Drugs in fish

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Drugs in fish: Pharmaceuticals found in fish caught near North Side sewage treatment plant in Chicago area
Thu 26 Mar 2009 04:33
By Michael Hawthorne
Tribune reporter
Multiple page view
Prescription drugs used to treat depression, high blood pressure, seizures and other ailments are turning up in fish caught downstream from a Chicago sewage treatment plant, according to a new study that highlights some unintended consequences of our medicated lives.

Little is known about the potential effects of drugs in the water on people and wildlife. But scientists and regulators increasingly are concerned about long-term exposure, even at very low levels.

In the largest project of its kind, researchers from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, found trace amounts of seven different pharmaceutical drugs in fish caught near the North Side Treatment Plant at Howard Street and McCormick Boulevard in Skokie. They recorded similar results near sewage plants in Dallas, Orlando, suburban Philadelphia and Phoenix.

The findings echo earlier testing by the Tribune and scientific researchers that found small amounts of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of Chicago and dozens of other cities. Federal environmental regulators have ordered a sweeping expansion of their own assessments of pollution contaminating rivers.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions out there," Kevin Chambliss, one of the Baylor researchers, said Wednesday. "We just don't know what it means yet ecologically, but this shows there's a need to know more."

Pharmaceuticals end up in drinking water—and in fish—when people take medications and residue passes through their bodies into the sewers. Conventional sewage and drinking water treatment filters out some substances, or at least reduces the concentrations, but multiple studies have found that small amounts get through.

Earlier studies by Chambliss and others found that medicines are absorbed by fish and accumulate in livers and other tissue. The new peer-reviewed study, published online Wednesday by the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, is the first to report such findings across a broad swath of the nation.

Among the medicines that the researchers discovered in fish are norfluoxetine, an anti-depressant; diltiazem, a medicine prescribed to control high blood pressure, and carbamazepine, an anti-seizure drug. They also found medication used to control high cholesterol and allergies, along with an anti-bacterial chemical and two fragrances found in soaps.

Treated sewage from the Chicago area is pumped into the Chicago River, which was reversed during the last century to flow away from Lake Michigan, the source of most of the region's drinking water. The river isn't a major draw for anglers, but recreational fishing is not uncommon.

Testing by the Tribune last year turned up small amounts of pharmaceuticals in the region's treated drinking water, a sign that drug residue is commonly found in the lake too.

As more studies have found pharmaceuticals in drinking water and in wildlife, regulators are reversing their long-held advice that people should flush unused or old drugs down toilets.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has begun monitoring for pharmaceuticals.

mhawthorne@tribune.com

"The Audacity of the Truth..."

"The Audacity of the Truth..."
Robert Manna, D.C.


Let's envision a scenario where you had chest pains, and went to the hospital.

After some testing, a surgeon tells you, "Well, it looks like we'll have to do a triple bypass surgery. We'll have to crack open your sternum, stop your heart, and bypass the problem arteries. You'll have a 3-5% chance of dying, so let's make sure you have a good will on file with your lawyer.

By the way, 70-90% of these procedures are completely unnecessary, and this operation will cost you about $80,000. But, although the surgery is most likely unnecessary, you'll be doing us a service because operations like this will keep this hospital in the black.

If you wake up from surgery, I'll come by and tell you to 'eat better'. OK? The nurse will come in and have you sign some papers."

Funny, right? But that's the reality.

This past weekend I read an amazing book, "The Great American Heart Hoax", by Michael Ozner, M.D.

Dr. Ozner is a cardiologist that actually had the audacity to "blow the whistle" on the American cardiology "machine".

1.5 million angioplasties and bypass operations are done every year in the United States. Except for a minority of patients, these procedures have never been shown to prolong life or prevent heart attacks. Talk about (non) "evidence-based" medicine!

So, how is this crime allowed to continue?

Cardiac procedures are a major industry, bringing in tens of billions of dollars a year to hospitals. For many hospitals these procedures mean the difference between profitability and going out of business.

