The 80,000+ toxic chemicals in our environment are without question a major cause of chronic illness. Learn more about the groundbreaking test that tests for 168 chemicals – the largest number to date!
Every day, we are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals through products like pharmaceuticals, pesticides, packaged foods, household products, and environmental pollution. Exposure happens simply with our air, food and water.
As we have become more accustomed to consuming chemical-laden products, and as our environment has become more contaminated, we have been confronted with an accelerating rate of chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, chemical sensitivity, autism spectrum disorders, ADD/AD(H)D, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
These are just some of the illnesses and adverse health conditions that may be caused by your exposure to toxic chemicals!
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lacteroclerosis (ALS)
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Anxiety Disorder
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Attention deficit (ADD)
- Attention deficit with hyperactivity (ADHD)
- Autism
- Autoimmune disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Cancer
- Cerebral palsy
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
- Depression
- Developmental delay
- Down Syndrome
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Genetic diseases
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Mitochondria disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Schizophrenia
- Seizure disorders
- Tic disorders
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Ulcerative colitis
Ways to Detox Chemicals
I have devoted my life and career to guiding my clients towards a healthier way of life. Of course, we cannot always help the number of toxic chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis, even if we are vigilant about what we put into and on our bodies. That is why detoxing and finding balance with Myers Detox Protocol is so important! Here are just a few ways you can work to rid your body of these nasty chemicals that infiltrate our lives and environments:
- Use infrared sauna therapy to sweat out toxins. This has shown to be very effective at removing toxins that have been stored in the body for years, as well as those absorbed via acute exposure. To purchase your own infrared sauna, check out those in the Myers Detox store!
- Take supplements of folate, B6, B12, and Trimethylglycine (TMG). They help reduce homocysteine that inhibits the ability to detoxify organophosphate pesticides. Oral or intravenous glutathione helps remove toxins, as do grapefruit citrus pectin and other natural chelators like Activated Silica, CytoDetox Zeolite and cilantro.
- Drink spring water or properly filtered water. Store in glass containers, preferably, or in plastic containers with 1, 2, or 5 designations on the bottom. Adding lemon to water helps with detoxification. There are also many detox herbal teas available, including ingredients like dandelion root, licorice root, and burdock root.
- Use chelation therapy with DMSA if there is significant body burden of toxic metals.
Of course, information is power. And while we can detox our bodies using some of these simple lifestyle changes, I highly recommend you know exactly what chemicals you are dealing with first!
Discover Your Chemical Toxins with a GPL-TOX Profile!
Because exposure to environmental pollutants has been linked to many chronic diseases, The Great Plains Laboratory has created GPL-TOX, a toxic organic exposure profile that screens for the presence of 168 different toxic chemicals including organophosphate pesticides, phthalates, benzene, xylene, vinyl chloride, pyrethrin insecticides, and others. This profile also includes Tiglyglycine (TG), a marker for mitochondrial disorders resulting from mutations of mitochondrial DNA. These mutations can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, infections, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies.
Get Tested!
Purchase your own GPL-TOX Interpretation and discover your chemical toxins today! This is the perfect addition to your Myers Detox Protocol, as it will help you see exactly what you are detoxing and what nasty chemicals have been plaguing your health!
GPL-TOX Profile Tests For the Chemicals
Environmental Pollutants
- Phthalates: Perhaps the most widespread group of toxic chemicals found in our environment. Phthalates are commonly found in after shave lotions, aspirin, cosmetics, detergents, foods microwaved with plastic covers, oral pharmaceutical drugs, intravenous products prepared in plastic bags, hair sprays, insecticides, insect repellents, nail polish, nail polish remover, skin care products, adhesives, explosives, lacquer, cleaning products, perfumes, paper coatings, printing inks, safety glass, and varnishes. Phthalates have been implicated in reproductive damage, depressed leukocyte function, and cancer. Phthalates have also been found to impede blood coagulation, lower testosterone, and alter sexual development in children. Low levels of phthalates can feminize the male brain of the fetus, while high levels can hyper-masculinize the developing male brain.
