The AFA Blog

Update on the Safe Chemicals Act - some good news from Capital Hill

by Kimberly Inez McGuire

A bit of good news for reproductive health today coming from Congress! Signaling their clear intention to protect families from toxic chemicals in everyday products, Senators Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Boxer, Amy Klobuchar, Charles Schumer and others today introduced the “Safe Chemicals Act” to upgrade America’s outdated system for managing chemical safety.  (Click here to watch video of Sen. Lautenberg talking about the bill.) This bill comes on the heels of a USA Today article highlighting the alarming rise in early puberty among girls and would go a long way toward protecting the reproductive health and fertility of millions of Americans. 

Reproductive Health Advocates to Congress: Protect Women’s Health, Pass Chemical Policy Reform

Statement by Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, on the introduction of the Safe Chemicals Acts of 2011 by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ):

“Amid an increasingly partisan backdrop, this bill gives Americans from across the political spectrum something they have been clamoring for—better laws to protect our families from toxic and untested chemicals in everyday products. Reforming our chemical laws is a prime example of how government can work for the people by protecting our reproductive health and our children from the threat of chemicals like lead, formaldehyde, and asbestos. The introduction of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 is a critical first step to creating a healthier tomorrow for women and their families. This bill also presents a profound opportunity to protect the most vulnerable among us, from pregnant women and children to low-income communities and communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by toxic chemicals.”

Statement by Tracey Woodruff, PhD, Director, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California San Francisco, former EPA scientist, and Board member of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project:

 “Mounting scientific evidence demonstrates that commonly-used chemicals can harm reproductive health and contribute to infertility, miscarriage, early puberty, and decreased sperm counts. Thousands of other chemicals have never been studied. It’s time to use current science to study chemicals used in everyday products, place common-sense limits on those that can adversely impact our health, and provide consumers with the information they need to protect their families.”

 Background: The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 will provide long overdue reform of the 35-year-old federal law that regulates toxic chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This new legislation would give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stronger authority to test and regulate the 84,000 chemicals on the market today. Studies have linked exposure to many commonly used chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), to a host of reproductive health problems including infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, early puberty in girls, low sperm counts, and breast cancer.

 For more information about this legislation and how toxic chemicals impact reproductive health and fertility, please visit: http://www.rhtp.org/fertility/SafeChemicalsAct2011.asp

Kimberly Inez McGuire is the Senior Associate, Programs & Policy Reproductive Health Technologies Project
www.rhtp.org / www.judgment-to-empathy.org

For more information about this bill, or how you can support efforts to reduce toxic chemical exposure, please contact [email protected] or 202-530-4401.

Sugar And Fertility: What The Heck Do They Have In Common?

by Kavita Jhaveri-Patel

 

Calling all you soda, candy, doughnut, cookie loving people.  I have a couple of questions for you.

When you are feeling hungry and/or tired and in need of an energy boost at 3 or 4 pm, what do you do? Do you reach for a candy bar, soda, or sugary snack for that sudden boost of energy? That will definitely provide the instant boost of energy that you are looking for, but it will shortly be followed by a feeling of hunger, tiredness, and/or depression.  This is what we call the sugar roller coaster ride.  I am sure many of you have felt this; I know I have.  

For me, the roller coaster ride on many occasions has left me feeling dizzy, headachey, and nauseous, but also left me feeling somewhat exhilarated.  Although the ride is quite fun at times, especially while you slowly creep up the big hill in anticipation of the BIG drop, the sudden plunge downwards leaves my stomach on the floor, and can make me feel yucky. The adrenaline rush felt for the 2 minutes usually leaves me feeling sick for about 2 hours. The sugar roller coaster that you are currently on is definitely something that is going to leave you feeling sick and yucky.  This ride can be the cause for many health issues such as weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes and infertility.

The Nurse’s Health Study, referenced in The Fertility Diet, by Jorge Chavarro, MD and Walter Willet, MD have proven that sugar, especially certain kinds of sugars, have a large impact on reproductive health.  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition that can be brought on by insulin resistance, which is caused by the consumption of too much sugar. Insulin resistance equals hormonal imbalances. The body has to work overtime when you make the decision to have a soda for breakfast, white bread sandwich for lunch, candy bar for a snack, or white rice for dinner. 

So you ask, what should I eat for my health, happiness, and reproductive health? The answer is complex - literally: complex carbohydrates/sugars (not simple ones) are the way to go.  My definition of complex carbs is fiber-filled food paired with a starch or sugar that exists naturally in nature. The less refined the carb, the better it is for you, and that goes for most foods.  For example, whole wheat and brown rice have the fiber needed for your body to digest the starch slowly so your blood sugar levels stay even. Even blood sugar levels should be your goal when making food choices everyday.  I know, after suffering from breakdowns in my own body, that complex carbs have helped me to not only resolve my dizzy spells, irregular periods, and moodiness, but I have more energy then ever!

Your body identifies simple carbs/sugars, such as white flour and white rice as sugars. There is no fiber, because it is taken out during the refinement process.  When there is no fiber medium, to help slowly digest the sugar the body goes into emergency mode and digests the sugars very quickly. The sugar provides an immediate boost in energy that your body thinks you require, because you just ate a fiberless starch.  Here is the 411 on how the sugar is processed by your body. 

