Your health and the environment: Are there toxins in your home?
- April 29, 2009 3:50 PM |
- By Your Voice
Submitted by Kerri Brock
About: I'm on the board of directors for the Women's Healthy Environments Network, a non-profit, charitable organization that works with communities on prevention initiatives addressing environmental health links.
My story: I became involved with WHEN seven years ago at a Sustainability Network breakfast. I was recruited in a way, based on my marketing skills. The moment I heard that WHEN's mission was to raise awareness of the links between our environment and our health, they had me. Ever since I was a little Brownie, I knew that there was some connection, but didn't know enough of the science behind it to articulate why.
My role at the network is to research and develop new programs and campaigns that support our strategic objectives. I do it because I believe in the work we do and the need for this type of work in our communities.
I've found that people are not very engaged in their own well being. I want to engage people in this regard. Oh sure, they eat well, and exercise and try to live in healthy ways. But we need citizens to become engaged and active in trying to find a solution for the root cause of our health issues. I hope to work on the policies that allow chemicals to be used in the first place. Our life support system is being used as a dumping ground for pollutants, and very little to no responsibility is taken for balancing out the impacts. How can we expect that there would be no downstream impact on humanity? Its happening to the wildlife and the biosphere, of which we are part.
We can each do our part to make a difference, starting in our own homes, here are some of the changes I've made:
- Removed a microwave from my existence. It's just not necessary!
- Removed plastic food storage items and canned foods from my home. I try to shop local and organic, and with no plastics — but it comes with its challenges and compromises.
- Changed over 90 per cent of my bath and beauty products (still working on my teenager), and household cleaning products to natural
- I use a drying rack in my apartment to minimize use of dryer
- Clothes and products I buy are second hand and where feasible Made in Canada
- I rarely go to a drive through and never idle my vehicle! I even ask taxis and other to turn off engines
- Use of natural breeze and fans instead of air conditioning
All of this is along with the standard, recycling, public transit, energy and water conservation and moderate consumption that came as part of my hippie upbringing!
I made these specific changes because they were simple, its so much easier to start change when you pick just a few things.
You should also watch for the following chemicals that can be found in cleaning, health and beauty products around the home, and try to eliminate as many as possible.
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate
- Petroleum, Mineral Oil
- Formaldehyde
- Propylene Glycol
- Synthetic perfumes
- Benzene
- Inks and dyes
- DEA (diethanolomine)
If you're still stuck on where to start, here are a few resources to help you on your way.
- Womens Healthy Environments Networks
- Eco-Holic by Audra Vasil
- Womens Voices for the Earth
- Environmental Working Groups
So often I hear from people that someone else is looking after the issue or that human rights are seriously considered when making decisions, but the fact is that they are not. Our Earths resources are at risk, toxins are being used in products and being dumped, and its been that way for decades. There needs to be a massive shift in thinking and that starts with the individual. You and I taking steps no matter how big or small the steps are, that's what will help us carry forward.
You can learn more about household toxins, at our event at the Centre for Social Innovation (215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto) on May 7th called Lower Your Doses. We will be talking about toxins in our products and ways to reduce their impact.
Do you link health and the environment? What do you do to protect yourself? Share your tips below.
Are there events in your community addressing this issue? Let us know.
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Comments (18)
there is so much that we can do. we should never stop trying. we must show each other through our action, its beyond words now.
we don't need to wash our hair. its just the major corporations selling you another useless product. It may take a few weeks for your scalp to go back to a natural state of oil production. But a rinse with baking soda or even just water should always be enough.
you can make your own face wash with coconut oil and some tea tree and lavender essential oil. I also add neem oil as I have had problems with acne in the past. We use this to wash our whole body. Still using glycerin soap on the hands, especially these days.
we use glass tupperware at home and metal containers on the go and we never buy pre-made or take-out foods. we carry hot and cold drinks in metal containers and small snacks with us everywhere we go. there is no sense in adding to the waste production economy.
Gaia is our mother,we are all one, with love and respect we live in harmony.