- Vinyl Chloride: Vinyl chloride is an intermediate in the synthesis of several commercial chemicals, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Exposure to vinyl chloride may cause central nervous system depression, nausea, headache, dizziness, liver damage, degenerative bone changes, thrombocytopenia, enlargement of the spleen, and death.
- Benzene: Benzene is an organic solvent that is widespread in the environment. Benzene is a by-product of all sources of combustion, including cigarette smoke, and is released by outgassing from synthetic materials, and is a pollutant released by numerous industrial processes. Benzene is an extremely toxic chemical that is mutagenic and carcinogenic. High exposures to benzene cause symptoms of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, and death. It can also cause hematological abnormalities.
- Pyrethrins: Pyrethrins are widely used as insecticides. Exposure during pregnancy doubles the likelihood of autism. Pyrethrins may affect neurological development, disrupt hormones, induce cancer, and suppress the immune system.
- Xylenes: Xylenes (dimethylbenzenes) are solvents found not only in common products such as paints, lacquers, pesticides, cleaning fluids, fuel and exhaust fumes, but also in perfumes and insect repellents. Xylenes are oxidized in the liver and bound to glycine before eliminated in urine. High xylene levels may be due to the use of certain perfumes and insect repellents. High exposures to xylene create an increase in oxidative stress, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, central nervous system depression, and death. Occupational exposure is often found in pathology laboratories where xylene is used for tissue processing.
- Styrene: Styrene is used in the manufacturing of plastics, in building materials, and is found in car exhaust fumes. Polystyrene and its copolymers are widely used as food-packaging materials. The ability of styrene monomer to leach from polystyrene packaging to food has been reported. Occupational exposure due to inhalation of large amounts of styrene adversely impacts the central nervous system, causes concentration problems, muscle weakness, tiredness and nausea, and irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat.
- Organophosphates: Organophosphates are one of the most toxic groups of substances used throughout the world. They are often used as biochemical weapons and terrorist agents, but are most commonly used in pesticide formulations. Organophospates are inhibitors of cholinesterase enzymes, leading to overstimulation of nerve cells, causing sweating, salivation, diarrhea, abnormal behavior, including aggression and depression. Children exposed to organophosphates have more than twice the risk of developing pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), an autism spectrum disorder. A study done in the San Francisco Bay area found that in California agricultural areas, children born to mothers living within 500 meters of fields where organochlorine pesticides were used were more than 6 times more likely to develop autism than children whose mothers did not live near such fields. ASD risk increased with the poundage of organochlorines applied and decreased with distance from field sites. Maternal organophosphate exposure has been associated with various adverse outcomes including having shorter pregnancies and children with impaired reflexes.
- MTBE and ETBE: MTBE and ETBE are gasoline additives used to improve octane ratings. Exposure to these compounds is most likely due to groundwater contamination, and inhalation or skin exposure to gasoline or its vapors and exhaust fumes. MTBE has been demonstrated to cause hepatic, kidney, and central nervous system toxicity, peripheral neurotoxicity, and cancer in animals. Since the metabolites of these compounds are the same, ETBE may be similarly toxic.
- 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D): A very common herbicide that was a part of Agent Orange, used by the United States during the Vietnam War to increase visibility for war planes, by destroying plant undergrowth and crops. It is most commonly used in agriculture on genetically modified foods, and as a weed killer for lawns. Exposure to 2, 4-D via skin or oral ingestion is associated with neuritis, weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy, stupor, seizures, brain damage, and impaired reflexes. 2, 4-D is a known endocrine disruptor, and can block hormone distribution and cause glandular breakdown.
