Clinical Detoxification: Elimination of Persistent Toxicants from the Human Body

Copyright © 2013 Stephen J. Genuis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Underlying individuals' unique, invaluable, and enigmatic metaphysical qualities, the human organism is, in a physical sense, essentially a self-regulating biochemical machine. At any moment, our thoughts and feelings, our actions, metabolism and physical well-being all stem from the sum of dynamic, intricate biochemistry working within a distinctive genetic context; innumerable biochemical reactions are taking place to prepare the enzymes, hormones, neurotrans-mitters and all that we need to undertake the tasks required for daily life. We are truly wonderfully crafted. Like any functional system, however, in order to thrive we must receive the raw materials that we need to carry out our biological processes and we must stay away from influences that are harmful and which impair our machine from functioning normally. The widespread introduction of assorted toxic chemical agents into our intricate biochemical workings has the potential to disrupt sophisticated biochemical processes, becoming a widespread source of harm. Early life exposures can have lifelong consequences, even at levels commonly experienced and thought to be safe [1, 2]. Attention to toxic chemical exposures and environmental health sciences has been expanding at an impressive rate. Extensive research by independent scientists as well as governments has prompted numerous toxicology, medical, public health and other scientific journals to report on the impacts of environmental determinants on human health. With the recognition that recent and emerging changes in the external environment have the potential to influence genetic function, hormonal biology, the gastrointestinal microbiome, and mitochondrial processes, as well as other important physiological parameters, the significance of environmental medicine on individual and population health is rapidly becoming a major area of study for scientists and public health officials. A concern that has become increasingly manifest is that persistent toxicants are retained within the human body long after the primary exposure [3]. Many toxic compounds have long half-lives; they biomagnify up the food chain, and some are increasingly found in the air we breathe, water we drink, food we consume, and assorted personal care products we apply to our skin. Moreover, many persistent pollutants accumulate in developing children through vertical transfer from mother to child in utero and via breast milk [4]. As a consequence , many individuals now …