The body quickly breaks down the sugar into glucose and suddenly injects it into the blood stream.  Your blood sugar levels spike the pancreas releases large amounts of insulin. Each cell in your body is able to absorb the glucose, because of the insulin. Once the cells absorb the glucose, blood sugar levels suddenly drop.

Hence the roller coaster feeling described earlier. So think about this - if you fill your day with eating simple carbs, your cells over time will require more and more insulin in order to absorb the same amount of glucose, thus causing insulin resistance. 

In summary, here are my top 5 picks for complex carbs (whole grains) and natural sugars to eat in order to enhance your reproductive health, along with regulating your weight, heart health, and just feeling great overall!

Top 5 Whole Grains	Top 5 Natural Sugars
Brown Rice	Maple Syrup
Buckwheat (Soba Noodles)	Honey
Whole Wheat Pasta	Brown Rice Syrup
Stoneground Whole Wheat	Molasses
Quinoa	Stevia (the green kind)

 Footnotes:

The Fertility Diet, by Jorge Chavarro, MD and Walter Willet, MD

Kavita Jhaveri-Patel is a certified holistic health counselor.

 

Preventing Infertility at the Prom

by Merry Armentrout

April is an exciting month.  For me, it's a reward for surviving the long New Hampshire winter.  I'm now able to walk outside without wearing fifty layers of clothes, and I swear I'm starting to see the grass in my front yard once again.  My 17 year-old neighbor has been looking forward to April for months, but it has nothing to do with the weather.  April is prom season.  I know from prior experience it's all about "the dress" and "the date".  She has both.  I had the privilege of helping her shop for "the dress", but I'm thankful my responsibilities end there.  It's now her parent's turn to talk to her about "the date".  

We all know the prom can sometimes include other activities besides dancing.  Some teens will opt to become sexually active to varying degrees during this time of their lives.  While that is a personal choice that hopefully will be guided by the teen's individual maturity level and belief systems, all teens should be made aware that April is STD Awareness Month .  This is a great time to talk with the young men and women in your life about the importance of practicing safe sex, for a multitude of reasons, including preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) which can be linked to infertility later on in life. The American Fertility Association is working hard to educate the public about infertility prevention.

There is a connection between sexually transmitted diseases and infertility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 19 million new STDs and also STI's (sexually transmitted infections) occur each year, almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24.  It has also been reported that by the age of 24, one in three sexually active people will have one or more STIs, and over the course of a lifetime up to 75 percent of sexually active women and men will get an STI of some kind. 

Dr. Jacqueline Gutmann with Reprodutive Medicine Associates of Philadelphia says, "STIs can also cause infertility, in part because they often display few, if any visible symptoms. Because women and men are frequently unaware that they have an STI, they do not to seek treatment, which further threatens their fertility."

Dr. Gutmann recently published a fact sheet for The AFA on the effect of STDs on infertility where she breaks down the disease for both men and women. In women, chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as other bacteria, can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an infection that travels upward from the vagina through the cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes.  This infection can lead to scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes.  PID can occur in up to almost half of untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.  Over one million women each year seek treatment for PID in the United States; more than 100,000 women become infertile because of this disease, and the vast majority are unaware of the that it is happening.

In men, chlamydia and gonorrhea can travel upwards from the urethra all the way to the testicles. This can cause permanent sterility in men in a number of ways.  The scarring from the infection can block the passage of sperm.  In addition, injury to the testicles from an infection can interfere with sperm production and function.  Approximately 15% of male infertility is from STIs.

Dr. Mark Trolice of Fertility C.A.R.E in Winter Park, Florida says, "If hypertension is considered the silent killer then acquiring an STIs, particularly Chlamydia trachomatis, should be considered the silent killer of reproduction because of its damaging effects to the fallopian tubes.  Following an STI, ectopic pregnancy (a serious and life-threatening complication) increases from a baseline of 2% to 8%.  The incidence of tubal factor infertility increases 7-fold, 16-fold, and 28-fold, following one, two, and three STIs to the fallopian tubes (salpingitis), respectively.  Healthcare providers performing aggressive screening and prompt treatment of STIs may reduce the damage to reproductive potential."

The bottom line is, young men and women aren't thinking about preserving their fertility whether they're going to a prom, are starting freshman year at college or just entering the workforce, but they should.  Dealing with infertility is an emotional and physical battle, and The AFA wants to help as many people as possible avoid such a fate. 

Protecting reproductive health from dangerous chemicals

by Corey Whelan

I was privileged to attend a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. yesterday, specific to toxic chemical exposure and reproductive health.  The briefing was coordinated through the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Guttmacher Institute, as well as Congressional Reps. Louise Slaughter (D,NY), Diana DeGette (D,CO), Lois Capps (D,CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D,CT).

The panel of speakers was comprised of moderator Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project; Katie Huffling RN, MS, CNM, Environmental Health Program Coordinator of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners, Andy Igrejas, Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, and Elizabeth Nash, Public Policy Associate of the Guttmacher Institute.

