Nerve Agents Affecting Your Health?

by Vanita Dahia

We are all on alert following recent deaths after exposure of nerve agents. The airtime attests to the lesser of publicity, awareness and subsequent political changes.

Let’s get the scary part of nerve agents out of the way…

Nerve agents, previously known as nerve gases were originally developed for the purposes of chemical warfare during the Second World War. One of the best-known nerve agents was Sarin used by Saddam Hussein. Today, more potent newer nerve agents have been developed with catastrophic effects.

The main nerve agents are tabun (GA), sarin (GB), soman (GD), cyclohexylsarin (GF), and VX, have chemical structures similar to the common organophosphate pesticide Malathion.

These agents initially stimulate and then paralyze certain nerve transmissions throughout the body and cause other toxic effects such as seizures. The nerve agents belong to a class of chemicals called organophosphates.

When two or organophosphates combined, the damaging effect of the binary combination is fatal.

What are Organophosphates?

Organophosphates are organic chemicals that disrupt nervous system transmission to organs. The disruption is caused by blocking an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of Acetylcholine (ACh), a brain chemical necessary for memory, focus and attention.

Poisoning by organophosphates leads to contraction of pupils, salivation, convulsions, in voluntary urination and defecation. Death by asphyxiation or cardiac arrest may follow within minutes due to loss of respiratory and cardiac control.

Did you know that these Nerve Agents are used Every Day in our Lives?

Today, minute quantities of these nerve agents or organophosphates are used as insecticides and pesticides. The exposure of cumulative small quantities of these agents affect the air we breathe, food we eat, clothes we wear, and the water we drink. These agents filter into the body through water, food, and air.

We are not only using organophosphates, but also exposing ourselves to glyphosate, volatile solvents Chlorinated Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates and Parabens.

In studies by Wissen et al (Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011 Jun; 8(6): 2265–2303.), and his colleagues, these damaging chemicals are considered to disrupt hormone function and alter the normal functioning of the Endocrine system of both wildlife and that of humans. These endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) impact environmental pollution and adversely affect human health.

Chronic illness and Autoimmune Diseases

The increasing statistic of people suffering with chronic inflammation with no known cause, perhaps leading to missed diagnoses of depression, adrenal fatigue, or infections may need upstream investigation.

Chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), an acute and chronic systemic inflammation acquired following exposure of toxic genic organisms, Lyme borreliosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia all lumped together when patients suffer with chronic illness, pain, extreme fatigue and flulike symptoms.

In chronic illness, we need to investigate the underlying causes and exposures.
Fortunately, we can now identify a range of toxic exposures in our body that may be contributing towards our chronic illness.

Ideally, you would want to measure toxicants based on exposure like:

• Glyphosate typically known as Roundup weedkiller
• Volatile Solvents – Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, Toluene, Xylene,Hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane
• Chlorinated Pesticides – DDE (p,p1), DDT (p,p1), Dieldrin, Heptachlor
• Epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Mirex, Oxychlordane, Endosulfan Sulfate, Trans-Nonachlor
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) – : PCB 118, PCB 126, PCB 138, PCB 153,
• PCB 156, PCB 169, PCB 180, PCB 74, PCB 77
• Organophosphates – Atrazine, Atrazine Mercapturate, Diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP), Diethylthiophosphate (DETP), Dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP)
• Bisphenol A (BPA) – Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-Nonylphenol, Triclosan
• Phthalates and Parabens – MEHHP, MEOHP, MEHP, MEtP;, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Testing for Environmental Pollutants

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