30:01:2013 -- The Holographic Universe

Dear Friends,

Is it live or is it Memorex?...

http://www.atlanteanconspiracy.com/2013/01/the-holographic-universe.html

Be Well.

David

The Holographic Universe

In the 1950s and 60s inventor Dennis Gabor discovered that when you photograph objects with a split light beam and store the information as wave interference patterns, you get a better image than with ordinary point-to-point intensity photographs.  Not only is the captured image clearer, but it is completely three dimensional. 

“In a classic laser hologram, a laser beam is split.  One portion is reflected off an object – a china teacup, say – the other is reflected by several mirrors.  They are then reunited and captured on a piece of photographic film.  The result on the plate – which represents the interference pattern of these waves – resembles nothing more than a set of squiggles or concentric circles.  However, when you shine a light beam from the same kind of laser through the film, what you see is a fully realized, incredibly detailed, three-dimensional virtual image of the china teacup floating in space (an example of this is the image of Princess Leia which gets generated by R2D2 in the first movie of the Star Wars series).”  -Lynne McTaggart, “The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe,” (83)

“A hologram is produced when a single laser light is split into two separate beams.  The first beam is bounced off the object to be photographed.  Then the second beam is allowed to collide with the reflected light of the first.  When this happens they create an interference pattern which is then recorded on a piece of film … as soon as another laser beam is shined through the film, a three-dimensional image of the original object reappears.  The three-dimensionality of such images is often eerily convincing.  You can actually walk around a holographic projection and view it from different angles as you would a real object.  However, if you reach out and try to touch it, your hand will waft right through it and you will discover there is really nothing there.”  -Michael Talbot, “The Holographic Universe” (14-15)

The three-dimensionality of holographic images is not their only amazing attribute.  In holograms, all parts are reflected in the whole and the whole is reflected in all parts, so if you chop a piece of holographic film into tiny bits then shine a laser onto any of them, no matter how small, you will still get a complete image.

“Back in the 1980s, a series of bookmarks appeared on the market using holographic technology.  Each one was made of a shiny strip of silver paper that looked like glossy aluminum foil at first glance.  When the paper was held directly under a bright light and tilted back and forth, however … Suddenly, the images in the foil looked as though they’d come to life and were hovering in the air just above the paper itself … If you have one of these bookmarks, you can do an experiment to demonstrate for yourself just how a hologram works … use a sharp pair of scissors to cut your beautiful, shiny bookmark into hundreds of pieces of any shape.  Then, take the smallest of the fragments and cut it again into an even tinier piece.  If the bookmark is truly a hologram, you’ll be able to look at your tiny speck of a bookmark under a magnifying glass and still see the entire image, only on a smaller scale.  The reason why is that it exists everywhere throughout the bookmark.”  -Gregg Braden, “The Divine Matrix” (104-5)

The “physical” world around us behaves much like a hologram. Just like a piece of holographic film, all quanta exist as interfering wave patterns.  In and of themselves, these interference waves have no “solidity” – no definite properties or location – just like the squiggles/circles on holographic film.  The image is distributed throughout the entire film, just as quanta are distributed throughout the entire universe.  Then when a laser beam (the light of consciousness) is directed at those interference waves, seemingly solid particles (three dimensional images) appear before our eyes.  One of the first physicists to consider this “cosmic hologram” metaphor was David Bohm who defined the universe as an “undivided wholeness in flowing motion” which he termed the “holomovement.”

