M9.2 Six Chemical Classes

Six Chemical Classes

Highly Fluorinated Chemicals

• Used for oil and water resistant properties on consumer products
• Cookware
• Clothing
• Outdoor appare
• Carpeting 
• Food packaging
• Adverse health outcomes associated with highly fluorinated chemicals in humans:
• Kidney disease
• Cancers (testicular)
• Endocrine disruption (thyroid)
• Total elevated cholesterol and obesity
• Highly fluorinated chemicals are persistent organic chemicals 
• Contaminates water supply through washing of products with highly fluorinated chemicals
• Water purification system isn't designed to filter out these chemicals
• Transmitted from mother to fetus/infant via cord blood or breast feeding

Half of my active wear is "water resistant" and not until now did I ever think about the adverse health effects of the chemicals used to instill these properties of "water resistance" in my personal products. Sadly, it probably has poisoned me. Of all my female relatives, I am the most physically active and health conscious, yet I have the worse reproductive health...it's probably from absorbing the highly fluorinated chemicals in my active wear.

Antimicrobials

• Prevalently used in consumer personal care products to prevent microbial growth
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste
• More beneficial for individuals with gum disease versus children and other individuals who do not have gum disease
• Socks
• Lunch boxes
• Prevalently used antimicrobials in consumer products:
• Triclosan
• Triclocarban
• Adverse health outcomes associated with "unnecessary" or "over use" of antimicrobials:
• Adverse changes in the endocrine, thyroid and reproductive functions
• Contributes to the antimicrobial resistance in strains of bacteria
• Safer alternatives
• Plain soap and water
• Mechanical disinfection

The use of antimicrobials in the U.S.A is over kill. We are addicted to the "magic penicillin" and it is this type of culture that has contributed to the even more detrimental public health issue of antimicrobial resistance.

Flame Retardants

• The original purpose for its use in consumer products was to reduce fire hazards
• Reports show that flame retardants do not increase fire safety
• Used in furniture, building insulation, baby product foam and electronics
• Appalling how it is most accessible by the most vulnerable members of society...babies
• Children have the highest body burdens of flame retardants via oral ingestion
• Adverse health outcomes in humans:
• Endocrine disruption
• Reproductive, neurologic and immune impairment
• Cancer

If reports show that flame retardants do not improve fire safety, why does the government permit manufacturers to continue using it in consumer and building products?

Bisphenols & Phthalates

• Components of consumer products
• Plastics
• Pesticides
• Flame retardants
• Adverse health outcomes in humans:
• Endocrine disruptors (thyroid)
• Disruption in reproductive, metabolic, neurologic and immune functions
• Teratogenic

Plastics are scary, because they are not biodegradeable. So many of our daily living products are made of plastic...we are totally dependent on it. 

Organic Solvents

• Used to dissolve other chemical constituents in consumer products:
• Paint
• Coatings
• Degreasers
• Dry cleaning chemicals
• Non-water based organic solvents are inhaled and absorbed by humans, especially in the construction industry
• Adverse health outcomes in humans:
• Neurotoxicity
• Reproductive toxicity
• Carcinogenic 

Certain Metals

• Lead, cadmium and mercury
• High/toxic levels of metals are associated with adverse health outcomes in humans:
• Decreased mental and central nervous function
• Lower energy
• Damage to blood, lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs