Air Date: 10-14-2011| Episode: 223
Jack D. Thrasher was educated in California with a B.S. in zoology/chemistry and a Ph.D. in human anatomy/cell biology from UCLA...
Full Description:
Jack D. Thrasher was educated in California with a B.S. in zoology/chemistry and a Ph.D. in human anatomy/cell biology from UCLA. He taught human anatomy, histology, physiology, and embryology at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine at Denver and at the UCLA School of Medicine in the 60s and early 70s. He was consulting toxicologist that did testing on the safety and efficacy of medical devices, drugs and cosmetics from the mid 70s through the mid 80s. Since 1984, he has consulted in Environmental Toxicology, Immunotoxicology and Human Health effects from toxic exposures to private citizens as well as practicing physicians. He has collaborated in many scientific peer reviewed papers on formaldehyde, mold and mycotoxins, hydrogen sulfide, and insecticides. He is an author or co-author on the adverse health effects (neurological and immunological) in humans following exposure to damp indoor spaces. His most recent manuscript published in Toxicology and Industrial Health is titled “The biocontaminants and complexity of damp indoor spaces: more than meets the eyes”. This manuscript reviews molds, gram negative and positive bacteria, mycotoxins, endotoxins, 1-3-beta glucans, galactomannans, particulates and MVOCs present in damp indoor spaces. All of these biocontaminants impinge upon occupants affecting various organ systems and more likely than not have synergistic toxic actions. Dr. Thrashers areas of expertise include: Formaldehyde in trailers and Mobile Homes; organophosphate pesticides, chlorinated pesticides; herbicides, pyrethroids, organic solvents including chlorinated (TCE, PCE); Indoor air microbial (fungi and bacteria) and their by-products in water damaged homes, public buildings and schools; and hydrogen sulfide. He has testified as an expert witness in many legal cases for plaintiffs and defendants.
Z-Man’s Blog:
Older and Wiser
Jack Thrasher, PhD. has specialized in toxicology since 1966. Toxicologist Jack Thrasher, PhD’s interest in He got interested in toxicology, when he reviewed the ingredients of his prescription nose drops and found to his surprise that the medication contained mercury. The use of mercury in the medication piqued his interest and he began to study mercury.
Nuggets gleaned from todays show:
· Toxic encephalopathy is brain damage and/or neuro-cognitive deficit.
· Do it yourself test for balance, do you get dizzy when you close your eyes in the shower? Balance depends upon vision and vestibular organs in the inner ear.
· Over emphasis on mold and mycotoxin, while overlooking bacteria and the synergetic effect between fungal and bacterial toxins.
· As a high profile consultant, Dr. T encounters some scary situations. Such as an Ohio hospital in which 12 occupants suffer from transfer myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord). Paralysis as the result of mold exposure and another client who after exposure to high levels of fungi suffers from a muscle wasting disease.
· As he has found air sampling indoors to often be unreliable, he recommends taking both passive and aggressive samples indoors. To stir up the air, he uses sterile trifluoroethane propellent.
· He suggests dust sampling from 4-5 reservoirs for “source accumulation” such as refrigerator coils, and having the samples ERMI PCR DNA analyzed. Refrigerator coils are “historical sources”.
· Recommends that mold culture samples be cultured at both 25° C and 37° C to allow both thermophilic fungi and non-thermophile specifies to be detected.
· Microbial particulates <1 micron are often overlooked. These are often present in quantities of 500 X larger particles.
· Endotoxin contamination of pharmaceuticals is known to cause fevers.
· Inspection of water damaged properties often miss structural defects that result in damage to adjacent building material.
· Pasteurization is ineffective on deeply embedded contaminate, “another attempt to make money”.
· Aspergillus is the most dangerous fungi affecting both immune compromised and non-immune compromised individuals. Aspergillus species are known to produce gliotoxin.
· On green cleaning chemicals, botanically derived ingredients are toxic. He prefers and recommends vinegar and boric acid.
· Chronic rhino sinusitis may result from dual infection, simultaneous infection by both fungi and bacteria. Biofilm may form in the body. These infections may permit toxins to enter the brain through the olfactory system.
· Advice, “quit denying and start reading the literature”
Today’s Music: “Chemical Workers Song” By Great Big Sea
Z-Man signing off