One of the stated goals of yesterday's briefing was to move forward, through verifiable scientific data as well as statistical analysis of public opionion, regulatory changes that could positively impact upon the levels of toxic chemicals that Americans are routinely exposed to, thereby reducing risks to reproductive health and overall health.  

The most significant fact brought forth to me personally, was the verification that over 200 scientific studies have definitively and negatively implicated BPA (bisphenol A) in cases of cancer, metabollic disorders, premature puberty, male factor infertility and reproductive health issues.  

A number of important findings and action plans were brought forth by both the speakers and the audience.  These included:

NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) - All complex diseases have been shown to have both a genetic and environmental component.  A growing body of research is beginning to suggest that many adult diseases and disorders, including asthma, diabetes and obesity, may be traced back to exposures that occur during development.  Research supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and others are finding that in utero or neonatal exposures to environmental changes may make people more susceptible to diseases later in life.  In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests that numerous man-made chemicals may interfere with the endocrine system.  Scientists refer to these chemicals as endocrine disruptors.  Endocrine disruption is an important public health concern.

Guttmacher Institute Policy Review - In a long-awaited announcement, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially acknowledged concern about the effects of bisphenol A on the health of fetuses, infants and young children.  The statement marked a notable refersal of the agency's earlier position that BPA did not pose a health risk to humans.  Equally notable, however, was the fact that the FDA took no steps to restrict BPA's use.  Instead, it provided recommendations for parents to reduce exposure and said the government would continue to study the chemical's toxicity.

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families - A reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would serve as the backbone of a sound and comprehensive chemicals policy that protects public health and the environment, while restoring the luster of safety to U.S. goods in the world market.

There was much more.  It is understandable that the American public is, and should be, concerned about our daily toxin exposure, and the number one action item on anyone's list should be to keep in touch with your Congressional and Senatorial representatives about this issue.  Everyone needs an action plan.  Several potential and key, proactive behavioral changes were suggested by the Reproductive Health Technologies Project:

• Refuse Receipts, as the powdery coating on them contains BPA.
• Keep Plastic Cool, as heat causes chemicals to leach out of them and into food
• Leave Shoes at the Door, to keep pesticides and other chemicals out of your home
• Don't Be Fooled by Fragrance, and avoid cosmetics and cleaning products that list fragrance as an ingredient.  It is code for phthalates, another known endocrine disruptor
• Look Up Your Lipstick - check it out at http://cosmeticdatabase.com
• Filter Your Drinking Water, to remove common contaminants like arsenic and lead
• Buy BPA Free, if your product does not contain BPA it will say so on the label
• Toss the Teflon, as this chemical has been linked to cancer and early menopause
• Limit Canned Food, another known source of BPA
• Dust, Vacuum and Mop Frequently, to cut down on chemcials that accumulate in household dust

The American Fertility Association is proud to be aligned with powerful, proactive advocates who are working for the public good.  For more information on endocrine disruptors and fertility, visit The AFA's library.

 

 

Food Packaging Significant Source of BPA Exposure, New Study Finds

The American Fertility Association congratulates allied non profit organization, The Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute on their groundbreaking new study on BPA exposure and women's health.  The AFA has been sounding the alarm on BPA and other toxins that affect reproductive health for many years; our most recent press release quoted Executive Director Ken Mosesian as stating, "The AFA is proud to be a thought leader in this arena, and looks forward to definitive answers being realized.  We recognize that more research is urgently needed."

  A peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that food packaging is a substantial source of exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which laboratory studies have linked to breast cancer, infertility, early puberty, and other serious health problems. In this unprecedented human study, scientists at the Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute discovered an average drop of 60 percent in BPA levels when study participants ate a diet that avoided contact with BPA-containing food packaging, such as canned food and polycarbonate plastic.

“This study suggests that removing BPA from food packaging will remove the number one source of BPA exposure,” said Janet Gray, Ph.D., Science Advisor to the Breast Cancer Fund and professor at Vassar College. “The study should serve as a call to action for industry and government to get BPA out of food packaging and to fix the broken chemical management system that allows it to be there in the first place.”

The study, “Food Packaging and Bisphenol A and Bis(2-Ethyhexyl) Phthalate Exposure: Findings from a Dietary Intervention,” tested the levels of BPA in the urine of five San Francisco Bay Area families who had a high likelihood of regular exposure to food packaging containing BPA (they consumed canned foods and beverages, ate meals outside of the home, used polycarbonate water bottles, and/or microwaved in plastic). The families were provided with three days’ worth of freshly prepared organic meals with no canned food, and using only glass storage containers. The families’ urine was evaluated while they ate their typical diets, again during the period when they were provided with freshly-prepared meals, and then again after returning to their normal eating habits. While the families were eating the fresh-food diet, their BPA levels dropped on average by 60 percent. Reductions were even more pronounced—75 percent—for those with the highest exposures. When families returned to their regular diets, their BPA levels increased back to pre-intervention levels.

