|
 |
Pharmacy |
|
|
Over
10,000 products currently online...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Toxic Chemicals, Are Your Children Being Exposed?
Shelly Platt
You do what you can to keep your little ones safe and
healthy in this world we live in. You put your household
cleaners out of reach and make sure the front door is
securely locked. You tuck them in at night with a story and
a kiss, wishing them sweet dreams. Unfortunately, your
children are not safe! While they sleep, they are being
exposed to toxic chemicals found in that crib or bed you so
lovingly tucked them into.
Liver poisoning, thyroid problems and altered learning,
memory and behavior may be caused by Polybrominated diphenyl
ethers or PBDEs. These chemicals are used as fire retardants
and are found in mattresses and other furniture. PBDE levels
in people and the environment have been rising rapidly in
recent years, particularly in North America, where the use
of PBDEs is highest. In Europe, foods, especially fish, are
thought to be a major source of exposure. But in North
America PBDEs are much more prevalent in consumer products
than they are in Europe. In Sweden, PBDEs have been banned.
You might be thinking that if these PBDEs were so dangerous,
the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) would know about
them and do something. The fact is, they do know. Last year
the EPA announced no new manufacture or import of these
chemicals can occur without first being subject to EPA
evaluation. No systematic monitoring of PBDEs in the bodies
of US residents is underway, and no plans have been made to
assess the risk posed by the millions of pounds of PBDEs
that are already found in furniture and other consumer
products in people's homes. To be fair, the EPA has stated
that they have not concluded that PBDEs pose an unreasonable
risk to human health or the environment. Of course, they
have also acknowledged there is evidence that these
chemicals may cause liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and
neurodevelopmental toxicity.
What can we do to protect ourselves and our children from
these chemicals? Get as much information as you can about
how your household furniture is made and what chemicals are
used in the process. You might consider using organic
products that are naturally made with no harmful chemicals.
We can never be completely safe from the many chemicals
we're exposed to on a daily basis, but we can reduce them
significantly. We can look into the faces of our children
and know that we are doing our part to keep them safe in an
unsafe world.
Resources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics. www.epa.gov
Northwest Environment Watch www.northwestwatch.org
Shelly Platt is the author of "Toxic Chemicals, Are Your
Children Being Exposed?" She has a real passion for healthy
living. Visit her site to find naturally made products.
htt://www.naturallygood.net
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
