| If you are taking the time to read this you more | | | | more than 60% are not even studied. Some of the |
| than likely consider yourself a health conscious | | | | ones that are studies are known to be dangerous, |
| person. So, if you consciously make healthy decisions | | | | even cancer causing. But, industry will tell you that |
| for yourself, good for you! If you have children, as I | | | | the level any particular chemical within their product is |
| do, I imagine you are also trying to teach them how | | | | safe. At the individual level, it very well may be. BUT, |
| to make healthy decisions as well. Health decisions | | | | what if that same chemical is found in six other |
| though are not just limited to what we feed | | | | products you also use daily or weekly? What about |
| ourselves or the exercise we routinely (hopefully) are | | | | its safety now. Industry cannot answer that nor |
| able to do. This article deals with a concept in | | | | does it try as the law does not say they need too. |
| environmental health called cumulative impact (CR). | | | | As we all probably bathe daily with soaps and |
| What is CR? At the macro or community level, it | | | | shampoos and clean our houses and apartments |
| deals with all the things a community is exposed to: | | | | regularly, what is the cumulative impact of all of |
| all the different nearby sources of air pollution, water | | | | those "safe" levels of chemicals? |
| pollution, etc. Federal, and most state regulations look | | | | Have you ever considered using safer-to-use |
| at individual sources but fail to look at what effects | | | | (environmentally friendly) household products? There |
| all sources have added up...a.k.a cumulative impact. | | | | are several brands to choose from and a couple |
| Let's take it to a personal level. Since WWII, our | | | | stand out among the others. If you would like any of |
| industrialized society has surrounded us with a myriad | | | | my sources, feel free to email me. If you'd like to |
| of chemicals. These chemicals are found in our | | | | know what I trust for my family, as an |
| carpets, paints, furniture, cloth dyes, soaps, | | | | environmental health scientist and educator, you can |
| detergents and household cleaning supplies. Of the | | | | email me as well. Here is to your health! |
| thousands of chemicals within just as many products, | | | | |