FACTS ABOUT GLOBAL TOXICITY 

WHO IS TOXIC? AM I TOXIC?
This is a classic question which is often asked by many people: “Am I toxic with metals and other chemicals?” These metals and chemicals collectively are often referred to as xenobiotics (Gk. Xeno = foreign; biotics = bodies). This is an important question to answer as often the purchase of a product such as HMD™ will be determined on how much the person is convinced that they are toxic. We will examine a number of ways that this question can be answered below, but first let’s get a basic understanding of how it is possible to measure these xenobiotics in the body. 

MEASURING XENOBIOTICS IN THE BODY 
There are a variety of complex and sophisticated measuring instruments called spectrometers such as ICP-MS, ICP-OES, AF and GC-MS that can be used to measure the levels of xenobiotics in blood, urine, faeces, hair, sweat and other body tissues. First, let’s begin with a blanket statement that is important to understand:  

THERE IS NO WAY OF DETERMINING THE TOTAL TOXIC LOAD IN A LIVING HUMAN! 

I mentioned LIVING HUMAN here, as it is possible to determine the total load of xenobiotics in a dead human – you would simply incinerate the person and measure the total load of xenobiotics in the ashes! This is a little impractical to perform when the person is still alive! 

Flippancy aside, this is important to understand as often people BELIEVE that IT IS POSSIBLE to measure the total load of the body in absolute figures. They also believe that they can get absolute figures when measuring the effectiveness of a chelating agent – for example, they take a chelating agent for 3 months and take a pre-urine sample before beginning treatment and this measures 10ppm mercury. After the three months they take a post-urine sample and this measures 5ppm.

So they conclude that their TOTAL MERCURY loads have reduced by 50%. Nonsense! This is false logic as they were not measuring the TOTAL load of the body in the first place, only what was present in the urine and therefore circulating around the blood at THAT MOMENT IN TIME. The post-urine sample is again another SNAPSHOT of the levels that were present at the moment the sample was collected.  These figures cannot be interpreted as ABSOLUTE figures – they are only ARBITARY at best and need to be interpreted carefully to make any meaning out of them. In the case of the HMD™ research, we took pre and post samples of both urine and faeces and gave the HMD™ for short periods of time – 24 hours in the case of urine and 48 hours in the case of the faeces, as they have a longer transit time.

What we found was that there was a PERCENTAGE INCREASE in the post samples, compared to the pre-samples. What does this mean? It basically means that the HMD™ was mobilizing and eliminating the metals being measured – this is why there were more metals excreted in the post-urine sample as the HMD™ was pushing these out of the cells and tissues.  This simply proves that HMD™ is doing the job that it is supposed to – it is mobilizing metals from their storage sites in the body and eliminating them through the urine and faeces. These pre-post provocation tests, as they are called, are the “Golden Standard” of toxicology research. 

INTERPRETING URINE TESTS
When the first pre-sample is taken, this will tell us whether there are metals that are CIRCULATING in the blood and being filtered through the kidneys into the urine. If a reading of zero comes back from the lab, this does not mean that the person does not have metals STORED in their body tissues and organs – it simply means that there are no active metals running around the blood. Generally the body does not like these lethal toxins in the blood, so stores them in body tissues at the earliest opportunity.  In order to determine whether there are metals STORED in the tissues and organs, another type of test has to be conducted using either urine or faeces or both.

To determine what is being eliminated from the body’s organs and tissues we need to use a chelating agent that has the ability to “push-out” the metals into the blood where they can be collected in the urine – the post-sample. If indeed our chelating agent is doing this, then we would get a percentage increase of metals in this post-sample, compared to the pre-sample, taken before using the chelating agent. What I have discussed here in brief is the complexities of biochemical testing to determine whether a chelating agent is working or not. In all honesty, regarding the HMD™, this research has already been conducted for you using a double-blind, placebo-controlled research trial with 350 people, at a cost of one million dollars!

The research has shown conclusively that HMD™ is indeed chelating and eliminating many different metals, and possibly other xenobiotics. These tests are expensive for the patients and their interpretation requires the wisdom of an experienced practitioner. So what am I saying, don’t test at all? Well, not exactly – one can use the pre-post provocation testing described above if one is interested in being scientific or conducting a research study on a large number of people. To try to conclude from only one person, however, is really not doing this research any justice.  