In addition to BPA, participants were tested for phthalates, plastic-softening chemicals that can interfere with reproductive development. Levels of DEHP (a phthalate used in food packaging) dropped by an average of 50 percent during the intervention; and the highest exposures dropped by over 90 percent.

"Our study provides clear and compelling evidence that food packaging is the major source of exposure to BPA and DEHP,” said Ruthann Rudel, lead author of the study and Director of Research at Silent Spring Institute. “The study shows that a fresh-food diet reduces levels of these chemicals in children and adults by half, after just three days."

BPA and the phthalate DEHP are both used widely in food packaging. BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastics and is used in the lining of food cans, and DEHP is an additive used in some food containers and plastic wraps to increase flexibility. BPA and phthalates are both known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals because of their effects on hormone systems. BPA has been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, and exposure has been associated with effects on the developing brain, reproductive system, and mammary and prostate glands in laboratory studies. Phthalates have been demonstrated to interfere with androgen signaling and male reproductive development in laboratory and human studies.

“The findings of this food packaging study suggest that if the food and food-storage industries reformulated packaging to remove BPA and phthalates, or if there were a federal ban of these chemicals in food packaging, a large portion of the population would experience a rapid reduction in the levels of these chemicals in their bodies,” said Dr. Gray. “Industry and government need to ensure the safety of any substitute chemicals before they are put into use.”

Suggestions from the Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute for reducing exposure to BPA and DEHP include cooking at home with fresh foods and making some changes in the kitchen, such as avoiding canned foods, choosing glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers, and not microwaving in plastic. After aggregating the results of tests of 300 canned food products, the Breast Cancer Fund found that BPA especially leaches into canned foods that are acidic, salty or fatty, such as coconut milk, soup, meals (e.g., ravioli in sauce) and vegetables. For additional tips or to download a shopper’s guide, visit www.breastcancerfund.org.

  

An Alternative Solution - Herbs and PCOS - How to use them to improve your fertility.

By Stacey Roberts, BSPT, Q Herbalist, Natural Fertility

 Rachel came to me after trying to have a baby for 4 years.  She was at her wits end.  She tried IVF but had hyperstimulated and was unsure of whether to try again.

 She had not had a menstrual cycle in 3.5 years no matter what medication she was on.  Rachel used a variety of medications to try to get her ovulating but nothing helped.

 After six months on an herb formula, Rachel began to spot.  She called me, very excited.  I was actually getting a little despondent myself after six months and nothing happening.  I asked her to send in her charts so we could see what was going on and lo and behold, she wasn’t going to have a period.  She was pregnant!  Rachel has now had 2 beautiful little girls while utilizing the herbs.

 What happened?  How did Rachel conceive when she was told it couldn’t happen?  Afterall, she wasn’t even having a period.

When a woman is dealing with Polycystic Ovaries it is important to remember that this syndrome is a symptom of an imbalance in the system.  Polycystic ovaries commonly occur when a woman is experiencing insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.  So the very first step in addressing this syndrome naturally is through the diet. 

Step 1:  Optimize your Eating Plan

• Remove white flour products and other high glycemic foods. 
• Choose carbohydrates that are low glycemic
• With each meal make sure you have a protein and or a good fat to slow dose the glucose response in the blood.  This helps to take stress off the system.
• ELIMINATE sugar.  Sugar and sweeteners are major enemies of women with Polycystic Ovaries so get them out your the diet. 
• Eliminate empty calories from soft drinks and alcohol that also disrupt your sugar levels.

 Step 2:  Optimize a Supplementation Program

• Use a broadspectrum of antioxidants and minerals to help improve cellular health and address the underlying issue with glucose and insulin.

• Besides Vitamins A, B, C, D3, E and folic acid (a type of vitamin B) it is also important for women to have appropriate amounts of selenium, zinc, chromium, and iodine in their diet and supplementation program to improve their situation. 

• Herbs such as Gymnena (not to be taken with drugs that are used for resistance eg. Metformin and others) and Cinnamon have been shown to help support optimal glucose metabolism.

• With Rachel it was also helpful to take herbs that support her thyroid such as Withania and Bacopa. 

• Other herbs to support ovulation are Peony and Agnus Castus (Chaste Tree).

• When dealing with herbs always consult a qualifed herbalist to assess your situation otherwise you may be taking too much or too little of the necessary herbs.  And the supplementation program including herbs must only supplement the diet.  With PCOS, diet is number 1!

Step 3: Minimize Toxins

• Exposure to voluntary toxins from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and chemically laden skin care products, improper use of plastics (i.e. heating food in plastic containers, etc) and even air fresheners and cleaning products can impair your fertility according to various studies.

• Always use “green” products when you can and avoid products whose ingredient list is full of scientific names you cannot pronounce.

• Herbs such as St. Mary’s Thistle (Milk Thistle), Schisandra, and even Bladderwrack are herbs that can be used to help the body properly remove toxins from the system

 Step 4:  Appropriate Exercise Program

• A balanced exercise program including cardiovascular fitness and resistance training can help make the body more insulin sensitive and along with an optimal diet can reverse insulin resistance in some individuals.  Polycystic Ovaries have been reversed when hormone balance returns to normal.