“Einstein’s protégé, American physicist David Bohm, felt that quantum theory suggested the existence of a deeper reality than the one presented by our senses.  He dubbed the implicate order an undivided holistic realm that is beyond concepts like spacetime, matter, or energy.  In the implicate order everything is fully enfolded or entangled with everything else.  By contrast, the explicate order world of ordinary observations and common sense emerge, or unfold, out of the implicate order.  Bohm used a hologram as a metaphor to illustrate how information about a whole system can be enfolded into an implicit structure, any part of which reflects the whole.”  -Dean Radin, “Entangled Minds” (254)

Bohm’s implicate order is analogous to the two dimensional piece of holographic film and the explicate order is analogous to the three dimensional holographic image.  The implicate order is the underlying undivided wholeness of the universe and the explicate order is the multitude of seemingly separate forms.  To illustrate this duality, consider the following passages from my book Asbestos Head:

“If you blur your vision enough, forms disappear and you are left with nothing but a mass of color in motion.  There is no word that describes the blur, but perhaps you make one up.  Then you make a habit of making up words for blurs and start recognizing similarities - you label tree blurs,rock blurs, other animal blurs and maybe even atom blurs.  This allows you to compare and categorize, make judgments, and express artistic concerns about the blurs, but the fact remains that the boundaries between blurs are perceptual, not actual.  We know no two trees, rocks, animals, or atoms are exactly alike, but if no two things are exactly alike, we have no way to measure what constitutes one thing or it’s other.  If no two things are exactly alike then there must be only one true form that is everything (i.e. the universal hologram)

We know that sub-atomic particles are constantly in motion, but on a smaller scale than we can perceive.  We know that the planet beneath us is constantly in motion, but on a larger scale than we can perceive.  We know the Universe is perpetually changing and in motion, but we perceive most things as unchanging and still.  Then we use language to label this fallacious stillness.  We recognize similarities in the stillness and create categories and definitions.  We forget all about our faulty premise and attribute a priori importance to these forms we perceive; though in fact knowing no two things are truly separate and everything’s constantly moving (a.k.a. the holomovement).”

“Bohm cautions that this does not mean the universe is a giant undifferentiated mass.  Things can be part of an undivided whole and still possess their own unique qualities.  To illustrate what he means he points to the little eddies and whirlpools that often form in a river.  At a glance such eddies appear to be separate things and possess many individual characteristics such as size, rate, and direction of rotation, et cetera.  But careful scrutiny reveals that it is impossible to determine where any given whirlpool ends and the river begins.  Thus, Bohm is not suggesting that the differences between ‘things’ is meaningless.  He merely wants us to be aware constantly that dividing various aspects of the holomovement into ‘things’ is always an abstraction, a way of making those aspects stand out in our perception by our way of thinking.  In attempts to correct this, instead of calling different aspects of the holomovement ‘things,’ he prefers to call them ‘relatively independent subtotalities.”  -Michael Talbot, “The Holographic Universe” (48-9)

For Bohm, atoms are not the “building blocks of matter” but rather just a term given to one aspect of the holomovement.  The various forms we name, words and categories we create, are all ultimately arbitrary because at the implicate level of reality, everything is one. No two atoms, two rocks, two trees, or two people are any more separate from one another than whirlpools are separate from the river.  The universe is a holographic oneness in perpetual motion, both created and navigated by consciousness.  Matter is not separated by space and time; rather, matter, space, and time are always already ever-present and one.  To illustrate this, think of a DVD.  At the explicate level of the DVD, you see a movie with people, places and events happening in space and time.  For the actors on your television screen, they experienced everything happening in “real” time in the “real” world during filming.  But for you the viewer, holding the DVD in your hand, you can see the implicate level of the movie where all the people, places, and events on it are mere projections of a single totality.  You can rewind, fast-forward, slow-mo, or freeze-frame the entire realistic three-dimensional explicate world of the DVD because you are operating from the implicate world of remote control.  The One, God, infinite consciousness, cosmic mind, or whatever you want to call it, operates at the objective, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent level of the implicate DVD, and meanwhile us humans, animals, plants, insects, and every other subjective entity in the physical universe are method actors in the explicate movie.   Bohm himself said, “It will be ultimately misleading and indeed wrong to suppose, for example, that each human being is an independent actuality who interacts with other human beings and with nature.  Rather, all these are projections of a single totality.”

