Have you ever given any thought to the fact that you might be
causing more harm than good while using your consumable
products? I know that we have used household cleaners and
personal care products for decades, so why am I bringing this
issue up now? If we do not educate ourselves on this topic, then
in the end, we have no one else to blame but ourselves. The
plain and simple truth is that manufacturing companies spend
millions of dollars on advertising their products every year. We
are blasted on a daily basis with commercials and ads regarding
our consumable products. For the most part, we also believe that
if we want to have cleaner houses and look our personal best,
then we NEED to have, buy, and use these types of products. Have
you ever taken the time to research exactly what you are either
inhaling or absorbing through your skin whenever you use these
products? The sad fact is that the majority of us have never
given that point any thought. Why, because we do not know that
there is any serious health risks associated with the vast
majority of these products. We have never been told through
these ads or commercials that the chemicals and toxins used in
making these products can be potentially dangerous to our
health. Manufacturers are only mandated or required to list the
potential concerns associated with their particular product,
such as: use caution, wear protective gloves, use safety
glasses, may be corrosive, or whether the product is classified
as poison etc. Only 1 percent of TOXINS are required to be
listed on labels. According to the National Research Council,
“no toxic information is available for more than 80% of the
chemicals in everyday-use products. Less than 20% have been
tested for acute effects and less than 10% have been tested for
chronic, reproductive or mutagenic effects.” A more alarming
issue revolves around our personal care products. Back in 1989,
a House Senate Subcommittee asked the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health to analyze 2,093 chemicals used
in personal care products. There results were as follows: 884 of
the ingredients were found to be toxic. Of these, 778 can cause
acute toxicity, 146 can cause tumors, 218 can cause reproductive
complications, 314 can cause biological mutations, and 376 can
cause skin and eye irritations. Now, I will say that there are
several factors to consider while determining whether or not a
toxin actually causes harm in any particular situation, such as:
potency, the rate of exposure; the dosage, and individual
sensitivity. We all are very aware of the irritations to our
skin, eyes and throats, when using some of these products, but
are you aware that those irritations may just be the tip of the
iceberg? Toxins are known to cause a variety of harms and health
issues. The EPA has acknowledged that the air inside our homes
is 3 to 70 times more polluted than the air outside our homes.
The EPA has also acknowledged that toxic chemicals in household
cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outside
pollutants. What are some of the other risks involved with using
these types of products? Cancers, anemia, leukemia, liver, lung
and kidney problems, learning and developmental issues,
reproductive issues, and death are just some of the health
issues associated with these toxins. Now it appears that more
doctors and scientist are discovering that there may be more
correlation between the usage of household chemicals and the
increase in chronic illnesses, especially involving children.
Such illnesses such as cancer, ADD, and asthma have been on a
steady increase over the past few decades among our children.
Now you may be wondering what a toxin is, and a toxin can be
defined as harmful chemicals or substances that occur in nature
and or are manufactured. You also may be wondering what toxins
are commonly found in our homes. Listed below are some of the
toxins most commonly found in our homes, just to name a few.
Ammonia, benzene, chlorine bleach, chloropyrifos, chloroform,
deet, dioxin, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, naphthalene,
perchloroethylene, pesticides, phosphates, phthalates, sovents
and volatile organic compounds.
What will it take to get the American people concerned more
about their health and the health of their loved ones? What will
it take to get us to recognize that we are allowing hazardous
chemicals into our households every time we bring major brands
of household cleaners into our homes? What will it take to get
people to want to further educate themselves on this particular
subject? You tell me! Better yet, I will tell you. Chances are
that, until something happens either directly to us, to our
family members, or to our friends, we will more than likely let
this issue go without further ado. The choice to research this
matter more rest solely upon your shoulders. There are numerous
sites that are dedicated to discussing the issues of household
chemicals and the health risks that are associated with using
these products. There are products, some of which are home
remedies, and others that can be purchased, that are designed to
be safer on the environment and safer for and on us as
consumers. The fact of the matter is that we use these types of
products on a daily basis, and no matter what, we will continue
to purchase these products for our use. I know and understand
that we cannot eliminate all of the chemicals and toxins in our
homes, but we CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNTS OF TOXINS THAT WE ALLOW
INTO OUR HOMES! I personally have switched my household cleaners
and personal care products over to more natural products, and I
can tell you that I absolutely love the products. I love the
fact that I do not have to wear gloves or glasses or need to
ventilate my home when I clean, and I love the fact that my
family is using products that are designed to be safer and non
toxic. I can also testify to the fact that the household
cleaners work just as good as the major brands, if not better. I
have done what I can to “open your eyes” or shed some light on
this subject, and I can only hope that you will take the
initiative to research this more for the sake of you and your
loved ones. If you should have any questions and or concerns
regarding either more information or where you can find natural
and safer products to use, then email me at StnypntNc@aol.com,
or feel free to call me at 704-873-1226, and I will be more than
happy to assist you more. Thank you for your time and take care
of yourself and your loved ones. This article was written by
Bruce Bowery. You can view this article and others on
http://rid-your-home-of-toxins.blogspot.com.
|
