heavy metals – Lacto Bacto

Tooth Credit: Wikipedia

We are all encouraged to brush our teeth daily with a toothpaste containing fluoride. We assume that the toothpaste is safe and free from dangerous chemicals and heavy metals, such as lead, but it turns out that our assumptions are wrong.

A consumer group had independent lab analyses done of 51 toothpaste brands. They found toxic heavy metals in most toothpaste brands, even those marketed as green and pure. The presence of heavy metals such as lead was detected in 90%, arsenic in 65%, mercury in 47%, and cadmium in 35% of the toothpaste brands.

However, none of the brands tested had levels exceeding current FDA guidelines: the lead limit for fluoride free toothpaste is 10,000 ppb and 20,000 ppb for fluoride toothpastes. But Washington state recently enacted much lower lead level limits of 1000 ppb (and some brands exceeded those levels).

The toothpaste brands containing heavy metals (at varying levels) included Crest, Sensodyne, Tom's of Maine, Dr Bronner;s, Davids, and others. [Note: Arm and Hammer was not tested]. It is thought that the heavy metals (especially lead) was from ingredients added to many toothpaste brands: hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and bentonite clay.

The work was funded by The Lead Safe Mama, LLC (LSM) team. This group has been conducting independent, community-funded, scientific testing of consumer goods since 2009. Since March 2024 they have been conducting independent laboratory testing of foods, supplement, cosmetics, and personal care items.

From The Guardian: Toothpaste widely contaminated with lead and other metals, US research finds

Toothpaste can be widely contaminated with lead and other dangerous heavy metals, new research shows. ...continue reading "Lead and Heavy Metal Contamination In Toothpaste"

This is rarely mentioned, but there is research showing that commonly used chemicals that we are exposed to, such as bisphenols (BPA, BPS), phthalates, persistent organic pollutants (e.g.flame retardants, nonstick cookware), heavy metals (e.g. lead), and some pesticides (e.g.chlorpyrifos, glyphosate), all have an impact on the gut microbiome in animals and humans.

For example, these chemicals may alter levels of certain microbial species, or alter the variety (diversity) and type of species in the gut, or increase intestinal inflammation. These alterations are associated with health effects, and the effects may be different depending on the stage of life. Yikes!

The human gut microbiome is the huge and complex community of microbes (fungi, bacteria, viruses) that live in our intestines and play important roles in our health. Trillions of microbes, hundreds of species. The presence of certain microbial species in the gut are associated with health, and the presence of certain other species are associated with disease. We know that what we eat and drink, whether we exercise, and other lifestyle factors can influence the gut microbes, but it appears we also need consider exposure to chemicals in the environment around us.

A recent study by University of Illinois researchers reviewed the environmental chemical and microbiome research, and found that many chemicals have an effect on the gut microbiome. They point out that humans are constantly exposed to hundreds of chemicals in the environment, and many get into humans (through inhalation, ingestion, absorption through the skin). Currently more than 300 environmental chemicals and their metabolites have been measured in humans (e.g. in blood and urine).

Many of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, and many are associated with adverse health effects, including male and female reproductive and developmental defects, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular effects, liver disease, obesity, thyroid disorders, and immune effects.

By the way, gut microbiome effects are currently not considered by the EPA when regulating chemicals.

From Science Daily: Environmental contaminants alter gut microbiome, health

The microbes that inhabit our bodies are influenced by what we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through our skin, and most of us are chronically exposed to natural and human-made environmental contaminants. In a new paper, scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign review the research linking dozens of environmental chemicals to changes in the gut microbiome and associated health challenges. ...continue reading "Some Common Chemicals Alter the Gut Microbiome"