When Ignorance Isn’t Bliss: The (Chemical) Dangers Lurking on Store Shelves
The single biggest misconception consumers have— besides, perhaps, thinking that we need the products being marketed to us— is assuming that products that make it onto store shelves are safe.
Lead paint on children’s toys. Cadmium in dinner plates. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in water bottles. PFAS in waterproof jackets and fast-food containers. Toxic flame retardants in mattresses. Each of these headline-making finds are disturbing in their own right, but they collectively point to a more significant problem: Unsafe chemicals make regular appearances in our home furnishings, clothing, dishes, and other consumables. And to make matters worse, the vast majority of the time, these dangerous chemicals are completely legal.
In other words, we live in a society that has repeatedly prioritized what is cheap for businesses over what is safe for our bodies and sustainable for our planet. Here are just a few examples:
1. Flame retardant chemicals (ranging from polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, to tris-phosphate) are added to everything from couches and mattresses to electronics, children’s bedding and pajamas. Decades of evidence suggests that these chemicals (ironically) don’t even prevent fires, but are linked to altered DNA, thyroid problems, compromised immune systems, delayed child development, fertility problems, and cancer. These chemicals are particularly dangerous not only because they are widespread, but because they are “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs)– meaning that these chemicals don’t just stay in your child’s mattress, they are easily airborne (and inhaled).
We’ve known about the dangerous health effects of flame retardant chemicals since the 1970s, but nearly 50 years later, 97% of Americans have detectable levels of these chemicals in our blood.
SUSTAIN INITIATIVE
Children typically encounter 3-5 times the level of flame retardant chemicals as their parents. And lest you think that flame retardants help protect firefighters, the International Association of Fire Fighters has pushed (thus far unsuccessfully) for a ban on organohalogen flame retardants because they INCREASE the cancer risk for fire fighters.1
2. Phthalates, a class of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible, has been linked to a host of health problems including breast cancer, asthma, ADHD, type II diabetes, and altered reproductive development (including reduced sperm counts). These chemicals appear in everything from vinyl flooring to plastic food packaging and personal care products (to make artificial fragrances last longer). Perhaps most disturbing, phthalates are found in a wide array of “soft plastic” children’s products like rubber ducks and dolls.
3. Thousands of product labels conveniently say “BPA-free” after consumers became concerned about the dangerous affects of Bisphenol A. BPA has been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes. However, in most cases, manufacturers simply replaced BPA with Bisphenol S (BPS) or Bisphenol F (BPF)— two lesser known chemicals that have the same detrimental health effects. BPS, BPF, and similar chemicals are found in metal can liners, plastic containers, and receipt paper.
These chemicals have become so widespread that they are present not only in our homes and offices but also in our soil and drinking water (yes, even– and in some cases especially– bottled water). They have even infiltrated the womb, as studies of newborn cord blood have consistently found more than 200 different man-made chemicals– including those known to cause cancer, infertility, and developmental delays– affecting your baby even in utero. And their impact can be long-lasting: PFOA’s (a class of chemicals used in everything from food packaging and non-stick pans to waterproof jackets) are even known as “forever” chemicals, because they can remain in your bloodstream and environment for 15+ years after exposure.
Wow, this is some pretty scary stuff. What am I supposed to do with this information?
1. Choose less toxic materials
Opt for products made from more natural materials, including wood, glass, silicone, or cotton. Here’s a safety cheat sheet:
Wood-–
Wood can be a great, non-toxic option for furniture, building materials, and even children’s toys! Natural wood is often sealed with beeswax or oil.
(In contrast to pure wood, particle board and MDF are both composed of hundreds of smaller wood particles. These composite wood products typically use urea-formaldehyde as a glue, which is linked to eye/nose/ throat irritation and an elevated risk of cancer.)
Environmental impact: While trees are certainly a renewable resource, prioritizing fast-growing woods such as bamboo or looking for certifications (such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative or Forest Steward Council certification) that indicate that wood is sustainably sourced (rather than the result of widespread deforestation)
Glass—
While antique glass may be “leaded” (prior to 1969, crystal glassware contained 36% lead content), current glass (with the exception of some fine crystalware) contains less than 10% lead– making glass one of the safest products on the market.
Environmental impact: Glass is endlessly reusable and recyclable. However, borosilicate glass (such as Pyrex and glass candle containers) is made to withstand extreme temperature changes and, as a result, is not generally recyclable.
Silicone—
Pure, food-grade silicone (made without plasticizers) has gained popularity for its ease of use. In the kitchen, silicone is dishwasher-safe and can easily transition from the freezer to the oven. In children’s toys, silicone is soft but non-porous (meaning it can’t harbor bacteria)– which makes it a great choice for baby bottles, soft block sets, and teethers.