“While it may look as though we’re disconnected from one another and the rest of the world, that detachment doesn’t exist on the plane where the hologram originates … On this level of unity, there really can be no such things as ‘here’ and ‘there.’”  -Gregg Braden, “The Divine Matrix” (107)

“Matter does not exist independently from so-called empty space.  It is a part of space … Space is not empty.  It is full, a plenum as opposed to a vacuum, and is the ground for the existence of everything, including ourselves.”  -Michael Talbot, “The Holographic Universe” (51)

“David Bohm’s work into quantum physics and quantum mechanics also realized and affirmed a single ultimate reality; the true nature of the Universe.  Time will inevitably show the Universal explicate, implicate and super implicate orders of David Bohm and the holomovement, will eventually have most profound implications for humanity which all science will quite simply have to accept sooner or later, thus proving conclusively the Universe rather than being a vast and disparate multitude of separately interacting particles of matter, is in reality a magnificent unbroken completeness, a continuum, an infinite flowing movement of Energy, vibration, the holomovement.” -Adrian Cooper, “Our Ultimate Reality” (88)

30:01:2013 - The Sun - An Essential Element for good Health

Dear Friends,

U think?

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/01/29/the-sun-an-essential-element-of-good-health/

Be Well.

David

The Sun – An Essential Element of Good Health

January 29, 2013 

David Huting, Guest Writer

Waking Times

“Along with food, air, and water, sunlight is the most important survival factor in human life.” -The National Institute of Mental Health

In the past 100 years, the majority of people around the world have transitioned from working outside all day to being stuck inside, with artificial lighting. 100 years ago we didn’t have sunscreen. Oddly enough, skin and other cancers have been on a dramatic rise in the last four decades, especially in more recent years – despite increased sunscreen usage and less overall sun exposure. [1]  Once one understands that sunlight is essential for a healthy body and strong immune system, the link becomes clear; it appears that sunscreen and lack of regular sunlight is more of a cause of cancer and health problems than the sun itself!

In this article I’ve compiled an array of intriguing factual information about the Sun, to help highlight its importance as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. My hope is that after reading this, you’ll be inspired to go out and spend more time in the sun every day – even during winter – because it does far more than just feel good and make you tan! First, let’s look at some basic truths related to the Sun:

The Sun Provides Life To Almost Every Living Thing On Our Planet

“Much of the nutritional energy utilized by life on this planet comes through the thin leaves of plant: with a mechanism called photosynthesis. Through microscopic pores in the leaf called stomata, the plant absorbs carbon dioxide. From the roots below, water is absorbed and brought through tiny veins to the leaf. Tiny chloroplasts of multiple chlorophyll molecules drink specific rays of the sun, utilizing those waveforms to split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The resulting hydrogen atoms combine with with carbon dioxide to form carbohydrates, while oxygen atoms are released into the air as oxygen gas. The carbohydrates form sugars, starches, and cellulose within the plant, directly providing fuel to plant-eating species, and indirectly providing fuel for those species that eat plant-eaters. None of this could be possible without the energy of the sun.”[1]

The Sun delivers a full spectrum of ultraviolet and infared rays – many invisible to the human eye. Human technology has been unsuccessful at replicating this.

Although many of them are filtered by our atmosphere, the bands of light we “see” and don’t “see” from the sun are vast and essential for many other organisms and animals on our planet as well as our body’s internal systems.  (Example: bees see ultraviolet light to help them find pollen.) While there has been technology used to try to imitate this such as “full spectrum lighting” and tanning beds, the fact is that neither of these offer an effective dose of natural sunlight.  There is no substitute for the real thing.

Humans and Plants Need Natural Sunlight To Live and Thrive

Ever noticed how most indoor plants will wilt and die without proper sunlight? The same goes for humans; for truly vibrant health, we need sun on a daily basis. On top of providing increased feelings of well-being and relaxation, our body depends on natural sunlight for several critical functions.  Below is a list of important positive effects of the sun:

Positive Effects of Natural Sunlight On Our Bodies:

–> Increased feelings of well-being and relaxation, and decrease in allergies, headaches, joint pain, and backaches.

–> Increase in core body temperature, facilitating increased cell function and greater energy. This is why when on vacation or living in warm climates like on the beach we feel so great!