• Seek out a qualified personal trainer or physical therapist to help you set up the best program for you.

 Step 5:  Support the Mind Body Connection

• Several studies show that addressing stress and the mind body connection has helped women with ovulation disorders such as Polycystic Ovaries.  In a study performed at Emory University, 80% of patients who previously were not ovulating spontaneous ovulated after hypnosis sessions. 

 Rachel knows the importance of addressing all of these steps at one time versus trying one thing for a while and moving on to the next without appropriate guidance.  But now after addressing her situation by following the five steps above perhaps Rachel can help her little girls avoid the difficulties that she experienced trying to conceive as well as the other negative consequences that women with Polycystic Ovaries can face, i.e. high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid issues, and autoimmune diseases.

 It is important to note that all treatments should be done under the auspices of a trained professional.

Stacey Roberts, PT, MH, Phd-C is a leading herbalist and internationally recognized expert on complementary medicines. She is the owner of Sharkey's Healing Centre and resides in Melbourne, Australia.  She is a guest contributor to The American Fertility Association's online library, directory, and blog.

 

 

A Chemical Blowout: Frizz, Formaldehyde and Infertility

By Kimberly Inez McGuire

The first whispers of summer are in the air, foretelling sunny days, sultry nights, and trips to the beach. For better or worse, it also means that many women crowd into salons and spas in a frenzy of pre-summer health and beauty rituals. And it’s no small task to prepare for all the bared skin and exposure to the elements—that’s right, ladies and gents, I’m talking about the Brazilian.

No, not that Brazilian. I’m talking about the Brazilian Blowout (also known as Keratin Treatment), a salon procedure that claims to “improve the health and condition of the hair,” “eliminate frizz,” and “smooth the cuticle.” These are tantalizing promises to a curly-haired woman like me. Between my Irish ringlets and Puerto Rican kink (thanks, Mom and Dad!) my hair can be a handful—and the swampy, sticky DC summers don’t help. Neither do the countless women’s magazines, ugly duckling movies, and makeover TV shows that portray hair like mine as a problem, a “before” picture in desperate need of a stick-straight “after.” So, when I see photos of Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, and Nicole Richie rocking smooth, shiny locks, I hear the siren call of hassle-free hair and think, “Why not?”

In a word? Formaldehyde. Yes, that same stinky soup that held the dissecting frogs in 10^th grade biology is now available in your local high-end hair salon. Initially, this rather disturbing information came to light late last year when salon workers reported headaches, eye irritation, difficulty breathing, and nose bleeds, all symptoms of short-term formaldehyde exposure. When Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tested samples of Brazilian Blowout products, they found dangerous levels of the chemical, including in products explicitly labeled “Formaldehyde Free.”

Investigators have concluded that the process of applying the solution to hair, and then using a blow dryer and flatiron, aerosolized the formaldehyde, making it easy for salon workers and clients to inhale. This is a great discovery if you’re looking for an effective biological weapon, but definitely bad news for women’s health. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and scientific studies have linked it to miscarriage, stillbirth, menstrual disorders, and female infertility. Just last week, the beauty industry’s own scientists finally acknowledged that they cannot guarantee the safety of formaldehyde-containing hair straighteners. And by the way, this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of toxic cosmetics targeted to women of color.

Now, you’re probably thinking, Brazilian Blowout products have been recalled, right? Because putting a nasty chemical like formaldehyde into a product that women all over the country use must be illegal, RIGHT? Sadly, this is not the case. While Canada has stopped the distribution of these toxic products, Ireland has issued a recall, and the California Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit, there has been no nation-wide recall or federal government action to stop the use of these harmful products. And it’s certainly not for lack of effort by women’s health groups like Women’s Voices for the Earth, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the National Healthy Salon Alliance.

Unfortunately, the laws that are supposed to protect us from toxic cosmetics are 70 years old and badly broken—and the Brazilian Blowout brouhaha is a symptom of a failed system. There are no safeguards in place to prevent dangerous products from coming on the market, and no real labeling requirements—which is exactly how a product touted as “Formaldehyde Free” was found to contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde. There are over 12,000 ingredients used in cosmetics, yet 89 percent of them have not been reviewed for safety. In fact, voluntary recalls and anemic self-regulation are all that stands between American families and toxic chemicals in everyday products—from Brazilian Blowout to body wash, baby bottles to blue jeans.

I checked the Brazilian Blowout website today, and the company is heavily featuring a new product called “ZERO” which, they claim, “releases 0% Formaldehyde.” Given that there’s no real oversight of claims like this, I’m skeptical. The company is also standing behind their original formulation—you know, the one that gave salon workers nosebleeds and could be making clients infertile.

Women and workers deserve better. Fortunately, there is something we can do (besides just pulling our hair out from frustration). In the coming months, Congress is expected to introduce legislation that would update our national chemical policy, ensure that products are safe before allowing them in our homes and workplaces, and provide consumers and federal agencies with the information they need to protect human health. To make sure Congress lives up to this important responsibility, you can sign a petition asking President Obama to create a cancer prevention plan that stops the use of cancer-causing chemicals (like formaldehyde) in products we use every day.

