Concerns have been raised about the rise of autism, cancer, and degenerative diseases due to the presence of toxins in the environment

Participants in the international series ‘Environmental Impacts on Health: Increasing Incidence of Autism, Cancer, and Degenerative Diseases’ in Hyderabad on Sunday (December 29). | Photo Credit: Handout

Experts have expressed concern about the increased incidence of diseases such as autism, cardiology, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders linked to environmental toxins.

A diverse group of medical experts, health professionals, and researchers from India and countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia discussed the issue of toxins at an international conference on ‘Impact Environmental on Health: Increasing Incidence of Autism, Cancer, and Degenerative Diseases’ here on Sunday.

Convenor and main sponsor of the conference Praveen Saxena introduced the discussions by highlighting the important role of heavy metals, pollution, pesticides, and other toxins in contributing to the global health crisis. He emphasized the importance of understanding the effects of these toxins in order to improve health care and treatment strategies.

The series concluded with a call for collaborative efforts to address the challenges and impacts of environmental toxins. Participants advocated freeing medical care from the limitations of conventional medicine and emphasized the need for personalized, integrative therapies. Cancer, defined as a manifestation rather than a disease, was particularly highlighted for its complex interactions with environmental factors.

Highlighting the impact of pesticide use on farmers, workers, and consumers, Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi spoke about the impact of “permanent chemicals” and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). He urged doctors to consider the context of pesticide exposure when diagnosing and treating diseases.

Dr A. Sreekumar from Kochi emphasized the need for a deep understanding of the science of cancer for effective treatment. Dr. Mili Shah who promotes a holistic approach to health care, spoke about the role of hypoxia in cancer and introduced ozone therapy as a treatment. Dr. Arvind Kulkarni emphasized strengthening the cellular antioxidant defense system, while Dr. C. Sairam promoting early detection, targeted therapies, and preventive strategies to fight cancer. On the controversial topic of HPV vaccination, Dr. Sujat Mittal questioned its scientific basis in the Indian context and raised concerns about its side effects.

The interaction between mental disorders and physiological, nutritional, and metabolic processes was highlighted by Dr. Sanjeev Sharma and Dr. Aarthi Midha. Dr. Shailendra Saxena from Ahmedabad presented his team’s work on SARS-CoV-2, vaccines, and long-term COVID. In the microbiomes session led by Dr. Sunitha Gaur from Malaysia, Dr. Saxena revealed the discovery of dog genes in human saliva samples, underscoring the important role of the microbiome in metabolism and overall health.