Six Chemical Classes

1. Highly Fluorinated

• These chemicals are found in water resistance clothing, outdoor gear, adhesives, makeup, and among other items we use. 98% of Americans have this chemical in their bodies.  Kidney cancer, elevated cholesterol, and interference with hormone function are some of the potential health effects of this class of chemical. Avoiding products made to be water- and stain- repellent, avoid foods with greaseproof packaging, avoid personal care products with "perfluor", "polyfluo", and "PTFE" on the label, and simply asking for products without highly fluorinated chemicals. 

2. Antimicrobials

• These are a class of chemicals that are supposed to kill microorganisms or inhibit their growth. Often are unnecessary and do more harm than good. You can find this chemical on a number of item we use daily, such as: personal care products, hand soaps, yoga mats, food storage containers, keyboards, school supplies and so on. It can disrupt hormone functioning and reproductive and developmental effects. A few tips offered by the six classes is: to avoid the use of products that are labeled "antibacterial", "antimicrobial", or "anti-odor"; reading labels to identify is triclosan and triclocarban are in the product/ingredient; watch out for any kind of replacement antimicrobial; and lastly ask for products without antimicrobials. 

3. Flame Retardants

• These chemicals are placed into products to slow or stop the burning of household products like couches and drapes. Even though they are created to slow burning, research has shown that they cause more smoke and a quicker burn due to these chemicals. They are found in almost every American and enter the body in a number of ways. It effects the health of developing babies and organs, may cause decreased I.Q. and hyperactivity in children, hormone disruption, and cancer. This chemical also travel and ends up in our soil, water, marine life, and even in polar regions. They are found in: t.v cases, textiles, car seats, infant mattresses, fabric blinds, paints and coatings, transportation interior, and gym foam blocks. Make sure to avoid buying upholstered furniture that contains flame retardants, reduce exposure to dust from vacuums and clean with a damp cloth, avoid rebonded carpet padding unless positive it does not contain flame retardants, and always ask for products without flame retardants. 

4. Bisphenol's and Phthalates

• This chemical is found in many products that help make plastics stronger or more flexible. They interfere most with hormone by blocking or mimicking hormones disrupting organ functioning. Bisphenol are absorbed through the skin, ingested, or inhaled. They don't stay in our bodies long and can leave the body when decreasing your exposure to the chemical. They are found in canned food liners, plastic containers, teething toys, and receipts. The adverse health effects of this class of chemicals are: neurodevelopment problems, decreased fertility, heart disease, and obesity and type 2 diabetes. What we can do about bisphenol is to: avoid the use of plastic containers for hot foods or drinks for microwaving, avoid plastics marked with recycle code 7, eat more fresh food and less canned or packaged food, and wash hands after handling cash register receipts. Phthalates are hormone disrupters found in personal care products , toys, flexible PVC pipes, vinyl flooring, and more. They seem to be more harmful to boys and males causing harm to reproductive development in boys and decrease fertility in men. It can also increase allergies and asthma. Avoiding the use of plastics and asking for products without this chemical are a few ways to decrease your exposure.

5. Some Solvents

• They are class of chemicals used to dissolve or disperse other substances. We breath them in the air or absorb them through our skin. Found in a lot of household products like: oil-based paints, adhesives, wood finishes, household cleaners, sealants, shoe polish, and even cosmetics/nail polish remover. Smog which is in part due to the evaporating effects of solvents which is linked to asthma and other respiratory problems. Ways to decrease you exposure is to: opt for wet cleaning instead of conventional dry cleaning, use water-based paints rather than oil-based paints, use screws and other mechanicals fasteners or water-based adhesives in furnishing and construction, select eco-labelled cleaning products, and as always ask for products without problematic solvents.

6. Certain Metals

• Certain metals are part of the six classes for concern. The metals of most concern are mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The exposure to these chemicals come from dust build up, contaminated water pipes, eating foods with thee chemicals, and breathing cigarette smoke. Mercury comes from coal burning plants and pollutes water and air. High levels or exposure to this metal can damage the nervous system, harm heart function, and brain development. Eating fish lower in mercury is a great step in avoiding this metal, avoid skin lighting and anti-aging products, safely dispose of glass thermometers, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and other thermostats that contain mercury. Arsenic is the second metal that can increase the risk for skin, lung, and bladder cancer; cause for cardiovascular disease; and may harm the nervous systems. Rice is one grain that absorbs large amounts of arsenic. A few tips to avoid exposure is to diversify your diet to include alternatives to rice-based foods, avoid pressure-treated wood manufactured before 2004, and to wash your hands after touching older wooden decks or play structures. Cadmium is used in paints, metal coatings, plastic toys, and costume jewelry. It can cause the adverse health effects by causing impaired brain development, damaged lungs and kidneys, weekend bones and increase cancer risks. Making sure children avoid playing with metal jewelry, breathing in cigarette smoke, and avoiding the fumes from welding and dust are tips at reducing your exposure to cadmium. The last chemical, lead, used to be found in paints and since the ban of lead use has made a big impact on the health of humans. Lead is found to cause harm to brain development; cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and infertility; and may cause high blood pressure. It is important to avoid chipping or peeling old paint, use protective gear when removing lead-based paint, use cold water for drinking or cooking to reduce the release of lead from older pipes, confirm that our water is safe, and lastly wash hands, vacuums with HEPA filters, and wet-mop to reduce exposure to contaminated dust