Illnesses and disabilities
Toxins
Category: Illness or disabilities
Type
Involuntary
Introduction and description
A toxin is any substance which is a Non receptor substance - thus a substance that is not capable of binding to a receptor in our bodies, which through overdose on a short term or long term basis causes cell destruction or inhibition of our chemical system and results in disability [permanent or temporary] or death.
The liver and kidneys usually deal with unwanted unprocessable substances, but if these organs do not work or are damaged by the substances then the substances can destroy the body. Some substances [inhibitors] for example destroy the very enzymes in the liver that protect us.
Toxins may be excreted from the body in ear wax, sweat, urine, tears, nasal secretions and faeces. They are detectable in hair, nail clippings and blood. It is thus possible to use a combination of these excretion mechanisms to see if you are polluted with toxins!
Toxins may be inhaled, ingested, come into skin contact and be absorbed. A toxin is any substance which the body is not equipped to handle - a chemical or other substance presented in such overdose proportions, the body is struggling to remove it. It has no use in the body.
There are some toxins I have covered elsewhere as they merit more detail, notably
- Heavy metals - are covered in the section on Heavy metal poisoning
- Inhalants and volatiles are covered in the section Inhaling volatiles and gases
but this section is a sort of catch all to cover those for which I have not provided a separate description. This section is quite long, but this is because there are so many toxins.
Air pollutants
Air pollution is caused by a number of different forms of pollutant, for example:
Air pollution causes a whole host of diseases and illnesses as well as premature deaths and fetal abnormalities, the following paper is but one example of the thousands [literally] that can be found on Pubmed.
OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of long term exposure to airborne pollutants on the incidence of acute coronary events in 11 cohorts participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE).
RESULTS: A 5 μg/m(3) increase in estimated annual mean PM2.5 was associated with a 13% increased risk of coronary events … and a 10 μg/m(3) increase in estimated annual mean PM10 was associated with a 12% increased risk of coronary events
CONCLUSIONS: Long term exposure to particulate matter is associated with incidence of coronary events, and this association persists at levels of exposure below the current European limit values. PMID: 24452269
Artifical fertilisers
Artificial fertilisers are not direct toxins, nor are all artificial fertilisers blameworthy, but the problem is that some cause mineral imbalance in the soils. This can lead to imbalance in the plants and subsequently imbalance in any animals that eat those plants and via the food chain, mineral imbalance in us. As such there is a knock on effect, and although the crops grown using artificial fertilisers may appear to be healthy and Ok, nutritionally they may be entirely depleted of any nutritional value or be so out of balance nutritionally that they would be classified as 'toxic' in that a mineral is presented in overdose proportions. The following example study serves to demonstrate the problem, the authors concluded that artifical fertilisers were one culprit [not the only one, but one of them]
In the present work, reference values for the content of elements in human hair were elaborated. The population chosen for the study was a group of students in Polish urban area, which served as a representative group of a population of 20 years old individuals living in Europe. The content of 36 elements
- essential (B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, Si, Sn, V, Zn), and
- toxic (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl) and
- others (Ag, Ba, Bi, Ce, La, Li, Rb, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr))
was determined in hair sampled from 117 subjects. … It was assumed that the values of the extreme low and high 10% in the population reflected mineral imbalance….. Statistical significance of differences was found for several elements, ..: Ba, Ca, Cu, K, La, Mg, Mn, Si, Sr and Ti. … PMID: 21787619
Chemical and biological weapons
There are a chillingly large number of chemical and biological weapons, some of which are also used as pesticides, that are stockpiled in a number of countries, two examples include:
The following extract from a paper may be of interest. Americans may think that these weapons are needed, but one should not forget that accidents can happen. And, it appears, have happened
The nerve agents, GA, GB, and VX are organophosphorus esters that form a major portion of the total agent volume contained in the U.S. stockpile of unitary chemical munitions. Congress has mandated the destruction of these agents, which is currently slated for completion in 2004. The acute, chronic, and delayed toxicity of these agents is reviewed in this analysis. The largely negative results from studies of genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, developmental, and reproductive toxicity are also presented. Nerve agents show few or delayed effects. …. The overreaching concern with regard to nerve agent exposure is the extraordinarily high acute toxicity of these substances. Furthermore, acute effects of moderate exposure such as nausea, diarrhea, inability to perform simple mental tasks, and respiratory effects may render the public unable to respond adequately to emergency instructions in the unlikely event of agent release, making early warning and exposure avoidance important. Likewise, exposure or self-contamination of first responders and medical personnel must be avoided. Control limits for exposure via surface contact of drinking water are needed, as are detection methods for low levels in water or foodstuffs. PMID: 9719666
