Chemical Debate

Better off safe then sorry...

Of 168 studies on Bisphenol A, 132studies claimed the chemical does damage. The 36 test that found BPA safe were funded by corporations. (Bill Moyers, Journal May 25, 2008).

"Especially at high temperatures in, say, microwave ovens or dishwashers, BPA can leach out of those cans and bottles -- and wind up inside the people who consume the contents. More than 90% of people 6 and older have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies, according to a 2003-04 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." Sun-Sentinel New Paper

The Sun- Sentinel Report Continues:

"A draft report issued last month by the National Toxicology Program raised new red flags -- and consumer alarm -- about the potential harm BPA may do.

The report, based on a review of nearly 1,000 papers, expressed "some concern" that in fetuses, infants and children, typical human exposure may cause changes in behavior, in the brain, in the prostate and mammary glands, and in the age at which females reach puberty. Of the five possible levels of concern the report might have chosen -- from "serious" to "negligible" -- "some" is the third, or middle, level."

I don't use plastic bottles, storage containers, or teethers (teething toys for babies). I figure that it cost no more and sometimes even less to use wood toys, cotton dolls and animals, Pyrex storage containers, glass bottles and stainless steel.

I am prone for feeling guilty. Each time I see my baby drinking out of her stainless steel sippycup I feel good. I feel like..."I am preventing chemical that can potentially cause harm from getting into my baby". This way I don't have to worry about my child getting sick someday from something I did. I do feel it is my responsibility to help my child be healthy.

Using plastic is a choice. Plastic does have a role in our lives. I choose to use plastic in parts of my life like safety or medical equipment but I choose against using it for clothing, shoes, food or drink.

Eco Homes

I am a firm believer in a healthy home. I have an old home that I upgraded with energy star appliances, only natural building materials, reused house parts, and low VOC paint & stain. I don't use vinyl, only ceramic or stone tile. The house was originally built with hard wood floors. The floors are little stained here & there but I don't mind and neither do my tenants.

It is a 4 unit victorian. Each tenant gets an eco friendly care package when they sign a lease. It includes CF bulbs, a recycling bin and cleaning supplies. I try to make it easy on them.

While I worked at an environmental testing laboratory I processed testing samples from all over the world. It often amazed me what people dump on the ground and in water. I often worked with different chemicals to process the samples. Chemicals included freon, chlorine, acetone, benzene...etc. There are special rules for handling these types of chemicals. There are also fume hoods (like a big vent that sucks out air) to remove chemicals that are emitted into the air in the room.

But there are not fume hoods in houses. So, people breath in all sorts of chemicals such as formaldehyde, chlorine, solvents...etc. I wonder if they understand what is happening to the air in their home and their lungs? Or do they have the attitude "It won't happen to me."

What is "funny" is that many people, the average consumer, doesn't really know what they are getting themselves into. They often trust the companies to provide them with safe product. Or these people think there are strict laws and inspections of products that protect the American consumer. People don't realize that the laws in the U.S. are made only after several people have been harmed over a number of years. And usually because someone complained. We don't have a preventative maintenance types of culture.

I always recommend two classes to all college students, environmental chemistry (not really a chemistry class) to understand the world around them and how one thing effect another and clinical microbiology in order to understand cause and effect. A person would think they know all about cause and effect. But when dealing with a chemical or microbes that they can not see, they probably are not thinking about it, often until it is too late.

Here is a cool article about a person who moved into an eco friendly apartment not for health but for a convenient location on Treehugger.com....Apartments