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Toxins in the home
Information compiled by Kay Heizer, Director of "Healthy Choices"
Healthy Choices is a non-profit organization comprised of doctors,
nurses, environmental scientists and educators committed to teaching the
public about the hazards of chemicals in our homes and how we can avoid
or minimize the risks.
50% of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality
(Source: 1989 State of Massachusetts Study)
3 groups of people are primarily affected by indoor chemical
concentrations because they spend more time indoors and their immune
systems are weaker. The three groups are:
· Infants and Toddlers
· Elderly
· Chronically ill
(Source: 1988 EPA, 5 year study)
Just reducing (not eliminating) environmental carcinogens alone, would
save at least 50,000 lives from cancer annually
(Source: Dr. Lee Davis, former advisor to the Secretary of Health)
Women who work in the home have a 54% higher death rate from
cancer than women who work outside of the home
(Source: 17 year EPA study)
Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to
allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities
(Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Some products release contaminants into the air right away, others do so
gradually over a period of time. Some stay in the air up to a year.
These contaminants, found in many household and personal care products
can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory
tract irritations and some cause cancer
(Source: American Lung Association)
Over the last 20-30 years, as more toxic chemicals have been introduced
in greater amounts, the level of toxins stored in our bodies has risen.
Bio-accumulation studies have shown that some toxins store in our bodies
for life. Greater and greater amounts are being stored at younger ages.
Diseases that used to occur later in life are now appearing at younger
ages. Disease that used to be rare are more frequent. For example:
· There has been a 28% increase in childhood
cancer since the addition of
pesticides into household products
(Source: National Cancer Institute)
· In one decade, there has been a 42% increase
in asthma (29% for men; 82%
for women - the higher rate for women is believed to
be due to women's
longer exposure times to household chemicals)
(Source: Center for Disease Control)
Due to the increase in toxic buildup in our bodies, including the toxic
buildup of formaldehyde, dead bodies are not decomposing as fast as they
used to.
(Source: National Institute of Health)
· Bodies now start to decompose within 7 to 10 days after death
· During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese bodies started to decompose within
24-48 hours; Americans didn't start to decompose for 4-5 days
· Twice as much formaldehyde was needed to embalm a person twenty years
ago compared to today.
There is an increased risk for leukemia in children where parents have
used pesticides in the home or garden before the child's birth
(Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute)
Out of 1,435 pesticide poisonings in a one year period, over 40% were
due to exposure to disinfectants and similar cleaning products in the
home
(Source: State of California Study)
Liquid Dish Soap is the leading cause of poisonings in the home
(contains formaldehyde and ammonia in most brands)
Warning labels on containers refer ONLY to toxic hazards from ingestion,
however only 10% of health problems from chemicals are caused by
ingestion. 90% are caused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of
particles.
Government regulations require that only the most EXTREMELY
toxic substances must contain a warning label. Labels that say the
following should be removed from your house immediately:
· Do not induce vomiting
· Corrosive - Rinse from skin immediately
· Harmful or fatal if swallowed
· Call physician immediately - Get emergency aid
· Warning! (may mean that 1 teaspoon of product can harm or kill
an adult)
· Danger! (means that as little as 5 drops can harm or kill an adult)
The top 12 cancer causing products
in the average home include the following:
· Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder with Talc
· Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste
· VO5 Hair Conditioner
· Clairol Nice N Easy Hair Color
· AJAX Cleanser
· Lysol Disinfectant
(Source: The National Cancer Prevention Coalition)
Of the chemicals found in personal care products:
· 884 are toxic
· 146 cause tumors
· 218 cause reproductive complications
· 314 cause biological mutations
· 376 cause skin and eye irritations
(Source: United States House of Representatives report, 1989)
The State of California recently passed legislation requiring a 45%
reduction in the amount of toxins found in:
· Hairspray aerosols
· Furniture polish
· Window cleaners
· Air fresheners
· Laundry detergents
· Nail polish remover
· Insect repellent
· Hair styling gel and mousse
· Shaving creme
(Source: Healthy Homes in a Toxic World)
Phenol is a very common chemical that is found in household products.
Health effects from phenol include:
· Corrosive to any tissues
· Harm to the central nervous system
· Primary route of entry is through the skin
Phenol is found in the following common products:
· Air fresheners
· Carmax
· Blistex
· Anti-itching and pain relieving lotions
· Chloroseptic throat spray
· Feminine powders and sprays
· Furniture polish
· Disinfectant cleaner
· All-purpose cleaner
The following products are just a few that are so toxic they should be
disposed in a toxic waste dump:
· Floor care products
· Furniture polish
· Window cleaner
· Bug spray
· Nail polish remover
(Source: Water Pollution Control Federation)
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