NY Times: How Chemicals Affect Us

Options

Comments

  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 872
    edited May 2012

    It's just crazy how these chemicals are in everything, I have tried to eliminate as many as I can by reading the ingredients in all I eat or put on my skin but I am sure a lot are getting in and on me without my knowledge..

    ABC News just talked about chemicals in cosmetics a few days ago and what is amazing is..how different Europe and the US takes this serious!!!

    .....The European Union has banned 1,200 of these types of chemicals but the U.S. has only banned 10........

    “We’re exposed to toxic chemicals through a wide array of consumer products from the moment when [we] wake up in the morning to the moment when we go to bed at night,” Nudelman said. “The unsafe experience we’re being exposed to in cosmetics is really on the tip of the iceberg.”

     

  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited May 2012

    This topic always get me on my broom LOL!  Springtime with all the pesticide and toxic lawn fertilizer commercials and spraying with DEET spray.  ARGGHHHH!!!!  Yes - isn't it fascinating how different Europe versus US is regarding banned ingredients in consumer products and food.  Hmmmm..... I wonder where all those chemicals and products are manufactured and who owns those companies. Maybe fox in the hen house regarding our regulatory agencies. 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited May 2012

    Fascinating info.  I didn't know about the ATM & gas receipts.

    The neighborhood assn. where we live has recently started spraying empty lots with some odd looking green stuff.  For some reason, they think green dirt & weeds look nicer than brown.  I literally hold my breath when I walk by one, but I'm really concerned about that stuff, which I"m sure they've been told is perfectly safe, in the air.  

    Thanks for posting this article!   Deanna

  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited May 2012

    Unfortunately BPA is potentially present in any thermal paper receipt (from stores, banks, the library etc). Some stores claim to be using BPA-free receipts. Here's more info (below), probably more than you want but it contains tips to avoid your BPA exposure due to store receipts.

    http://www.ewg.org/bpa-in-store-receipts 

    The Breast Cancer Fund has a lot of info on avoiding BPA too.They rank which canned foods are worst for leaching BPA.

    http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/innovative-research/food-packaging-study/ 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited May 2012

    Thanks for those links, Peggy.  The 10 worst list makes me think about all the Campbell's soups most of us ate as kids!     Deanna

  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited May 2012
    More bad news about potential sources of BPA:

    BPA Found In Trace Amounts "Everywhere" 

     
    I have to admit, I found this discouraging and have only skimmed the article so far. (I'll reread it when I'm in the right mood).  The only thing that keeps me from feeling completely discouraged is this:
     
    " According to the authors, the levels of BPA exposure to the general public from paper products "are minor compared with exposure through diet"; canned goods are lined with a resin made with BPA, and canned foods used at home, in restaurants, and in other processed foods are believed to be the way most of us are exposed to the chemical."
     
    Seems like our diet matters the most and this is something we have some control over, at least in theory. ;)
  • Stratford
    Stratford Member Posts: 1,142
    edited May 2012

    There was an article in the Sunday paper about BPA and i've been reading more about it and other risks on the bcorg site http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/new_research/20120511.jsp

Categories