People are exposed to toxic chemicals in several ways: 1-Breathing toxic air affects different body systems,i.e respiratory system ,nervous system etc. 2-Incineration release toxic gases such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide.These gases mix with water vapour in the clouds and convert to toxic acids like nitric acid,sulphuric acid etc.and fall as acid rain.Acid rain affects human,plant and animal life.Drinking water from a reservoir contaminated by air pollutants from an incinerator can have adverse effects an animal and human life.
NEWTON, MA — Using certain types of dental floss may contribute to higher levels of toxic chemicals linked to heart disease, fertility issues and cancer, according to a new study.
Women who said they flossed with Oral-B Glide floss had higher levels of a PFAS in their blood than those who didn't, researchers reported Tuesday in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
"This is the first study to show that using dental floss containing PFAS is associated with a higher body burden of these toxic chemicals," lead author Katie Boronow, a scientist at Silent Spring in Newton said in a statement. "The good news is, based on our findings, consumers can choose flosses that don't contain PFAS."
The class of chemicals called PFAS are found in consumer products ranging from nonstick pans to waterproof clothing to the containers fast food restaurants put your fries in.
PFAS are water- and grease-proof substances that have been linked with a number of health problems and can stick around in your body and the environment for years. The findings provide insight into how these chemicals end up in people's bodies and how people can limit their exposures by modifying their behavior, according to a release.
In the study, researchers measured 11 different PFAS chemicals in blood samples taken from 178 middle-aged women enrolled in the Public Health Institute's Child Health and Development Studies.
The researchers compared the blood measurements with results from interviews in which they asked the women about nine behaviors that might lead to higher exposure of the toxins. Half of the women in the analysis were non-Hispanic white and half were African American.
The researchers found that certain types of dental floss contained fluorine, which they said indicated the presence of PFAS compounds.
The researchers tested 18 dental flosses, including 3 Glide products, for the presence of fluorine—a marker of PFAS. Only six showed signs of it: All three Glide products tested positive for fluorine. Two store-brand flosses that included labels that said "compare to Oral-B Glide" and one that advertised itself as a "single strand Teflon fiber" tested positive for fluorine.