It seems the older generation is so much more tolerant of toxins than us younger ones. For instance, at company lunches it seems at least 50%+ of the 25-45yrs have allergies/glucose issues while the older generation pounds down whatever they want. I have so many friends that have crazy allergies and sensitivities to toxins and almost no boomers that do. Maybe all the weak boomers were weeded out in their youth with lawn darts and no bike helmets or something? Or more likely not exposed to so many toxins when younger?
Less plastics in everything is the big difference, IMO. Even a can of beans is lined with some sort of plastic film.
My father-in-law was a fireman and was in anything from 10-15 fires/month from 1965-1975, most of that time in a rescue company where he would pull people out, without an oxygen mask because they didn't fit. He did it enough that his knees were shot. He smoked as well, and in now in his 80s, along with a big cohort of his buds.
My brother-in-laws on both sides of the family are in fire service, and I've been to several funerals for guys in their 30s and 40s, who probably see 3-5 fires a year, are mostly fitness buffs and don't smoke. All for stuff like bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, etc. I know one of the theories is around fire protection gear causing carcinogens to be absorbed through sweat, and another issue is the toxic stew that is found in car or house fire smoke.
Another factor to consider, newer houses are sealed up with poor ventilation and build quality. Your typical >1985 home is largely assembled with glue and don't ventilate well and tend to have alot of mold. My house is a circa 1920 average quality single family. It ventilates well in the summer, has few materials hazards other than some lead risk, etc.
When I was a kid I knew exactly one child with celiac disease; nowadays I know about several people, so I thought in that line.
But this very year a childhood friend of mine became aware he has it. Nowadays I tend to think we are more attentive to these kinds of things, and older people rationalize symptoms or grow unaware of them, so they are no longer conscious of them.
I had a friend who threw up when she ate cheese. Today we would call her lactose intolerant. At the time she was told she was 'spoiled' and she would eat her mac-and-cheese or go hungry.
> Or more likely not exposed to so many toxins when younger?
Or perhaps inversely, the older generation was exposed to more industrialized chemicals and their immune system developed a tolerance. Something akin to the hygiene hypothesis [1].
There's a big difference between common traditional natural substances and industrialized chemicals though.
My understanding is that our immune system learns through exposure that things like peanuts, pollen, gluten, etc. aren't bad, so lots of exposure to these things and playing in the dirt is healthy for kids.
On the other hand, from my understanding, we don't build up protection to industrial chemicals. They're just poison, plain and simple. The more you accumulate, the more you're likely to die.
> Hundreds of chemicals (e.g. metals, epoxy and acrylic resins, rubber additives, and chemical intermediates) and proteins (e.g. natural rubber latex, plant proteins, mould, animal dander) present in virtually every industry have been identified as causes of allergic disease. In general, allergens can be classified as low molecular weight (chemical) allergens and high molecular weight (protein) allergens. These agents are capable of inducing immunological responses that are both immunoglobulin E and non-immunoglobulin E-mediated.
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IgE receptors can match against almost any shape. And they're not the only immune receptors or signalling pathways by a long shot.
The problem is we often sample our environments when we're experiencing unrelated inflammation. Inflammation is a signal to our immune system that something's up. Unfortunately, a match during this time can and often does teach the body the wrong thing. If they find signal, they'll self-amplify against it, and you could be stuck with a new allergy for life.
So now I'm incredibly curious -- the sore throat I get from memory foam. Is there any way to know whether that's simply a result of the VOC's damaging the cells in my throat directly? Or if it's an allergic reaction happening in that spot?
I have definitely been curious why memory foam would give me a sore throat specifically, when the offgassing is making equal contact with my skin, sinuses, etc.
Honestly, I suspect they have the same plethora of issues, they just ignore them.
I've had fifteen years of gut & digestive tract issues, which I eventually narrowed down to fructans (garlic & onion being the worst offenders), and some fruits.
This discovery lead to a train of people in my family removing them during shared meals, and various other people in my family (including a couple of boomers) also discovering they had the same issue!
the women who 'birthed' the boomers, were also a lot more 'hardy', cleaner air, very little electronics, more manual labour, outdoor activity etc... i bet that generation of mothers gave their infants good gut bacteria that set them up for success.... nowadays our best bet is probably to target a poop transfer surgery.