–> Increase in metabolism, providing increased effectiveness in our body’s detoxification and purification systems. The body’s detoxification process critical if we are to remain healthy in such a toxic environment in which most Americans are living.

–> Reduced Stress through Regulation of our Endocrine System. A lack of natural sunlight will disrupt the body’s endocrine systems, leading to hormonal imbalances, slowed metabolism, and adrenal insufficiency. A lack of natural sunlight can be a major contributor to mental and physical health problems, such as depression, obesity, and reduced energy.

–> Sunlight is a natural defense against several diseases. A number of diseases are attributable to lower levels of sunlight. Hypertension, atheroscloriosis, early dementia, Alzeheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, depression, arthritis, and lower back pain are just a few of the issues which have been linked to a lack of sun exposure.[1]

–> Our bodies’ natural clockworks depend on the sun to synchronize. Key hormones such as melatonin and cortisol, responsible for our sleep and active cycles, are stimulated by receptor cells in our body that respond to signals from the sun. And it’s not just the sun we see with our eyes: blind people have very strong biological clocks, and they too run on the sun’s clockworks. [1]

Sunlight is a Direct Source of Your Life Force Energy

Eastern medicine, which was used effectively for thousands of years before the onset of “modern medicine”, utilizes several different natural healing methods, such as acupuncture. The underlying focus on all of these medicines is on maintaining the body’s natural flow of life energy, or ‘qi .’ (In traditional Chinese culture, qì (also chi or ch’i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as “life energy”, “life force”, or “energy flow”. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts. The literal translation of “qi” is “breath”, “air”, or “gas”.  Concepts similar to qi can be found in many cultures, for example, prana in Vedantic philosophy, mana in Hawaiian culture, lüng in Tibetan Buddhism, and Vital energy in Western philosophy.)

A Quick Statement About Life Energy

Every living thing on this earth has ‘qi’, or life force, which is directly derived from the sun. The recognition of this fact is essential in understanding the benefits of eating a diet rich in raw, unprocessed foods. (Foods lose their life force [living enzymes] when they are heated, especially at the levels required to process and pasteurize our foods. Chemical preservatives used to extend shelf life further reduce any remaining enzymes [life force] that were not destroyed in the heating process.)

One could reasonably infer that by consuming raw plants (as in fresh made salads and in fresh vegetable juices), they are indirectly absorbing energy derived directly from the sun. Many report a rush of energy and focus after drinking fresh juiced fruits and vegetables (I for one can vouch for this). This observation is only further strengthened by the collective wisdom and beliefs central to Eastern Medicine (natural healing). In this system, the body is believed to have seven energy centers, or ‘chakras‘.  The “spleen” or “sacral” chakra, located just below the navel and slightly to the left, is one of seven energy centers taught in eastern healing medicines, and is said to be a distributor of energy. “One of [the spleen chakra's big jobs is to receive and distribute the sun's energy throughout the physical body, especially the bloodstream. It's also a storage place for solar rays, so that when we need energy, it can be called upon. This point is responsible for helping to keep the physical body vital and full of stamina."[2]  An example of this many of us can relate to is returning to work, nice and tan after a vacation to somewhere warm and sunny; upon returning, we feel energized and refreshed (part of this feeling is also a result of taking time away from life’s distraction to relax, something many of us unfortunately don’t make enough time for.)

Vitamin D: The “Sunshine Vitamin”

Did you know that the best source of Vitamin D is that which is synthesized through direct sunlight exposure to our skin? Vitamin D is critically important in regulating calcium levels absorption. Vitamin D is also critically important for healthy immune system function, nervous system function, cardiovascular health, mood regulation, pain regulation, insulin/blood sugar balance, as well as numerous endocrine and digestive functions. Vitamin D is a necessary component for good health, and its most natural form (D3) comes from natural sun exposure – not many foods contain vitamin D. (It is found in various dairy products such as choose, butter, and cream, and in some fish and oysters, but these offer vastly less Vitamin D than the Sun.) [1]

Get Your Daily Dose

The average American diet will only provide about 250-300 IU; a Boston University study in 2008 reported that 2,000 – 4,000 IU is required for significant cancer rate reduction, [1]  While this sounds like a lot, consider this: just 20 minutes of sunlight on the arms, hands, and face, will produce about 400IU of vitamin D on the average skyn type.  A day of summer sun in a swimsuit will easily produce as much as 20,000 IU!