Pesticides
A vast range of pesticides exists many of which have toxic effects, for example
- Acaricides
- Algaecides
- Animal pesticides
- Avicides
- Bactericide
- Defoliants
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
- Insecticides - including products such as Rotenone
- Molluscicides
- Nematicide
Nearly 50% of the world labour force is employed in agriculture. Over the last 50 years, agriculture has deeply changed with a massive utilisation of pesticides and fertilisers to enhance crop protection and production, food quality and food preservation. Pesticides are also increasingly employed for public health purposes and for domestic use. Pesticide are unique chemicals as they are intrinsically toxic and are deliberately spread into the environment…. in humans, they are responsible for acute poisonings as well as for long term health effects, including cancer and adverse effects on reproduction. Due to their intrinsic toxicity, in most countries a specific and complex legislation prescribes a thorough risk assessment process for pesticides prior to their entrance to the market … The post-marketing risk assessment takes place during the use of pesticides and aims at assessing the risk for exposed operators. … Occupational exposure to pesticides in agriculture concerns product distributors, mixers and loaders, applicators, bystanders, and rural workers re-entering the fields shortly after treatment. … In spite of the economic and social importance of agriculture, the health protection of agricultural workforce has been overlooked for too many years, causing an heavy tribute paid in terms of avoidable diseases, human sufferance, and economic losses. Particularly in the developing countries, where agricultural work is one of the predominant job, a sustainable model of development calls for more attention to occupational risks in agriculture. PMID: 1701738
Endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are one group of toxins that seem to have a particularly extraordinary effect in that they are the source of numerous illnesses which result in spiritual experiences; see the science section for more details on this category and the sub-products below
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Long-chain alkylphenols
- DDT
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
- Phthalates -eg DEHP
- Perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA
- Parabens
- Other suspected endocrine disruptors -
- polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDDs)
- furans (PCDFs)
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- phenol derivatives
- a number of pesticides (most prominent being organochlorine insecticides like endosulfan, Kepone(chlordecone)
- the herbicide atrazine
- the fungicide vinclozolin
- the contraceptive 17-alpha ethinylestradiol
Cosmetics, personal hygiene and hair care products
A growing list of products exists within this category some of which are also endocrine disruptors, for example:
- Hair straighteners - methylene glycol
- Methylisothiazolinone - found in 'leave on' hand creams, foundation, sunscreen lotion, baby skin care lotion plus a number of related products. It is a preservative but causes dermatitis amongst other problems
- Lipstick - which appears to contain a worryingly high amount of heavy metals
- Eye shadow - also containing high levels of heavy metals
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles are extremely small particles of chemicals. There is considerable concern in the environmental community of the effects of these particles on both health and the environment with papers on Pubmed linking them to lung cancer, brain damage, COPD, eye problems and so on.
The environmental impact has the potential to be catastrophic as there appears to be proof [see observations] that nanoparticles affect marine life as well as land based animals. To put this less scientifically nanoparticles - particularly those based on metals have the potential to wipe out marine life.
The use of nanoparticles is not 'essential' medically if we follow cause based medicine and not symptom based medicine. The use of nanoparticles in 'trivial' applications is also a cause for great concern. For example, zinc oxide nanoparticles have been used in sunscreens.
Food
Poor farming practise has resulted in even the raw materials for our foods becoming polluted with toxins, but the food industry itself also contributes in a major way. The following examples show the types of toxins inroduced via our diet:
- Food additives - which often contain aluminium in extremely high amounts - a heavy metal
- Artificial Food colourings - which in many cases are toxic
Others
Other miscellaneous substances include
How it works
All these toxins work indirectly to produce a vast range of illnesses and diseases, as such in the longer term it is these diseases that are the cause of any hallucinations etc.
In the shorter term, however, the immediate effect of toxin exposure is achieved via brain damage. The toxin enters the spinal canal via the cerebrospinal fluid and often because the particles are so small [this, for example, is especially true at nanoparticle level] they pass the blood brain barrier and enter the brain where they can cause encephalitis and a range of other related brain problems.
Whether an effect is experienced or not is dependent on which organs in the brain are affected. This depends to a certain extent on the lipid solubility of the particles. For more information of the effects it may be helpful to turn to the section on Inhaling volatiles and gases which explains the importance of lipid and the brain.
