What you should be aware of

Environmental chemicals are everywhere, including many common household and personal care products. They are found in plastics and food packaging, nonstick cookware, furniture and building materials, pesticides and herbicides, and indoor air pollutants. Have you ever read the label on your cleaning products? How about your toothpaste or shampoo? Ever wonder if the plastic container you are using is leaching out bad stuff, especially when going from the cabinet to the refrigerator? With my RSD, I have had to make several lifestyle adjustments, including eating healthy and exercising. I have also paid close attention to food labels to make sure I am not eating a lot of preservatives, food colorings, and additives.

Did you know that cleaning products are the leading cause of toxic air pollution in our homes, according to the Consumers’ Guide to Effective Environmental Choices? Being aware of environmental chemicals, their link to chronic inflammation, and limiting your exposure is beneficial for your overall health.

Environmental Chemicals in Common Household Products

Chemicals Found in Plastics

• Bisphenol A or BPA is a chemical that is used in plastic products such as water bottles, baby bottles, plastic wrap, and food packaging. There is some concern about brain and behavioral effects on fetuses and young children with our current exposure levels. If you can, start switching your plastic products to glass.
• Phthalates are the chemicals that give plastic its flexibility and resilience. It is found in toys, raincoats, shower curtains, and vinyl flooring. Animal studies have shown a reduced sperm count and reproductive abnormalities, with evidence linking to liver cancer in humans. Legislation was passed in 2008 by Congress banning 6 phthalates from toys and cosmetics.
• Vinyl Chloride is a colorless, flammable gas that is artificial and used in the making of PVC. This includes pipes, wire, and cable coatings, and packaging material. Breathing high levels of vinyl chloride can cause a person to feel dizzy or become sleepy. Long-term exposure can cause nerve damage, and it is also known as a carcinogen.

Chemicals Found in Personal Care Products

• Parabens are a well-known environmental toxin that are synthetic preservatives found in many personal care products such as moisturizers, shampoos, and shaving products. They have been found to cause hormone disruption and cancer in animals. The FDA feels current levels in these products are safe, but why chance it when paraben-free products are available?
• Oxybenzone is a chemical used in cosmetics like sunscreens, lip balms, and moisturizers. It has been linked to hormone disruption and low birth weights in babies. This compound has shown up in the urine of 97% of Americans.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes, and other products that “foam up”. Both of these chemicals are very effective foaming agents known as surfactants. SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid and are commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen.
• 1,4-Dioxane is primarily used as a solvent in the manufacturing of chemicals and laboratory reagents and is a trace chemical in some cosmetics, shampoos, and detergents. Studies have shown liver and kidney damage in animals and with long term exposure liver cancer.

Chemicals Found in Household Cleaners

• Ammonia is used in many cleaning products and can affect the respiratory system, the skin, and can be very harmful to the eyes. With continued exposure to ammonia, one’s ability to smell it lessens, increasing their risk of overexposure. Overexposure can lead to chronic problems such as inflammation of the respiratory system and eye irritation.
• Chlorine, which is found in most drinking water sources. Chlorine and its byproducts have been studied for their potential effects on health, and researchers continue to evaluate the long-term impact of exposure.
• Formaldehyde is a colorless and flammable chemical with a strong smell that is used in building materials and many household products. Surveys of professionals exposed to formaldehyde in their work, such as embalmers, have indicated an increased risk of leukemia and brain cancer.

Chemicals Found in Building Materials and Furnishings

• Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DECA) is a flame retardant that is found in furniture, carpeting, and electronics. It has been shown to cause permanent learning and memory and hearing deficits, and a decrease in sperm count.
• Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was used in housing materials like insulation and drywall. It leads to a fatal cancer known as Mesothelioma. Products containing asbestos are not always labeled, and although most manufacturers no longer use it, it has not been banned.
• Xylene is a chemical found naturally in coal and petroleum. It can be found in items like paint, paint thinners, and varnish. Long-term exposure can cause a variety of issues, including those affecting the brain and nervous system.

Chemicals Found in Nonstick Cookware

• Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) is a component of Teflon, and it has been found in tap water and non-stick cookware. It has been found to cause hormone disruption and reproductive abnormalities in both human and animal studies. This should be phasing out.

Other Environmental Chemicals to Be Aware Of

• Fluoride a form of the basic element fluorine is found in toothpaste and tap water. It is advised by the American Dental Association that children under 2 do not use fluoride toothpaste because it is neurotoxic and has potentially tumorigenic if swallowed. Currently, the government supports the current fluoride levels but studies continue on long-term exposure and cancer.
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) is another well-known environmental chemical that is an additive that preserves fats and oils in foods and cosmetics. This additive may promote cancer in lab animals, and the government monitors its levels in products.
• Perchlorate is an oxidant in rocket fuel and has been found in drinking water, soil, and some vegetables. It disrupts hormone production by the thyroid.
• Benzene is a chemical used in manufacturing rubber, paint, plastics, drugs, and pesticides. It is a known carcinogen, especially when exposed to it over a long period of time.
• Naphthalene is used in the production of phthalic anhydride and mothballs. Short-term exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and the skin has been associated with hemolytic anemia, liver damage, and neurological damage. Cataracts and retina damage have been reported due to long-term exposure. The EPA has classified this as a possible human carcinogen.

These items are around us every day in our homes. If you are not paying attention to the ingredients in your personal care and cleaning products, you should be. I understand that you can’t replace everything all at once, but next time you need some things, start looking for healthier alternatives. I also understand that some things we still need to use, but we can limit our exposure.

Tips to Protect Yourself from Environmental Chemicals

• Replace your plastic containers with glass containers.
• Replace your chemically laden cleaning products with more natural ones. Nature’s Sunshine has come out with Nature’s Fresh a line of cleaning products that are plant based, biodegradable, non corrosive and caustic, chemical free, dioxane free, and phosphate free.
• Replace your personal care products with more natural ones. An example would be to use a deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum or body lotions that contain no parabens.
• Learn more about cleaning toxins from our cells with our article on Cellular Detoxification. It includes recipes and tips.

For Personal Care Items, you can make your own or try some of my favorite products, including Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap and Alba Botanical Body Lotion, to limit your exposure to environmental chemicals.

If you do have to use products with these environmental toxins and chemicals in them, please make sure to take the following precautions.

• Read the label and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
• Keep these types of products in their original bottles or containers so they are always properly labeled.
• Do not mix household products together.
• Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area when using these products.
• Wear protective clothing such as goggles, long sleeves, long pants, socks, and shoes.
• Do not eat or drink while using these products, so you don’t get any on your food and ingest them.
• Make sure to take extra precautions with children around when using and storing products.

Do Your Own Research

Did you know that there is a Consumer Product Database of household products that contains detailed information, including material safety data sheets, on thousands of products? If you are curious about what is in your cleaning products or underarm deodorant, this is an excellent resource.

Books you can use for Reference

Consumers Dictionary on Cosmetic Ingredients

Consumers Dictionary on Food Additives

We can’t live in a bubble or eliminate every environmental chemical. The goal is not perfection, but progress. Reading labels, choosing cleaner products, filtering water, and supporting gut health can all help reduce your overall toxic burden over time.

References: Time Magazine Article, Cancer Prevention Daily, US Department of Health and Human Services