Personally, as a clinician and researcher with my own toxicological laboratory, I generally do not get my patients to undergo expensive pre-post tests before recommending the HMD™. Why, do you ask? Well, I have conducted enough research to date to conclude that EVERYONE is toxic, so it really is a decision between getting the patient to run expensive tests only to conclude that they are toxic and require HMD™ anyway, or simply giving them the HMD™ in the first place and saving them some money.  I hear you asking, well how do I prove to my clients that they are toxic: surely I cannot rely on my own beliefs? There has been enough research conducted to demonstrate that this blanket statement: “WE ARE ALL TOXIC” is true. Let’s examine some of this research so that we can be more convincing. 

EVERYONE IS TOXIC!
In September 2005, Greenpeace International with the World Wildlife Fund, published a document entitled “Present for Life: Hazardous Chemicals in Umbilical Cord Blood.” The research was a real eye-opener as it showed convincingly that newborns tested for hundreds of different xenobiotics showed high numbers and levels of these toxins. Specifically, the blood tests showed that these newborns had an average of 287 toxins in their bodies, 180 of these are known carcinogens. Some of these chemicals included the commonly used artificial musk HHCB, which was found in almost all blood samples and at higher levels than the other artificial musks. Musk ambrette, a chemical banned for use in cosmetics in the EU since 1995, was still found in 15 maternal and 12 cord blood samples. 

Other banned alkylphenol compounds (nonylphenol) extensively used in industrial cleaning agents were also found. This study also quantifies the antibacterial agent triclosan in human blood; this chemical was found in almost 50% of the samples. DDT, the notorious pesticide that is banned for agricultural use worldwide but which is still used in some places to control malaria, was still found in virtually all blood samples. Similarly, the organochlorine by-product and pesticide hexachlorobenzene – also subject to a global ban - was found in the samples. Perfluorinated compounds like PFOS and PFOA, used to make non-stick pans and water repelling coatings, were present in all but one maternal blood sample. PFOS was detected in all cord blood samples and PFOA in half of them.  

We could make the assumption that this study was conducted in America where the level of toxicity is probably higher, compared to other countries. In order to address this question, let’s examine a similar study conducted on pregnant women living in the North Pole where generally most people feel is a clean part of the earth! The research was published in The Science of the Total Environment and was entitled, “Organochlorines and heavy metals in pregnant women from the Disko Bay area in Greenland.” 

The study showed high concentrations of heavy metals, such as mercury, and organochlorines in the blood and fatty tissue of the Inuit. This is attributed in particular to their high consumption of the meat and blubber of marine mammals. In this present study, 180 pregnant women and 178 newborn babies were studied, amounting to 36% of the total number of births in the Disko Bay area during 1994-1996.

The pesticides found in the highest concentrations in maternal blood were DDE- 4.8 mgrl wet wt.., trans-nonachlor- 1.6 mgrl. and hexachlorobenzene - 1.2 mgrl. while the total concentration of PCB-Aroclor 1260. was 19.1 mgrl.  Calculated on a lipid basis, concentrations were slightly higher in maternal than in cord blood. The mercury concentrations were 16.8 mgrl in maternal blood and 35.6 mgrl in cord blood. In a linear regression analysis, the concentrations of organochlorines, mercury and selenium increased with maternal age.

Concentrations of mercury and cadmium increased with the consumption of marine mammals, and cadmium was associated with smoking. The contaminants are potentially toxic for several organ systems but the high concentrations of pollutants have so far not been shown to influence health in Greenland. Similar studies have also shown that wildlife in the arctic circle are also being killed due to high levels of toxic chemicals in their environment. The study showed that several arctic mammal and bird species that indicate chemical exposures are likely adversely affecting the health of these species. Some of the effects seen are potentially quite serious (e.g. immune suppression, hormone disturbances, altered behaviour).

A further study published in the journal Environmental Research has shown that there is a correlation between the levels of methylmercury in the pregnant or lactating mother's blood and urine; and that of her newborn child. It is clear that toxins from the mother can pass through the placenta into the baby. Another study published in 2001 in NeuroToxicology showed that the level of mercury in babies’ hair was quite high, and argues that this is probably a consequence of vaccinations which contain mercury added as a preservative, called Thimerosal.

