California Children Are Contaminated

Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.

Recently, the diets of California children, ages two through seven, were analyzed to determine the cancer and non-cancer health effects from food contaminant exposures. “Food may be the primary route of exposure to [toxic heavy metals], persistent…pollutants…, and pesticides. Though food-borne toxic contaminants are a concern for all ages, they are of greatest concern for children, who are disproportionately impacted because they are still developing, and have greater intake of food and fluids relative to their…weight. Pediatric problems that have been linked to preventable environmental toxin exposures include cancer, asthma, lead poisoning, neurobehavioral disorders, learning and developmental disabilities, and birth defects.”

But, the good news is changing one’s diet can change one’s exposure. “A diet high in fish and animal products, for example, results in greater exposure to persistent [pollutants, like DDT and dioxins and heavy] metals than does a plant-based diet because these compounds bioaccumulate up the food chain.” And, plants are at the bottom of the food chain.

But, this sample of California kids was not eating a plant-based diet. And, “[c]ancer benchmark levels were exceeded by all [364] children…for arsenic, [the banned pesticide] dieldrin, [a metabolite of DDT called] DDE, and dioxins.”

“Children exceeded [safety levels] by a greater margin than adults. This is especially of concern for children because all of these compounds are suspected endocrine disruptors and thus may impact normal development. Cancer risk ratios were exceeded by over a factor of 100 for arsenic and [dioxins].”

Which foods were the worst? For preschoolers, the #1 food source of arsenic was poultry, though for their parents, it was tuna. The #1 source of lead was dairy. And, for mercury, it was seafood. The #1 source of the banned pesticides and dioxins was dairy.

They didn’t split up the groups by gender, but a similar study in Europe found that men had higher levels of some of these pollutants than women—for example, levels of the banned pesticide chlordane. But, women who never breastfed were right up there closer along with men, while the lowest levels were found in women who breastfed over 12 months. “It is therefore likely that the lactation-related reduction in [blood pollutant] levels [partially] explains the lower body burdens among women compared [to] men.” So, cows can lower their levels by giving some to us, then we pass it along to our children.

What non-cancer effects might some of these pollutants have? They can affect the immune system. “[S]tudies clearly demonstrate the ability of dioxins and related…compounds to have a long-lasting and deleterious [effect] on immune function.” This manifests as increased incidences of respiratory infections, ear infections, cough, and sore throat.

At first, most of the data was for during infancy, but now we have follow-up studies showing that “the immunosuppressive effects” of these toxins may “persist into early childhood.” So, we should try to reduce our exposure as much as possible.

How do we do that? “Because [these pollutants] accumulate in animal fat, consuming a plant-based diet,…[decreasing] meat, dairy, and fish consumption” may reduce exposure for children and adults alike.

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Images thanks to Crossett Library Bennington College via flickr