–> Sunlight Can Make You Live Longer: According to a recent article on NaturalNews.com, Vitamin D not only prevents chronic diseases, but also extends natural lifespan!

–> Although the RDA for vitamin D is only 200-700 IU, many nutritionists believe that 1,000 – 5,000IU per day is optimal.

–> Note that SPF-8 sunscreen will block 95% of vitamin D synthesis!

–> For those living in regions with winter seasons, regular sunlight is even more important!  Because your skin has less melanin (what makes you tan), it will be able to absorb more vitamin D faster.  Roughly an hour in the middle of the day with the face and hands exposed should be adequate.

–> Keep in mind that even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays will still be absorbed by your skin. Just being outside is the key. (Heavy clouds will block some of these rays, but most still penetrate. This is why you can still get sunburnt on a cloudy day.)

–> Regardless of how much vitamin D is synthesized, natural light can have positive effects upon ones mood and energy levels, especially if exercise is involved.

–> Without regular sunlight, humans – just like plants – will begin to degenerate in a host of ways.

Sunscreen: More Harmful than Sunlight?

The widespread use of harmful sunscreen ingredients is a significant factor in the skin cancer epidemic. Their addition to the epidermis layer (outer layer of the skin) creates an environment of excessive oxidative radicals, as the sun in the presence of oxygen further oxidizes these synthetic molecules without nature’s balancing molecules to combat it. These chemicals substantially increase the toxic burden within the cells. This burden minimizes the body’s ability to neutralize oxidizing effects of the sun’s radiation, intensifying the the sun’s harmful oxidizing factor. This intensification essentially converts the sun’s rays from therapeutic to dangerous. It’s not just sunscreen that is dangerous; tanning oils are also filled with synthetic chemicals that alter your skin’s natural ability to repair itself after sunlight exposure, further worsening the negative effects.  Various moisturizing lotions also contain a host of synthetic chemicals that disrupt your body’s natural defenses.

When To Use Sunscreen

If you’re not able to cover yourself with a hat or an extra layer of clothes, and you cannot possibly avoid direct sunlight exposure for long periods of time, sunscreen will help with preventing a burn.  If you must use sunscreen, look for natural alternatives to mainstream brands that do not include PABA.

Treating a Sunburn Naturally

The best agent for relief and healing is aloe vera gel.  The best source of this is cutting a leaf off of an aloe vera plant.  This milky plant’s gel holds much of it’s active phytochemicals such as aloectin, anthraquinones, polysaccharides, resins, and tannins – all which work synergistically to speed healing, neutralize oxidized radicals, and soothe pain.  Two more great sources are the cucumber – just cut off sections and rub onto your skin or blend into a lotion – and the lemon – dilute in water 50/50 and rub directly on the burn.

Getting Sunburnt Will Still Cause Cancer

If you do choose to spend several hours or even all day in the sun, then sunscreen can indeed help prevent the damaging effects of sun’s UV rays. If your skin is pink, it’s a sign that it has received too much sun and you should take any and all measures to avoid further direct sunlight. Find a spot in the shade, or bring with you some light layers to protect your skin from the powerful mid-day sun’s rays. If you just can’t leave the sun (I am guilty of this sometimes), then be sure to use sunscreen – just try and use natural sunscreens available at your local natural foods stores or online.

