From ATH: 10 Toxic Chemicals and How to Avoid Them

All Things Healing recently published an article about the common chemicals found just about anywhere. We think this article is very important and filled with things that everyone should know to keep them and their family safe. 

Here's the list, compiled and written by Jean-Pierre Ruiz.

1. Phthalates

Phthalates are mostly used to make vinyl, a type of plastic, flexible. Listed as “fragrance”, they are also present in everyday items we use around the house or on our person, such as shampoos, soaps, laundry detergents, air fresheners, perfumes, where they enter your body through your skin or respiratory system. They also leach from plastic when it is heated (for example, as you heat your soup contained in a Tupperware-type of container), or the plastic wears down. They then enter your body through your digestive system. Either way, they are known to disrupt the endocrine system which acts on almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies. For example, it is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, and sexual function as well as reproductive processes.

To minimize their toxic effects, store and heat your food using glass containers. Also, avoid vinyl flooring (the glue used is also highly toxic and is released slowly over long periods of time), plastic shower curtains, PVC pipes, and products listing “fragrance” as an ingredient.

**Team Das says: Did you know that there's a huge debate about pthalates in sex toys?! You can even find Pthalate-Free adult toy shops like this one.

2. BPA

BPA is Bisphenol A and is also used in plastic food and beverage containers (though it was recently banned from baby bottles and sippy cups), as well as most cash register receipts and even money. Like phthalates, BPA is a known endocrine disruptor and it has been linked to breast cancer, miscarriage, erectile dysfunction and heart disease.

To minimize their toxic effects, again use glass containers to store anything and microwave food. Because BPA is used to line the interior of food cans, buy in bulk using your own glass containers, and frozen or fresh foods, or shop with companies who do not line their cans with BPA. Buy “BPA-free” reusable water bottles and wash your hands after handling receipts or money.

3. Chlorine

Chlorine is a known poison even at very low concentration. In fact, chlorine gas was used extensively during World War I and was still seen as potential weapon as late as the Gulf War. Today, it is used as a disinfectant in municipal water systems (as is fluoride, another known poison and by-product in the processing of chemicals). Chlorine has been linked to increased risks of heart diseases, allergic reactions and miscarriages, as well as increased rates of bladder, colon and rectal cancers.

To minimize its effects, filter chlorine with a whole-house filter (which can be very expensive) or with a chlorine-filtering showerhead and a granular-activated charcoal drinking water filter (a less expensive method). Avoid swimming in chlorinated water (oxygenation of water is just as effective) or using chlorine to clean your pool.

**Team Das says: The RadiantWash shower head filter from AlkaViva uses Vitamin C to remove Chlorine and Chloramines from your shower water. Makael says that it leaves the water feeling silky, and her skin feeling less dry! It costs $39.95 and can be found here.

4. Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, radioactive gas that sometimes seeps into homes directly from the ground through cracks in the foundation. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer (and the leading cause for nonsmokers). Radon can only be detected with a test kit which can be purchased at most hardware stores, or online.

To minimize its effect call in a radon remediation contractor if you find Radon levels exceed 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L can still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced. Unfortunately, only a specialist can help you in this case.

5. PFCs

Teflon, Scotchguard, Stainmaster, and Gore-Tex are all well-known brands using PFCs (perfluorinated compounds). PFCs are used on stain-resistant clothing and upholstery, cooking pans, fast-food wrappers, and inside pet food and microwave popcorn bags. These chemicals are extremely stable and accumulate in our bodies where they have been linked with low-weight babies, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation and reduced immune function. They are also a significant source of greenhouses gases.

To minimize their effects forego stain treatments on furniture or carpet; don’t wear clothing labeled stain- or water-resistant; avoid nonstick pans; pop popcorn on the stove; and choose personal-care items without “PTFE” and “perfluoro” in the ingredients.

6. Lead

Now banned, lead was an ingredient used to manufacture paint before 1978 (it was also in leaded gasoline, but that’s another story). It can also be found in old plumbing. It is cataloged as a “heavy metal” (another is mercury) and can accumulate in soft tissue and bones. However it enters your system, lead is a neurotoxin that can cause headaches, joint pain, high blood pressure, and reproductive and memory problems, as well as impairs children’s brain and nervous system development, a fact known and documented as far as back as ancient Greece and Rome.

