Mentioned in the attention focused on COVID-19 are contributing factors that make an individual more at risk for experiencing serious symptoms. In most cases specific diseases are included on a list of these factors: hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, immune compromised status, cancer, and obesity. However, some lists also include environment exposures to toxic substances that negatively impact your immune system. To protect against the latter, we rely on a product’s ingredients label and the efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify any chemicals that might pose a potential risk. Therefore, it was alarming last July when charges were made that the EPA might sometimes be removing references to documented harm from their assessment of a chemical. It is encouraging that the EPA announced October 14 that they would be strengthening their chemical safety reviews. In the meantime, if you feel your immune system might be compromised and the reason is not obvious, you might want to take the extra step and research what chemicals are in your environment. Then work with your physician to take protection actions.

Issue: Environmental toxic substance exposures and COVID

AHHA strives to maintain a neutral position on issues and views knowledge as power. For those interested in this month’s issue, the articles below were selected to expand your awareness of contributing factors related to level of severity of COVID-19, plus the evolving situation with EPA chemical assessments.

Toxins as COVID-19 risk factor
The under-reported role of toxic substance exposures in the COVID-19 pandemic (November 2020)
by Ronald N Kostoff, et al.
Food and Chemical Toxicology

Toxic metal exposure as a possible risk factor for COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases (December 2020)
by Anatoly V Skalny, et al.
Food and Chemical Toxicology

EPA hiding toxins?
Whistleblowers Expose EPA Corruption (9/20/21)
Alliance for Natural Health USA

New Evidence of Corruption at EPA Chemicals Division (9/18/21) Part 3 of a series
by Sharon Lerner
The Intercept

EPA plan for reforms

EPA Announces Next Steps to Enhance Scientific Integrity and Strengthen New Chemical Safety Reviews (10/14/21)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

EPA Plans to Clean Up Troubled Chemical and Pesticide Programs (10/14/21) Part 5 of a series
by Sharon Lerner
The Intercept

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