Not only does Dr. Ozner talk about these unnecessary procedures, but he outlines a Mediterranean diet and exercise program designed to help prevent cardiovascular disease. He notes that the average middle-aged Greek man has a 90% lower chance of dying from a heart attack than the average middle-aged American man.

Yesterday I talked with Dr. Ozner; the man is "on a mission" to get the truth out. To say the least, I was impressed by him. And, guess what? He likes chiropractors!

Resveratrol Linked to Healthy Aging

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant compound that is highly concentrated in grape skins and red wine. Resveratrol, as well as other grape skin and red wine polyphenols, has been proven to greatly benefit one's overall quality of life by boosting antioxidant activity within the body, a major factor in promoting healthy aging, cardiovascular, cognitive, vision and joint function.

Principal Says Banning Sugar Made Students Smarter

Get the news here.

Iodine, AGAIN

Iodine is pushed out of essential tissues by chlorine in sweeteners like Splenda, fluorine and chlorine in drinking water, and bromine in commercial baked goods.

Which means: take artificial sweeteners and GET FAT? Why? Your thyroid NEEDS iodine and when this hormone factory doesn't have enough raw materials to make hormones, then there is no product: YOUR METABOLISM SLOWS DOWN TO A HALT! We have a liquid Iodine

You might think that you can get it in iodized salt? The form is not readily accepted by your body.

Iodine is used to treat the following:
ADHD,fibrocystic breast ,breast cancer,mucous,heart disease,hemmorhoids,headaches, hypertension,liver disease,thyroid disorders,
80% of people in the Midwest are iodine deficient.
“Iodine is found in each of the cells in the body; and without it, life is not possible.”


Iodine is responsible for the production of all the hormones in the body.


Give Us A Call: To take our in-office iodine test


Still don't believe me? Here's a video for you

Nutrients Found to Favorably Affect CRP Levels

Chronic inflammation may be triggered by many factors including stress,
smoking, environmental toxins and poor diet. Doctors can track inflammation by
measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) levels within the body. Recent studies
indicate that certain nutrients such as vitamin C, Pycnogenol and the
essential fatty acids found in fish oil may promote favorable CRP levels in
the body, enhancing the body's normal inflammatory response.

Second Hand Smoke and Dementia

Exposure may increase risk by 44%, researchers say

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- People exposed to secondhand smoke may face
as much as a 44 percent increased risk of developing dementia, a
new study suggests.

While previous research has established a connection between
smoking and increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease,
this new study is the largest review to date showing a link
between secondhand smoke and the threat of dementia, the authors
said.

"There is an association between cognitive function, which is
often but not necessarily a precursor of dementia, and exposure
to passive smoking," said lead researcher Iain Lang, a research
fellow in the Public Health and Epidemiology Group at Peninsula
Medical School in Exeter, England.

What's more, Lang said, the risk of impaired cognitive function
increases with the amount of exposure to secondhand smoke, the
findings suggest. "For people at the highest levels of exposure,
the risk is probably higher," he said.

The study was published online Feb. 13 in the journalBMJ.com.

For the study, Lang's team collected data on more than 4,800
nonsmokers who were over 50 years old. The researchers tested
saliva samples from these people for levels of cotinine, a
product of nicotine that can be found in saliva for about 25
hours after exposure to smoke.

The study participants also took neuropsychological tests to
assess brain function and cognitive impairment. These tests
evaluated memory, math and verbal skills. People whose scores
were in the lowest 10 percent were classified as having some
level of cognitive impairment.

The researchers found that people with the highest cotinine
levels had a 44 percent increased risk of cognitive impairment,
compared with people with the lowest cotinine levels. And, while
the risk of impairment was lower in people with lower cotinine
levels, the risk was still significant.

"We know that active smoking is bad -- being a smoker is bad
for your health and increases your risk of Alzheimer's. This
study suggests that this is the same for passive smoking," Lang
said. "We know that passive smoking is associated with an
increased risk of stroke and heart disease. This is just another
reason to avoid exposing other people to your smoke, and if you
are not a smoker to stay away from smoking places."

Maria Carrillo, director of medical and scientific relations
for the Alzheimer's Association, said this study offers more
evidence of the dangers of secondhand smoke and the risk for
dementia. Smoking is already recognized as a risk factor for
Alzheimer's, and the risk can be extended to exposure to
secondhand smoke, she said.

