Did you know that over 80% of the chemicals listed in the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act priority workplan are known to be present in consumer products.
Household cleaning and personal care products are primary sources of everyday chemical exposure. These toxins can contribute to a vast array of health issues, including asthma, allergies, endocrine (hormone) disruption, organ damage, and even cancer. Despite this, very little information or transparency of the chemical ingredients in these products is readily available. What's more, popular labels like "natural," "green," and "nontoxic" are unregulated and often used to manipulate consumers.
On the bright side, there is a growing understanding among the public for a need for change. Consumers are becoming informed and seeking out healthier, safer products. This has created space for brands that truly care about transparency and health and choose to offer safe, effective products. While there is no such thing as a completely "toxic free" life, there are incredible resources available to make the switch to a low-toxicant lifestyle.
Bye Bye Toxins
"Bye Bye Toxins" (BBT) posts will be an ongoing series focused on what the research says about common household and personal care toxins, how to implement a low-toxicant lifestyle suited for you and your home, and how to stay sane and encouraged during the process. BBT posts will cover a wide range of topics, such as where and how to prioritize making changes, cleaning supplies, personal care products, food, kitchen ware, textiles, and the importance of keeping a clean home.
Making lifestyle changes can be overwhelming. Sometimes knowing where to start, how fast to go, and how much to spend, can be daunting and can make us feel like there's no point to trying to reduce our toxic exposure... that we might as well just keep our blinders up and just do nothing. This is why it's so important to be patient and gracious with ourselves while we learn. The goal is a consistent, steady progress towards change. We'll get there together!
Remember: The journey to a low-toxicant lifestyle will look different for everyone. Don't put pressure on yourself to have your life look exactly like someone else's. That's counterproductive. The point is to be informed so you can make decisions that are right for you and your family!
REFERENCES
Goldsmith, M.-R., Grulke, C. M., Brooks, R. D., Transue, T. R., Tan, Y. M., Frame, A., … Dary, C. C. (2014). Development of a consumer product ingredient database for chemical exposure screening and prioritization. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 65, 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.12.029
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash
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