Although it’s unlikely that your house has not been repainted since 1978, to minimize its effects, clean up any chips from peeling paint and contact a certified lead abatement contractor. Do not remove lead paint yourself. Prevent further chipping by sealing old paint with a clear, nontoxic sealant.

7. Pesticides and Fertilizers

Let’s face it, pesticides and fertilizers are “effective” because they interfere with the core molecule needed by the cells in their life processes. Do you really believe it does not act upon the human cells? In fact, research shows that many common pesticides are known carcinogens. One chemical in many pesticides, dichlorvos, is associated with mammary tumors in rats or mice. Another, glyphosate (better known as Monsanto’s “RoundUp”), has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

And don’t count on the EPA to keep harmful pesticides out of reach. You may be surprised to learn that the agency does not test pesticides for safety. Instead it relies on the manufacturers’ own data to make an assessment of their safety (conflict of interest anyone?). To make matters worse, the “inert ingredients” found in pesticides may be, and most times are, solvents, carriers, preservatives, and/or adjuvants intended to make the active ingredient work better. While it is not a requirement that they be listed on the label, they may represent up to 99.9% of the volume and may be hundreds of times more toxic than the so-called active ingredients.

To minimize their effects, don’t use chemical pesticides or fertilizers on your lawn, particularly Monsanto’s RoundUp which, despite claims to the contrary, while it may kill weeds temporarily has created “super weeds” (in fact, Monsanto has now created a new version of RoundUp to deal with these super weeds). Buy organic fruits and vegetables from local farmers because most organic brands have been purchased by food conglomerates. For example, Bear Naked, Wholesome & Hearty, Kashi, and more, are owned by Kellog’s. Naked Juice is owned by PepsiCo, while Walnut Acres, Health Valley and Spectrum Organics are owned by Hain Celestial, once affiliated with Heinz.

8. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is best known as an embalming fluid. But it is a flammable compound with a sharp taste that is found in building materials such as pressed-wood, plywood, particleboard and paneling products, melamine (hard plastic) dishes and cigarette smoke. It can also be found in fingernail polish, wallpaper, paint, some clothing, linen and draperies. It has been known to irritate the eyes, throat and mucus membranes, and cause headaches and nausea. Research shows that exposure may increase the risk of brain cancer and leukemia.

To minimize its effects use “exterior-grade” pressed-wood products to limit formaldehyde exposure in the home. If you must buy pressed-wood products such as plywood, paneling, particleboard, fiberboard, and furniture and cabinets, ask retailers or manufacturers about formaldehyde content (look and avoid the “UF” symbol). Consider using formaldehyde-free materials such as solid wood, gypsum board, some hardboard products, stainless steel, adobe, bricks, tile, and plastic and use formaldehyde-free insulation. Wash permanent press clothing, sheets, and other fabrics before using: one washing can reduce formaldehyde emissions from these products by up to 60 percent!

9. Parabens

These chemicals (often more than one is used in any single product) are used extensively as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are controversial because they weakly mimic estrogen, and researchers have found measurable concentrations in breast tumors. Studies show that methylparaben may react with sunlight to damage skin.

To minimize their toxic effects, avoid cosmetics that list parabens or words ending in “-paraben” among the ingredients. You can search for personal care products containing parabens on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Searchable Product Guide website.

10. PBDEs and PBBs

Used as flame retardants in building materials, electronics (think TV, iPod and iPad. Kitchen appliances, hair dryers, etc.), foam cushions and textiles, PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) and PBBs (polybrominated biphenyls) accumulate in blood and fat tissues. Endocrine-disrupting PBDEs and PBBs may alter children’s brain development and cause learning and behavior problems. Exposure can decrease thyroid hormone levels and negatively affect reproduction. 

Additionally, investigation has shown that the testimony on which laws were based to force manufacturers to provide flame retardants was made up and that these chemicals are ineffective (see: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/keyword/flame-retardants).