For various reasons, says Dr. Giri Dandamudi, a Medical Allergist at Asthma Allergy Centers of Southwest Michigan, more people are suffering from allergies and asthma than before.

“We’re seeing more adults and children over the age of five than we used to,” he says. “Most likely, they’re exposed to more allergens, and the more you’re exposed, the greater the chance of getting allergies, especially if someone is genetically predisposed.”

Outdoor allergens occur in the spring and fall and include tree, ragweed and grass pollens. Indoor allergens like dust, animals and mold may also be culprits. Escaping these allergens is difficult, but people usually find relief either by receiving a series of allergy shots, or taking prescribed or over-the-counter oral medications.

A simple skin test can determine the exact cause of an allergy. If the skin reacts to, say, tree pollen or a certain food, then that indicates hypersensitivity responsible for the allergic reaction.

People who have allergies are more prone to getting asthma, and vice versa. But asthma is a little trickier. It’s a serious respiratory disease, and while genetics are a factor, environmental agents, such as air pollution, smog, animal hair, various chemicals, dust mites and cigarette smoke can trigger an asthma attack.

Avoid and Remove the Irritants
For allergy and asthma sufferers, environmental agents like dust, dust mites, molds, animals, tobacco smoke, chemicals in perfume, paint fumes, gasoline, insecticides, bleaches, glue, etc., are more irritants, rather than causes. Avoiding or eliminating man-made irritants, such as tobacco smoke, paints and insecticides, is certainly recommended. And if a person suffers from a food allergy, obviously avoid that particular food.

Dust is everywhere, and in the dust are dust mites, which reproduce in pillows, carpeting, furniture and mattresses. Cleaning these items and rooms in the house regularly will help. Innovative vacuums are now available, some with HEPA filters, and home air filtering units will reduce dust.

Mold requires a food and water source, so check damp areas in the house, such as inside air conditioners, underneath refrigerators, in basements and around bathroom tubs and toilets.

The Environment/Cancer Link
A National Cancer Institute (NCI) study (2001) showed cancer rates in the United States are declining, with overall deaths from some cancers declining at a rate of about one percent annually. But the study also showed that some other cancers are on the rise.

Genetics, lifestyles and diet aside, is there a correlation between an increase in some cancers and the environment?

Scientists are still speculating and studies continue, but here are a few facts:

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been linked in numerous studies to agricultural pesticides.
• Leukemia and brain tumors are the two most common forms of childhood cancer.
• From 1973 to 1996, acute lymphocytic leukemia increased 17 percent and brain cancer jumped 26 percent.

Mounting evidence points to exposures to pesticides and industrial pollutants as likely culprits. (www.prospect.org “The Cloud in Cancer’s Silver Lining,” Vikki Kratz)

Following, is a list of some of the possible environmental cancer-causing agents:

• PCBs, most commonly found in farm-raised salmon
• Pesticides, found in fruits, vegetables, commercially-raised meat, and bug sprays
• Dioxins, found in animal fat and plastics
• Asbestos, found in insulation on floors, ceilings, water pipes and heat ducts
• Heavy metals, found in drinking water, fish, vaccines, pesticides, preserved wood, antiperspirants and building materials (www.thecancerblog.com)

Countering the Environmental Culprits
Thousands of other toxins are prevalent in our environment, but we can neither run away nor hide from our daily lives. We can actively demand, however, long-term policies that govern chemical safety and testing.
Reducing your exposure to environmental toxins such as PCBs, pesticides, etc., becomes easier if you’re aware of what you eat and drink and where they come from. Food preparation is another issue. Although research has found no ill effects from heated plastic (dioxins are cancer causing chemicals in plastics), there is a growing concern about plastic food containers leaching dioxin into foods when heated. To be safe, avoid using plastic wrap when microwaving foods and instead use heat-resistant glass, ceramic containers, or microwave-safe paper toweling.

Other ideas to reduce your exposure include installing water purifiers that remove some of the chlorine and heavy metals from your drinking water, eating more organic foods that are not sprayed with pesticides and herbicides or injected with hormones, and removing toxic items, such as asbestos and household cleaning and gardening products.

There are myriad ways to avoid environmental toxins. Adopting even a few may go a long way in helping you get and stay healthy.

Sources
The American Prospect Online, “The Cloud in Cancer’s Silver Lining” — www.prospect.org
The Cancer Blog — www.thecancerblog.com
Allergies: Allergy Proof Your Environment — www.webmd.com
Cancer News From John Hopkins — www.optimumhealthreport.com