What's under your sink?

@raydene (9871)
United States
July 22, 2007 2:37pm CST
My upline just sent some useful info so I thought it might be of interest. My biz is a going green company.. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR SINK? By Dr. Joyce Woods. Joyce worked as a medical/surgical nurse, public health nurse, nurse educator, nursing school administrator, occupational health consultant. She holds a Bachelors of Nursing, Bachelors of Arts (Specialist), Masters of Education degrees, and has completed her doctoral degree in the area of Indoor Air Pollution, and it's effect on your health. Begin by thinking of your home as a toxic waste dump. The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals - more than a chemistry lab at the turn of the century. More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WW II. Less than 2% of synthetic chemicals have been tested for toxicity, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, or birth defects. The majority of modern chemicals have never been tested for long-term effects! An EPA survey concluded that indoor air was 2 to 5 times MORE polluted than outdoor air. The EPA states that common sources include: household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; and dry-cleaned clothing. Another EPA study found that toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air. Every man, woman and child breathes in 10 to 20 thousand liters of air per day, 90% of which is indoor air. "There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution. The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted. Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities." The National Cancer Institute released results of a 15-year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54% higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home. Cancer rates have almost doubled since 1960. Cancer is the number ONE cause of death for children. There has been a 26% increase in breast cancer since 1982. Breast cancer is the Number ONE killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54. Primary suspects are laundry detergents, household cleaners and pesticides. There has been a call from the U.S./ Canadian Commission on chemicals to ban bleach in North America. Bleach is being linked to the rising rates of breast cancer in women, reproductive problems in men and learning and behavioral problems in children. Chemicals get into our body through inhalation, ingestion and absorption. We breathe 10 to 20 thousand liters of air per day. There are more than 3 million poisonings every year. Household cleaners are the number ONE cause of poisoning of children. Since 1980, asthma has increased by 600%. The Canadian Lung Association and the Asthma Society of Canada identify common household cleaners and cosmetics as triggers. ADD/ADHD are epidemic in schools today. Behavioral problems have long been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and molds. Chemical and environmental sensitivities are known to cause all types of headaches. Labeling laws do not protect the consumer - they protect big business. The New York Poison Control Center reports that 85% of product warning labels were either inadequate or incorrect for identifying a poison, and for first aid instructions. Formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene are found in common household cleaners, cosmetics, beverages, fabrics and cigarette smoke. These chemicals are cancer causing and toxic to the immune system. Chemicals are attracted to, and stored in fatty tissue. The brain is a prime target for these destructive organics because of its high fat content and very rich blood supply. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, circulatory disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and hormonal problems are diseases commonly related to chemical exposure. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found more than 2500 chemicals in cosmetics that are toxic, cause tumors, reproductive complications, biological mutations and skin and eye irritations. Pesticides only have to include active ingredients on the labels, even though the inert (inactive) ingredients may account for 99%, many of which are toxic and poisons.
1 person likes this
5 responses
• United States
24 Jul 07
This was a very interesting article you posted. Thanks so much sugar. If we have kids or pets, we will just have to be very sure that they do not get under the sink. Most people have a lot of these things, and we use them. Huggers, M&M
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
24 Jul 07
What's under my sink? Everything but the kitchen sink itself, it seems, whenever I open it, and I hate to do it something falls out! All the household sprays, detergents, sponges, liquids and stuff to wash the car with, as well as wires, old newspapers, and white spirit and paint brushes. Wow what an article my good friend, makes you realize just what you have hidden away!
@weemam (13372)
22 Jul 07
there are dish clothes ( clean ones of course lol ) and my vegetables and my washing up liquid , I gave up buying chemicals years ago , I use my steam cleaner to clean through the whole house , I even clean my sueded shoes with it , Every time I fill it up with water , I go mad cleaning the whole house lol xxx
@shelagh77 (3643)
23 Jul 07
aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! Scary stuff there! I think this just might make me look a little more seriously into making my own cleaning stuff with old fashioned things such as lemon juice, white vinegar etc. Actually the question would better be "what ISN'T under my sink" as anything non food that doesn't have a home gets stuff in there, so much so that the door recently came off and I got into terrible trouble! Since I suffer with narcoplexy I think I might look into that research a little more closely, so thank you so much for that.
@Phlamingho (7822)
• Denmark
22 Jul 07
Thanks for the article, that's pretty interesting.