Metabolites of Pollutants
- 2-Methylhippuric Acid (2MHA), 3-Methylhippuric Acid (3MHA), and 4-Methylhippuric Acid (4MHA): These are metabolites of xylenes, solvents found in paints, lacquers, cleaning agents, pesticides, and gasoline. Exposure to xylenes generates methylhippuric acid isomers. Avoid/reduce exposure to these substances.
- N-acetyl phenyl cysteine (NAP): NAP is a metabolite of benzene. Benzene is a solvent that is widespread in the environment. It is found in cigarette smoke and gasoline, and is a byproduct of all types of combustion, including motor vehicle exhaust. Treatment consists of removing sources of exposure.
- Phenylglyoxylic Acid (PGO): Exposure to environmental styrene may slightly increase phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acid. Reduce exposure by eliminating the use of plastic and styrofoam containers for cooking, reheating, eating or drinking. Elimination of styrene can be accelerated by supplementing with glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC).
- 2-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid (2HIB): 2-Hydroxyisobutyric acid is formed endogenously as a product of branched-chain amino acid degradation and ketogenesis. This compound is also the major metabolite of gasoline octane enhancers such as MTBE and ETBE. Elevated levels indicate environmental exposure and very high values have been reported in genetic disorders.
- Monoethyl Phthalate (MEP): MEP from diethyl phthalate is the most abundant phthalate metabolite found in urine. Diethyl phthalate is used in plastic products. Elevated values indicate exposure from various possible sources. Elimination of phthalates may be accelerated by sauna treatment.
- Dimethylphosphate (DMP) & Diethylphosphate (DEP): DMP and DEP are major metabolites of many organophosphate pesticides. Reduce exposure by eating organic foods and avoiding use of pesticides in your home or garden. Living near agricultural areas or golf courses and areas regularly sprayed with pesticides will increase exposure. Elimination of organophosphates can be accelerated by sauna treatment.
- 3-Phenoxybenzoic Acid (3PBA): 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid is a metabolite of pyrethroid insecticides. Elimination can be accelerated by sauna treatment.
- Thiodiglycolic Acid (TDG): TDG is a major metabolite of vinyl chloride and may indicate exposure to several important commercial compounds, including polyvinyl chloride from certain plastic bottles. Elevated urinary values of TDG may also be found after ingestion of large amounts of fresh onion, or after vitamin B12 administration, due to stimulation of sulfur amino acid metabolism.
- 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D): As mentioned above, 2,4-D was an ingredient in Agent Orange, and is most commonly used in agriculture of genetically modified foods, and as a weed killer for lawns. Reduce exposure by eating organic foods and avoiding use of pesticides in your home or garden.
- Tiglylglycine (TG): TG is a marker for mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutations of mitochondria DNA may result from exposure to toxic chemicals, infections, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies.
Advantages of the GPL-TOX Profile
- William Shaw, Ph.D., Lab Director for The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc., who developed GPL-TOX, is one of a handful of individuals in the world who is board-certified in both clinical chemistry and toxicology by The American Board of Clinical Chemistry. In addition, he has extensive experience in directing organic acid testing for genetic disorders at a major pediatric hospital.
- GPL-TOX directly tests for 11 unique compounds. Indirect screening provides an evaluation of 168 different toxic chemicals by testing specific metabolites. All of the information is assessed from a single urine sample.
- GPL-TOX revolutionizes the development of testing by expanding the scope to include both the environmental pollutants and mitochondrial function metabolites. The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc. suggests that the comprehensive GPL-TOX profile be used as the initial screening test for patients with severe or chronic illnesses.
- GPL-TOX uses the power of advanced mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and the specificity of multiple reaction ion monitoring. Conventional mass spectrometry is adequate for substances present in urine at high concentrations but is inadequate for testing substances such as certain genetic, mitochondrial, and toxic chemical markers. These markers found at very low concentrations in urine disappear in baseline noise with conventional mass spectrometry. Typically, many different individual tests are necessary to determine the levels of each pollutant, but the new GPL-TOX technology makes it possible in one single test by measuring urinary metabolite
