Daily news reports can alarm us about the hazards of living in a toxic world, There are however, some simple tasks to protect our families.

BACKGROUND

Since the 1940’s, the use of synthetic chemicals has escalated until they are hard to avoid in daily life. With the energy crisis of the 1970’s, buildings were sealed tightly to serve energy. Since the1980’s and deregulation of consumer safety laws, we can no longer assume government protection. People must do their own research and make informed decisions. Recent tests show humans are carrying heavy amounts of these chemicals in their blood.

REDUCING SOURCES OF TOXINS

• Tobacco

All tobacco products and secondhand smoke are hazardous and should be eliminated. Montgomery County Law prohibits smoking anywhere. Just make sure the law is enforced in your children’s schools.

• Pesticides

• Keep pests and pesticides outside your homes, gardens, schools and workplaces. Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, fumigants and growth regulators.

• Learn about alternative methods to banish pests. One such method is Integrated Pest Management, which begins with a process of preventing pests from entering structures, includes good sanitation, and does not use pesticides to harmful to humans or animals.

• Pets, like children, are close to the ground, and also need to be protected.

• Remember that pesticides used outdoors are tracked indoors. Copy the Japanese and leave your shoes at the door.

Lack of Safety Data on Pesticides

Pesticides have not been proven safe for humans or animals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t “approve” pesticides; it registers them based on manufacturers’ information. The companies test single pesticides for the effects on the tissue of 170 pound males; not of children, women, fetuses, or people using medication. Tests don’t show effects of chemical mixtures, which all pesticides have.

Health Effects from Pesticides

• Extensive advertising spreads fear of pests. While some pests can be pervasive, disease carriers, or destructive to property, most are harmless, particularly at this latitude. The adverse effects of pesticides, however, are well documented. Sometimes the inert ingredients are more dangerous than the pesticide.

• People usually don’t know when they are exposed to toxic pesticides, or that residues may last for weeks to years, particularly indoors.

• People should ask what pesticides are used in their children’s day care centers, adult centers, their churches, and even their favorite restaurants.

• Certain pesticides can affect all bodily systems, including: neurologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, immune, reproductive, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, and endocrine. Symptoms of pesticide toxicity can mimic influenza, alcohol toxicity, or simple fatigue. Acute symptoms of toxicity may be non-specific or include headache, sinusitis, asthma, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, rashes, urinary frequency, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, emotional instability, nightmares, apathy and confusion, aggressive and violent behavior, and cancer.

• Over 50% of pregnancies are unplanned. Therefore, exposures may occur before a woman knows she is pregnant and during the time the fetus’ vital organs are formed, What happens during pregnancy affects a child’s neurological system and ability to think and learn.

2. Household Products

Certain products may emit fumes all day, getting into your bloodstream through inhalation or skin absorption.

• Keep your house clean with safer products such as Borax, Bon-Ami, vinegar, baking soda, and non-toxic soaps.

• Make sure your personal care products and laundry soaps are toxin and perfume free.
• Clothing dry cleaned with perchlorethylene should be thoroughly aired before brining inside.

• Until proven safe, minimize contact between plastics and foods and avoid heating or micro-waving food in plastics containers.

3. Home and School Construction and Ventilation

• Building materials are major sources of neurotoxins and other dangers. Cabinets, carpeting, glue, and treated wood containing formaldehyde can “out-gas” for years.

Seek out non-toxic products.

• Vacate your house during renovations.

• Be sure that heating and air conditioning systems are thoroughly cleaned and maintained with plenty of fresh outside air. The safe zone for health and comfort for every child in a classroom is five cubic feet per minute of fresh air.

• If you have an attached garage, consider an exhaust fan to remove toxic fumes. Automobile exhaust fumes continue long after the motor is turned off.

SUMMARY

Remember that exposures are cumulative from air, food, water, dust and all other sources. Be an informed consumer. Read all labels. If you don’t know what the contents are, find out before using a product. Before conceiving a child, take care of your own health, drink uncontaminated water, eat organic healthy food, exercise, and clean up your personal environment. Finally, ask yourself if a perfect house and yard are worth the risk to the health of your family.

RESOURCES:

Pesticides and Alternatives

Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, Fifth Edition, EPA 735-R-98-003, March 1999, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov or order a free copy 1-800-490-9198

Beyond Pesticides 202-543-5450: www.beyondpesticides.org

American Plant Food Company, Mitch Baker 301-656-3311 www.americanplantfood.com.

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection www.montgomery countymd.gov/dept go to environmental protection, green man, and landscaping

B.I.R.C. 510-524-2567 www.BIRC.org

Gardens Alive 513-354-1483 www.GardensAlive.com

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides 503-344-5044 www.

Rachel Carson Society 301-652-1877 www.rachelcarson.org

Pesticide Education Center (Marion Moses, M.D.) 415-391-8511 www.

Household Products:

www.preventcancer.com/consumer/household/alternative-products.htm

Arts & Craft materials Institute, Inc.