Environmental toxins could be linked to the surge in neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Leading neurologists and neuroscientists are still working to fill scientific holes in our understanding of environmental toxins. However, many doctors warn that microplastics could cause dementia and be linked to other brain disorders.
We know that air pollution, pesticides, microplastics, forever chemicals are far from good for us. However, what role they play in common diseases like dementia and childhood developmental disorders still need more research.
We are bombarded with a staggering 80,000+ toxic chemicals in our daily life. This certainly adds to the complex task of determining just what all these toxic pollutants do to us.
Also, these are toxins that accumulate in our systems over a lifetime and contribute to cancers and other disorders. We can't just flush them down the toilet and think they are gone. This would help at least reduce some plastic pollution in your bathroom.
Why should you care?
It is true that not much is know about these toxins and the impact on our brains. However, there is growing consensus that genetics and ageing do not account for the marked increase in previously rare diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) – a degenerative disease more likely in army veterans and neighborhoods with heavy industry.
“Neurology is about 15 years behind cancer so we need to sound the alarm on this and get more people doing research because the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] is absolutely not protecting us,” said Frances Jensen, the ANA president and chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Source
It is scary news to say the least, but let's try to move forward with our commitment to going plastic-free. From our daily routine of brushing our teeth with a bamboo toothbrush to washing up our dishes with a loofah sponge we can all do our part for the planet and our health.