"There are findings that secondhand smoke can be just as
detrimental as smoking itself," Carrillo said. "We recommend
that people do not smoke and try to reduce their exposure to
secondhand smoke as well."

Dr. Mark Eisner, an associate professor of medicine at the
University of California, San Francisco, and author of an
accompanying editorial in the journal, said, "This study should
provide further motivation for public policy aimed at making all
public spaces smoke-free."

Multiple Vitamins

There has been a series of excellent studies and articles recently published in the medical literature. Interestingly, two of the studies dealt specifically with food in regard to poor cardiovascular health.

In the first study1, U.S. researchers reported that people who live in neighborhoods packed with fast food restaurants are more likely to suffer from poor cardiovascular health. The study, presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference, noted that residents of one Texas County who lived in neighborhoods with the highest number of fast food restaurants had a 13% higher risk of experiencing poor cardiovascular health compared to those neighborhoods with the fewest such restaurants.

Although the researchers indicated there was no absolute proof that living near a fast food restaurant raises your risk of this serious health concern, the study did suggest the two are linked in some way. Poor cardiovascular health happens to be the number three killer in the United States after poor heart health and abnormal cellular growth. It is estimated that approximately 780,000 Americans will suffer from poor heart health this year, with 150,000 people facing mortality and another 15% to 30% of survivors permanently disabled.

This reminds me of a study2 examining the effects that healthy young people experienced after consuming a high fat breakfast at McDonald's. It was found that for several hours after eating the breakfast, blood flow was significantly reduced in a certain artery but when the volunteers were given 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 800 IU of vitamin E prior to eating the high fat meal, they maintained normal healthy blood flow. There are also studies indicating that consumption of a high saturated fat meal doubles the risk of poor heart health for 24 hours. Clearly healthy fats such as fish oil, flax and olive oil promote health benefits versus the harm caused by a typical unhealthy high fat and high sodium fast food meal.

In a positive study3 regarding heart health, researchers from Spain reported in the latest edition of the journal Circulation that over the course of more than two decades, women who drank coffee on a regular basis had a somewhat lower risk of poor cardiovascular health compared to those who drank coffee less than once a month. Coffee drinking, however, did not seem to affect such risk for those women with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or elevated blood sugar. It was found that those women who drank several or more cups of coffee for a month had a 20% lower risk of poor cardiovascular health compared to those who drank the least amount of coffee. The protective effect of coffee appeared to be particularly strong in those women who have stopped smoking or who had never been smokers.

Of course the positive vitamin D articles just keep coming. In a study4 published in the February 2009 edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, it was found that teenage girls with low levels of vitamin D appeared to have less leg muscle strength. The researchers suggested that the lack of vitamin D hindered the ability of the muscles to contract in a normal fashion. Although none of the 99 girls, ages 12 to 14, who participated in the study had outright symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, such as muscle pain, the majority had insufficient blood levels of the vitamin which was, nevertheless, enough to affect muscle function. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently doubled the amount of vitamin D it recommends for infants, children and teenagers to 400 IU daily. This is still a joke compared to what the most recent evidence indicates is required. I recommend 2,000 to 4,000 IU per day of vitamin D3 based on the most recent science for teenagers and adults. For children above two years old, I recommend 1,000 IU per day of vitamin D3.

The February 23, 2009 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study5 in which researchers from the National Cancer Institute reviewed data concerning almost 500,000 men and women. During an average follow up period of seven years, almost 37,000 men and 16,000 women developed various forms of abnormal cellular growth. It was found that those men and women who consumed the highest amounts of calcium were 16% and 23% less likely, respectively, to develop abnormal cellular growth relative to their peers to consumed the lowest amounts. Researchers noted that calcium intake appears to be associated with a lower risk of total abnormal cellular growth in women and abnormal cellular growth of the digestive system, especially colon-rectal in both men and women.

