Liver cancer deaths are skyrocketing as food becomes increasingly TOXIC due to pesticides and herbicides

 A new report by the American Cancer Society has made the alarming revelation that rates of liver cancer deaths have doubled in this country since the mid-1980s. The report, which appears in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, offers several possible reasons for this startling increase, including higher rates of hepatitis C infection, an increase in obesity rates, higher alcohol consumption, and a lack of access to healthcare in some demographics. What the report does not discuss, however, is the proven link between pesticides and liver cancer.

It is important to recognize not just some, but all of the risk factors for liver disease, because it kills more than 29,000 people each year. Liver disease is recognized as the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men, and the eighth in women in the United States. Looked at globally, however, liver cancer is second only to lung cancer in terms of total cancer deaths.

A recent meta-analysis of 16 different studies, which included over 480,000 participants from Asia, the U.S. and Europe, examined the link between pesticide exposure and the development of one of the most common forms of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma. The study determined that pesticide exposure was linked to a 71 percent increased risk of liver cancer.

Hamdi Abdi, a cancer research fellow at the National Cancer Institute, and the lead author of the study, noted that while other liver cancer causes like hepatitis C infections and alcohol abuse are well documented, it is important to recognize the role that pesticides also play in the development of this type of cancer.

The nature of the studies included in the meta-analysis made it difficult to determine exactly which pesticides were responsible for the increased risk and at what levels, and more studies are needed to narrow this down. [RELATED: Find out which common herbicide still used in the U.S. is banned in the E.U. because it causes cancer.]

In the meantime, however, studies like this one highlight yet another reason we should be making the transition from conventionally grown fruit and veggies to locally sourced, organic, pesticide-free options.

Of course, organic foods offer far more than just protection from liver cancer. In fact, pesticide use has been linked to the development of at least nine chronic diseases:

1. Alzheimer’s Disease: Studies have found that people exposed to pesticides are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and are also prone to motor skills problems, behavioral issues and impaired cognition.
2. Other types of cancer: In addition to liver cancer, pesticide use has also been linked to the development of bone, brain, pancreatic, bladder and prostate cancers, as well as to leukemia.
3. Birth defects: As the use of agricultural pesticides increases, so do the rates of birth defects, particularly in rural farming communities.
4. Endocrine disruption: Just like plastics and household cleaners, pesticides disrupt hormonal balance, causing disease, reproductive problems and developmental issues.
5. Fertility issues: Exposure to pesticides has been shown to affect the fertility of both men and women. In one study, men who were found to have three types of pesticides in their urine were 10 times more likely to have poor quality sperm.
6. Asthma: Asthma rates are on the increase around the country, and studies have found a clear link between this condition and pesticide exposure. An Agricultural Health Study involving over 25,000 farm women confirmed a link between seven insecticides and atopic asthma.
7. Diabetes: Exposure to organophosphate pesticides spurs obesity and can lead to diabetes.
8. Parkinson’s Disease: The link between Parkinson’s and pesticide use is clearly defined, with one study finding that frequent use of household pesticides boosts the chances of developing this illness by 45 percent. Organophosphate use is even more dangerous, and increases Parkinson’s risk by a whopping 71 percent.
9. Neurodevelopmental disorders: Since children’s brains and organs are still developing they are particularly susceptible to the effects of pesticides. Children who live in areas where aerial spraying for mosquitoes is routine are 25 percent more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

Sources:

ScienceDaily.com

LiveScience.com

NaturalNews.com

CONFIRMED: Exposure to aldehyde chemicals found to trigger the degradation of BRCA2 breast cancer genes in women

 Aldehydes, a common class of everyday chemicals, have been found to increase cancer risk by interfering with the body’s natural DNA repair mechanism, a new study reported. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge, looked into the effects that aldehydes can have on human health.

Aldehydes are made in our body in tiny amounts and can be found everywhere in the environment. Though our body usually eliminates these compounds without experiencing any issues, today we are increasingly exposed to these toxins and our body can no longer cope with the excess.

These chemicals are all over the place. Aldehydes are found in car exhausts, cigarettes, cosmetics, foods, alcoholic beverages, clothing, and furniture.  Therefore, it is hard to say how much of these toxins are entering our body on a daily basis.

Aldehydes might trigger cancer in people with a faulty copy of the BRCA2 gene

Though aldehyde exposure impedes DNA repair in all cells, even the healthy ones, people who have inherited a faulty copy of the BRCA2 gene are particularly sensitive to such damage.

To seek an answer to the question whether aldehyde exposure could promote cancer, Ashok Venkitaraman, PH.D., director of the Medical Research Council Cancer Unit at the University of Cambridge, and his team examined genetically engineered human cells and cells from women bearing a faulty copy of the breast cancer gene BRCA2, which produces a protein that repairs DNA damage.

Though it is not the first time aldehyde exposure has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, scientists now believe they have discovered why this class of chemicals may cause the disease. (RELATED: Stay informed about common cancer-causing toxins at CancerCauses.news.)

Damage to our DNA occurs on a regular basis when our cells divide. Under normal circumstances, our body has its own defense mechanism that helps to repair faults in the DNA. Aldehydes, however, obstruct this vital process.