Until we have common-sense regulation of chemicals in cosmetics and everyday products, the status quo—labels that lie and products that poison—will continue. So, until I can trust that a Brazilian Blowout isn’t going to give me cancer or make it hard for me to have kids someday, I’m keeping my curls, thank you very much. And I’ll use some of the time I’m not sitting at the salon to sign that petition to President Obama and send it to 10 women I care about. Because beauty is pain sometimes, but this is ridiculous.

Quick tip: How safe are your cosmetics? Find out here.

Kimberly Inez Mcguire is the Senior Associate, Programs & Policy for the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.

Experts at UN Meeting Urge Action to Combat Environmental Causes of Cancer.

Important and significant actions designed to reduce or eliminate environmental toxins in the workplace were urged today by experts attending a United Nations convened scientific meeting.  Interestingly, many of the same toxins known to contribute to escalating cancer rates world wide have also been linked in multiple studies to infertility and birth defects of various types.  The press release appears in its entirety here:

EXPERTS AT UN MEETING URGE ACTION TO COMBAT ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF CANCER.

UN press release

(New York; 18 March,  2011)

Medical experts attending a United Nations-convened scientific meeting today called for action to address preventable environmental and occupational causes of cancer, noting that nearly one in five of all cases of cancers are attributable to the environment, including work settings.

“Many environmental and occupational factors, including certain chemicals, radiation and airborne particles, can cause cancer,” said Maria Neira, the Director for Public Health and Environment at the UN World Health Organizations (WHO), which convened the meeting in the Spanish Principality of Asturias.

“These cancers could be prevented and reduced by changes in national and international policy to limit people’s involuntary exposure to these substances,” she added.

The cancers related to the environment, which comprise roughly 19 per cent of all cancers and cause 1.3 million deaths each year, are often the result of situations where people have limited control over the quality of air they breathe, the water they drink, and the level of chemical contamination in indoor and outdoor environments and at places of work.

In their “Asturias Pledge,” the experts urged governments to include environmental and occupational preventive measures in their national cancer control programmes, and ensure enforcement of national and international standards for environmental and occupational carcinogens.

They recommended that WHO lead a global effort in highlighting the importance of primary prevention of cancer, assess the impact of environmental and occupational interventions on primary prevention of cancer, and develop guidance for implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Civil society should raise awareness about practices and processes that increase carcinogenic risks, raise awareness, educate and advocate for funding to implement effective primary prevention of those types of cancers, the experts suggested.

Industry, for its part, should support and implement measures aimed at preventing the cancers. It should also contribute to policy development relating to the mitigation of occupational risks and workers’ exposures; eliminate or reduce exposure to known and probable carcinogens, and better inform workers on the risks they face in the workplace and protect them from carcinogens.

Reducing and eventually eliminating the exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens is the most effective way to prevent a number of cancers, according to WHO. Stopping the use of asbestos can prevent lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancers of the larynx and ovaries, for example. Replacement of benzene with safer solvents will prevent leukaemia, the agency said.

 

Asturias Pledge

Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention

Asturias (Aviles and Gijon), Spain

17 – 18 March 2011

http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/international_conference/Call_for_action_en.pdf

 

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Environmental and occupational risk factors are estimated to be a substantial contributor to the cancer burden, many of them are modifiable and often result from involuntary exposure of populations, but have yet to be seriously addressed by cancer prevention programmes. The burden of cancer is currently shifting towards heavily populated low- and middle-income countries and is predicted to increase due to a rise in life expectancy as a result of economic development. Therefore, environmental and occupational interventions are key for reducing the incidence and mortality of cancer, can be cost-effective and contribute to the overall well-being of communities.

 

In line with World Health Assembly Resolution WHA58.22 on Cancer Prevention and Control, where countries were urged to pay special attention to cancers for which risk factors are avoidable, including environmental and occupational factors, we, the participants in the first WHO International Conference on "Environmental and occupational determinants of cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention", call for a broad, public health driven response bringing together public heath, environmental, occupational and cancer control communities in a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach, to tackle known and preventable causes of cancer, using scientific evidence to raise awareness and promote environmental and occupational interventions in support of primary preventive measures:

 

 

TO GOVERNMENTS

1. Further develop surveillance of the burden of cancer, support research and build capacities for systematic identification and measurement of environmental and occupational risk factors as part of national cancer control programmes.

 

2. Include and implement evidence-based environmental and occupational preventive measures as part of policies, legislation and regulations, creating synergies among public health programmes, with NGOs and private and public institutions.

 

3. Adopt and enforce national and international legislation for protection against environmental and occupational carcinogens.

 

4. Support campaigns for behavioural change, including in the work place, to protect individuals from environmental and occupational cancer risks, through innovative approaches and collaboration with the media, and using easily accessible public information about the risks and protection measures.

 

 

 

 

TO WHO

1. Lead a global effort to highlight the importance of primary prevention of cancer through healthy environments, raising awareness and bringing together public heath, environmental, occupational and cancer control communities.

