Why the air we breathe is as deadly as asbestos

We’ve known that our air is polluted for quite a long time. And if you’ve ever flown into major cities and saw the ring of filth circling them, you’ve witnessed this smoggy reality firsthand.

It’s ugly. It’s oppressive. And it’s a scourge on the environment.

But so far, that hasn’t been quite enough to incite any real action against it. If anything, it’s only gotten worse. So maybe this latest bit of news from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) will finally spark some change.

After reviewing all that available data, this agency concluded that our air is packed with substances that are known to cause cancer. And we should now classify it as a bonafide carcinogen.

You read that right. Our air is now a leading cause of cancer.

Specifically, data shows that it was responsible for some 223,000 lung cancer deaths worldwide in 2010. Research suggests that it may play a role in bladder cancer, too.

And rapidly industrializing countries–which have seen sharp rises in pollution in recent years from increased power usage, transportation, and industrial emissions–face the highest risk of exposure.

If you’ve ever been to China, you could certainly attest to this. I have. And it’s truly startling.

Beijing had to close its factories during the Olympics to ensure better air quality. And flights in and out of the country are often delayed because the air is simply too thick to see through–a phenomenon that has been likened to the original London fog of the 1800s.

I have sworn not to go back to China until something is done about that problem. It’s just too risky.

None of which is to say that we’re safe from the threat here at home. Our air may be cleaner than China’s. But that’s really not saying much.

The fact is, we have every reason to be concerned.

Air is easily our most fundamental human need. And yet, it’s now considered a Group 1 cancer-causing substance–placing it alongside toxins like asbestos, plutonium, and tobacco smoke.

Let me repeat that. The air that some people are breathing is now as deadly as asbestos.

How much worse does it have to get before people are willing to take drastic measures toward some real change? Because if we don’t do something soon, we will destroy ourselves.

In the meantime, this certainly underscores the need for regular detox, wherever you live. Obviously, you can’t quit breathing. But you can help your body to deal with the toxins in encounters more effectively. And every little bit helps.

I covered the details of my detox protocol in-depth in the September issue of my newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives. Subscribers can access this issue (and all of my other previous issues) in the online archives.

So if you haven’t signed up yet, consider doing so today. You’ll be glad you did.

Sources:
Kelland, Kate. “UN agency calls outdoor air pollution leading cause of cancer.” Reuters. 17 Oct 2013.