I have wondered about the impact of inhaled toxins myself, and think it is possible that not only do inhaled toxins cause nerve damage, but that proper cilia function may be necessary to prevent significant quantities of neurotoxins from reaching the brain, even if the environment has very low levels of toxins to inhale, such as places with pristine air quality. Cilia long appendages that special cells in the respiratory tract have, and they move these back and forth to flush out toxins and pathogens. The reason I think they must work to avoid neurotoxicity is twofold. First of all, even in pristine air quality, there are still some toxins in the air from decomposing material, as well as trace heavy metals that naturally end up in the air, and cilia are necessary to remove these toxins before they have a chance to end up in the brain. Secondly, cilia function is necessary to flush out pathogens from the nasal cavity, and if ciliated cells do not work properly or are lacking, the nasal cavity becomes infected. Infection of the nasal cavity itself can actually damage ciliated cells, which can cause the infection to become chronic if it is severe enough. The endotoxins these bacteria create in the nasal cavity easily cross the thin nasal barrier, and thus cause brain damage.
We all have a gene called UGT2B15. If you are an intermediate metabolizer, I would take heed of Karen’s suggestion to avoid touching receipts because this gene is responsible for metabolizing their BPA residues (to the degree we can)…so intermediate metabolizers likely have the most trouble clearing them.
In addition to the many occupational exposures you mentioned, there are more. One particularly obvious example is the tsunami of strong chemical fragrances that are increasingly used everywhere. Strong laundry chemicals. Products sold at retail whose entire reason for existence is to make your laundry smell more like synthetic fragrances. "Air fresheners" at home and in the car. Etc. etc.
Is there any evidence that those chemicals are safe? Any examination at all? Doubtful.
One such product - UnStoppables - shows on its European label that it is toxic to fish and cannot be dumped into streams. The same product sold in the US has no warnings whatsoever. And it reeks.
There is a social dimension to this: some groups choose these products much more than others do. Some say it's for status.
It is obvious to those in my family that chemical fragrances cause large, immediate problems. Of course - they go directly to your brain.
What about the people who intentionally expose themselves to this all day every day? Perhaps they can't smell them any more. They might even feel like something's missing when they don't smell them. That has been the "freshness" marketing angle for years. Looks like it's working.
Excellent additions! Air "fresheners", scented candles and so much more.... we just need to walk through the cleaning products aisle in any supermarket and you can get dizzy from the outgassing. Thanks much for adding your excellent examples!
My wife has a fragrance allergy. Anyone with strong perfume on will give her a headache, she can't think straight. She literally has an attack and will have to leave the area.
Karin, another great topic! When I worked in a swimming pool store one summer as a teen I joked that I was going to die of chlorine poisoning. The fumes in the storage room could be overpowering. I knew about the nose-brain connection but didn't know that it bypasses the BBB. Now we need someone to put Omega-3 DHA into a nasal spray! I'm so sick of the BBB gatekeeping done by the APOE4 gene.
I have wondered about the impact of inhaled toxins myself, and think it is possible that not only do inhaled toxins cause nerve damage, but that proper cilia function may be necessary to prevent significant quantities of neurotoxins from reaching the brain, even if the environment has very low levels of toxins to inhale, such as places with pristine air quality. Cilia long appendages that special cells in the respiratory tract have, and they move these back and forth to flush out toxins and pathogens. The reason I think they must work to avoid neurotoxicity is twofold. First of all, even in pristine air quality, there are still some toxins in the air from decomposing material, as well as trace heavy metals that naturally end up in the air, and cilia are necessary to remove these toxins before they have a chance to end up in the brain. Secondly, cilia function is necessary to flush out pathogens from the nasal cavity, and if ciliated cells do not work properly or are lacking, the nasal cavity becomes infected. Infection of the nasal cavity itself can actually damage ciliated cells, which can cause the infection to become chronic if it is severe enough. The endotoxins these bacteria create in the nasal cavity easily cross the thin nasal barrier, and thus cause brain damage.
I'm thinking the countless hours spent in cadaver lab were not good for me
We all have a gene called UGT2B15. If you are an intermediate metabolizer, I would take heed of Karen’s suggestion to avoid touching receipts because this gene is responsible for metabolizing their BPA residues (to the degree we can)…so intermediate metabolizers likely have the most trouble clearing them.
In addition to the many occupational exposures you mentioned, there are more. One particularly obvious example is the tsunami of strong chemical fragrances that are increasingly used everywhere. Strong laundry chemicals. Products sold at retail whose entire reason for existence is to make your laundry smell more like synthetic fragrances. "Air fresheners" at home and in the car. Etc. etc.
Is there any evidence that those chemicals are safe? Any examination at all? Doubtful.
One such product - UnStoppables - shows on its European label that it is toxic to fish and cannot be dumped into streams. The same product sold in the US has no warnings whatsoever. And it reeks.
There is a social dimension to this: some groups choose these products much more than others do. Some say it's for status.
It is obvious to those in my family that chemical fragrances cause large, immediate problems. Of course - they go directly to your brain.
What about the people who intentionally expose themselves to this all day every day? Perhaps they can't smell them any more. They might even feel like something's missing when they don't smell them. That has been the "freshness" marketing angle for years. Looks like it's working.
Excellent additions! Air "fresheners", scented candles and so much more.... we just need to walk through the cleaning products aisle in any supermarket and you can get dizzy from the outgassing. Thanks much for adding your excellent examples!
My wife has a fragrance allergy. Anyone with strong perfume on will give her a headache, she can't think straight. She literally has an attack and will have to leave the area.
Great points.
Karin, another great topic! When I worked in a swimming pool store one summer as a teen I joked that I was going to die of chlorine poisoning. The fumes in the storage room could be overpowering. I knew about the nose-brain connection but didn't know that it bypasses the BBB. Now we need someone to put Omega-3 DHA into a nasal spray! I'm so sick of the BBB gatekeeping done by the APOE4 gene.
Great read - interesting and surprising. I am so thankful I don’t work in any of those roles but worry for the people that do.
Sad for firefighters… strikes close to home.
Great information as always. Thank you.
Thank you very much for this. I especially appreciated how you highlighted the social context and environmental (in)justice.