 

2. Shape the research cancer agenda so as to take account of environmental- and occupational-related cancers, including a better characterization of causes and assessment of the effectiveness of behavioural change and environmental and occupational interventions for the primary prevention of cancer.

 

3. Encourage governments to include environmental and occupational prevention measures as part of national cancer control programmes.

 

4. Develop guidance for the implementation of evidence-based environmental and occupational interventions based on population needs assessments.

 

5. Support the implementation of environmental and occupational prevention measures in developing countries and countries in transition through technical assistance, training and other means.

 

6. To support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA60.23 on Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy.

 

7. Encourage governments to provide funding to further study environmental factors as potential causes of cancer and to support primary prevention of cancer due to known environmental and occupational risk factors.

 

8. Establish a coordinated network of institutions at national and international level to support policy development and implementation of primary prevention measures for environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

 

TO CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS

1. Increase awareness raising about environmental and occupational determinants of cancer.

 

2. Advocate for the enforcement of national and international standards for exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens and to enhance protection of workers.

 

3. Further develop innovative campaigns and strategies to raise awareness about individual behavioural change to support primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

4. Strengthen involvement in policy development and implementation related to the mitigation of environmental and occupational risks.

 

5. Advocate for research on environmental- and occupational-related cancers and on effectiveness of prevention measures, including those related to behavioural change.

 

6. Advocate for funding to tackle primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers, including support for awareness raising, education, and wider implementation of measures known to be effective.

 

7. Support the development of a global network of international environmental-, occupational- and health-related NGOs to advocate for the introduction of environmental and occupational aspects to the global cancer agenda, and with other actors to engage with the media in support of primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

 

TO INDUSTRY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

1. Incorporate measures for primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers into existing corporate initiatives and business management programmes.

 

2. Where necessary, develop substitutes, products, technologies and processes to eliminate the use of carcinogens, evaluate their effectiveness and support international technology and information transfer.

 

3. Provide information to governments, workers and consumers about hazardous substances and products, ensure clear labelling and responsible marketing.

 

4. Train workers, suppliers and sub-contractors in preventing exposures to carcinogens and establish prevention and mitigation measures.

 

5. Partner with governments and civil society groups in support of primary prevention of cancer.

 

My Sung Hero

by Corey Whelan

 

So I want to talk about my friend Mark.  I met Mark in a cold country, which works for him because a) he skis and b) he has the clothes for it.  Me, not so much.  However, after many conversations and many years I’ve gotten to know this man very well, and wanted to share some of what I know with you.

Mark is a warrior and served his country proudly in the Army.  But that “Used to be a soldier warrior fierceness” has since metabolized into a fierce warrior like caring for his patients.  Do or die.  That is the level of his commitment to those he serves.

Mark is kind.  I am honor bound to not tell you about most of the good stuff he does behind the scenes in our world.  If I broke rank and told, Mark would be the feature lead story on 60 Minutes and in People Magazine.  Suffice it to say, for Mark, no man gets left behind.  No patient gets left behind either.  Sorry I can’t say more but I do want you to know that this man is guided by faith, and conscience.  .

Mark is honorable.  He says what he means and he means what he says.  End of story.

Mark is my friend.

The AFA is honoring Mark Bush, M.D., at Illuminations Denver this year.  I am writing this blog post on my plane on the way to Denver, but opted not  to WIIFI on this trip (glorious freedom) so I will publish this post as soon as I can.  (The glorious not connected freedom never lasts for too long).

Oh, and one more thing.  The folks at The AFA and the folks at Mark’s practice, Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado, really dig each other.  In many ways, we are all renegades in this field, and we recognize that in each other.  We all do what needs to be done, we all go where it is needed that we go.  BPA and repro health?  Let’s talk about it.  Toxic nail salons and infertility?  Done. Infertility Prevention and Women Not Ever Needing an RE?  Yup, we go there too.  And towards that end, Mark Bush, M.D. is one of the only docs that I know that would use his time to talk to college women about infertility prevention.   Our gig tomorrow is at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Mark, Brenda, Ken Mosesian and myself will be speaking to young men and women about not ever needing to become patients.  Some RE’s I know if asked to do that, just wouldn’t feel it a good use of their time.  Not a good marketing opp.  Oh hush, of course not all, there are tons of unsung heroes in our field but let me tell you, Mark jumped on this opportunity, again, on behalf of young women everywhere and for The AFA.   He jumped on this non ROI, educational opportunity, for which I want to publicly say, thank you.  For all the unsung heroes out there, you are my sung one.

 And he’s done this kind of thing, behind the scenes, with The AFA for years. 

 So hat’s off to you, Mark.  You deserve to be honored.  We are honored to know you. Hat’s off to you, Dr. Bush, and to your team of amazing renegade thinkers and doers..  Ski hat’s, of course.

 See you tomorrow.