Finally, there was another article6 published in the same edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine noting the benefits of B vitamins in regard to promoting healthy vision as we age. The study involved 5,200 women ages 40 and older. The group was randomly assigned to take a vitamin combo or placebo. Those women who took the vitamin combo of B vitamins (folic acid, B6 and B12) were 34% less likely to develop unhealthy vision and 41% less likely to develop visually significant poor vision compared to the placebo group. The researchers indicated that it was not clear whether the vitamins protected eyesight by lowering homocysteine levels, exerting antioxidant effects or improving blood vessel function.

Keep in mind your junk mass market once a day type vitamins will probably not work for this benefit. Why? The dosages of the B vitamins used in the study are many times what most multi-vitamins have. The dosages used in the study were folic acid at 2,500 mcg (2.5 mg), B6 at 50 mg and B12 at 1,000 mcg (1 mg). Most multi-vitamins only contain the RDA/DV levels of 400 mcg of folic acid, a few mg of B6 and 6 mcg of B12, grossly inadequate for providing any real benefits. The study is available for free by clicking here.

So what's the take home message this week? The answer is reduce dining and drive thru visits of fast food restaurants, no more than once per month, make sure that you have your morning cup of coffee and/or tea and don't forget to take your calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3 and B vitamins at optimal levels. Please don't be misled by your mass marketed alleged complete A to Zinc multis. They generally contain inferior forms and inadequate amounts of the nutrients that you need to optimize your health and well being not to mention they are full of chemicals like titanium dioxide, artificial colors and other things I refuse to consume.

1 Morgenstern LB, et al., BASIC, for Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi, American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2009.

2 Plotnick GD, Corretti MC and Vogel RA, Effect of antioxidant vitamins on the transient impairment of endothelium-dependent brachial artery vasoactivity follow a single high-fat meal, Journal of the American Medical Association.

3 Lopez-Garcia E, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Rexrode KM, et al., MD, Coffee Consumption and Risk of Stroke in Women, Circulation, Published online before print February 16, 2009.

4 Ward KA, Das G, Berry JL, et al., Vitamin D Status and Muscle Function in Post-Menarchal Adolescent Girls, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, February 2009; Pages 559-563.

5 Park Y, Leitzmann MF, Subar AF, et al., Dairy Food, Calcium, and Risk of Cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, Archives of Internal Medicine, February 23, 2009, Pages 391-401.

6 Christen WG, Glynn RJ, Chew EY, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cyanocobalamin Combination Treatment and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women, Archives of Internal Medicine, February 23, 2009, Pages 335-341.

NFL Legend Jerry Rice Gives Credit to Chiropractic

Jerry Rice played in the National Football League for 20 years , which is an accomplishment in and of itself, considering the average NFL career spans only 3.5 years. Widely touted as the best receiver to ever play the game, his spectacular career included 16 seasons and three Super Bowl wins as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, followed by three seasons with the Oakland Raiders. (He was on the roster of the Seattle Seahawks when he retired in 2005). Rice was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times, winning the Pro Bowl MVP award in 1995, and received the Super Bowl MVP award in 1988. He held an amazing 38 NFL records at the time of his retirement.
Not one to rest on his laurels after retirement, Rice signed on with the hit TV show "Dancing With the Stars" for the 2005-2006 season. Paired with dancer Anna Trebunskaya, Rice finished second in the grueling competition, losing to Drew Lachey (who, along with brother Nick, sang in the pop group 98 Degrees) and dance partner Cheryl Burke. If you think the show was all smoke and mirrors, consider that participants, many of whom had little or no dance experience, formal or otherwise, had approximately six days to learn a new dance routine before each week's competition. According to reports, that sometimes meant practicing for up to five hours a day.
As much attention as Jerry Rice has received for his dazzling catches and amazing abilities, on and off the field, he has an important message to share about how to maximize health and wellness, regardless of whether you're an elite athlete, a weekend warrior or anywhere in between. Rice believes chiropractic has helped him tremendously over the years and wants others to experience the same results. Obviously, going to the chiropractor may not make you the world's best receiver (or dancer), but it can certainly help you live a happier, healthier life free from pain.
"Chiropractic care has been instrumental in my life, both on and off the field, and I am excited to share this with the American public," says Rice. "I have been blessed with a long and healthy career as a professional athlete, and as I move forward into the next stage of my life, chiropractic care will continue to be an important part of my game plan."
Rice credits chiropractic care in terms of his achievements on the gridiron, the dance floor and life in general. "Optimal health has been a key to the success of my athletic career, my dancing experience and my ability to enjoy my life to the fullest. Chiropractic care is an important part of my game plan for healthy living."
Jerry Rice is such a big supporter of chiropractic care that he recently became the official spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the value of chiropractic care to the public. The foundation is using Rice's image and message about the value of chiropractic care in various ways, including a full-page advertisement you may have seen recently in print. The ad already has appeared in the Dec. 15, 2008 issue of ESPN The Magazine, the January 2009 issue of Sports Illustrated, the Jan. 16/17 issue of USA Today, the February 2009 issue of Men's Fitness and the January/February 2009 issue of Women's Health.