Related observations
Healing observations
- A novel arsenate respiring isolate that can utilize aromatic substrates 017779
- Ameliorative Effects of Acacia Honey against Sodium Arsenite-Induced Oxidative Stress in Some Viscera of Male Wistar Albino Rats 020537
- Assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi status and heavy metal accumulation characteristics of tree species in a lead-zinc mine area: potential applications for phytoremediation 018311
- Atropine maintenance dosage in patients with severe organophosphate pesticide poisoning 020088
- Avicenna - The Canon of Medicine - The importance of nutrition and effective 'purging' 011863
- Bach, Dr Edward - All we have to fear is fear itself 011143
- Cadmium poisoning and selenium 013088
- Cancer and potato defoliation 006263
- Cancer in children and pesticides 006836
- Celery as an anti-dote to the infertility caused by toxin DEHP 012445
- Croiset, Gerard - Diagnoses the poisoning of Mr A V of Almelo’s son by insecticides 022932
- Croll, Oswald - Preface of Signatures – 02 Preface 016020
- Dementia and the immune system 006965
- Dr Duke's list of activities of Tannin 017796
- Dr Duke's list of activity for Vitamin C 017762
- Dr Duke's list of biological activities for Vitamin C 017880
- Dr Duke's list of Chelating activity for Colocynth 018077
- Dr Duke's list of Chelating activity for the Dock 018087
- Dr Duke's list of Chelating activity for the Dog Rose 018090
- Dr Duke's list of chemicals and activity for the Shallot 017969
- Dr Duke's list of cystine containing plants to boost the immune system 012486
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidote (Tetrodotoxin) Activity 020083
- Dr Duke's list of plants with hemopoietic effects - 1 High activity 012484
- Dr Duke's list of plants with hemopoietic effects - 2 All plants with activity 012485
- Dr Duke's list of the Biological Activities of RUTIN 018281
- Dr Duke's plants for counteracting pesticides 010313
- Dr Duke’s list of ethnobotanical activity for Gomphrena globosa (Amaranthaceae) 021424
- Dr Franz Morell – The Mora Concept - A Case study in food allergies 012279
- Dr Terry Wahls - Feeding Your Microbiome and going organic 024351
- Dr. Terry Wahls - Revitalize, How I Went From Wheelchair To Walking By Changing My Diet 024350
- Exposure of Cucurbita pepo to DDE-contamination alters the endophytic community: A cultivation dependent vs a cultivation independent approach 027496
- Fasting and toxins 010377
- Fig leaves and liver damage from toxins 012379
- Foods to help with Benzopyrene 006913
- Free-radical scavenging action of medicinal herbs from Ghana: Thonningia sanguinea on experimentally-induced liver injuries 019139
- Gomphrena claussenii, a novel metal-hypertolerant bioindicator species, sequesters cadmium, but not zinc, in vacuolar oxalate crystals 016799
- Healing by AVOIDING all foods sprayed with glyphosate [Roundup] 026330
- Healing by AVOIDING all foods sprayed with organophosphate insecticide 026335
- Healing by AVOIDING processed foods, artificial flavours and colours, and emulsifiers 026331
- Healing by AVOIDING Refined carbohydrates and food additives in Crohn's disease 026329
- Homeopathy for Collective Diseases - AIDs, Malaria, Trauma, Vaccines and Toxins - The quest for a collective simillimum 012621
- Human Elimination of Organochlorine Pesticides: Blood, Urine, and Sweat Study 027607
- Hydroxysafflor yellow A protects against chronic carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis 020859
- Inhibitory action of peony root extract on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene 019428
- Inhibitory potential of some Romanian medicinal plants against enzymes linked to neurodegenerative diseases and their antioxidant activity 019739
- Light therapy 006972
- Masked allergens, food overdose, and food cravings 012291
- Mattheolus and Fuschius on the Holy Thistle 017219
- Mechanisms involved in the chemoprotective effects of rosemary extract studied in human liver and bronchial cells 017758
- Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future 017224
- Mrs Grieve on the Holy Thistle 017216
- Peroxynitrite scavenging activity of herb extracts 017213
- Pharmacological safety evaluation of a traditional herbal medicine "Zereshk-e-Saghir" and assessment of its hepatoprotective effects on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats 027503
- Phytoremediation of atrazine by three emergent hydrophytes in a hydroponic system 027985
- Phytoremediation of chlorpyrifos in aqueous system by riverine macrophyte, Acorus calamus: toxicity and removal rate 027984
