 This is repost is from Lara Adler, instagram environmentaltoxinsnerd Link to article http://linktr.ee/environmentaltoxinsnerd
A lot of times when people talk about chemicals & health effects, we hear folks say stuff like "these chemicals have already been tested and have been found to be safe."⠀ ⠀ Let's explore: ⠀ ⠀ Traditional toxicology studies typically look at higher levels of exposure than we're used to getting, & they work backwards to find the "safe" level. When they find a level that does not produce an adverse effect (think: changes in organ weight, cancer, death), they establish the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL). ⠀ ⠀ Then some safety factors are added to reach the "reference dose" or the dose at which exposures are *presumed* safe. Once established, research into exposure levels below it STOPS, and that reference dose is rarely tested directly.⠀ ⠀⠀ And levels FAR below the NOAEL, ie, levels that reflect normal human exposure, are almost never tested! They are just ASSUMED to be safe. ⠀ ⠀ While many substances do indeed follow what's known as a monotonic dose-response curve (ie, it's linear and predictable) endocrine-disrupting chemicals don't play that way. ⠀ ⠀ The U-shaped graph in this post is an example of a non-monotonic or non-linear dose-response curve; at very very low levels, FAR below what traditional toxicology examines, you can see a LARGER response. ⠀ ⠀ This matters because it means that, at least for EDC's, we cannot predict, or *assume* to know their behaviour based on high-dose testing unless we ACTUALLY and accurately test. ⠀ ⠀ And yet that's just what toxicology does, it ASSUMES the line of the curve is always linear - without testing to confirm. ⠀ ⠀ Why is this important to know?⠀ ⠀ Because the #1 response to talking about chemicals is "the amount is so small it doesn't matter"!!⠀ ⠀ If you understand, and can clearly articulate this concept, you'll do a dang better job at talking toxins with your clients, patients, or customers! ⠀ ⠀ This is a core piece of the conversation about why chemical exposures matter which is why this topic is covered extensively inside my Talking Toxins professional course. ⠀ ⠀ Thousands of health professionals have already been through this program! Check the linkinbio to learn more about it!
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