Tea for a Lifetime

Originally cultivated in China and India, tea has been used for centuries for a variety of medicinal purposes. Today, increasing research suggests tea indeed possesses potent disease-fighting properties and may help you stay healthy for a lifetime.
With the exception of water, tea is the most-consumed beverage in the world, and it's available in a variety of colors and fairly distinct flavors. Three of the most common are green, black and oolong, which are derived from the leaves of the same plant: Camellia sinensis. Processing is what makes one type different from another – green tea is made from unfermented leaves that are steamed, rolled and dried, while black tea is made by putting the leaves through a process of oxidation that alters their color and flavor. Oolong tea is somewhere between green and black in terms of its color, flavor and processing.
From a health perspective, you can't talk about tea without talking about polyphenols, compounds found in tealeaves and other plants. The less processing the tea undergoes, the higher its polyphenol content, which is why research suggests green tea has so many potential health benefits. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, the same compounds that give fruits and vegetables their disease-fighting capabilities. Antioxidants reduce damage to cells, which reduces the risk of developing cancer and other diseases.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 75 percent of all tea produced worldwide is of the black variety, while only 23 percent is green and 2 percent is oolong. But those percentages may change as research continues to link polyphenols to better health outcomes. That's not to say tea in general (regardless of the type/color) doesn't have potential health benefits including fighting cancer and heart disease, as well as promoting ideal metabolism and oral health.
Next time you take a break from your day and sit down to enjoy a nice cup of tea, recognize that you may be accomplishing a whole lot more in terms of improving your overall health. Note: It's important to communicate with your doctor before introducing anything new to your diet, as certain medications can interact with tea.

Probiotics

Probiotics, also known as "friendly bacteria," have increasingly been in the news. Due to frequent antibiotic use, stress, poor diet, aging and other factors, many people have become depleted of these friendly bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract. This is unfortunate because they are so critically important to good health. A lack of friendly bacteria may impair the absorption of some nutrients and can be associated with overall poor digestion. Believe it or not, 70% of the immune system in our bodies resides in the intestinal system.

Probiotics are found naturally in yogurt. Unfortunately, the yogurt we eat is PASTURIZED, which kills off both bad AND friendly bacteria.

A few weeks ago, a small study1 was published in Nutrition Journal regarding the use of probiotics in individuals suffering from fatigue. In this study out of Sweden, researchers recruited ten females and five males who experienced this issue. Over the first two weeks of the study, researchers observed each of the fifteen participants. For the next four weeks, the individuals were given yogurt twice daily with large amounts (billions) of probiotics. The participants were then followed for an additional four weeks. Four of the women reported improvement in their physical well being and two said they experienced improvement in their mental well being by the end of the ten-week study. One man similarly reported improvement in physical health while another reported improvement in mental health. Dr. Birgitta Evengard, co-author of the study, indicated that "for some patients there was a dramatic difference."

In the February 2009 edition of the journal BMC Gastroenterology, a systemic and meta-analysis2 was published regarding the use of probiotics on people suffering with poor GI tract health. The authors identified fourteen randomized, placebo-controlled trials that had taken place over the last fifty years. The combined data suggested that there was a modest improvement in overall health after several weeks of probiotic supplementation. They concluded, that overall, probiotics may have a role in promoting healthy GI tract function.