BPA & IVF

by Karin Russ MS, RN We hear a lot about bisphenol A (BPA) in the news lately.  While the federal government calls for further study of BPA, state legislatures are taking action to ban the substance in children’s products.  Even in the absence of laws limiting the use of BPA, manufacturers are responding to consumer demand for BPA-free baby and children’s products. What’s all the fuss about? BPA is a synthetic chemical added to plastics to improve their performance. Unfortunately, it also mimics estrogen in the body, and so is known in the medical world as an endocrine disrupting compound.  Currently, consumer advocacy groups are focusing their efforts on eliminating BPA from children’s products, such as baby bottles, sippy cups and toys.  This is a good start, aimed at protecting some of the most vulnerable members of our society. But because BPA disrupts the endocrine system, it may also have an effect on fertility.  Over the last decade, animal studies have found that BPA has a negative effect on the quality of eggs produced.  Now, two studies published in 2010 found negative effects on human fertility associated with BPA.  Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco looked at the level of BPA in blood samples taken from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and compared the amount of the chemical in their blood with their chances of successful fertilization.  They found that as the amount of BPA in a patient’s blood doubled, the chance of successful fertilization was cut in half.  Another research team at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, in conjunction with the Harvard School of Public Health, measured the amount of BPA in patients’ urine, and compared it to the number of oocytes retrieved during IVF. They found that as the amount of BPA in a woman’s urine increased, there was a proportional decrease in the amount of eggs retrieved.  The way in which BPA interferes with oocyte development is not clear.  Scientists speculate that the estrogenic compound may interfere with DNA formation or with the cytoplasm within the oocyte as it is maturing.  Regardless, it’s a good precaution for couples experiencing infertility to avoid exposure to BPA.  BPA is found in certain types of plastic and in the plasticized epoxy lining of metal food cans.  The Environmental Working Group has tested substances taken from containers made with BPA, and found that the chemical leaches into food and drinks during storage.  While occasional use of canned food or drinking from containers made with BPA may expose us to a small amount of the chemical, continued use causes BPA to accumulate in the body.  To reduce exposure to BPA, incorporate as many of these strategies as possible into your life: §   Avoid canned foods- the highest levels of BPA are found in canned coconut milk, soups, meats, beans, juices, fish and meals-in-a-can. §   Focus on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. §   Avoid beverages in epoxy-lined metal cans: beer, soda, juice. §   Carry liquids in stainless steel bottles.  Look for bottles that do not have a plastic liner. §   Microwave in glass or ceramic dishes- never microwave plastic! §   Avoid plastic wrap coming in contact with food. §   Storing food in glass or steel containers is ideal. §   If using plastic containers, choose items with recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom- these do not contain BPA. §   Avoid #7 plastics.  These are polycarbonate (sometimes labeled “PC”) and contain BPA. 8,9 Karin Gunther Russ MS, RN is the National Coordinator for Fertility & Reproductive Health Working Group Collaborative on Health and the Environment.  Karin is dedicated to minimizing environmental risks to women and children and will be blogging on environmental concerns and reproductive health for The AFA throughout the next several months. She lives with her husband, three children and three cats in Ellicott City, Maryland, near Washington DC. References

1. Bishphenol A (BPA) Information for Parents.  US Dept. of Health and Human Services.  http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa 2. Massachusetts Becomes Latest State to Ban BPA in Baby Bottles (2011). http://www.hktdc.com/info/mi/a/baus/en/1X07BSTV/1/Business-Alert-%E2%80%93-US/Massachusetts-Becomes-Latest-State-to-Ban-BPA-in-Baby-Bottles-.htm 3.  Distinctions in Meiotic Spindle Structure and Assembly During In Vitro and In Vivo Maturation of Mouse Oocytes. (2003).  Alexandra Sanfins, Gloria Y. Lee, Carlos E. Plancha, Eric W. Overstrom, and David F. Albertini. http://www.kumc.edu/physiology/documents/DistinctionsinMeiotic.pdf 4.  Bisphenol A exposure causes meiotic aneuploidy in the female mouse. Current Biology 2003; 13:546–53. Hunt PA, Koehler KE, Susiarjo M, Hodges CA, Ilagan A, Voigt RC, et al. 5.  Continuous exposure to bisphenol A during in vitro follicular development induces meiotic abnormalities. Mutation Research 2008: 651:71–81. Lenie S, Cortvrindt R, Eichenlaub-Ritter U, Smitz J. 6. Serum unconjugated bisphenol A concentrations in women may adversely influence oocyte quality during in vitro fertilization   Fertility and Sterility, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 3 December 2010 Victor Y. Fujimoto, Dongsul Kim, Frederick S. vom Saal, Julie D. Lamb, Julia A. Taylor, Michael S. Bloom 7.  Urinary bisphenol A concentrations and ovarian response among women undergoing IVF. International Journal of Andrology 2010;33:385–93.  Mok-Lin E, Ehrlich S, Williams PL, Petrozza J, Wright DL, Calafat AM, et al. 8. Consumer Tips to Avoid BPA.  Environmental Working Group. http://www.ewg.org/bisphenol-a-info  9. Mission Local: How to Eliminate BPA Exposure http://missionlocal.org/2011/01/as-ucsf-study-and-others-continue-to-show-bpa-problems-whats-a-consumer-to-do/