Highly Fluorinated
Even though this was really scary to learn about, what caught my attention was the fact that this is a chemical found in so many things that we used on daily basis. In the video it was said that this is found in carpet and carseats, two things that are common around children, which is why I am thinking they are so vulnerable to it. The fact that this chemical can cause a delay in vaccination in children, or lose its impact it is really dangerous. I was happy to learn that some of the places I shop from are not using this chemical in their clothing and household items!
Antimicrobials
As mentioned in a previous blog, I think the use of too much antimicrobials can be dangerous. I was not too shocked to find this information in this video, since this is something that is discussed more often. The most dangerous and scary thing about antimicrobials in my opinion is becoming antibiotic resistance. After watching this video, one thing that I will be doing is stopping the use of antimicrobial soap, which is something I use on daily basis.
Flame Retardants
The fact that flame retardants are used so often in todays world, due to standards set, it is putting our lives in danger. In my opinion this is something that should be banned. As mentioned in the video, it could save few seconds of time, but I think long term this is not worth it. Flame retardants give out more smoke that is harmful. Although, some may say that few seconds is important, but in an emergency situation like a fire, I don't think you can do much in those few minutes. This is a product that should be completely banned.
Bisphenol and Phthalates
I was happy to learn that these products do not stay in our bodies long term, and if we discontinue the use we can get rid of it from our bodies in just few days. This gave me a sense of relief, because I do use some plastics at home. Recently, when I got pregnant, we have been making a change at our home to just use glass. It is so scary to find out that this is found in so many children products, especially because it could cause neurological damage. I will definitely be more careful when using products that could contain these chemicals, because I would never want my child to be impacted with this.
Some Solvents
Again this video was very concerning to learn that solvents are found in almost everything around us. From cosmetics to house cleaners, these are things that I use on daily basis and would be really hard to stop using them. I don't thing at this point it is possible to completely ban solvents, but this is when better choices need to be made. By making better choices, we can use replacements that are more natural.
Certain Metals
I was not too concerned about the information from this video. I do not really use products that were mentioned in the video that could contain these metals. We do not eat fish at my house, and we do not really eat rice. Even though some are found in paint, this is not something that I have contact with all the time. I do find it concerning that things like this exist, but it does not impact me personally as much as the other chemicals do.
Learning about the six chemical classes was really eyeopening for me. I am terrible about using antimicrobials and checking for harmful chemicals in the products I purchase. I definitely learned a lot and I agree with you about the importance of making better choices.
ReplyDeleteAgree with both of you about just how informative this module was. The potential harm associated with heavy metals, antimicrobials and flame retardants has been relatively well-reported in recent years. But the ubiquity of phthalates, BPA, and HFCs is astounding. These products are *everywhere*, and I'm surprised to learn about their persistence in dust and debris. Amazing how these chemicals can accumulate right under our noses.
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