Six Chemical Classes
Highly Fluorinated
Highly fluorinated chemicals can lead to many health problems. What makes them even more of a concern is that they are man-made and do not decompose in the environment. In essence, we are contaminating ourselves. It affects children in that their vaccinations can become less effective, which is scary. These highly fluorinated chemicals that the industries are producing put children even more at risk. Since these chemicals do not decompose, it allows them to slowly travel and contaminate even the most remote places on the planet. I like the question the video poses when weighing one's options. That is, is the convenience of water- and stain-repellent covered products worth the potential for harm that these chemicals can do? It's an important question that we all should start asking ourselves and our government officials.
Antimicrobials
While the purpose of antimicrobials may be to do good, they may be doing more harm than good. It's funny that antimicrobials such as triclosan and triclocarban don't do a better job than plain soap and water. Antimicrobials can end up in places they shouldn't be in. This puts many people at risk, especially breastfeeding babies since antimicrobials can end up in breast milk. It's good that the FDA has finally stopped using 19 antimicrobials in soaps and body washes. There are still many other ones that are still in use, which keeps us at risk for their negative health effects.
Flame Retardants
Flame retardants, like many materials we have discussed throughout this class, are used with good intentions. However, even with its good intentions, it is still very toxic. And yet again, children and pregnant women are the most at risk for the adverse health effects of flame retardants. This can also lead to intellectual delays among newborn babies.
Bisphenols and Phthalates
These are hormone disruptors, which can cause problems with how our bodies function properly. Yet again, children are the most vulnerable. Besphenols can lead to delays in neurodevelopment in young children, especially during critical periods. They can be found in a lot of things we use every day, like plastic containers and canned food. Phthalates are also in many products that we encounter every day, like our personal care products and toys.
Some Solvents
We use solvents regularly, but again they can be doing more harm than good. They can pollute our water and our air. They can even lead to cancer. It's sad knowing that they are being phased out and replaced with similar compounds. There is a glimmer of hope in that there are also better and safer alternatives out there, such as professional wet cleaners.
Certain Metals
Metals are used every day and everywhere and have many good uses. However, they can pose many threats to our health. Mercury can be found in the fish we eat and harm our vital organs. Arsenic can lead to cancer. High levels have been found in infant rice cereal, putting children at a higher risk. Cadmium can lead to cancer and organ damage. Low-wealth communities have the higher amount of peeling paint, which is the biggest source of lead. Again, children are the ones most at risk for health problems related to these metals. It makes one start to wonder what people, most especially the government, are doing about it.
Highly fluorinated chemicals can lead to many health problems. What makes them even more of a concern is that they are man-made and do not decompose in the environment. In essence, we are contaminating ourselves. It affects children in that their vaccinations can become less effective, which is scary. These highly fluorinated chemicals that the industries are producing put children even more at risk. Since these chemicals do not decompose, it allows them to slowly travel and contaminate even the most remote places on the planet. I like the question the video poses when weighing one's options. That is, is the convenience of water- and stain-repellent covered products worth the potential for harm that these chemicals can do? It's an important question that we all should start asking ourselves and our government officials.
Antimicrobials
While the purpose of antimicrobials may be to do good, they may be doing more harm than good. It's funny that antimicrobials such as triclosan and triclocarban don't do a better job than plain soap and water. Antimicrobials can end up in places they shouldn't be in. This puts many people at risk, especially breastfeeding babies since antimicrobials can end up in breast milk. It's good that the FDA has finally stopped using 19 antimicrobials in soaps and body washes. There are still many other ones that are still in use, which keeps us at risk for their negative health effects.
Flame Retardants
Flame retardants, like many materials we have discussed throughout this class, are used with good intentions. However, even with its good intentions, it is still very toxic. And yet again, children and pregnant women are the most at risk for the adverse health effects of flame retardants. This can also lead to intellectual delays among newborn babies.
Bisphenols and Phthalates
These are hormone disruptors, which can cause problems with how our bodies function properly. Yet again, children are the most vulnerable. Besphenols can lead to delays in neurodevelopment in young children, especially during critical periods. They can be found in a lot of things we use every day, like plastic containers and canned food. Phthalates are also in many products that we encounter every day, like our personal care products and toys.
Some Solvents
We use solvents regularly, but again they can be doing more harm than good. They can pollute our water and our air. They can even lead to cancer. It's sad knowing that they are being phased out and replaced with similar compounds. There is a glimmer of hope in that there are also better and safer alternatives out there, such as professional wet cleaners.
Certain Metals
Metals are used every day and everywhere and have many good uses. However, they can pose many threats to our health. Mercury can be found in the fish we eat and harm our vital organs. Arsenic can lead to cancer. High levels have been found in infant rice cereal, putting children at a higher risk. Cadmium can lead to cancer and organ damage. Low-wealth communities have the higher amount of peeling paint, which is the biggest source of lead. Again, children are the ones most at risk for health problems related to these metals. It makes one start to wonder what people, most especially the government, are doing about it.
To me it was really interesting to learn more about the different classifications for each of these categories. While some sound inherently bad for you, many of these materials were originally created to be protective and keep us safe. How paradoxical.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that antimicrobials may do more harm than good. We are often taught that anything that cleans or sanitizes is great. However, through this class and modules we have learned that this is not always true because it causes resistance to certain things. Flame retardants were another chemical that were interesting to me. I had no idea they were in couches! Now, every time I sit on my couch, I feel like I release toxic chemicals into the environment :( but my parents do not want to get new couches!
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