M9.2 Six Chemical Classes

“Six Classes” of chemicals are harmful to the human health and environment, can change DNA, cause cancer, and disrupt neurological, productive, and hormonal functions. All of these chemicals are associated with health problems and problematic, so consumers need to be aware about it and take an action to limit the use.

Six Classes chemicals are:

·      Highly Fluorinated

Found in 98% of Americans, also its found in our environment including carpets, food package, cosmetics, clothing, non-stick cookware, and more. Highly fluorinated chemicals contain carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds which are some of the strongest bonds in nature making it very resistant to breakdown and can persist in our bodies for years. The health concerns are kidney and testicular cancer, elevated cholesterol, decrease fertility, and thyroid disease. We need to avoid purchasing products that made from highly fluorinated chemicals like oil repellant or stain resistant, water proof gear, cosmetics with PTFE, microwave popcorn.

·      Antimicrobilas

Supposed to kill microbes and/or inhibit the growth, found in keypads/boards, exercise mats, soaps, paints, cosmetic products, and more. Health concerns are disrupting of hormone functioning, adverse reproductive and developmental effects, increase allergen sensitivity, and antibiotic resistant. We need to avoid the purchasing products with antimicrobial and looking for replacement to these harmful products.

·      Flame Retardants

Can be toxic and move from every day products into our homes and bodies, when it burn it can give more smoke and toxic gases which are the leading cause of death. Flame retardants can affect the brain and reproductive systems, and decrease fertility. We need to avoid purchasing of products with flame retardants and look for TB117-2013 label.

·      Bisphenols and Phthalates

Are hormonal disrupting which can interfere with hormones, mimic hormones or block hormones and cause big effects, it can enter our bodies through inhale, ingest, absorb through skin. Found in cans and plastics. We need to avoid use of plastic containers for both foods and drinks, plastic with recycle code.

·      Some Solvents

Use to dissolve other substances, found in oil base paints, cosmetics, nail polish removals, adhesive, household cleaners, and markers. It can found in smog and cause asthma, can damage the nervous system, liver, and kidneys, and can be cancer risk. We need to avoid the solvents by use wet cleaning instead of dry cleaning, use water-based paints, and select eco-labeled cleaning products.

·      Heavy Metals

Certain metals can be good conductors, malleable, and corrosion resistant but in the same time it can be harmful, like mercury and lead. It can harm brain and nervous system and skin. We need to choose fish that are low in mercury like tilapia and salmon, avoid skin lightening and anti-aging creams, and safety dispose glass thermometers and light bulbs.

References

http://www.sixclasses.org/videos

http://greensciencepolicy.org/highly-fluorinated-chemicals/