More than Meets the Eye…
<written for the North Renfrew Times in Feb. 2008>
Is there anyone still unaware that many household products we use daily contain substances that are known or suspected carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and/or endocrine disruptors? Or, that exposure to ‘everyday’ chemicals is of particular concern with respect to our children, whose developing brains, immune and reproductive systems can be affected by even minute quantities of chemicals?
It’s a disturbing subject, and one to which I could easily devote several columns, but I’m going to be as brief as possible and conclude by suggesting further resources for readers who may want to learn more.
Personal care products such as shampoo, cosmetics, perfumes and hair dyes may contain benzyl violet (suspected carcinogen), formaldehyde (carcinogen), cocamide diethanolamine (suspected carcinogen), coal tar derivatives (carcinogen), parabens (endocrine disruptor), or phthalates (endocrine disruptor, suspected reproductive toxin). It’s difficult to avoid these substances, since in Canada full labelling is not mandatory; legislation is coming that will require that consumers be informed vialabelling; however, the carcinogens will not actually be restricted.
Cleaning products such as laundry detergents and toilet bowl cleaners may contain NTA (possible carcinogen), ethoxylated nonyl phenols (endocrine disruptor), perchloroethylene (carcinogen), xylene, toluene (reproductive toxins), or 2-butoxyethanol (also called ethylene glycol butyl ether: suspected reproductive toxin) and/or silica (carcinogenic when in dust form; this is in some powdered abrasive cleaners). The Labour Environmental Alliance Society (LEAS) booklet cited below advises avoiding plug-in air fresheners, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, Tarn-X Tarnish Remover and Hagerty’s Silver Jewel Clean, as well as bleach and phosphates, and provides a list of common household products with their potentially harmful ingredients, so consumers can avoid them. (I myself have used baking soda and vinegar for most cleaning jobs for years now. They are not merely simple, safe, non-toxic and effective, they also save me money!)
How about the concept of “body burden”? This term comes from studies that show our bodies contain a whole host of “industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals” – an average of 56 in those individuals tested (Google ‘body burden’ on the Internet, and you’ll come up with plenty of information about the studies, the results, and the activism arising from this research).
“Hormone disruption” is another area of major concern when it comes to the ever-growing proliferation of chemicals in our midst. This phenomenon came to light quite by accident in several scientists’ labs ten or so years ago now. It was discovered that some chemicals act as hormone disruptors and can cause a variety of disturbing effects by mimicking natural hormones, affecting body systems such as the nervous, immune and reproductive systems. Pesticide exposure at the wrong time to a fetus can, for one small example, affect that individual’s future reproductive ability. For more information about hormone disruption, check out www.ourstolenfuture.org
What’s a body to do? Some effort put into more careful consideration of our purchases is definitely warranted.
‘The CancerSmart Consumer Guide’ is a useful, inexpensive resource. For ordering details, consult the LEAS Web site or call 604-669-1921. The ‘Less Toxic Guide’ cited below is a good (Web-based) resource for learning about safe alternatives to the personal care products we use routinely.
Two books worth a look, both available at the Deep River library, are Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic and Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Products, Information and Services in Canada.
For the Internet-savvy, some Web sites to consider checking out are:
www.preventcancernow.ca
www.conscious-personal-care.blogspot.com
Luckily for us, Deep River now boasts not one but two women entrepreneurs whose businesses have everything to do with providing safe, non-toxic products that will harm neither ourselves, nor our children.
Rachelle Laforge created Me First Soaps, a company selling a variety of soaps, massage oils and bars and other products – available at the River Market store here in town. Rachelle’s Web site is www.mefirstsoaps.com
Susan Patterson’s Good Natured Soap Company focuses on non-toxic products for the family, including laundry soap, foaming kids’ soaps, cleaning products and bar soap. She sells at the Diaper service in Petawawa and other select stores in Ontario. Call her at 584-2855 for more information.
We are so fortunate to have these two new businesses right in our own town!
Darn!!
I think the Me First products have been discontinued.
Brandie: thanks for the feedback; I so enjoy receiving feedback. Thanks for your great tips, too!!
I did a search for Good Natured Soap Company and found this post. With the contact information, Thanks!!!
Unfortunately, I can tell you that many individuals I meet in the programs I facilitate (prenatal & new parents) are unaware of the harms related to the products they use. Really, they are so heavily marketed to.
What I do see is that most families do care & want to provide the best - but, are unsure of where to start, or feel less the capable of memorizing chemical names to avoid, many are also not prepared to absorb the additional cost mark-up of higher quality “organic” goods.
You have given some very practical links and suggestions that I will pass on.
My favorite piece of advice for new parents around body products is to go back to the basics - use water to clean babies; avoid the baby isle at the supermarket and instead use food safe items form your cupbord for your baby needs (ie. cornstarch instead of baby powder, grapeseed oil instead of vaseline or mineral oil, breastmilk to heal anything from eye infections to bum rash…).
Thanks for your post,
Brandie