Watch the Sunset – It’s Good For You

Sun gazing during sunrise and sunset can have a rejuvenating effect upon the eyes if done correctly. Watching the sunset and sunrise has been a recommendation for eyesight problems among many traditional medicines including Ayurvedic, American Indian, and Greek disciplines. The filtering of the earth’s atmosphere during these two times of the day filters the rays considered damaging during the mid-day sun. Both the UV and infrared spectrum are almost completely blocked an hour before the sunset and an hour after sunrise.[1] After a few months of consistent sunrise/set gazing every day we may discover many subtle and obvious benefits. We may discover our eyesight actually improving. We may perceive colors as brighter.  We may also see a change in our moods – possibly a greater sense of optimism.  We may feel more relaxed and calm.  The synchronising effect between our SCN cells, our pituitary, hypothalamus, and cisual cortex may also lead us to sleep better and have a general reduction in tension.[1]

In Conclusion

“Along with food, air, and water, sunlight is the most important survival factor in human life.” -The National Institute of Mental Health

The sun is an essential element to good health, and the importance of making sure you’re getting enough sunlight cannot be emphasized enough. Getting your body the sunlight it needs will make you feel and look better, live longer, and help you harmonize with the world around you. So make time for it.  Find a spot to watch it rise or set, and try to watch it as often as you can. Sitting in the sun is not an excuse to avoid other tasks – but rather an essential part of living a healthy, vibrant lifestyle. Use your time in the sun to forget about life’s worries for a moment, and to recharge your mind and soul

About the Author

David Huting is a 28 year-old photographer, videographer, writer, travler/adventurer, and spiritual aspirant with a passion for nature and natural living/healing. His creations include an array of unique content designed to inspire, inform, and relax individuals around the world. He’s most well known for his nature relaxation videos on YouTube, and is the creator/owner of the inspirational sites NatureRelaxation.com,EpicWallArt.com, and his newest site, NaturalHealingNetwork.org, which is designed to be an exciting resource for information related to all things related to living a naturally healthy, happy, and vibrant lifestyle.

*DISCLAIMER*

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  Excessive sun can definitely cause cancer and in no way am I endorsing getting sunburnt.

Sources: [1] “Total Harmonic” Casey Adams (This includes many other sources cited in the book)

[2]“Change your Aura, Change your Life” by Barbara Martin

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Bi-Polar Disorder: Why is it So Common and How to Alleviate it

8 Yoga Studies and Their Outcomes For Disease Prevention

Irrefutable Scientific Evidence That We Are All One

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Court Ruling Links Brain Tumor to Mobile Phone Use

28:01:2013 -- We're in contact with uncontrolled chemicals

Dear Friends,

We reap what we sow...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/01/20/180443/were-in-contact-with-uncontrolled.html

Be Well.

David

We're in contact with uncontrolled chemicals

By SANDY BAUERS | The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — In testimony before a Senate subcommittee, Ken Cook spoke passionately about 10 Americans who were found to have more than 200 synthetic chemicals in their blood.

The list included flame retardants, lead, stain removers, and pesticides the federal government had banned three decades ago.

"Their chemical exposures did not come from the air they breathed, the water they drank, or the food they ate," said Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, a national advocacy group.

How did he know?

The 10 Americans were newborns. "Babies are coming into this world pre-polluted with toxic chemicals," he said.

More than 80,000 chemicals are in use today, and most have not been independently tested for safety, regulatory officials say.

Yet we come in contact with many every day - most notably, the bisphenol A in can linings and hard plastics, the flame retardants in couches, the nonstick coatings on cookware, the phthalates in personal care products, and the nonylphenols in detergents, shampoos, and paints.

These five groups of chemicals were selected by Sonya Lunder, senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, as ones that people should be aware of and try to avoid.

They were among the first picked in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent effort to assess health risks for 83 of the most worrisome industrial chemicals.

Lunder's basis was that they are chemicals Americans come in contact with daily. You don't have to live near a leaking Superfund site to be exposed. They are in many consumer products, albeit often unlabeled.

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others have shown that they are detectable in the blood or urine of many of us.

Plus, much data exist showing their harm. "We have an incredible body of evidence for all these chemicals," she said. "In all cases, we have studies linking human exposure to human health effects."

Lunder and others see these five as symbolic of the government's failure to protect us from potential - or actual - toxins.

