| Fibromyalgia and toxic overload Fibromyalgia (FM) has been vaguely described by some in the past as, "... a clinical entity of unknown etiology..." (J of Rheumatology 1994;21:2122?4). That doesn't say much about pinpointing causes for the syndrome. One of the theories of fibromyalgia is that a toxic overload pushes people over the edge, and when the liver and other detox organs can't keep up with removal, these toxins deposit in muscle fibers and connective tissue, causing pain and discomfort. Many people aren't aware of the sources of their toxins until insidious exposures are considered. A handful of backyard trash burning fires, for example, can spew as much dioxin as a municipal incinerator (Science News 157;Jan 29, 2000:70). The Wall Street Journal, as far back as 1989, reported that 38 out of 50 samples of low? fat/skim milk collected from major cities were contaminated with sulfa drugs or antibiotics (WSJ Dec. 29, 1989). Remodeling a house releases more lead from the dust than chewing on paint chips. A letter to the editor in the British Medical Journal warned recently of future increased allergies to tomatoes, because they have genetically engineering latex into them. Just think, for example, of the toxins we are exposed to every day in the air we breathe and the water we drink (or clean with, for that matter ? the amount of chlorine absorbed by your body in a 10?minute shower equals about two gallons of tap water consumption). Scientists have discovered an unexpected source of water pollution ? glaciers. Every summer, certain lakes in the northern Rockies receive a rich input of long?banned air pollutants, however now they have found that up to 80% of banned pollutants entering Bow Lake in Alberta, Canada come from the meltwater of Wapta Icefield. "Large amounts of bomb?test fallout in this water suggest that this group of pollutants arrived in the 1950's or 1960's and remained entombed until a recent spate of warm summers increased melting" (Science News 157; Mch4,2000:155). Back in 1998, European scientists reported finding excreted drugs in the water. In April of this year, US and Canadian scientists offered preliminary confirmation that drugs, excreted by people and livestock, similarly pollute American waters (Science News 157 Api 4, 2000:212). "Traces of drugs are sometimes making it all the wayinto tap water... Ternes' studies confirm that two disinfection agents ? activated carbon and ozone ? generally remove any traces of drugs" (Science News, ibid). All of these reports of toxic exposure point to a big problem ? we're getting exposed to more and more toxins in our every day environment, while nutritional status (one of our best defenses for clearance) is declining. Fibromyalgia is just one of the chronic and stubborn syndromes that we see increasing in rapid numbers. |
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