I hear ya, well done with this post. My wife and I do almost everything we can, save a few things, but this article helps point to other things that we can do, getting rid of chemicals, which we have been trying to do everytime we go get groceries. We have a baby due anyday now, and we are doing the cloth diapers, using natural laundry detergent, bugging our landlord to install a clothesline for the summer, though we may just end up doing that ourselves. The only problem with all this thinking green is that we have to find a way around how much these natural products actually cost, and with one income, living in the city, it ain't easy. good job with the article, i'll be passing this along to the wife for sure.
Good article! Seems to me humanity got by just fine without the 90,000+ man-made chemicals before they were introduced into our lives not that long ago. Avoidance of these chemicals comes at a price, unfortunately, since they are such an integral part of our daily lives. A few basic steps like the ones in this story go a long way towards weaning ourselves off them, and at the very least, will enhance your quality of life. A good place to start is with the stuff we lather on ourselves in the name of vanity.
I mean, when you put on that dab of chemically-enhanced hand cream and it "dissapears", where does it go?
While I'm okay with this sort of plea to tread a little easier on the Earth I have a problem when there is no substatiation. What is the point of this list of random chemicals?
You say, "Ever since I was a little Brownie, I knew that there was some connection, but didn't know enough of the science behind it to articulate why."
It seems like you still can't.
Kerri - How much do you actually know about microwaves? If you are trying to be healthier and more enviromentally friendly, you should be exclusively using them to cook your food. I don't understand why you would state that you removed microwaves from your life as though the reasoning was self-evident.
Microwaves are much more efficient at using energy to cook food than a stove top or an oven - nearly all of the energy goes into heating the food.
They also cook food similarly to steaming it, which is the best way to preserve the nutritional content of vegetables. And if you know what you're doing, you can quite easily cook all kinds of meats in the microwave as well.
Marketing skills? Sounds like you need some scientific skills.
"Chemicals" aren't bad. Water is a chemical, are you going to get rid of that? Seems as though you've identified some of the major groups that cause problems, but it's not a breakthrough, nor special.
You see, there are many of us who've been doing exactly that, quietly, for many years. It's called being educated. There's no mystery between environment and well being -- in fact it's been known for thousands of years.
Thing is, the last century of MARKETING has created people who are averse to using this knowledge, because it doesn't fit what's "cool" or "trendy".
So, you've now turned your attention back to what smart people have always known. It'll be a fleeting fad, I'm sure, for the drones. Meanwhile the rest of us will continue to do as we always have.
I think this article should be posted on the front page Headline area of CBC News everyday so that people can wake up to this information until they finally get that we are killing ourselves with all these chemicals.
Thank you for the information. There were things that you mentioned that I did not know and I will be sure to add to my things to-do list when I get home.
I follow all th suggestions made in this article with the exception of the propylene glycol and the occassional use of a dryer(although having spent 3 weeks air drying clothes in Italy this spring that may also change). Could you please explain more about propylene glycol as it was my understanding that only ethylene glycol was hazardous and I use propylene glycol at work daily.
Thank you,
Laura.
Great Article..
We all need to do our part for the environment..we put our clothes outside on our 2 clothes lines. I Use products that are better and cleaner.. using a product line that is more concentrated so I use less.When my children were babies I used cloth diapers and breast fed. I think we all need to be walking more, and biking where we can.We can do our part by canning our foods, and having gardens. And using products on our skin that are organic and more natural.. and yes even making our own products. Each thing that we can do to save our planet and our future generations will make a small ripple in our world.. Amen to all those things that are listed in the Article. We need to teach our own children and grand children how to cook healthy, and be more self-reliant.
thank you
Jeannie ( Mother of 4 healthy sons, and Nanna to 2 grandsons, and 3 granddaughters.)
Yes a list of symptomology and sources for your list would be nice, and I would also like to see the word "chemical" return to its meaning of "compound" or molecule made from more than one kind of atom, such as water, carbon dioxide, sugar or chlorophyll. But there's no fighting popular culture.
Please be aware that vegetable glycerin soap can be used to clean all parts of the body, and all you need for the house is water and vinegar or baking soda. No need for expensive "eco" subsitutes.