"A lot of people presume that because you're buying something on the store shelf ... someone has vetted that product to make sure it is safe," said Sarah Janssen, senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, another advocacy group. "Unfortunately, that's not true."

Some chemicals are regulated through laws governing, say, pesticides or air quality.

But most are regulated through the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. It has been identified as the only major environmental statute that has not been reauthorized, or revised, since its adoption in the 1970s.

Since 2005, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., has worked to change that. In 2010, he introduced the first version of the Safe Chemicals Act, which would require companies "to prove their products are safe before they end up in our home and our children's bodies," he said recently by email.

A later version, with 27 co-sponsors, passed out of committee in July. He has vowed to keep fighting for a vote in the full Senate.

The American Chemical Council, a trade association representing large chemical manufacturers, declined comment, although it too has called for reform.

"Public confidence in TSCA has diminished, contributing to misperceptions about the safety of chemicals," council president Cal Dooley said in 2011 testimony. But he said the proposed law would cripple innovation in fields from energy to medicine. It would "create an enormous burden on EPA and on manufacturers with little benefit by requiring a minimum data set for all chemicals."

EPA officials declined comment, but in a series of appearances before the Senate subcommittee on the environment, staffers repeatedly said the current law is not protecting Americans.

In July, Jim Jones, acting administrator of EPA's office of chemical safety, said that "with each passing year, the need for TSCA reform grows," noting that it had "fallen behind the rapidly advancing industry it is intended to regulate."

When TSCA was passed, it grandfathered in, "without any evaluation," the 62,000 chemicals in commerce that existed before 1976, Jones said.

He noted that in the 34 years since TSCA was passed, the list of chemicals has grown to 84,000, and EPA has been able to require testing on only about 200 of them.

Also, the agency has regulated or banned only five.

An oft-mentioned case of regulatory failure is that of cancer-causing asbestos. In 1989, "after years of study and nearly unanimous scientific opinion," Jones said, the EPA banned it.

Two years later, a federal court overturned most of the action because the EPA had not chosen the least burdensome control on industry, as required.

The court ruled that old asbestos uses could not be revived. New uses were prohibited. But current uses could remain.

Adam Finkel, executive director of the University of Pennsylvania Program on Regulation, said that Europe leads the U.S. in chemical testing and regulation. There, officials put the onus on the makers to prove a chemical is safe.

Meanwhile, the science keeps outpacing the rules.

"The real issue of TSCA reform is that science is not what it was 30 or 40 years ago," said Linda Birnbaum, head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

In the past, she said, "we were looking almost exclusively at visible birth defects. We were concerned with cancer."

Researchers are now looking at chemicals' effects - some extremely subtle - on numerous other conditions, including reproductive development and disorders, diabetes, heart problems, asthma, autism, even obesity and learning disorders.

Paradigms have evolved so that researchers can study concurrent exposure to more than one chemical, as happens in real life. Toxicology has grown from a descriptive science of what has occurred to a predictive one.

Of the five chemicals identified by Lunder, flame retardants have figured prominently in recent research studies.

In late November, researchers led by Duke University chemist Heather Stapleton showed that a flame retardant removed from children's sleepwear as a suspected carcinogen was still in lots of couches.

More than 40 percent of the 102 couches bought between 1985 and 2010 had the chemical, called tris, according to the study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

That issue also published a study by the Silent Spring Institute, an advocacy group in Massachusetts, that traced the path of toxic flame retardants from couches to household dust to the bodies of children, who often crawl on floors and put fingers in their mouths.

Officials say children's small size and rapid growth may make them more vulnerable to toxins.

The research showed that most homes had levels of at least one flame retardant that exceeded a federal health guideline.

One of the latest health studies of PBDE flame retardants, in November's Environmental Health Perspectives, found that fetal or infant exposure could adversely affect a child's fine-motor coordination, attention span, and IQ.

A Chicago Tribune investigation, published in May, found that many flame retardants do not even provide meaningful protection from fire.

