Integrative Environmental Medicine
Weil Integrative Medicine Library Series

At no other time in human existence has there been so many environmental changes. Over 87,000 chemicals are now commercially available in the U.S., almost all of which have not been tested for safety, particularly in young children and the growing fetus.The number and quantity of chemicals has continued to increase since World War II--and so too has the incidence of many chronic health problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, asthma, allergy, autoimmune disease, autism, ADHD, and several cancers. Many studies have revealed that exposure to chemicals and radiation in our everyday environment may increase risk for these conditions. Integrative Environmental Medicine examines the history and changing landscape of our environment in the U.S. and shares up-to-date research and information on ways to reduce exposures and reduce health risks. This text explores the unique properties of many chemicals and their ability to deceive the human body's normal workings, affecting everything from thyroid and autoimmune disease risk, to cancer development, to developmental issues in children, and even the development of diabetes and weight gain through gut bacteria manipulation. We discuss topics of improving regulations and appropriate testing for chemicals, remediation of environmental catastrophes, and designing healthier products for the future. Finally, we discuss best practices for clinicians to ascertain exposure history and teach patients how to avoid harmful exposures and help their body eliminate contaminates through better dietary and lifestyle practices. Throughout this book, we share vetted, practical resources and tools--including websites, phone apps, physician and patient hand-outs--to help healthcare practitioners facilitate healthier choices for themselves and their patients. This text is unique in that it offers tangible, practical information that can easily be integrated into the daily work flow of patient clinical care; websites, phone apps, physician and patient handouts and printable lists.

Foreword
Preface
Contributors

Section 1: History and overview of environmental chemicals
. Chapter 1: The Age of Chemicals in the 21st Century: New Inventions, New Problems
. Chapter 2: The Plastic Age: Worldwide Contamination, Sources of Exposure, and Human Health Consequences
. Chapter 3: Environmental Chemicals and Their Effects on Human Physiology

Section 2: Sources and clinical aspects of environemental exposures
. Chapter 4: In-Home Contaminants: Air Quality and Human Health
. Chapter 5: Water Pollution and Human Health
. Chapter 6: Diet, Environmental Chemicals, and the Gut Microbiome
. Chapter 7: Interaction of Pharmaceuticals with Environmental Chemicals
. Chapter 8: Pesticides and Neurodegenerative Disorders
. Chapter 9: Toxic Consequences of Cleaning Chemicals
. Chapter 10: The Age of Technology: Radio-Frequencies and Cancer

Section 3: Moving forward: Regulatory and legislative issues, exposure mitigation, and resources for clinicians and patients
. Chapter 11: Food Additives: Regulatory Oversight Failure and Health Consequences
. Chapter 12: Classical Toxicology vs. New Science: Unique Issues with Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
. Chapter 13: Sustainable Chemistry: Challenges of Contaminant Remediation and Designing Safe Products for Our Future
. Chapter 14: Proactive Approaches to Reduce Environmental Exposures: Avoidance, Lifestyle Changes, and Practical Resourcesn

AC: Founder and Director, Integrative Rheumatology Associates, Monroe Township, NJ. FSVS: Curators' Professor, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri