M9.2 Blog: Six Chemical Classes

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Highly Fluorinated Chemicals
I was shocked to learn how highly fluorinated chemicals can render vaccines useless and that they exist in so many products that I use or engage with daily. I was appreciative of the fact that the video included feasible things I can do to lessen my exposure to highly fluorinated chemicals. I need to pay attention more on what I purchase, especially when it comes to personal care products. It is ridiculous to know that these chemicals last a long time and are in products that directly come in contact with children. You would think that despite the evidence of the harm they cause that they would be nowhere near children in the first place. In conclusion, I plan on being more careful with reviewing the labels of the products I purchase.

Antimicrobials
I have always been a huge fan of Antimicrobials. It wasn't until this class that I learned how truly bad they were for me and the environment. The fact that there isn't really much difference between using regular soap and water versus antimicrobial soap and hand sanitizer was really shocking for me. I am a huge germaphobe, the marketing of these products make it so tempting to use antimicrobials regularly in order to protect myself. It was also terrifying to learn how that antimicrobials create resistance to antibiotics! 😱 Either way, since our last discussion on antimicrobials, I have started using them less and have cut down on purchasing products such as hand sanitizer.

Flame Retardants
Flame retardants are highly dangerous and have no real safety benefits, which is why it is ridiculous that they are still being used. If anything, they are much more of a fire hazard than not! Though there are standards now and warning labels that can let us know if the product we are purchasing has flame retardant, I feel that they should be banned regardless giving that it is a neurotoxin for children. I will look around my house to check if any of the items in my house has the warning label and will try to get rid of it in order to keep my family safe.

Bisphenols and Phthalates
As noted in my last few blog posts, my family and I tend to use a lot of plastic bottles and food containers. It is reassuring to know that these chemicals do not stay long in our bodies, however, the risk of them even being in there in the first place is far too great. Avoiding them entirely is the best practice. I will be looking at the bottles I have in my home more closely and will try to get rid of the ones that may have BPA in them.

Solvents
Cancer and damage to the nervous system? I can't believe we have let these products continue to exist, even worse that these so called "replacements" still are as equally harmful as the original solvent. The personal solutions on how to reduce my exposure to these chemicals were highly useful, I have definitely taken note.

Certain Metals
I do eat a lot of fish and rice. I do eat tuna and sushi but not regularly. Rice is a very big deal in my household so finding an appropriate alternative that will satisfy the family will take time to do. I need to research a bit more about eating quinoa instead of rice or in general lessen our rice intake. What is hard for me is that my friends smoke and I often have to breathe in their fumes despite my best efforts to stay out of the way or not be present. My partner smokes too but is now smoking less since I have asked her to not smoke around me. There isn't lead in my home, which is great! As for the pipes, I am very interested in getting a lead test kit to determine the actual safety of our water.




Comments

  1. Sintia ShahbazOctober 28, 2018 at 1:50 PM

    I love antimicrobials too! I was using them for everything, even though I knew they were somewhat harmful for me. After few projects that included this topic I have stopped buying hand sanitizer, I would literally have one in every corner of my car and purse. Knowing the harm it is doing for my body, I had to stop myself from using it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 7, 2018 at 6:52 AM

    Great points on the antimicrobials. I can’t help but wonder about this every time I’m at a hospital and make use of the many hand sanitizing stations. Is this a counterproductive measure? To what degree are these hand sanitizing stations contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance? Do they do more harm than good? Infection control is paramount in the clinical setting, but I’m surprised this concern isn’t raised more often.

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