6 Chemical Classes



Highly Flourinated Chemicals

   This class of chemicals is found in 98% of Americans and stay in the environment forever. I believe that we as consumers have been so brainwashed and lied to about what we are buying. These are man-made, and as we consume non-stop, the government has not done their part to protect the public's health. It is encouraging though to see some companies like IKEA and H&M using the six-classes approach.

Antimicrobials

   It amazes me how many products antimicrobials are used in, even though benefits have not been proven. It just shows how companies are not using it help human health but instead to sell "new and better" products.

Flame Retardants

   It was interesting to learn that these chemicals are not very effective in preventing fire, but instead make the environment even more toxic as it burns. The impact it has on the environment and animals is disturbing, especially because they were found in crustaceans living miles below the ocean's surface.

Bisphenols & Phthalates

  It is deceiving that companies just replace BPA with other bisphenols and label it as BPA-free.  I have heard a lot about this chemical and the use of it in water bottles and other plastics. But I was surprised to that they are in cash receipts and canned foods. It feels like everything we use has some sort of chemical in it. And it's difficult to tell, because you can't just avoid it from staying away from plastics.

Some Solvents

   This category is also difficult to avoid, as it is in everything from markers to nail polish remover. I recently bought paint for my bathroom and found one that was VOC-free. But this was only possible because they had to label it. If every product had this maybe we could make more informed decisions.

Certain Metals

   This video mentioned avoiding mercury in fish such as tuna. It made me think of how we are told to avoid these foods while mothers are pregnant, but on a normal basis we eat these and are exposed to other items with different levels of metals. I wonder if they are stored in our bodies throughout our lives and passed along anyway from mother to baby, like other chemicals.

Comments

  1. Jordan DemosOctober 25, 2018 at 2:58 PM

    Hi Stacey,

    I found the most interesting chemical listed here to be flame retardants. It is so dumb in my mind to learn that a chemical in daily materials meant to reduce flammability, is actually contributing to a more intense burn. How does that even make sense!?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Caitlin WintonNovember 3, 2018 at 8:03 AM

    Stacey,

    I am doing my research and my project about BPA, it is in so many things besides plastic water bottles and the chemicals we replace it with can be just as harmful! Our government really needs to step up regulations!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 7, 2018 at 8:19 AM

    Hi Stacey,

    I can't get over the fact about the flame retardants and its effect on not just its consumer but animals in the environment. I feel like American consumers are exposed to flame retardants in a high number due to its usage in so many household items and actually the house itself. I would be really looking more into this and hopefully have alternative that I can switch to..

    ReplyDelete

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