Environmental impact: Pure silicone can be safely burned– where it reverts back to its components (sand and oxygen) and its ashes composted.
Stainless steel—
Stainless steel is “inert” and poses no health hazards for consumers, making it a great option for kitchenware and other household goods.
Environmental impact: Producing stainless steel is a fairly energy-intensive process that is a significant contributor to both wastewater and air pollution. BUT, more than 80% of stainless steel is recycled– and if you plan on using a stainless steel item (such as a water bottle or cooking pan) to the end of its useful life, stainless steel is far more sustainable than its plastic or throwaway counterparts.
Natural fibers such as cotton, silk, linen, and hemp.
These natural fibers won’t cause the same skin irritation as their “artificial” counterparts. Artificial fabrics such as acrylic and nylon have even been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer!
Environmental Impact: When conventionally produced, cotton in particular can be a pesticide-heavy crop– so opting for organic can be a better planetary choice! All natural fibers will be a smarter choice than fabrics such as polyester (which contributes to ocean micro-plastics during every wash load!) and acrylic, which contains known carcinogens.
If you have to use plastic—
Plastic Type 2 (High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, such as milk jugs), Type 4 (low density polyethylene, or LDPE, such as bread bags or Ziplock bags), and Type #5 (polypropylene, or PP, such as yogurt containers) are less likely to leach dangerous chemicals than their counterparts. But, you should entirely avoid microwaving plastics or exposing them to heat (even from the sun or dishwasher).
What about the other plastic types? Plastic Type 1 (Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, like water bottles) can easily break down to release BPA and flame retardant chemicals. Plastic Type 3 (Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC) can be found in shower curtains, children’s toys, and other “vinyl” products– but releases phthalates, a class of chemicals that interfere with hormones and are linked to increased risk of cancer, neurological delays, and fertility problems. Plastic Type 6 (styrofoam) is linked to health problems including cancer (including leukemia & lymphoma), vision/hearing/ memory loss, and liver/ kidney damage. Yikes! And Plastic Type 7… well, it’s a “catch-all” for anything not listed! Common plastic type 7’s include power tools, CDs, and children’s toys… all of which are at an increased likelihood of having chemicals such as BPA and BPS.
Environmental impact: Plastic Type 1 & 2 are more likely to be recycled than other plastic types– but in practice, most plastic is “down-cycled,” meaning that it becomes something that is less recyclable (for example, plastic bottles become carpeting material, which is not recyclable). As a result, even plastic that we toss into recycling bins with the best of intentions is rarely recycled more than once before being sent to landfill.
Our dollars cast votes for the kind of world we want. And every time we cast a vote at the local super-store for the $1.99 plastic trinket, we’re casting a vote for overflowing landfills and unregulated chemicals in our home.
Sustain initiative
2. Look for certifications that products are free from dangerous chemicals
Greenguard certifications monitor building and consumer products for their impact on indoor air quality, including the presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Greenguard Gold is the “holy grail” of this certification, which regulates hundreds of chemicals and strictly limits VOCs to 220 μg/m3 (micrograms– or one millionth of a gram– per cubic meter).1 Greenguard certifications can most commonly be found for building materials (such as wood and paint), as well as furniture (ranging from cribs to mattresses and armchairs).
Oeko-Tex certifications also track hazardous chemicals in products– most commonly clothing items, bedding, and other textiles. The Oeko-Tex certification evaluates all aspects of a product, from buttons and zippers to fabric and filling.
Check for flame retardants: Furniture, mattresses, children’s toys, and even pajamas often contain chemical flame retardants (which are linked to cancer, thyroid problems, and other endocrine immune system issues). Responsible manufacturers can meet flammability requirements with natural fabrics such as wool, rather than hefty doses of dangerous chemicals… so look for product labels that say flammability requirements (per the state of California) where met with “no added flame retardant chemicals.”
You can also check whether products have obtained safety certifications from the European Union or Health Canada, both of which have stricter chemical and product safety standards than the United States.
3. Advocate for chemical reform
Making intentional choices in your consumer products is an essential starting place to protecting your family’s health. But beyond this first step, reaching out to companies (here’s a guide) and politicians to advocate for better environmental protections is essential to safeguarding our community’s health. Toxic chemicals are the TEXTBOOK example of an economic phenomenon known as a “negative externality”– a negative community impact of something that is paid for by someone other than the producer or consumer. For example, I can reduce my chemical exposure by being mindful of what I personally consume– but I can’t eliminate the dangerous effects of these chemicals on my body or the environment UNLESS everyone else acts in a similar way.
Maya Angelou once said, “…when you know better, do better.” I’d like to believe that’s true. So today, this is an invitation to join me in an effort to create safer homes and communities free from toxic chemicals.
Jump right in by subscribing for my FREE downloadable guide to creating a non-toxic kitchen here.
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