SHOW NOTES

What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)? [0:20]

• World Health Organization defines POPS as chemicals that have a long-lasting effect on the planet with the ability to biomagnify and bioaccumulate in ecosystems
  • Inside food chain & within human beings
• Organochlorine pesticides most common compounds
  • DDT stopped production in the 1970 - 1980s
    • Can test for metabolites of DDT in the body
    • Despite stopping production, still living on the planet decades later
      • Found in soil, dust
• Exposed to other POPs on a daily basis
• Industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
• Chemicals found in non-stick cookware

POPs are linked to increase risk of certain cancers, reproductive disorders, alterations of the immune system, neurobehavioral abnormalities & impairments, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity & birth defects [2:55]

• Not beneficial for health
• Research has not been done about these chemicals or their connections to diseases
• Large, chronic (long-term) exposure to POPs
• Can accumulate more in large cities

How are we exposed to POPs? Where are they found [5:20]

• Can be transdermally absorbed (through the skin)
• PFOS & PFOAs can transfer onto foods from non-stick cookware

How are POPs related to celiac disease? [6:20]

• Pilot study - first of its kind
• “Persistent organic pollutant exposure and celiac disease: A pilot study” by Gaylord & colleagues at NYU
  • Published in the journal environmental research on May 11th 2020
• 88 children patients
  • 30 of the 88 had a confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease
• Looked at specific levels of POPs within the blood of the children
• POPs accumulate in adipose tissue (body fat)
  • The leaner an individual is, the harder it is to retain POPs
  • The higher the body fat %, the higher the bioaccumulation of POPs
  • OR could be lean, but may have fatty liver creating area for POP retention
• Study found 2x increased risk of developing celiac disease increased with higher serum dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE)
  • Higher exposure to DDE accumulating in the body
  • Individuals still must have HLADQ 2.5 and or HLADQ8 genetic polymorphism for celiac disease to be at risk of developing celiac disease

The pollutant DDE [10:30]

• Has adverse impact on immune system
• Acts as a strong endocrine disruptor
• DDE not used in society currently
• Byproduct metabolite of the breakdown of DDT
• This proves that DDT is slowly degrading on the planet, decades later
• Found in dust samples, water runoffs in industrial areas, non-organic farms that haven’t changed soil, highly populated areas & cities
• Even nanogram quantities are harmful

Celiac is an autoimmune disease [14:10]

• POPs contribute to immune system response
• Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease
• POPs cause “quiet” immune system provocation
• It’s believed that exposure to POPs can cause the external stimuli that can cause the onset of celiac disease with gluten exposure/consumption
• Celiac gene carrier + immune system upregulation due to POPs + gluten exposure = increased risk of celiac disease

PFOS & PFOA addressed in the study [16:15]

• Females had greater odds of celiac disease associated with serum levels of PFOS & PFOA
• PFOS = Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
• PFOA = Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• Found in non-stick cookware - pans, baking sheets, grills
• Non-stick coatings, unless labelled PFOS & PFOA free
  • Not regulated by any governing body yet
• Not naturally found in environment, used in industrial & consumer products
• Repel oil & water - surface protection
  • Waterproof clothing
  • Carpets, clothing, paper & cardboard coatings, leather
  • Surfactants in industrial work
  • Plumbers tape in home plumbing joints
• Chronic exposure to old buildings/construction
• Bioaccumulatable - exposed to it & stored in body, builds up over time in liver & kidney
  • Build-up over time is what causes concerns

While autoimmune diseases are more common in women, the study found… [20:40]

• Boys had greater odds of celiac disease associated with hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153)
• Synthetic chemical first available in the 70’s for foam padding & plastics that were flame-retardant
• FDA stepped in to phase out chemicals by 2004, no new production in 2005
• Persistent pollutant - still building up in environment
• Main sources of exposure to BDE-153 are dust, and water from drains from landfill

This study raises the question of how POPs affect autoimmunity in general [24:10]

• Genetically susceptible people
• Who else could this affect?
• What other chemicals could cause similar negative health effects?
• Byproduct of modern industrialization
• More studies are needed

Study weaknesses [26:10]

• Gluten exposure/consumption was not recorded in the study
• If you carry the genes, the less gluten you consume, the lower your risk of developing celiac disease
• What was the frequency of tissue transglutaminase measurements?
• How much gluten were they consuming? Daily?
• Larger study, randomized, more controlled

How can we all protect ourselves from POPs? [29:30]

• Difficult to avoid
• Control what we can control
• If at risk for an autoimmune disease, be more aware and cautious
• Be proactive & change your cookware to non-stick PFOA-free & PFOS-free
  • When the pan loses its non-stick, you’re eating particles of it
  • Get rid of your old nonstick pans, typical lifespan 6-12 months
• Look at your living situation - old wiring/plumbing
  • Vapor barriers

Wrap Up [33:30]

• Be an advocate for your own health
• www.drrobertpastore.com
• @drrobertpastore