown that toluene has been linked to birth defects. Perfluorooctanoic acid— a chemical added to increase stain resistance—may also be lurking beneath the sheets, as well as antimony, an element linked to heart and lung disorders. Climbing out of bed, you traverse to the bathroom across a floor covered in synthetic carpet, which has been heavily treated with chemicals to keep it stain-free and less likely to combust in a house fire.

7:10 a.m.
You brush your teeth, probably not even noticing the warning label on the tube of toothpaste that advises you to seek medical help or call the Poison Control Center if more than a brush-size dollop is swallowed. Oh, and keep it out of reach of children too. The warning label is necessary because every time you brush your teeth you are exposed to sodium fluoride, a compound linked to enzyme disruption and thyroid problems, as well as sodium lauryl sulfate, a foaming agent linked to organ and reproductive toxicity. There is also triclosan, an antibacterial agent that’s registered as a pesticide with the EPA, and which has been linked to organ toxicity and chronic disease. And what about your mouthwash? Chances are it contains formaldehyde, ammonia, flavoring and coloring agents, and even some chemicals that have leached from the plastic in the bottle.

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7:15 a.m.
Depending upon your water source, when you step into the shower you could be exposing yourself to a whole host of contaminants, including chlorine, fluoride, lead, copper, alpha emitters (elements such as radon, uranium, and radium, all of which are linked to cancer), and trihalomethanes—byproducts produced from adding chlorine to disinfect the water. Trihalomethanes are linked to bladder and colorectal cancer, and exposure through drinking and skin absorption has been shown in studies to increase the chance of miscarriage and other reproductive problems. Haloacetic acids (also byproducts of the disinfection process) may also be present in the water and are classified by the EPA as possible cancer-causing agents. Traces of herbicides and pharmaceutical drugs may also be present, and depending on the type of soap and shampoo you use, you may be exposed to harmful coloring agents, dyes, artificial preservatives, and propylene glycol, a lubricant and suspected carcinogen.

7:30 a.m.
You apply antiperspirant to help you “stay dry” during your hectic day, but here’s something you might not know: Most antiperspirants contain aluminum zirconium, which is toxic to the nervous and reproductive systems, as well as BHT, a possible neurotoxin and hormone disrupter. Various chemicals are also added to give your deodorant stick that distinctive smell, and propylene glycol—which has been linked to irritation and immune toxicity—ensures smooth application.

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7:35 a.m.
Now it’s time to get dressed, and there is a good chance that some of your clothes have just been returned from the dry cleaner. If that is the case, the garments carry a litany of chemical fumes and residues, including perchloroethylene, also known as “perc,” tetrachloroethylene, PCE, perclene, and perchlor. Perchloroethylene is believed to be capable of causing cancer, especially in the liver and kidneys. It has also been shown to affect fetal development. Even if your clothes are not dry cleaned, if they are made with synthetic fibers (think polyester) and not 100% natural, they may be off-gassing molecules of plasticizer fumes, as well as flame-retardant chemicals. If you have mothballs in your closet, they can deliver an unhealthy dose of the carcinogenic pesticide dichlorobenzene (also found in toilet deodorizers), and if you get dressed inside a walk-in closet or a well-insulated bedroom, you are increasing the concentration of such chemical gases that are being emitted from your clothes. Other nearby sources of invisible gases include your carpet, rugs, painted walls, and furniture.

7:45 a.m.
If you apply makeup each day—including foundation, blush, mascara, lipstick, and so on—you are exposed to parabens, which are believed to cause breast cancer and birth abnormalities; artificial colorants, which are suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins; triethanolamine, which is linked to cancer, allergies, and immune toxicity; and BHA, a chemical and possible carcinogen that may cause hormonal imbalances and that may be toxic to the body’s organs and its immune system. If you apply body lotion, you likely use the kind that contains chemicals to assist with skin penetration, which can also push toxins from your other cosmetics deeper into your skin.

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7:55 a.m.
Here comes the hair spray, which probably smells toxic because it is. Its ingredients can affect your nervous, reproductive, and immune systems. Hair gels, mousses, and cream conditioners are equally toxic.

8:00 a.m.
Have you had your first cup of coffee yet? Or maybe you prefer the buzz from a diet soda, again loaded with chemicals and artificial sweeteners. While caffeine does afford people some benefits, including a temporary boost of energy, too much can result in a cycle of highs and lows that can ultimately wreak havoc on steady levels of energy-promoting and detoxification hormones. Additionally, caffeine can increase the rate at which you lose nutrients, which can aggravate your condition by taking away your body’s supply of the very nutrients it needs for proper detoxification.

8:15 a.m.
You pour yourself some cereal with milk. It’s likely laced with food additives, preservatives and artificial sweeteners. As you multitask in the kitchen, you make yourself a sandwich for lunch, again with foods loaded with additives and preservatives including nitrates, antibiotics, and synthetic hormones. You then wrap it in plastic that contains vinyl chloride, known to cause cancer in the brain, liver, and lungs. You load up the dishwasher and turn it on before you go, but not before you get a good whiff of the chlorine used in its first washing stage.

8:30 a.m.
If you recently bought a new car, chances are it still has that new car smell—the result of countless gases being emitted from the plastics, fabrics, solvents, and glues used in the manufacturing process. These include polyvinyl chloride, xylene, styrene, and ethylbenzene. And when you open your window to let in the “fresh” air, you’re actually inhaling the fumes from all of the other cars around you, as well as industrial air pollutants from nearby factories.