Toxins, Toxins, Everywhere Toxins

On June 21, new research showed a direct link between two commonly occurring environmental pollutants. The long since banned PCB, and the still legal PCF chemicals are back in the spotlight. The research was performed by the veterinary surgeon Marianne Kraugerud, and it revealed specifically that both these chemical pollutants are directly linked to reproductive disorders in the sheep from her testing. PCB’s (Polychlorinated biphenyls) have been banned since the 1970’s but still persist in the environment. Their cousins, PCF’s (perfluorinated compounds) are currently being used in products like Teflon for cooking wares, as well as a fast growing number of of other clothing and food products. Both PCB’s and PCF’s accumulate in the environment over the years and are resistant to breaking down naturally. According to the Environmental Working Group, these chemicals and their byproducts “are toxic in humans with health effects from stroke and cancer to increased cholesterol.” When Marianne Kraugerud presented her research last month she emphasized the need to more thoroughly investigate the dangers of these ever present environmental pollutants. Read more about these and other chemical pollutants at the EWG website.