Bisphenol A, another chemical facing scrutiny, held promise because it could be used to make hard, clear plastic and protective liners for canned foods and beverages.

Noting thousands of studies examining its effects, the National Resources Defense Council petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to limit its use as a food additive, which would also preclude its use in packaging.

The FDA denied the petition last year, although many manufacturers have removed it from baby bottles and sippy cups. Some, including Campbell's Soup, say they plan to shift to alternatives.

THE EPA'S MOST WORRISOME TOXINS

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Uses: It hardens clear "polycarbonate" plastics, which are used in compact discs, plastic dinnerware, eyeglass lenses, toys, beverage bottles, and impact-resistant safety equipment. Also used in the linings of food cans, in dental sealants, and on cash register receipts.

Health concerns: BPA is considered estrogenic and has been shown to affect the reproductive systems of laboratory animals. BPA also has been linked to many other disorders. Potential harm is considered highest for young children, because their bodies have immature systems for detoxifying chemicals.

How to limit exposure: Limit consumption of canned foods and canned liquid baby formula. Avoid plastics marked with the recycling code "7." Avoid microwaving baby food or drinks in plastic containers.

Nonylphenols, including nonylphenol ethoxylates

Uses: Laundry detergents, shampoos, household cleaners, latex paints.

Health concerns: NPs have been detected in human breast milk, blood, and urine, and are associated with reproductive and developmental effects in rodents. Fish exposed to low levels can become feminized. EPA concerns center mostly on industrial laundry workers.

How to limit exposure: This is difficult. Experts say to avoid using detergents, cleaning agents, and other products that contain nonylphenols, but many times they are not labeled. They recommend calling the manufacturer and asking. Some organizations, including the Environmental Working Group, publish guides to safer cleaning products.

PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals)

Uses: Widely used water, grease, and stain repellents. Contained in the coatings of nonstick cookware. Used to greaseproof paper and cardboard food packaging. Added to carpeting and clothing for stain protection.

Health concerns: They are bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans, and are persistent in the environment. They are toxic to laboratory animals and wildlife. The EPA says that "to date, significant adverse effects have not been found in the general human population. However, given the long half-life of these chemicals in humans (years), it can reasonably be anticipated that continued exposure could increase body burdens to levels that would result in adverse outcomes."

How to limit exposure: Avoid nonstick cookware. Avoid highly processed and fatty foods. Skip optional stain treatments. Use real plates instead of paper. Cook popcorn on the stove, not in microwave bags.

Flame retardants, including PBDE

Uses: To prevent the spread of fire, many versions of these chemicals are added to upholstered furniture and mattresses - including many products for babies - plus textiles, plastics, electronics, wire insulation.

Health concerns: PBDEs are not chemically bound to plastics or other products in which they are used, making them more likely to leach out. "Certain PBDEs are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to both humans and the environment," the EPA states. Concern is highest for children, who might crawl on the floor, get dust containing PBDEs on their hands, and then put their hands in their mouths.

How to limit exposure: PBDEs are being phased out, so beware of old foam items, which are most likely to contain PBDEs. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Clean carefully after removing old carpet and padding. When dusting, use a damp cloth or a cloth with microfibers that will trap and hold the dust better.

Phthalates

Uses: They make plastics more malleable, and are found in vinyl shower curtains, toys, vinyl flooring. They help lotions penetrate skin, so they are found in a wide variety of personal care products, including cosmetics, fragrances, and nail polish. Also found in air-fresheners and cleaning products.

Health concerns: Known to interfere with the production of male reproductive hormones in animals and considered likely to have similar effects in humans. The EPA is concerned about phthalates because of their toxicity and the evidence of pervasive human and environmental exposure to these chemicals. Phthalates have been detected in food and also measured in humans.

How to limit exposure: Manufacturers aren't required to list phthalates on the label, but any item listed as "fragrance" can be a chemical mixture containing phthalates. Buy cosmetics from companies that have pledged not to use phthalates. Avoid items with PVC, V, or the No. 3 recycling code on the item or its packaging.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Working Group, Natural Resources Defense Council

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