| |
|
|
|
Excerpt
from Welcoming Address
First International
Conference on
Chemical Contamination and Human Detoxification
David E. Root, M.D., M.P.H,
F.A.C.O.E.M.
Conference Chair
 Welcome to the International
Conference on Human Detoxification. A theme that will no doubt emerge throughout the next two days is that we
live in a chemically-oriented society.
This is not a new theme. In fact, it is the theme for dozens of conferences on the
state of the environment and the pollution that we all face. But this conference
is unique. It is significantly different for the simple reason that we are focusing on
something that can be done to help people survive better in their environments.
That is the common denominator that brings us together today.
When I graduated from medical school in 1962, the general perspective on our
environment was radically different than today. There was no Environmental
Protection Agency. There was really no environmental movement. In fact, I recall
news images of children frolicking amidst a strange “fog” blown from special crop
dusting trucks.
That “fog” enveloping them was DDT. And yet few people saw
anything wrong. In fact, it would be many years before the use of DDT was
actually banned in this country.
In 1977, Mr. Hubbard put forth the idea that LSD residues could store in
human tissue and later react upon the person. He later extended this idea to
other toxic compounds. Less than one year later he developed and released a
detoxification procedure that could safely eliminate toxic chemicals that
accumulate in fatty tissues.
Make no mistake: These were very radical ideas. And not without controversy.
The idea that chemical residues stored for years in the fat was controversial. The
idea that these residues could actually cause subtle adverse effects was
downright revolutionary. And to develop and offer a program that purported to get rid
of these residues was, well, a very brave thing to do.
As we approach a new century, there is now a much different global awareness of
our environment—and the human consequences which accompany our
dependence on chemicals.
Our conference today isn’t about controversies. It isn’t to argue about whether or not chemicals
accumulate in the tissue. (The U.S. government has identified over 700 foreign
chemicals in human tissue.) The purpose of this conference isn’t to criticize
chemical companies.
We’re here to do something about the problem. This conference is about results. That’s what counts.
Many hours have gone into developing our conference program. Whether you
have been involved in detoxification issues for many years, or are entirely
unfamiliar with the subject, I can assure you that you will learn some very exciting
things in the next two days.
I am very pleased that we have so many international participants. And the
interest in this conference continues to grow. Unfortunately, there are many colleagues
from around the world who were unable to attend. We are making a special effort
to produce a Proceedings of this conference so that what transpires over the next
few days can be shared with others.
Welcome to the conference. Over the next two days, I look forward to meeting
each of you personally.
back
to "About the Academy"
|
|
|
Home
About the Academy
About
Detoxification
News
Briefs
Membership
Contact Us
|
|
