Parwy's Blog: No.1 Toxicologist: These Products Were Making Me Infertile And Are Harming Our Kids - The Diary of a CEO with Dr Yvonne Burkart

Dr. Burkart, a toxicologist, shares insights regarding the hidden risks of toxins found in everyday products, drawing on her professional research and personal experience.

Toxins, Systemic Failure, and Awareness

The overarching warning communicated by Dr. Burkart is: "Don't believe everything you see on a container, a bottle or a product that you're buying", and instead, focus on reading the ingredients.
Manufacturers in Europe and the US are not required by law to disclose certain ingredients. This lack of transparency means consumers are often unaware of what they are exposed to. Chemicals and products are not required to be tested for safety before they are released onto the market, effectively making people "guinea pigs in a massive human experiment that no one signed up for".
In contrast, the European system is described as better, requiring chemical manufacturers to provide data and fund laboratory studies upfront to prove a chemical is safe for people, animals, and the environment.
The mission of Dr. Burkart is to empower people to avoid environmental toxins by using science and evidence to make informed health decisions.

Health Risks and Associated Conditions

Toxins are linked to increased rates of cancer, obesity, and infertility.
Specific associated illnesses include cancer and infertility, with chronic low-dose exposures over a lifetime linked to various chronic diseases.
The global sperm count has declined by 50% in the last 50 years, which is considered alarming.
Toxins can cause children to have cognitive delays and behavioral issues. Exposure to endocrine disruptors in children is linked to increased risks of childhood leukemia, cognitive deficits, and skyrocketing obesity rates.
Some chemicals have been known to worsen behavioral conditions like ADHD and autism.
Children exposed to toxins are experiencing earlier puberty (e.g., earlier breast development and menstrual cycles), which shifts the biological window, leading to earlier menopause and subsequent risks like bone fractures.
Cancer incidence, specifically breast cancer, is rising and the window is shifting earlier, affecting people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. The environment plays a massive role in cancer risk, even when a person has a genetic predisposition.

Understanding Endocrine Disruptors and Dosage

A toxicologist is trained to study how chemicals interact with cells and cause harm.
Dr. Burkart had to unlearn the traditional toxicology belief that "the dose makes a poison", finding that chemicals known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs) can have higher activity at very low levels than at high levels (a non-monotonic dose response).
Endocrine disruptors (EDCs), like phthalates, bisphenol, and PFAS chemicals, interfere with the body's eight endocrine glands and the hormones they secrete, messing up signaling pathways that regulate critical functions such as fertility, metabolism, cognition, and sleep.
Children are most vulnerable and susceptible to toxins because their detoxification capacity (the ability of the liver and kidney to break down and remove chemicals) is not fully developed until the age of 10 years.
Multi-generational and Transgenerational Toxicity: If a pregnant woman is exposed to toxins, her baby, and the eggs within that baby (which will become the grandchildren), are also exposed. This can cause epigenetic changes (changes to DNA) that are passed down, potentially impacting great-grandchildren even if they live a clean lifestyle.

Sources of Toxin Exposure

Almost everything, including beauty products, frying pans, and plastic spatulas, contains toxic chemicals because the modern world is overcome with plastics and single-use containers.
Fragrance and Parfum: This term is often a hidden source of toxins because manufacturers do not have to disclose the ingredients (it is considered trade secret). It often contains known carcinogens, potent allergens, and EDCs like phthalates.
Phthalates are used in fragrances because they act as film formers, helping the scent stick and linger on surfaces like skin and clothing.
Fragrance chemicals volatilize and bind to dust in the home, leading to constant re-exposure, which is particularly bad for babies and children who are crawling and inhaling or ingesting the dust.
Aerosol deodorants are among the worst products because the propellants used are petroleum-derived and have been a source of Benzene contamination (a known human carcinogen that causes leukemia).
Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts that physically block sweat ducts; aluminum has been linked to increased breast cancer risk in young girls because it acts like an estrogen.
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are "forever chemicals" that travel globally (found even in polar bear fat) and include PTFE (Teflon), the non-stick coating on cookware.
A non-stick pan with a surface scratch can release 9,000 particles into food, and a crack can release 2.3 billion particles.
PFAS exposure is linked to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disorders, and increased obesity (acting as obesogens), as well as endometriosis and PCOS.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Microplastics and nanoplastics are constantly bombarding us due to plastic components in everyday items breaking up.
These solid masses do not break down in the body but accumulate in human tissues, having been found in the lungs, blood, heart, brain, placenta, and even the penis.
Babies are exposed to microplastics in utero, as microplastics have been found in the meconium (first bowel movement) of newborns.
Microplastics travel to the brain via the bloodstream because plastic is fat-soluble and the brain is mostly fat. One study suggested that the brain could contain 10 to 20 times more microplastics than any other organ.
On a cellular level, microplastics cause inflammation and oxidative stress (like "a million little fires all over your body").
Heating plastic containers, even for a few seconds in a microwave, releases billions of microplastic particles into the food.
Takeaway coffee cups are lined with plastic and release approximately 25,000 microplastic particles into the hot liquid within 15 minutes.

Simple Steps for Risk Reduction

Filter your water, as tap water is a source of pesticides, heavy metals, hormones (EDCs), and potentially lead from old piping. Boiling water can help remove microplastics.
Eliminate fragranced products (shampoos, deodorants, perfumes, detergents, etc.), which also saves money. If using scent, opt for essential oils.
Cook at home, which is cost-effective and significantly reduces toxic exposure compared to takeout.
Use safer cookware like cast iron or stainless steel, avoiding non-stick products.
Do not use plastic utensils (like plastic spatulas) that can melt or fray and break off microplastics into food; use wood instead.
Avoid microwaving or heating food in plastic containers; use glass instead.
Use wool dryer balls with essential oils instead of conventional dryer sheets, which coat clothing with oily, waxy substances that increase chemical absorption through the skin.
Improve indoor air quality by regularly opening windows (ventilation). Avoid burning conventional paraffin wax scented candles and incense, as they liberate carcinogens and harmful ultrafine particles.
Keep shoes at the door to avoid tracking fecal material, heavy metals, and pesticides into the home.

Boosting the Body’s Natural Defenses

Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant (made of three amino acids) that is vital for detoxifying environmental chemicals.
The body’s glutathione is depleted by modern lifestyle factors and fighting off toxins like microplastics, parabens, and phthalates. Alcohol specifically depletes glutathione because it targets the liver for detoxification.
Ways to increase glutathione levels include exercise, ensuring adequate sleep, and eating sulfur-rich foods (like leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy).
Matcha green tea is a strong antioxidant that helps increase glutathione building blocks, but it is best consumed with water, as dairy proteins can decrease the absorption of beneficial compounds.