Our immune system can be target of many chemicals, with potentially severe adverse effects on our health. When an immune system is exposed to harmful chemicals then it’s more likely for you to have immunotoxicity. Number of environmental and industrial chemicals can have adverse effect in immune system.
Immunotoxicity may cause alteration in immune system which results in either immunosuppression or exaggerated immune reaction. Either of these is not beneficial for us. So, it is really important for us to make healthy choices to prevent immunotoxicity.
These toxic chemicals interact to weaken immune system and reduce vaccine effectiveness. Immunosuppression can lead to infectious diseases or cancer as immune system’s ability to respond to invading agents are suppressed. This can also lead to autoimmune diseases, in which healthy tissue is attacked by immune system that fails to sperate self-antigens from foreign antigens. Inhalation and ingestion of polluted water, air are most common ways to get immunotoxicity.
How to prevent immunotoxicity?
Your first line of defense to prevent immunotoxicity is to choose a healthy lifestyle. Eating, drinking safe can take toward naturally keeping your immune system strong and healthy. Immune system and every other system function better when protected from these toxic agents. Some of the toxic agents to cause immunotoxicity includes industrial chemicals, drugs, UV radiation, air water pollutants and other biological substances. Exposure to UV radiation can cause immune suppression and is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Other chemicals and drugs cause hypersensitivity and autoimmunity.
These toxic agents can damage our immune system by destroying cells and their signaling pathways. These agents kill or damage our immune cells in bone marrow creating novel immune responses. These chemicals and toxic agents are released to water surface through industrial and municipal discharges.
Humans can survive several days without food but not without water. Water sources around the Long Island are threatened by anthropogenic activities. We are managing our resource poorly through wastage and we are thoughtlessly dirtying it. If you drink untreated water nowadays, your body will immediately react to it causing at least stomachache instantly. There are several infectious diseases that can be spread through contaminated water.
Increase in anthropogenic activities in Long Island is resulting exposure of chemicals in our aquatic activities. Reports form New York Public Interest Research Group’s analysis claims: Long Island has most contaminated drinking water in New York. According to report, 19 different emerging contaminants were spotted in Long Island’s water system; seven of them were observed above EPA’s reference concentrations.
Our water supply does go with lots of purification, filtration but there’s small chance these harmful toxins will make it to your tap. It’s good to not take a chance and use proper filtration system in your house to prevent immunotoxicity.
PFOA and PFOS; which has already been found in Long Island water can cause devastating effects in our body. They effect on prenatal development, immune system, causes thyroid problems also may lead to cancer.
Most of us don’t think twice about drinking a glass of water. But recent alarming reports suggest that more than 270 harmful contaminants are found across the nation including Suffolk County. (source: Patch). These harmful contaminants are directly linked to cancer, damage nervous system, damage immune system and other serious health condition. Here’s some of the common toxins found in our water:
Chromium
- Potential effect: Cancer
- 414 parts per billion (Rate this contaminant appears in Suffolk County Water Authority)
- 002 ppb (EWG Health Guideline)
- No Legal Limit
Nitrate
- Potential effect: Cancer, restrict amount of oxygen in brain
- 54 parts per million (Rate this contaminant appears in Suffolk County Water Authority)
- 14 ppm (EWG Health Guideline)
- Legal limit: 10 ppm
Perfluoro octane Sulfonate (PFOS)
- Potential effects: Skeletal issues, cardiovascular problems
- 51 parts per trillion (Rate this contaminant appears in Suffolk County Water Authority)
- 1 ppt (EWG Health Guideline)
- No legal limit
Radium
- Potential effects: Cancer
- 32 picocuries per liter (Rate this contaminant appears in Suffolk County Water Authority)
- 05 pCi/L (EWG Health Guideline)
- Legal limit: 5 pCi/L
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Potential effects: Cancer
- 13 ppb (Rate this contaminant appears in Suffolk County Water Authority)
- 15 ppb (EWG Health Guideline)
- Legal limit: 80 ppb
These toxic chemicals including lead have already been found in Long Island water. These chemicals can cause immunotoxicity and has a direct link to breast cancer. They can also interfere with vaccinations causing adverse health effects and disabilities. Over the time when these toxins build up in our body, it weakens our immune system and leaves us susceptible to several fatal diseases.
Advancement in technology has made our life easy. Pesticides, herbicides helped us in our crop production, fuels helped us to travel in cheap price and much more. But some of these advanced convinces have influenced our aquifers. Chemicals, pesticides we use, landfills, cesspools, septic tank effects our ground water. Drinking water needs to be tested constantly even when its safe also Long Island water majorly relies in underground water.
All these harmful toxins and chemicals are preventable. The concentration of most toxic compounds in drinking water can be significantly reduced through carbon filtration, aeration and other treatment methods. Chlorinating drinking water comes with numerous toxic compounds as byproducts of the process. This is where we need to pick up right filter system in our house to prevent immunotoxicity.
Our industry uses advanced formula to filter water and remove all the byproducts compounds. Every household in Long Island should be able to enjoy the best tasting pure water; and this is why we invest a lot of our effort to design efficient filter system. Our industry has been in the forefront of aquifer protection and actively developing new technology to filter out contaminants and. Our filter systems are designed to protect you from all these aquatic toxins and prevent immunotoxicity.
