The Nazis developed organophosphates during World War II as nerve gas agents. (Sarin gas is in this family of chemicals.) After the war, the chemical companies adapted the organophosphates to be used as pesticides, primarily as insecticides. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide first registered as an insecticide in the U.S. for both agricultural and residential uses, before Silent Spring and adoption of environmental and health standards in U.S. laws governing pesticide use in 1965.
The pesticide in question, chlorpyrifos, is a nasty piece of work. It’s an organophosphate, a class of bug killers that work by “interrupting the electrochemical processes that nerves use to communicate with muscles and other nerves,” as the Pesticide Encyclopedia puts it. Chlorpyrifos is also an endocrine disrupter, meaning it can cause “adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
March 29, 2017, the Trump administration and the newly gutted EPA powers have denied a petition from environmental groups to ban the pesticide, EPA proposed twice to revoke all food tolerances for the organophosphate insecticide. EPA previously said that exposure to chlorpyrifos from food and drinking water poses a human health risk, citing neurotoxicity concerns. The newly appointed Trump EPA Director Scott Pruitt has now green-lighted the continued use of this toxic substance on our American produce as well as our nation’s water supply in support of the Monsanto-Dow Agrasciences toxic technology.
This is of even more concern to Flight Attendants, Pilots and Frequent Flyers who may already be suffering from the chronic debilitating effects of Organophosphate Poisoning from Fume Events. You may think that you are okay since you only buy organic and non-gmo produce. Unfortunately, that only protects you from pesticides the have been genetically modified into the crops themselves. Yet, most of our organic produce is still sprayed with Chlorpyrifos under the current Trump EPA and FDA regulations and laws. Therefore, we need to take some additional steps to protect our heath and that of our families while under this administration. Practice good green habits with your organic non-gmo produce for an added layer of protection. First, make sure to read your bar codes on the produce that it starts with the number 9 as designated organic. Once you get your produce home then mix 3 parts water to 1 part white or apple cider vinegar (3:1) in a spray bottle. Spray on your fruits and veggies to get rid of the Chlorpyrifos residue. Rinse with filtered water, not tap water after spraying and let soak for approximately one hour. This will strip off the toxins as well as the preservatives. Only buy smaller amounts of produce at a time that you are ready to immediately consume. Once the protective preservatives are gone this will make the produce only last no more than 48 hrs,
Another challenge for Fume Event victims living in the West Coast in the areas of Southern California, Nevada and in the adjoining Downwinder vicinities is being exposed to radioactive dust. Downwinders refers to the individuals and communities in the intermountain areas between the Cascades and Rocky Mountain ranges primarily in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah but also in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho who are exposed to radioactive contamination or nuclear fallout from atmospheric or underground nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents, More generally, the term can also include those communities and individuals who are exposed to ionizing radiation and other emissions. Downwinders may be exposed to releases of radioactive materials into the environment that contaminate their groundwater systems, food chains, and the air they breathe.
This presents a health challenge for Fume Event victims in these areas due to the cell radiation fall-out from decades of atomic bomb testing from the Nevada desert from the 1950s that was above ground and then below ground well into the 1990s. When winds pick up from the test range that is 60 miles from Las Vegas, this radioactive dust can still cause health effects and raised Geiger counter readings in Nevada as well as surrounding states based on the wind direction that day. This has only compounded since the melt-down of Fukushima in Japan. Not only has this poisoned and radiated our seafood and ocean life off the West Coast. Yet, now there are radioactive readings in much of our glaciers and water supplies all the way to the Pacific Northwest Cascades and even up into the Denver, Colorado mountain ranges. A head researcher stated: Boulder, Colorado is a “hot spot” for Fukushima fallout. None of the other US or Canadian samples came close to Boulder’s contamination except Portland which was even higher.
One of the things we can do to protect ourselves as Fume Event victims to not incur even further damage is to take Kelp supplements every day to protect our Thyroids from this additional onslaught of radiation exposure and avoid eating any seafood from the pacific or the west coast to avoid mercury and radiation contamination. These are just a few additional steps we can take to protect ourselves and our families.
Knowledge is Power
Link: Chemical and Engineering News
Link: Earth Justice – Chlorpyrifos
Link: Good Green Habits
Link: Poison Fruit – The Intercept
Link: The Nuclear Abyss – The Las Vegas Sun
Link: Fukushima Radiation West Coast Seafood
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