There is a lot of research indicating the health effects of high mercury levels on children, including the relationship of these chemical toxins to developmental delays. Add to this the levels of mercury found in adults due to amalgam fillings, and we have  further conclusive evidence that “we are all toxic.”   The research concludes that hazardous chemicals are common contaminants in both maternal and umbilical cord blood, indicating that these chemicals can pass from the mother to the baby across the placenta.

The main conclusion is that if these chemicals are present in newborns, then what is the probability that these toxic chemicals are also present in us adults and our children?  Before we leave the Arctic Circle, there is another interesting study entitled, “Human health implications of environmental contaminants in Arctic Canada: a review”  published in The Science of the Total Environment which has looked at the how the Inuit Eskimos are being exposed to chemicals such as chlordane, toxaphene pesticides as well as PCBs.  Another fascinating study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund set out to explore whether there was any relationship between the types and levels of contamination found in three generations of families, and to examine possible links between contamination and a family’s lifestyle, consumption patterns and everyday products. 

The report entitled, “Contamination: The Next Generation” summarises the findings of the analysis of 104 different chemicals in the blood of 33 volunteers from seven families living in England, Scotland and Wales. The volunteers in each family spanned three generations, generally comprising the grandmother, mother and two children. The volunteers comprised 14 children, 13 adults and six grandmothers. The ages of the volunteers ranged from nine years to 88 years. All three generations tested, including the children, were contaminated by a cocktail of hazardous man-made chemicals. The results reveal that every child, from as young as nine years (none younger were tested), was contaminated by the same range of hazardous chemicals: organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, brominated flame-retardants, phthalates and perfluorinated (“non-stick”) chemicals.

Five chemicals found in each parent and grandparent were also found in every child. While it might be expected that the chemical burden increases with age, this study has shown that this conventional assumption is not always true: children can be more contaminated by higher numbers and levels of certain “newer” chemicals than their parents or even their grandparents, despite being exposed to these chemicals for only a fraction of the time. These “newer” chemicals include brominated flame retardants (used in sofas, textiles and electrical appliances) and perfluorinated chemicals (used in the manufacture of non-stick pans, coatings for takeaway food packaging and treatments for carpets, furniture, clothing and footwear). 

The results also show that chemicals in everyday products around the home are contaminating the blood of all the families tested in the survey, including the children. For example, fifty seven per cent of the seven people found to be contaminated by deca-BDE, a brominated flame retardant, were children. Of the volunteers tested, 82 per cent were contaminated by one or more perfluorinated chemical. The perfluorinated chemical PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) was found in more than a third of the children tested. A related chemical PFOS (perfluorooctane sulphonate) was found in five of the family members tested.  

There have been similar studies in the USA too - in July 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, published a 475-page document entitled, “Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals” which clearly indicates the growing number of chemical toxins present in all age-groups in the USA.  The American Council on Science and Health published a document in May 2003 entitled, “Traces of Environmental Chemicals in the Human Body: Are They a Risk to Health?” This research looked at the different types of xenobiotics found in US citizens, as well as their quantity.

While chemicals that have been banned for many years are still being detected, generally there is a downward trend, with up to 90% reduction in the last few decades of toxins such as DDT and lead. Toxicologists studying chemical toxicity usually have a reference range of values which indicate the “safe levels” of these chemicals. New research is showing, however, that even low-dose exposure is accumulative over time and can lead to children having decreased performance in areas of motor function and memory. Similarly, disruption of attention, fine motor function and verbal memory was also found in adults on exposure to low mercury levels.

It is an occupational hazard for dental staff, chloralkali factory workers and goldminers, etc. Mercury has been found to be a causative agent of various sorts of disorders, including neurological, nephrological, immunological, cardiac, motor, reproductive and even genetic. Recently heavy metal mediated toxicity has been linked to diseases like Alzeihemer’s, Parkinson’s, Autism, Lupus, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc. Besides this, it poses danger to wildlife. This low-dose toxicity and its effects on health will be the toxicologists' next goal for future research.

WHERE DO THE TOXINS COME FROM?
There are many sources and it is a sign of our times - living in a highly industrialised world. Principally, the toxins enter our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.  