- Phytoremediation of urban wastewater by model wetlands with ornamental hydrophytes 027987
- Phytoremediation potential of Acorus calamus in soils co-contaminated with cadmium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 027986
- Protective effect of vanilloids against chemical stress on the white-rot fungus Ganoderma lucidum 017778
- Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins 024035
- Rhubarb and paraquat poisoning 016076
- Sacred lotus flower - summary of effects 010392
- Sacred Lotus seeds - a summary of effects 010393
- Sauna as a means of detoxification and heart aid 010330
- Sauna therapy detoxification 006722
- Saunas, COPD, toxins and heart disease 006717
- Selenium and its effect on toxin induced IBS 013091
- Selenium and toxin [acrylamide] induced eye damage 013094
- Selenium, aflatoxins and liver disease and damage 013087
- Smoke and toxin chelation 017748
- Solvents caused manic depression 006723
- Still, Andrew Taylor - The reason for disease 011211
- Sweating, toxins and heavy metals 006719
- Tears, sweat and saliva and the fight against antigens 010332
- The effect of selenium on carbendazim induced oral sub chronic toxicity 013086
- The neuroprotective effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on rotenone-induced biochemical changes and apoptosis in brain of rat 018908
- The potential for phytoremediation of iron cyanide complex by willows 020526
- The WASH programme 008352
- Vitiligo co-morbidities 010134
- William Turner on the Holy Thistle 017217
Hallucination
- A Case of Mistaken Identity DOI by pharmofile 017419
- A Journey to Heaven, a Journey to Hell DOM by J. Andersen 017420
- A. Hoffer and H. Osmond - Amanita muscaria - from The Hallucinogens 015792
- Abrin as a chemical weapon 006970
- Acrylamide poisoning - Construction industry 014506
- Acute pesticide poisoning: a proposed classification tool 027715
- Agent Orange poisoning 006266
- Amnesic shellfish poisoning 012473
- Animalism DOC by Fenrir 017422
- Anti-lice shampoo causes hallucinations 006271
- Arsenic, water and burning treated wood 006906
- Autism genes are selectively targeted by environmental pollutants including pesticides, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates and many others in food, cosmetics or household products 024041
- Autoimmune disease hallucinations 006973
- Biological and chemical weapon hallucinations - Government 006968
- Botox 018051
- Case study of man with an acute stroke and auditory hallucinations 012631
- Cohen, Dr Sidney - The deranged Morning glory man 015587
- Contamination of Haiti's drinking water 008323
- Copper, MS and schizophrenia 006902
- Cushing's disease hallucinations 007005
- Depression, drugs and nanoparticles 006339
- Elevated Serum Pesticide Levels and Risk of Parkinson Disease 027717
- Endocrine disruptors, Autism and ADHD - Consumer goods manufacturers, Food processing companies, Chemical companies 014498
- Fish hallucinations 006469
- GBL 006272
- Hallucinations and diarrhoea 006441
- Hallucinations from arsenic and heavy metal working 006905
- Hallucinations from mussels 006473
- Hallucinations from rabbit fish 006468
- Hallucinations in the workplace 006810
- Hallucinations, brain damage and nanoparticles - Manufacturers and Cosmetic companies 006338
- Hallucinatory fish poisoning in Reunion islands 012480
- Hallucinatory syndrome in Sarpa salpa, heavy metals and toxins 012479
- Herbicides and hallucinations 006269
- Insect repellant causes mania 006270
- Manganese poisoning 006816
- Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)--differential diagnosis in clinical neurotoxicology: a German perspective 026305
- Nerve agents 001444
- Neurological syndromes following organophosphate poisoning 027719
- Nightmare School DOB (tentative; sold as Ecstasy) by The Learned 017421
- Oil Tanker crews and inhalants 006837
- Organophosphate Toxicity 027716
- Parkinsonism with multiple cysts in the bilateral striata 017809
- Pesticides and hallucinations 006268
- Poisoning from myelography 002077
- Potatoes cause hallucinations 002371
- Potential developmental neurotoxicity of pesticides used in Europe 027714
- Retained waste as a toxin 006244
- Reunion island hallucinations 006470
- Shoe factory workers solvents and health 006815
- Solvents caused manic depression 006723
- Srebrenica hallucinations 006969
- Table salt - Food processing companies 014504
- Tactile hallucinations and psychosis from a cocktail of mis-prescribed drugs 026088
- Thomas Midgley, Jr. – CFCs and lead in petrol 014495
- Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e Chapter 201 - Pesticides 027718