Great Article:
Stick to the basics is my principle. I too got rid of my microwave many years ago. I did much research first and found to many questions and not enough answers. And your right, too many people seem to think that they can keep on throwing stuff in the garbage and dumping things down the toilet and it is out of sight is out of mind. It is and will continue to haunt us if the majority don't start making some connections ands realizing it all goes somewhere and someone will have to figure out a way to deal with it. Or not and it will continue to kill people, animals and their environment
I agree that many chemicals should not be used. I have friends who eschew everything while pregnant but use Fantastik and Swiffer in their homes. We need more simple access to facts about some of these chemicals. I do air dry many things here in Sask. where the humidity is low, it's easy. Can't live without a/c though. Have to find me something else when its still 27 at night, with no breeze. We all need to do our part. I do have canned goods in case of a pandemic.
To the person who loves microwaves.... did you know that there is scientific research indicates that microwave ovens change the molecular structure of our food to something our bodies don't recognize as food???? Happy eating.
Great article! I have become extremely sensitive to chemicals of all sorts within the last 8 years or so...and it seems the more I get rid of them the less tolerance I have for them. I use only natural cleaners and the only "chem" in my house is a bottle of bleach I use rarely for a few things. I am super sensitive to perfumes and have managed to convince a few friends to stop wearing them, and in the end they said "hey... my headaches have gone away!"
It's amazing the number of everyday ailments that these extra toxins cause, once you give them up you'll never go back! Your body doesn't need or want them - ever heard of the term "Hormesis"? You can force your body to get used to anything (cigarettes are a great example)...even though it may kill you over time.
I'll dissent here.
Ralph: "Humanity got by just fine without..." no, they didn't. Most had brutally miserable and short lives, working and existing in terrible conditions. On balance, especially here in the west, things are much, much better now - the driving force of that being the consumption people here are shouting so loudly against.
Hank: Can you point to this research? Also, ALL COOKING CHANGES THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF FOOD. if it didn't you'd just be melting it.
Jennifer: Excellent points re "chemical". Your skin is a chemical. Air is a chemical. Let's get some precision in language here.
Yes, let's all leave a smaller dent in our surroundings, that's just good sense. But incomplete, un-sourced, un-credited third-hand word-of-mouth gossip is not helpful or useful.
I'd like to agree with many posters here. Where's the evidence? Even some that agree are asking for more. It sounds like she needs to spend more time educating herself on the scientific process of weight of evidence. Not that the precautionary principle isn't important but it shouldn't be used indiscriminantly. I'd also agree that more research should be done on products we use. But that doesn't mean they are all unsafe.
As to the guy that posted that microwaves change our food. That's hilarious. I notice you didn't post the link to that 'study'. I'd be embarrassed to too. As one poster said microwaves are the most efficient way of heating food.
So my advice, everyone should do their own research and do it well. Don't rely on other's opinions that you find on the web. Not everything you read is true. Instead actually look at a scientific journal. I know shocking...
Hank , do some basic research before spouting off about how microwaves heat food. You are so out to lunch I laugh at you. Why do you people spout off with no sources to back up your dribble. People panic when they are afraid of learning the science behind something. Then again there is a growing segment of the population that is against any and all science and will spread rumours to make themselves important.
With the Internet these days and the public libraries the information is out there, look for reputable sources , from reputable individuals and organizations who disclose their funding and objectives clearly for all to see. Genuine research uses proven science and is published in pier reviewed publications. Someones belief from when they were a brownie is not a reliable source , neither is because someone told you it was bad or good.
research and educate yourself then make a judgement based on facts and not rumours, lies and fear mongering which is running wild through people who just want attention. Then again no one lessons when you talk facts do they.
I feel so good to read such wonderful things some of you are doing to help our only Home.I have a suggestion. By law in Germany all
customers who do shopping can remove the
extra packing and discard it into large
container left at the entrance to the store.
This way you reduce the packing material and it is the responsibility of the store to
dispose the material.Why do not we do the same in Canada ?
Also it is by law the Automakers have to take back the old cars and dispose of them in Europe. Why do not do the same. Thanks for4 reading