The sins of the parents are visited upon their children to the nth generation by way of a poisoned environment and a myriad of associated deleterious health conditions. Water and air pollution is the devil. Environmental toxins defile the temple

The modern world is trying to kill you. -- Bryan Johnson
That’s what I’ve learned over the past five years building Don’t Die. It’s been shocking to learn of the insane hostility to life. And there’s nowhere to hide. We’ve had to build our own safe haven for biological vibrance. My goal is simple: identify that which kills and either minimize or avoid it. My team and I work every day to identify these risks, quantify them, and then remedy. It’s a huge amount of work. We measure my biology and environment via thousands of biomarkers and millions of data points. Assessing how the forces of Die and Don’t Die affect my fertility, muscle, skin, hair, cognition, brain, lungs, gene expression, disease risk and so forth. I share everything I learn with you (yeah transparency!). I know implementation is hard. We're working on making this easier for everyone. Here is a sampling of the things we track to give you an idea: original list

Environmental Toxins Ranked from Most Harmful to Least Harmful for the Average American
Ranking is based on population-level health burden (e.g., contribution to mortality, chronic disease like heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health issues) from major sources like CDC, WHO, IHME studies, and epidemiological data. Leading preventable risks include tobacco (though not listed), high blood pressure/diet/obesity (driven heavily by poor diet), alcohol, physical inactivity, air pollution, etc. Ultra-processed food diets now rival or exceed some classic risks in recent analyses for chronic disease burden.

Ultra-processed foods, fast/junk food, refined carbs/sugars, sugary beverages — Major driver of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, depression; ~60-70% of calories for many Americans; linked to massive premature mortality and chronic illness burden.

Alcohol (including excessive or timing-specific) — Top preventable cause of death/disease after smoking/diet; liver disease, cancer, accidents, mental health.

Poor sleep and circadian disruption (insufficient/irregular sleep, late eating, bright lights/blue light, shift work) — Strongly tied to metabolic disorders, heart disease, mental health, immune function; widespread issue.\

Sedentary lifestyle/prolonged sitting/poor ergonomics — Major risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mortality; combines with poor diet for huge impact.

Chronic stress, toxic relationships, loneliness, overwork — Drives inflammation, heart disease, mental illness; epidemic levels in modern life.

Outdoor air pollution (PM2.5, ozone, exhaust) — Significant contributor to respiratory/cardiovascular deaths; affects nearly everyone.

Indoor air pollution (VOCs, formaldehyde, radon, secondhand smoke/vaping, off-gassing) — Major for respiratory issues, cancer (radon especially); people spend ~90% time indoors.

PFAS ("forever chemicals") and related (in water, packaging, non-stick, stain-resistant items, cleaning/laundry) — Widespread bioaccumulation; linked to cancer, immune/hormone disruption; detected in nearly all Americans.

Tap water contaminants (PFAS, heavy metals, chlorine/fluoride, microplastics, runoff) — Broad exposure; PFAS/heavy metals particularly concerning for long-term effects.

Microplastics (in food, water, air, home) — Emerging but ubiquitous; inflammation, chemical carrier; rising concern but lower ranked burden currently.

Food-related toxins (pesticides/herbicides like glyphosate, hormone disruptors, additives/preservatives/artificial colors, heated seed oils, mycotoxins) — Contribute to hormone issues, gut health, cancer risk; diet already covered above amplifies.

Heavy metals in food (esp. mercury in fish) — Neurotoxic, cardiovascular effects; more targeted exposure.

Household/personal care toxins (phthalates, parabens, sulfates, triclosan, fragrances, aluminum, etc. in cosmetics/skincare/cleaning/oral care) — Endocrine disruption, skin/respiratory issues; cumulative but lower population mortality.

Non-stick/plastic cookware and food contact issues (Teflon, BPA, plastics leaching) — Overlaps with PFAS/microplastics; hormone/chemical exposure.

EMF/non-native radiation (WiFi, phones) — Debated; some evidence for sleep/oxidative stress, but lower consensus on major harm.

Excessive caffeine/energy drinks (timing-specific) — Sleep/metabolic disruption; moderate risk.

Sun imbalances (excess/lack, vitamin D deficiency) — Skin cancer vs. immune/bone issues; manageable.

Harmful behaviors - mouth breathing, poor posture, poor hygiene, unnecessary meds

This ranking prioritizes broad, high-burden exposures first (diet/lifestyle > pollution > persistent chemicals > niche/emerging). Individual risk varies by genetics, location, habits—focus on the top few yields the biggest health gains for most people.

Getting the toxins out of our environments is one thing, not introducing more into our environment is another.

Fairly easy things anyone can do / avoid.