- Toxic agents causing cerebellar ataxias 017624
- Toxins in eye shadow - Cosmetic companies 014503
- Toxins in lipstick - Cosmetic companies 014502
Wisdom, Inspiration, Divine love & Bliss
- Aluminum-induced entropy in biological systems: implications for neurological disease 015269
- An antidote to the Golem in us all - from TED 014508
- Dawkins, Professor Richard - On disease 011823
- Fasting and toxins 010377
- Hamilton, Dr Allan - Brain tumours, dry cleaning, dentists and Electromagnetic radiation 011902
- Jeff Speck: The walkable city 014739
- Liu Bolin - Disappearing into heaven 015246
- Liu Bolin - Hiding in the City — Puffed Food 015247
- TED - Tyrone Hayes & Penelope Jagessar Chaffer: The toxic baby 016740
Out of time
- A Case of Mistaken Identity DOI by pharmofile 017419
- A Journey to Heaven, a Journey to Hell DOM by J. Andersen 017420
- Agent Orange poisoning 006266
- Cohen, Dr Sidney - The deranged Morning glory man 015587
- Nerve agents 001444
- The terror of the hobbit pipe 017542
Enlightenment
In time
- A Case of Mistaken Identity DOI by pharmofile 017419
- A Journey to Heaven, a Journey to Hell DOM by J. Andersen 017420
- A. Hoffer and H. Osmond - Amanita muscaria - from The Hallucinogens 015792
- Animalism DOC by Fenrir 017422
- Case study of man with an acute stroke and auditory hallucinations 012631
- Cohen, Dr Sidney - The deranged Morning glory man 015587
- Croiset, Gerard - Diagnoses the poisoning of Mr A V of Almelo’s son by insecticides 022932
- Homeopathy for Collective Diseases - AIDs, Malaria, Trauma, Vaccines and Toxins - The quest for a collective simillimum 012621
- Pesticides - Depression and death in Farmer's wives 014497
- Poisoning from myelography 002077
- Toxins and fetal brain damage 010187
- Toxins and narcolepsy 006399
Dying
- Agent Orange poisoning 006266
- Liu Bolin - Disappearing into heaven 015246
- Nerve agents 001444
- St Andrews University - Insecticides and brain damage 014737
Other observations
- Aldicarb food poisonings in California, 1985-1988;toxicity estimates for humans 027506
- Allergic reaction to Potassium dichromate - Pharmaceutical companies 014507
- Allergies and the important impact of 'denatured' foods. 012292
- An outbreak of illness among schoolchildren in London: toxic poisoning not mass hysteria 027505
- Cancer and uranium 006728
- Cancer, autoimmune disease and nanoparticles 006335
- Contamination of American drinking water and cancer 008346
- Contamination of American drinking water and pancreatic cancer 008348
- Contamination of Chile's drinking water with arsenic and cancer levels 008350
- Contamination of Chinese drinking water 1 008330
- Contamination of Croation drinking water [Manchester and Sheffield] by a paper mill 008337
- Contamination of Danish drinking water by pesticides 008338
- Contamination of Dutch drinking water [in Amsterdam] 008335
- Contamination of Finland's drinking water 008331
- Contamination of Greek drinking water and cancer 008339
- Contamination of Indian drinking water by disinfectants 008324
- Contamination of Irish drinking water 008332
- Contamination of Nigerian drinking water 008328
- Contamination of Turkish drinking water 008326
- Contamination of Vietnam's drinking water by arsenic 008344
- Demographics, clinical characteristics and management of herbicide poisoning in tertiary care hospital 015270
- Dermatitis - Cosmetics companies 014500
- EU paper on nanoparticles and health hazards 006337
- ffects of lifetime occupational pesticide exposure on postural control among farmworkers and non-farmworkers 027720
- Flame retardant effects on infants 006289
- Hair straighteners - Cosmetics companies 014499
- Hypothesis: Increased consumption of emulsifiers as an explanation for the rising incidence of Crohn's disease 027445
- Incomplete virilization in infant boys exposed to phthalates 006290
- Indoor risks of pesticide uses are significantly linked to hazards of the family members 027722
- Nanoparticles and cell death 006400
- Occupational exposures among nurses and risk of spontaneous abortion 027602
- Potatoes and pesticides 006267
- Predictors of Detected Organophosphorus Pesticides Among Orang Asli Children Living in Malaysia 027502
- Selenium deficiency in rubber factory workers 006297
- Surveillance of food poisoning outbreaks in Thailand 1981-1986 027508
- Suspected foodborne carbamate pesticide intoxications associated with ingestion of hydroponic cucumbers 027507
- Toxic fish, metals and nanoparticles 006334
- Toxic nanoparticles and the human food chain 006336
- Toxic wheat in the USA and UK 013096