Understanding the Environmental Influences of Neurotoxins on Your Brain: Contaminated (Drinking)water part 1

by; Pamela Costello MD PC

The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind
~ Paracelsus, Father of Toxicology, (1493-1541)

I had the extraordinary privilege of training in Neurosurgery under James Tait Goodrich, MD, PhD; one of the world’s leading pediatric neurosurgeons. He taught me a great deal of what I know about childhood neurological disease and its’ surgical repair, as well as honed my writing skills, as we coauthored numerous papers and presentations together. He notably held a second doctorate in medical history, providing me with a very rich training in that area as well. During our monthly Journal Club meetings, we reviewed scientific articles on various neurosurgical topics. His scope ranged from the biblical to medieval, to Renaissance, to the father of neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing, and to contemporary authors. This invaluable experience with Dr. Goodrich provided me with a deep understanding of the great scientific minds that came before, as well as taught me how to best access their fund of knowledge.

In my career as a neuroscientist and neurosurgeon, as well asthrough access to my own personal collection of historical works, I’ve been provided the unique opportunity to reflect on what came before modern medicine, including writings on neurotoxins dating back to the Romans. My writings on neurotoxins are therefore not a recent discovery of mine, but rather reflect a life-long study and increasing awareness of the toxicity of our environment on our nervous systems.

Our environment dramatically affects our health and, as our air, water, and soil become increasingly polluted, our lifelong exposures to those toxins lead to the bioaccumulation of toxic substances in our tissues. These deadly toxins accumulate in our brains, nervous systems, and bones, damaging cellular processes, tissues and organs, leading to inflammatory and degenerative processes, causing the vast majority of modern day health problems.

Understanding the phenomenon of bioaccumulation is critical to achieving your best brain health. The brain and nervous systems are composed by volume, largely of negatively charged fat or lipid-bearing tissue called Myelin, whose role is to provide the necessary insulation which facilitates electrical conduction through the vastly complex array of neuronal elements. Many environmental toxins are positively charged substances that readily gain entry into our bodies through drinking, cooking, and even bath water. Once these toxins enter our systems, their attraction to our bodies’ fat-bearing tissues and Myelin becomes a one way path to tissue storage, bioaccumulation, inflammation and tissue destruction.

Industrial and naturally acquired water neurotoxins include: Mercury, Methane, Nitrogen Oxides, Perchlorate, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Pesticides, Phthalates, Polybrominated/Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polyvinyl Chloride, Propane, Solvents, Toluene, Uranium, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Acetone, Ammonia, Arsenic, Asbestos, Benzene, Bisphenol A (BPA), Cadmium, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Chlorine, Chlorofluorocarbons, Chromium, Crude Oil, Diesel, Dioxins, Endocrine Disruptors, Ethylene Glycol, Fluoride, Formaldehyde, Gasoline, Lead, radioactivity from atomic bomb/nuclear arms testing and nuclear power plant leaks. (NIH: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences).

What role does contaminated water play in aging you and your brain? Using only well-established, documented clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing is the first step in halting the process of bioaccumulation and ongoing exposures. The next step is to have your current toxic burden assessed and a safe individualized treatment protocol developed.