Reducing Exposure to Toxins in our Environment

Get Educated!

We are so conditioned these days, especially in the USofA, to accept as normal the use of extremely toxic chemicals in our everyday life, and the media perpetuates it. Chemicals in our foods, our medications, our homes, our gardens, our environments, our cars, our clothings, our workplace, are toxic! On average, we are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals everyday. It is a long list. And with these exposures, we are compromising our body's immune system, and its ability to heal and self-regenerate.

REDUCING EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS:
Reduce your exposure to unhealthy chemicals by using environmentally healthy products for everything, including:

Food products, vitamins, beverages, etc.
Toothpaste, skin lotion, soap, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, etc.
Laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, household cleaners, etc.
Yard, garden, plant sprays, fertilizers, etc.
Toilet products, household cleaners, etc.
Pet products, etc.

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INFORMATION ON TOXIC PLASTICS:

PBS VIDEO: “Bill Moyer Exposes Plastic Chemicals In The Food Supply” (23:44)

CNN Video Release: "FDA Failing You: Govt Says BPA IS Good For You" (4:32) (August 2008)

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Here is a brief summary on Plastics:

To determine what type of plastic you have, on the bottom is a tiny triangular recycle symbol with a number in the middle that will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. The lower the number, the more toxic the plastic is.

Avoiding-Toxins-in-Plastic-Packaging:
Article Source: Aug 6, 2008 http://www.supergreenme.com/go-green-environment-eco:Avoiding-Toxins-in-Plastic-Packaging

Avoiding Endocrine Disruptors (plastics labeled 3, 6, 7). Hormonal and developmental issues can arise through exposure and intake of endocrine disruptors.

It is important to note that identifying levels of safety is not identifying a certain plastic as being absolutely safe. In the case of plastics, choose those labeled 1, 2, 4, and 5 over those labeled 3, 6, and 7. The former do not contain endocrine disruptors, while the latter do.

#1 In Recycling Symbol - Water & Pop Bottles
Abbreviation: PETE or PET
Problem: The packaging contains Polyetheylene Terephthalate. They are considered “safe” for a single use only, as they may pick up bacteria from the first use. Some may argue that the phthalates that these bottles contain should be avoided entirely.
Solution: When purchasing #1 plastics, do not reuse the bottles for the gym or other activities. Purchase a glass, stainless steel, or other reusable container for this purpose.

#2 In Recycling Symbol - Grocery Bags, Bottles
Abbreviation: HDPE
Problem: High density polyethylene is a petroleum product, and as such any cutback on its use will save fossil fuels.
Solution: Bring your own grocery bags along to the store and use reusable bottles. You are not likely to find HDPE that much in packaging as it is more expensive than the alternatives.

#3 In Recycling Symbol - Pipe, fencing, non-food bottles, soft plastic toys for children
Abbreviation: PVC
Problem: Polyvinyl chloride gives off harmful toxins both during its manufacture and when it is breaking down. Highly carcinogenic chemicals called dioxins are produced during the production process. Phthalates are also used to soften PVC, and phthalates have been linked to reproductive issues, especially in young male children. They are suspected endocrine disruptors, which interfere with DNA development.
Solution: Never buy any food that is packaged in a #3 container, and do not use them yourself for food packaging. Carefully examine any children’s toys, both new and old, for the #3 symbol and discard them in your recycling bin if you find them. Contact your local recycling program to make sure that they will accept them.

#4 In Recycling Symbol - Molded laboratory equipment, various containers, wash bottles, plastic bags
Abbreviation: LDPE
Problem: Low-Density polyethylene poses the same threat as its high-density cousin – it is a petroleum product. It is also most commonly used for plastic bags.
Solution: As with HDPE, bring your bags with you when shopping.

#5 In Recycling Symbol - Food Containers, auto parts
Abbreviation: PP
Problem: Polypropelyne is a higher-cost plastic often used in plastic furniture and auto parts. Due to its higher cost you will not see it used as much in food containers. It does not pose the same threats as its cousins, but it is, once again, a petroleum product.

#6 In Recycling Symbol - Toys, food trays
Abbreviation: PS
Problem: Polystyrene is the compound contained in Styrofoam containers. It is also found in children’s toys. It may leach styrene, which is an endocrine disrupter and carcinogen, into food and groundwater from the container’s disposal. Avoid food that has come into contact with these trays, and avoid toys made with it that may go into a younger child’s mouth as well.

#7 In Recycling Symbol - Everything, but most notably reusable sport water containers, metal-lined containers for hot chocolate and baby formula, larger water bottles, most plastic baby bottles.
Abbreviation: None
Problem: Anything labeled as #7 is suspect, as this is simply the “catch-all” category for items that don’t fit in 1-6. This is one of the main reasons that environmental advocates are calling for a new labeling system, or simply more categories for the existing one. Nylon, fiberglass, polycarbonate, and polylactic acid all fall within this category. Polycarbonate produces Bisphenol A, which is a hormone disrupter and has also been found to stimulate prostate cancer cells. This is the plastic found in most baby bottles, and the reason some governments are looking to ban polycarbonate in the manufacture of baby bottles.
Solution: Buy Bisphenol A/Polycarbonate free baby bottles and products. Avoid baby formula packaging with the #7 stamp. Check out your current sport water bottles and baby bottles and throw out any with the #7 stamp.

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ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC:

Use Glass whenever possible for everything, use quart jars for drinking liquids, and pyrex glass containers for cooking and food storage

Stainless Steel is okay for cooking, storage and drinking, but only in small amounts

Eliminate Aluminum from all cooking (aluminum foil, aluminum cooking pots, and baking powder (contains aluminum), etc.) as well as food products sold in aluminum containers (soda cans, etc.)

Eliminate Teflon from all cookware (the best cookware is glass, cast iron, and stainless steel)

Use Plastics labeled 1, 2, 4 & 5 (do not put hot foods in any plastics, do not heat foods in plastic containers, do not use harsh detergents with any plastics, discard if plastic is old, has scratch marks, or shows any sign of discoloration or aging)

Drinking water: the best is alkaline, pH balanced, filtered, hexagonally structured; next best is filtered & ozonated; natural spring water is good; the worst is most tap waters that have chlorine and fluoride. Avoid fluoride in all products especially water (more info on fluoride here). Also, here is a link to: http://www.fluoridealert.org/.

ALWAYS read the ingredient lists on products you purchase, including food! (When you go shopping, carry with you a magnifying glass or reading glasses to be able to read the ingredient lists on packages)

Visit your local health food store to find environmentally healthy products for your personal and home use. Replace all your commercially produced chemical products with natural, environmentally (and body) friendly products.

By continuing to purchase commercially produced chemical products, you are literally supporting the continued manufacture and production of thousands of chemicals that are poisoning our bodies, our environment, and our water supplies. Your dollar counts when it comes to purchasing products!

Our purchasing dollar is powerful, and by being better informed about the kinds of products we are purchasing, who we are giving our dollars to, and what products we support through our purchase (healthier, non-chemically based products), we can have an impact on future production of healthier products.

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As always, do whatever you can do to keep your immune system strong and healthy:

Exercise everyday, breath deeply and fully, and spend time in nature

Eat as naturally as possible (fruits, vegetables, grains, quality proteins, etc.) Do not microwave any foods. Microwaving completely destroys the nutrients in foods, thus making them extremely acidic and therefore toxic.