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In our germ-o-phobic attempt to protect ourselves from infectious diseases, our clean-freak streak has created a secondary cause of illness in our inside environments— chemicals. Until 17 years ago, I thought nothing of grabbing my chemical house cleaners and freely spraying where I thought germs were hiding. At that time, a friend introduced me to the world of natural alternative cleaners and personal care products. Only then did I really learn about the toxic burden on our bodies inside our homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals and other public places.
A 1989 State of Massachusetts study stated that 50 percent of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality. The amount of chemicals introduced in our world in the last 80 years is staggering, with health effects testing lagging far behind. When combined with other chemicals, we just don’t know the full extent chemicals have on our bodies, but testing shows we all have them in our bodies now (see http://archive.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden1/index.php).
A 1990 indoor air symposium in Canada revealed that women staying/working at home have a 54 percent higher risk of developing cancer because of indoor air. Indoor air can be more toxic than the outdoor air in large cities. Our homes are increasingly more tightly insulated and air conditioned and have less fresh air exposure. Advertising sells us on the latest cleaner, laundry soap or air freshener, but are they healthier or more toxic?
Chemicals pollute our bodies in three ways: ingestion, inhalation and absorption through our skin.
Most people are cautious about storing cleaning products in latched cupboards or out of the reach of small children. Babies don’t know what the poison symbol means or if dishwasher gel is frosting or not. A quick lick can reap a lifetime of surgeries from corrosion of the esophagus. The most poisonings under age six come from dishwashing liquids, which often contain the toxins formaldehyde and ammonia. Personal care products and cosmetics also can have harmful ingredients and need safer alternatives and to be kept out of reach. Children under age 12 don’t have the detoxification maturity to filter toxins. The elderly and chronically ill also are more vulnerable.
More subtle, yet more common, is the way chemicals find their way into our bodies through inhalation or absorption, which can be even more harmful because the poisons go directly into the bloodstream to the organs. Often, long-term chronic use builds up in the body.
Dr. Daniel Amen, my favorite brain guru, reported in his December blog about a new Korean study linking ADD and exposure to phthalates (in packaging, toys, cleaners, etc.). The higher the concentrations, the more severe the ADD symptoms. Amen also has witnessed the impact of environmental toxins in his work with thousands of youth with ADD.
Think about the various times you’ve been exposed to something sprayed in the air just this week. Not only are minute droplets carried on the air into our lungs, but all products also outgas through their sealed containers. It really gripes me (restaurants, take note!) when a restaurant employee sprays a chemical cleaning solution in front of or near diners. Better to spray the cloth in the back room (not near the food) and carry it out to the table, than to spray chemicals around patrons. Parents usually tell kids not to eat a piece of food that falls on a restaurant table because of germs, but traces of these cleaning chemicals are inhaled, absorbed and ingested.
Think of the cleaning and personal care products that our skin and palms are exposed to on a daily basis. The skin is our largest organ and our palm is nine times more absorbent than the tops of our hands. A friend recently recounted a time when her dad used his arm to stir a bucket of pesticide mixture. His arm was burned for quite a while and he eventually died from cancer. The family often wondered if there was a connection.
Space doesn’t allow for details about specific products, chemicals and the conditions they cause, but the information is plentiful and conclusive enough to decrease their use. Start with www.epa.gov and http://healthreport.saferchemicals.org to search for yourself or contact me for more information. I am part of a local Environmental Health Working Group. There are increasing numbers of resources for safer products, so consider exploring and switching to them.
Jean Vaux is a Life and HealthCoach and Wellness Advocate in the community. Contact: 319-277-7444 or jean@cedarvalleyathlete.com
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