Usually people avoid having an exterminator spraying around their home to avert harmful effects on their loved ones, especially children. Yet, when it comes to household products that are bought from a local convenience store, people don’t stop to look at the ingredients that could cause potential harm or worse — they notice some the ingredients and chose not to care. People automatically assume it is safe enough since it is on the shelf. A simple decision between picking a brand multi-purpose cleaner and a generic one will not make a difference because both contain chemicals that can harm people and the environment. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is require that the environment to be safe and clean. As of today, the government has not stepped in for the health of the people, much less for the environment.
Some chemicals aren’t hazardous but the majority of the chemicals in the products are. Some of these chemicals can cause harm depending on the amount. Individuals who have been exposed to certain chemicals have ended up with diseases. These dangerous chemicals contained in the products are carcinogens (cause cancer), neurotoxins and reproductive toxins(SOC). There are toxic chemicals in regular used products including personal care products, cleaning supplies and food. All these chemicals are released into the environment has pollution affecting everything and everyone. These pollutants can be reduced and prevented.
“The average woman in America uses 12 personal care products daily (SOC)” All these products add up to cause a hazardous environment in the bathroom. Makeup that women use frequently like lipstick contains lead. It is known that if an individual consumes lead it can cause damage to the the nervous system, lead to anemia and kidney disease through lead poisoning.
As for a personal hygiene and a cleaner environment, people have become somewhat dependent on antibacterial products. Those who excessively use antibacterial products actually end up having health problems. “Some researchers have found a correlation between too much hygiene and increased allergy( Levy 514).” “[It] revealed an increased frequency of allergies, cases of asthma, and eczema in persons who have been raised in an environment overly protective against microorganisms( Levy 514).” Antibacterial antigens are known to weaken the immune system. While antibacterial products are useful to kill viruses and harmful bacteria that can cause diseases, the usage should be limited. There should be a warning sign labeled on these products.
Eating safe and healthy food has become quite complicated. Ideally, people should avoid buying processed foods and go straight to the farmer’s markets. But since people already don’t pay much attention to the products’ labels and the ingredients in them, they are more likely to be poisoned.
Besides, the majority of the fresh products in local markets contaminated with pesticides. Farmers spray pesticides on their crops to avoid losing them to bugs but the chemicals remain even after the product is washed, cut and cooked. All the pollution done due to farming has been linked to thyroid, bladder and ovarian cancers. “A 2012 EWG study based on United States Geological Survey data found that water in Minnesota streams had eight times more nitrates than streams that are not vulnerable to agricultural pollution (Cassidy).” It releases nitrate into the environment, specifically to the water everyone uses. “[B]ig agricultural operations are largely exempt from the Clean Water Act, the landmark 1972 federal law that protects drinking water from nitrates and contaminants from other sources (Cassidy).” Instead of attempting to prevent more pollution, “farm subsidies create incentives for growers to plant and fertilize crops on erodible soil that pours even more nitrates into the water (Cassidy).” What “should [be] require growers who collect federal farm subsidies to curtail cancer-causing contaminants in our water (Cassidy).”