METALLIC LUNCH?
A study done in Canada compared heavy metal intakes in different age groups and their corresponding intake guidelines. It is clear from the report entitled, “Metallic Lunch: An Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Canadian Diet” published by Environmental Defence Canada, that Canadians are being subjected to unhealthy levels of these toxic substances. Cadmium, which can cause kidney disease and cancer, is being eaten by Canadians of all ages above intake guidelines. Lead, which can cause negative health effects no matter how little is consumed, is in the diets of Canadians of all ages. Children are being exposed to potentially unsafe levels of copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc. 

A recent report that tested mercury levels in Sushi in New York restaurants found levels that far exceeded the acceptable levels in fish. A lot of the questions regarding risk assessment when eating fish, is addressed in an interesting paper entitled "Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption: Yes, Mercury is a Problem."

TOXINS EVERYWHERE!
Another interesting report by World Wildlife Fund – UK (2005), entitled “Still Dirty:A Review of Action Against Toxic Products in Europe” highlights the occurrence of hazardous chemicals in everyday products and reports on which EU member states have taken proactive measures to help protect their citizens and wildlife.  The report mentions that Phthalates used in plastics and cosmetics have been linked to reduced sperm counts. LAS, a major washing powder ingredient, is poorly broken down in rivers and soils, and may be toxic to soil organisms. Lead is still in use and is particularly toxic to children and wildlife.

Alkyl phenols and alkyl phenol ethoxylates: industrial chemicals used in plastics, pesticides and detergents, are toxic and mimic the female hormone oestrogen, causing feminisation of male fish. Brominated flame retardants, persistent chemicals widely used in electronic equipment, fabrics and plastics, are now found in human breast milk and wildlife, even in remote areas. Although little is known about their long-term toxicity, there are concerns about their potential effects on learning behaviour. People who eat regularly from tinned food are likely to develop chronic gastrointestinal problems as a research study reported in Food and Chemical Toxicology entitled, “Tin in Canned Food: A Review and Understanding of Occurrence and Effect” suggests

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AMALGAM FILLINGS AND MERCURY
Mercury used in amalgam tooth fillings is a big issue of contention. Amalgam was found to be a cheap and long lasting substance to fill teeth with, but the danger of mercury poisoning was overlooked or ignored. The use of amalgams is now prohibited in many – though not all – countries. Dr. Engel, a holistic dentist, has written an interesting paper on the “Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal” The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology has produced a very interesting video describing the amount of mercury that is released from amalgam fillings, even though they may be over 30 years old. Chewing gum, drinking hot drinks and brushing teeth can increase the amount of methyl mercury released from amalgam fillings. If you ever have doubts about how lethal mercury is for the nervous system, and particularly the brain, you have to see the video produced by the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics – it clearly shows how mercury completely degenerates neural fibres in a petri dish in zero time – it’s a fascinating video to watch! 

VACCINATIONS AND DRUGS AS SOURCES OF TOXINS
The drugs used in vaccines and inoculations have for many years used Thimerosal as a preservative. This contains around 50% mercury and is very highly toxic, often being linked to the huge increase in autism cases.  There is an interesting article published in Medical hypotheses entitled, “Autism: a Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning” showing how exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioural dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism; and the similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry. By the age of 10, a child may be many hundreds of times over what is considered a “safe” dose of mercury poisoning from his injections.

Although Thimerosal has been phased out of many preparations, the effect – because it is cumulative and stays in the body – is with almost all adults today. Service personnel who are subjected to many different injections for their tours of duty are particularly at risk from toxic poisoning. Some fish is contaminated with mercury and other toxic substances. Even polar bears living in the Arctic, thousands of miles from any industry, have been found in very poor health and dying because of toxic poisoning. None of us are free of the risk. 

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TOXINS IN THE BODY?
Toxins accumulate in the body over time. Some people experience reactions from birth, whereas many others gradually begin to notice SYMPTOMS. Studies of children with autism and ADD and similar neurological problems are usually found to have high levels of mercury, which it thought to be a major contributory factor in these conditions. For many, a disruption of the endocrine system and metabolic functions develop over time, leading to chronic disease. These can include ME, CFS, MS and cancer.