The body has two copies of the BRCA2 gene. Some people, however, inherit a single faulty copy of the BRCA2 gene, making them more susceptible to cancer. Though the mechanism is not fully understood, the Cambridge scientists think they might have found the answer.

Since the cells of people with a faulty BRCA2 gene should still be able to repair DNA using the BRCA2 protein made from the remaining, intact copy of the gene, something else must be at play. According to Professor Ashok Venkitaraman and colleges, aldehydes may be the culprit.

Their data showed that aldehydes trigger the degradation of BRCA2 protein in cells. People who inherit a faulty copy of the BRCA2 gene already have very low levels of the DNA repair protein, which is then further depleted in the presence of aldehydes, pushing the levels well below the amount required for DNA repair.

With no system in place to correct the mistakes or mutations, cells may spin out of control which could promote cancer formation. An estimated one in 100 people carries a faulty BRCA2 gene. Regular exposure to aldehydes via shampoos, alcohol, and household products could put these people at a higher risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, reported Science Daily.

Professor Venkitaraman noted that his team’s findings may help with the prevention or treatment of cancers in the future.

To protect your family from unnecessary aldehyde exposure there a few things you can do at home. Always opt for cosmetics and household products with organic ingredients. Furthermore, be mindful of the clothes, foods, drinks, furniture, and building materials you buy. They may also contain aldehydes. And as if you needed another reason to say no to vaccines, formaldehyde is no stranger to their ingredients list.

Stay informed about vaccine ingredients. Read the vaccine manufacturers’ product inserts at NaturalNewsReference.com.

Sources:

ScienceDaily.com

Cell.com

American Airlines pilots being sickened by toxic chemicals in uniforms

Here we go again. Late last year, thousands of American Airlines employees said that the carrier’s new uniform caused a series of allergic reactions including eye swelling, rashes, skin blistering, and even vertigo. American repeatedly assured their employees that their new uniforms were safe and have since then distributed the uniforms to around 70,000 frontline employees. Now, 100 pilots are saying that their uniforms are making them ill. In an article on Bloomberg.com, American says they will survey these affected pilots and release an official statement soon.

These new reports have angered various unions who say that American is not taking these health concerns seriously. Bob Ross, President of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, filed an official grievance against the company. In it, Ross requested the company to recall all uniforms, grant sick leaves to affected flight attendants, reimburse them for the costs these allergic reactions have incurred, and establish a $2 million fund to really find out what the issue with these new outfits is. “These uniforms continue to put our members at risk, forcing them to use sick leave and affecting their overall health,” Ross wrote, as reported on DallasNews.com. A spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association declared that, “[Pilots] have to be fit for duty. If the uniform is making them not fit for duty, then something has to change.”

“Commercial garments are very frequently treated with extremely hazardous, neurotoxic chemicals,” warns Mike Adams, the “Health Ranger” and lab science director of CWC Labs, which tests for toxic chemicals using mass spec instrumentation. “If a pilot wants to send us a sample of the garment, we could easily identify the toxic chemical in question. Many garment chemicals are released from sweat, after which they are absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream,” Adams adds.

American’s response

The survey will advise the company on their next steps. “Whatever they find in their survey, we’re happy to meet and discuss it with them,” said Ron Defeo, an American Airlines spokesperson. “We’ve shown we’re willing to work and find solutions. We’d do the same with pilots.” Defeo added the carrier is working closely with Twin Hill, a unit of Tailored Brands, Inc., who supplied the new uniforms. So far, neither American or Twin Hill have found any safety issues with their new uniform. “We are confident our uniforms are safe, and we continue to encourage any of our team members who suspect a reaction to the uniform to contact their manager.”

In its first major uniform change in 30 years, American intended the new look to signify their relevance and reintroduction to the modern airline industry. The new uniforms, now slate gray instead of old navy blue, could be mixed and matched with cobalt blue cardigans or gray jackets and Cole Haan ties and scarves that were red and blue. American and Twin Hill designed the outfits to be comfortable and durable. In announcing the new uniform in September, Tailored Brands said in their press release that “the attire offers great style and design, high-quality performance and functionality that can take the rigors of the job.” Immediately after its release though, hundreds of American Airline flight attendants began complaining of allergic reactions. 

This isn’t the first time Twin Hill has been suspected of questionable quality. The company was issued a class action lawsuit several years ago on behalf of several Alaska Airlines flight attendants who fell ill because of their uniforms. Even though a judge ruled in favor of Twin Hill, Alaska decided to replace the uniforms. Still, representatives of Twin Hill insist there is nothing wrong with the American Airlines uniforms. “The safety and comfort of our uniforms has, and will always be, our highest priority. Extensive testing conducted by independent labs on the American Airlines uniforms has raised no safety concerns,” the company told NBCNews.com.

In the meantime, American has given their employees the option to wear their old uniforms, replace the uniform pieces that were bothering them, or use their alternate supplier, Aramark. The company says they have no plans to recall their uniforms.

Hazards can be found everywhere. From the food you eat to the clothes you wear. Be more informed when you visit Toxins.news.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

DailyMail.co.uk

DallasNews.com

NBCNews.com