The Pride and Joy Environmental Resort in Melbourne, Florida is now enrolling children for a research project investigating the effects of removal of all petroleum chemical sources from their surroundings.  

As leukemia has previously been identified as a cancer that results with increased frequency after exposure to petroleum based chemical sources, it is important to identify what degree of improvement could be observed early in diagnosis if all petroleum chemical sources were removed from the patient (before further genetic stress occurs from chemotherapy and radiation interventions).

We are accepting children into the program who qualify under the following criteria:

1.  Have recently been diagnosed with leukemia and who have not yet begun cancer treatments using chemotherapy or radiation and have not yet entered the "acute" stage.

2.  Some children are being considered with acute stage leukemia which subsequently developed after chemotherapy and radiation treatments.  Children in this category need additional identifiable environmental risk exposures (i.e. - living near agriculture - homes built prior to 1980 (chlordane risk) - new remodeling in home (carpet - paint - etc.) or living near high vehicle traffic locations).

The Environmental Leukemia Research project is based along the premise that children with leukemia who advance into the acute stages show evidence of decreased immune system function, identified by lower natural killer cell activity.   Since natural killer cell function is critical for removal of cancer cells from the body, and since natural killer cell function has been found compromised from petroleum chemical exposures, it is important to identify to what degree of immune system improvements can be attained by strict removal of all petroleum chemical sources from the child's environment.

Natural Killer Cell Activity
and Cytokine Production Predicts
Future Health of Leukemia Patients

SOURCE: LEUKEMIA, 10:478-482, 1996

Researchers at the Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Japan studied the natural killer cell activity and production of cytokines from 44 leukemia patients who had either gone into remission or experienced a relapse back into a full leukemia state.  In conclusion the researchers stated:

In this study, the Natural Killer Cell activity was severely decreased in the patients at untreated or relapsed stage, but it increased gradually during remission after consolidation.  However, it was still lower than the control value even at maintenance or off treatment stage...... The ability to produce the cytokines IL-1, IFN and IL-2 (cytokines are natural compounds produced by the immune system that enhance many aspects of immune system activity) which are potent regulators of Natural Killer cell function, is severely depressed in Acute Leukemia not only at untreated or relapsed stage but also after consolidation and at maintenance or off treatment; in addition, the absolute numbers of Natural Killer cells are low at these stages.  These observations suggest that the Natural Killer activity is remarkably depressed in Acute Leukemia patients. 

F. Tajima, T Kawatani, A Endo and H. Kawasaki
Second Department of Internal Medicine
Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan
LEUKEMIA, 10:478-482, 1996

Project Details

We have worked out an agreement with a unique oceanfront resort on Melbourne Beach called the Pride and Joy.  Over the past 2 years the Pride and Joy has spent over $200,000 in efforts to eliminate chemical stress sources for its occupants which then dramatically reduces chemical insults to an individuals genetic structure. This allows the immune system and DNA repair processes to function at their maximum potential (since even slight chemical sources have now been shown to compromise their function). Along with the living conditions - foods are completely free of artificial food additives and are organically grown as well.

Examples of Pride and Joy interventions include:

1. Removing the carpet and installing quality tile floors.
2. Paints are not the conventional latex which are shown to emit plastic "phthalate" esters, but instead used natural plant based compounds..
3. Beds are constructed of organic cotton and wool - as well as the sheets.
4. No pesticides are allowed on the premises.
5. The pool uses a non-chlorine copper ion disinfectant system.

Going beyond this - the intervention involves removing the many other consumer products that contain petroleum based chemicals.

We have onsite lab equipment for doing daily blood tests for which there is no charge.  Blood for the daily tests is acquired from the "one drop pin prick."

We then perform the basic CBC blood test to determine the number of white blood cells and chart this on a daily basis to determine if the intervention is able to improve blood counts.

Since the research shows that children with leukemia who have higher levels of immune function are the ones who undergo remission - we then have what is called the " biological plausibility" factor since removal of chemical sources has been shown to improve immune function. 

What is nice about this project is that it is for only a short time - 
(2 weeks) in a beautiful setting on the ocean with excellent  meals cooked for everyone as well.   

Leukemia has the advantage over other cancers in determining the status of the disease since counts can be done on a daily basis and observed immediately.

Whereas, typical leukemia cancer treatments attempt to improve blood counts by poisoning the white blood producing cells in the marrow, which in turn may cause further genetic insults with increased risk of other health problems down the road, our research strategy attempts to restore the genetic integrity and proper functioning of the bone marrow cells by eliminating factors known to damage the genes which control cell growth as well as maximizing the DNA repair processes.

Although there is no cost for the lab work for the project, we do have to compensate the owner of the Pride and Joy Environmental Resort at $690 per week and all meals are included.  

While staying at the Pride and Joy resort - you will be able to use all equipment there including "boogie-boards" - kites - bicycles and even a canoe for paddling around the ocean.  Certainly a fun way to be involved in a research project.

For more information on participating in the Environmental Leukemia Project please explain details surrounding your child and email us by clicking the EMAIL FORM LINK.

Thank you,

Richard W. Pressinger
Environmental Leukemia Project
Melbourne Beach, Florida