It has to be said that VERY LITTLE RESEARCH had been carried out to determine which chemicals are linked to which diseases. Why? The pharmaceutical industry is the only agency with the billions of pounds to spend on such research, and it is not in their interest to do so since they are manufacturing and supplying many of the substances concerned.  Toxicologists used to measure the toxic level of a substance by giving mice an increasing dose to and see at which point 50% of them die. This was then considered the toxic dose. This method has been discredited, because it is now known that far higher levels can be gradually stored in the body over time, causing serious effects and disruptions – including chromosome damage, which can lead to cancer – without death occurring.  The World Wildlife Fund has printed an interesting little brochure summarizing the detrimental health effects of chemicals, entitled “Chemicals and Health: What You Need To Know.” 

Another interesting brochure that talks about these toxic chemicals in your own home is entitled, “Chemicals and Health in the Home.” 

WHICH PARTS OF THE BODY ARE AFFECTED?
All parts of the body are affected by toxins. We notice the effect when the immune system is compromised – overloaded - and we are unable to fight off some condition that the kidneys, liver and other organs connected with the lymphatic system fail to cope with, and are overwhelmed preventing detoxification. This can trigger chromosomal damage – leading to the development of cancerous cells. 

There is now considerable research that has shown that a lot of heavy metals and other xenobiotics mimic hormone molecules and cause disruption to the hormone system. There are also many other studies that have been conducted which have shown the deleterious effects of mercury on health – the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology has prepared a Fact Sheet with Scientific Studies Concerning Mercury Dental Fillings.  

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
The medical profession uses chemical drugs like EDTA, DMSA, DMPS and others to ‘chelate’ the body of toxic heavy metals. These need medical supervision and are expensive. They also have side effects because they are drastic measures and toxicologists recommend these for acute poisonings where it is important to eliminate the toxins quickly.  

A NATURAL METHOD!
There are several natural products on the market. Most have NO research to back up their claims, or are based on anecdotal evidence or simply very poor methodology. Some chelate one or two toxic metals, but not others. Many of the products whose literature purports to chelate heavy metals, have actually been tested by Dr. Georgiou, the inventor and worldwide patent-pending owner of HMD™ -  these have been published in a paper entitled “Do Natural Chelators Work”.  

After numerous trials with many different natural substances, Dr. Georgiou came up with a unique combination of three natural products, none of which actually work when taken individually, but when mixed together there is a powerful synergy that chelates most metals. This is the product that is now called HMD™ and has undergone extensive testing in a one million dollar placebo-controlled double-blind trial – the most recent research can be read in a paper entitled A Natural Heavy Metal Chelator is Born: Its Use in Paediatric Cases.  

WHO NEEDS IT?
As has been shown above, everyone is toxic, some more than others. Some show the toxicity more easily than others. Among these are autistic children and those suffering other neurological problems like ADHD. People working in industry where toxins are a bi-product are at risk. These include dentists & their technicians. Women preparing for pregnancy who want to lower their toxic load before conception are advised to take it. Many women taking HMD™ have reported benefits, including more regular and less painful menstrual cycles. People with amalgam fillings will inevitably have a high level of mercury, which will be cleared by using HMD™.

Smokers will have high cadmium and arsenic levels, which will be dealt with.  HMD™ has been used around the globe now for about three years – there are many testimonials that can be read from autistic children, women with irregular cycles and hormonal problems; and others. 

IN SHORT…
We are all toxic to a greater or lesser degree and NO amount of any toxin is a “safe” level. When we become conscious of the toxic world that we live in, then detoxifying the body on many different levels is imperative to maintaining optimal health and keeping degenerative diseases at bay. Detoxifying toxic metals and other xenobiotics from the body is also another level of detox that is important to be added into any detoxification protocol – HMD™ is an easy option which is cost effective for all the family, including children and pets, and has no side effects but is extremely effective at removing these harmful chemicals from the body.  

It is important to also open up the detoxification channels of the body when undergoing any type of chelating – Dr. Georgiou, the inventor of HMD has now formulated another unique product that goes hand-in-hand with HMD™ - it is called HMD™ ORGANIC LAVAGE and is a “drainage remedy” facilitating the removal of the metals and xenobiotics that HMD™ releases from the body – it basically helps the toxins to be eliminated through the liver, kidneys, skin, lymphatics as well as cleaning the blood and acting as a natural anti-inflammatory. Take a look at the HMD™ ULTIMATE DETOX PROTOCOL to find out more about how to effectively detox.