There is a study3 on a serious health concern involving the large intestine, ulceration and bleeding that was published in the February 2009 edition of the journal Nutrition. In this study, 120 individuals suffering from this difficulty were randomized into three groups. Forty individuals received a probiotic, forty received a prebiotic and a third group received symbiotic therapy with a combination of a pro- and prebiotic. Out of the 120 individuals who started the study, 94 finished. It was found that those who received the combination probiotic and prebiotic experienced greater quality of life than those on either the probiotic or prebiotic alone. The authors indicate that the data suggested symbiotic therapy may have a synergistic effect on this condition. Prebiotics such as Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) feed the probiotics, allowing them to colonize and survive within the GI tract.

The topic of children and probiotics has been the subject of both a recent study and a recent article. In the February 2009 edition of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, researchers conducted a prospective one-year placebo-controlled, double-blinded study4 to assess the benefits of probiotic supplementation for children with poor GI tract health. A total of 29 children with poor GI tract health participated in this study. The results indicated that all 29 children responded to the probiotic supplementation. Improved GI tract health was achieved in almost 93% of children supplemented with probiotics as compared with only 36% who were given placebo. The authors indicated that this was the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial demonstrating the efficacy and safety of a highly concentrated mixture of probiotic bacterial strains demonstrating its role in promoting good GI tract health.

The article5, entitled "Clinical Evidence of Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotic Bacteria" was published in the February 2009 edition of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. The authors explained that there is a close interaction between the intestinal lining and the immune system. They also noted that there is a beneficial and symbiotic relationship between the individual and the micro-bacteria in the gut. They further explained that there was clinical evidence of the beneficial effects of probiotics for promoting good GI tract health, immune system health and antibiotic associated diarrhea.

1Sullivan A, Nord CE and Evengård B, Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, Nutrition Journal, online January 26, 2009.

2Hoveyda N, Heneghan C, Mahtani KR, et al., A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Probiotics in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, BMC Gastroenterology, online February 16, 2009.

3Fujimori S, Gudis K, Mitsui K, et al., A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of synbiotic versus probiotic or prebiotic treatment to improve the quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis, Nutrition, online February 8, 2009.

4Miele E, Pascarella F, Giannetti E, et al., Effect of a Probiotic Preparation (VSL#3) on Induction and Maintenance of Remission in Children with Ulcerative Colitis, American Journal of Gastroenterology, online January 20, 2009.

5Ruemmele, FM, Bier D , Marteau P, et al., Clinical Evidence for Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotic Bacteria, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, online February 2009.

At Last Harmful Cosmetic Chemicals are Getting a Closer Look

Phthalates This extensive article, originally published in the Wall Street Journal, examines the dangers of phthalates, chemicals that are used in products ranging from toys to cosmetics to pills.

Phthalates Affect Fetal Development

In experiments on rats, phthalates have demonstrably blocked the action of fetal androgens, which affects gender development in male offspring, with results including undescended testes at birth, low sperm counts, and testicular tumors later in life. Whether phthalates have the same effects in humans has been a matter of heated debate.

Studies Show Effects on Humans

But this year, however, two direct links to humans were made. One study found that boys whose mothers had high phthalate exposures while pregnant were much more likely to have certain demasculinized traits. Another study revealed that 3-month-old boys exposed to phthalates through breast milk produced less testosterone.

Banned in Many Countries

Male reproductive disorders, including testicular cancer, are on the rise worldwide, and many scientists are wondering if phthalates are in part or whole responsible. Five million metric tons of phthalates are used by industry each year, 13 percent in the United States.

Japan has already banned certain types of phthalates in food-handling equipment, and the European Union (EU) recently banned some phthalates in cosmetics and toys. The United States does not restrict phthalates and has lobbied the EU not to increase their regulations.


Sources:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette October 4, 2005

Lance Armstrong Quote

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it last forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with? Facing up to that question, and finding a way to go on, is the real reward, better than any trophy.”

Lance Armstrong - 7 Time Tour De France Champion