On a daily basis, we are exposed to toxic chemicals that are capable of damaging our biological systems after prolonged exposure. These harmful chemicals could be naturally occurring in your own homes such as lead, mercury, radon, formaldehyde, and benzene. Studies have shown that exposure to lead and mercury could lead to organ failure and developmental problems. Meanwhile, radon, formaldehyde, and benzene are categorized as carcinogens, chemicals capable of causing cancer. The harmful chemicals can also be man-made such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and pesticides. All three of these chemicals are categorized as endocrine disruptors, which means they interfere with the body’s endocrine system, resulting in adverse development, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects. Environmental toxins can be found everywhere so it is impossible to completely eliminate them in your daily life found in your home and perhaps a smoking habit. However, there are ways to minimize one’s exposure.
Housekeeping Tips
Vacuum and Dust: Many of the furniture and carpet padding that you own contains flame retardants in order to prevent fires from starting or to slow down the process of burning. And that’s not too great for us asides from fire prevention because flame retardants contain numerous toxic chemicals. The little particles of the flame retardants don’t necessarily stick onto your furniture, but instead, can be found in your house dust, mixed in with other harmful chemicals such as lead and pesticides. Since you can’t just toss out your furniture, you can minimize your exposure by vacuuming twice a week and dusting your house regularly. In addition, make sure your vacuum has strong suction and is equipped with a HEPA (highly efficiency particulate air) filter.
Air out Your Home: Another way in which you are exposed to environmental toxins is through mold particles. Thus, it is important that you have a good ventilation system in your own home in order to prevent mold growth. There are a few options by which you can control moisture in your house: using dehumidifiers if you live in a relatively humid climate and installing vents and fans in your bathrooms. My mother has this habit of throwing open our windows first thing in the morning; she says it’s because the morning air is really fresh. If mold is allowed to grow, being chronically exposed to its toxic spores could cause severe health such as bleeding in the lungs.
Upgrade Your Cleaning Products: Have you ever peeked under your own kitchen sink (or wherever you keep your cleaning products) and look carefully through the various labels, finding the warning signs “DANGER” or POISON”? Those cleaning products, my friend, aren’t only killing bacteria, they could be killing you in the long run. If possible, use safe cleaning products that are biodegradable and contain plant-based ingredients! Most companies will not be transparent with you about what they use in their products since they aren’t required by law; so do your research!
Filter Your Tap Water: According to studies, drinking filter tap water is safer than drinking bottled water, granted that you don’t have rusting pipes (which is the case in my house, and we just buy water by the gallon). The reason why filtered tap water is safer is that tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency which requires them to report the number of toxins in the water while the Foods and Drugs Administration that regulates bottled water has no such requirement. Invest in a water filter at home, and you’ll save money and yourself by avoiding plastic bottles.
Buy Plants for Your Home: Not only are plants lovely to look at, but they are capable of removing harmful chemicals like formaldehyde (found in various home products) and benzene (found in tobacco smoke and detergent). Most indoor air-purifying plants are low maintenance and require little watering and sunlight, yet they do so much cleaning for you just by being in your house.
Avoid the Following: Smoking, burning wood, burning cheap candles, using air fresheners, spraying pesticides (chronic exposure to pesticides puts you at higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease).
Take Care of Your Body
Quit Smoking: If you smoke, maybe it’s time to consider quitting because regular cigarette smoke and secondhand smoke put you and the people around you in chronic exposure to benzene and formaldehyde. These toxic chemicals put you at a higher risk of getting cancer.
Wash Your Hands: Sounds very elementary right? But, there is a proper way of washing your hands, which is washing your hands for at least 20 seconds using non-antibacterial hand soap. Avoid using hand sanitizers, and opt for using some bottled water and napkin to rinse your hands instead. Using antibacterial hand soap can decrease your immunity systems and using hand sanitizers leaves chemicals on your hands.
Go Organic: Prolonged exposure to pesticides can lead to birth defects, endocrine disruptions, neurological disorders, and cancer. Organic fruits and vegetables are the way to go if you wish to ingest fewer pesticides. You also protect the environment! Consuming organic produce can be very taxing on one’s budget, especially that of a college student. You can save money and still eat healthy by going to your local farmer’s market and buying in-season produce whenever possible. For the produce that you regularly consume and those without peels (like berries and apples), buy organic as those most affect your exposure to environmental toxins.
Choose Your Fish Wisely:. Fish is healthy since they contain Omega-3 acids, which help fight inflammation. However, mercury is found primarily in seafood thanks to industrial coal-fueled power plants. You can still eat fish, but eat them less and eat smaller fish as they contain less mercury. Here are a few suggestions: albacore tuna (pole-caught, US), salmon (wild-caught, Alaska), sardines (wild caught, Pacific), and rainbow trout (farmed).
Use Less Plastic and Eat Less Canned: Plastics and food cans contain two harmful chemicals: bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. As endocrine disruptors, these chemicals interfere with testosterone levels and affect breast development. BPA can be found in a range of products from the lining of food cans to water bottles to store receipts while phthalates are often found in synthetic materials like shower curtains and synthetic leather. While you may not have the budget to replace all your synthetic materials, you can start with baby steps like replacing your plastic water bottles with stainless steel ones and your plastic food containers with glass ones.
Fashion
I believe California requires clothing stores to post warnings about their products… that they contain chemicals known to cause cancer. Which is why I believe the final step to minimizing your exposure to environmental toxins is being mindful of where you may be purchasing your clothing. There’s been a rise of ethic-friendly and eco-friendly companies producing organic clothing. An example is sourcing organic cotton which protects the environment, farmers, producers, and consumers. Sourcing organic cotton can become expensive, which means the products can also be quite pricey. If purchasing from these brands are not a plausible option, you can also lessen the impact of harmful chemicals from clothes by changing up your laundry detergent. Scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets often contain benzene, so try out a non-toxic laundry detergent!