Mitch Kennedy, ND A case-control study published in the Dec. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggests environmental and occupational risk factors for sarcoidosis. At 10 centers, the investigators recruited and interviewed 706...
Environmental Medicine
Table of Contents
Chronic Lead Exposure, Women and Hypertension
Mitch Kennedy, ND It is common knowledge that bone turnover accelerates as women enter perimenopause and menopausal years. What is not commonly known is that this turnover also accelerates the release of heavy metals, particularly lead, stored in the bones. As lead is...
Perchlorate Affects Thyroid Function in Women
Mitch Kennedy, ND Perchlorate, an oxidizer in solid rocket fuel, is widely found in groundwater, drinking water, milk, vegetables, fruit, grain and forage crops. Large doses of perchlorate have been shown to inhibit iodide uptake and reduce thyroid hormone production,...
The Cardiovascular Effects of Toxins in Our Environment
By Mitch Kennedy, ND Here in the U.S., we are accustomed to hearing the “ozone and smog” alerts during summer, advising the elderly and children to stay indoors. This is not just for the risks to the pulmonary system (asthma, cough, shortness of breath); there also...
Air Pollution and its Effect on Fetal Development
Mitch Kennedy, ND Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are byproducts of burning fossil fuels (gas, diesel, kerosene, coal) and are common air pollutants throughout the US. Although known human mutagens and carcinogens, their effect on fetal growth previously has...
Avian Flu Prevention and Possible Treatment Using Nutritional Supplements
Mitch Kennedy, ND The following is a press release from the British Society for Ecological Medicine detailing its proposed protocols for responding to an Avian Flu outbreak. Given the current level of debate on this improbable pandemic, this report may give some peace...
Beware Homes Built on Old Orchards
Mitch Kennedy, ND Before the 1940s, lead arsenate (LA) was the predominant pesticide used in fruit orchards. Introduced in 1892 in Massachusetts for use against the Gypsy moth, the pesticide was quickly adopted for use in fruit orchards, especially apples, because of...
Decreased Testosterone in Workers Exposed to Phthalates
Mitch Kennedy, ND Phthalate esters (PE) are used in almost every plastic product on the market today. Each year, 2 to 8 million tons of PE are produced worldwide. Phthalates have been shown to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with testicular and ovarian...
Mercury from Fish Does Not Reduce Children’s IQs(?)
Mitch Kennedy, ND The August issue of Environmental Health Perspectives contained a long letter from a Mr. Joel Schwartz challenging the science behind a study published in EHP in May 2005. This is not unusual, as almost every published clinical trial or review...
Mothers’ Exposure to Carcinogenic Pollution Linked to Brain Cancer Risk in Children
Mitch Kennedy, ND An innovative study of prenatal exposure to pollution and later development of brain cancer in children exposes previously unsubstantiated risk to living near polluting factories. The study was based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US...