Highly Fluorinated Chemicals
Fluorochemicals are used for their properties to repel stains, oil, or water on consumer products and industrial application. These chemicals are everywhere, on my carpet, make-up, pans and even my raincoat. Ignorance is truly bliss, now I know that exposure to PFOs and PFOAs have been linked to kidney, prostate, ovarian, and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, delayed puberty, decreased fertility in women, early menopause, reduced immune response in children and elevated cholesterol. The awareness of all the potential risks to exposure makes me cautious of future products I purchase.
Antimicrobials
This chemical is included in products to kill microbes. Antimicrobials are in personal care and cleaning products, keypads and boards, school supplies, and in some food storage containers. The concern is mostly with triclosan and Triclocarban which can cause endocrine disruption, altering metabolism and transport of thyroid hormone, synergizes estrogen action and decreases testosterone and sperm production. Most importantly is that there is no data demonstrating a health benefit to using antimicrobials.
Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are chemicals that are supposed to slow ignition and prevent fires. Many products have flame retardants to meet regulation, they are used in furniture, children’s products, electronics, and building materials. The use of flame retardants delays ignition only a few seconds and can actually make the fire more toxic.
Bisphenols and Phthalates
Bisphenols and phthalates are chemicals that make plastics stronger or more flexible. These chemicals are in plastic products including personal care products, and air fresheners. The most damaging about these chemicals is that they can mimic or block hormones, and children are most vulnerable. Some plastic toys may contain the chemicals and exposure can affect reproductive development in boys.
Some Metals
Mercury: Coal burning plants can release mercury into air and water. The bacteria in bodies of water convert it into the more toxic methylmercury.
Arsenic: The major source of arsenic exposure is food. For example, rice, mushrooms, apples, and grapes can absorb arsenic from contaminated water and soil.
Cadmium: Found in cigarette smoke, certain foods (shellfish, leafy vegetables, potatoes, grains, legumes), metal costume jewelry and charms, rechargeable batteries (labeled NiCd or NiCad), metal plating and solder, and some decorative paints used on glassware and pottery.
Lead: The major source of exposure to lead is peeling paint and dust in and around homes built before 1978. Lead can leach into water from plumbing and fixtures (common in plumbing before 1986) that are either made of lead or have lead solder, especially when the water is acidic.
Exposure to these metals during pregnancy or in early childhood can cause harm to the child’s brain development. In an adult, the metals are associated with a higher cancer risk. The scariest thing is that these metals are naturally from the earth and we can be exposed to eating or drinking contaminated food and water. Unknown to us it can be in a lot of our foods.
Solvents
Solvents are a diverse class of chemicals that are used to dissolve or disperse other substances. They are often found in building materials like oil-based paints, paint stripper, adhesives, and cosmetics, nail polish remover, garment dry cleaning, and household cleaners. The problem is breathing the solvent vapors that can lead to a higher risk of cancer.
Fluorochemicals are used for their properties to repel stains, oil, or water on consumer products and industrial application. These chemicals are everywhere, on my carpet, make-up, pans and even my raincoat. Ignorance is truly bliss, now I know that exposure to PFOs and PFOAs have been linked to kidney, prostate, ovarian, and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, delayed puberty, decreased fertility in women, early menopause, reduced immune response in children and elevated cholesterol. The awareness of all the potential risks to exposure makes me cautious of future products I purchase.
Antimicrobials
This chemical is included in products to kill microbes. Antimicrobials are in personal care and cleaning products, keypads and boards, school supplies, and in some food storage containers. The concern is mostly with triclosan and Triclocarban which can cause endocrine disruption, altering metabolism and transport of thyroid hormone, synergizes estrogen action and decreases testosterone and sperm production. Most importantly is that there is no data demonstrating a health benefit to using antimicrobials.
Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are chemicals that are supposed to slow ignition and prevent fires. Many products have flame retardants to meet regulation, they are used in furniture, children’s products, electronics, and building materials. The use of flame retardants delays ignition only a few seconds and can actually make the fire more toxic.
Bisphenols and Phthalates
Bisphenols and phthalates are chemicals that make plastics stronger or more flexible. These chemicals are in plastic products including personal care products, and air fresheners. The most damaging about these chemicals is that they can mimic or block hormones, and children are most vulnerable. Some plastic toys may contain the chemicals and exposure can affect reproductive development in boys.
Some Metals
Mercury: Coal burning plants can release mercury into air and water. The bacteria in bodies of water convert it into the more toxic methylmercury.
Arsenic: The major source of arsenic exposure is food. For example, rice, mushrooms, apples, and grapes can absorb arsenic from contaminated water and soil.
Cadmium: Found in cigarette smoke, certain foods (shellfish, leafy vegetables, potatoes, grains, legumes), metal costume jewelry and charms, rechargeable batteries (labeled NiCd or NiCad), metal plating and solder, and some decorative paints used on glassware and pottery.
Lead: The major source of exposure to lead is peeling paint and dust in and around homes built before 1978. Lead can leach into water from plumbing and fixtures (common in plumbing before 1986) that are either made of lead or have lead solder, especially when the water is acidic.
Exposure to these metals during pregnancy or in early childhood can cause harm to the child’s brain development. In an adult, the metals are associated with a higher cancer risk. The scariest thing is that these metals are naturally from the earth and we can be exposed to eating or drinking contaminated food and water. Unknown to us it can be in a lot of our foods.
Solvents
Solvents are a diverse class of chemicals that are used to dissolve or disperse other substances. They are often found in building materials like oil-based paints, paint stripper, adhesives, and cosmetics, nail polish remover, garment dry cleaning, and household cleaners. The problem is breathing the solvent vapors that can lead to a higher risk of cancer.
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