physical symptoms.
Our regulating authorities have created a VOC standard that purposefully ignores certain chemicals, and therefore, does not guarantee human safety. More on
this in part 2.
Testing excludes new born children and pregnant women
Most of the chemical research done on humans does not take into account the special needs of children, the elderly, those with chemical sensitivities or
pregnant women. It is well known, that all of the above are highly vulnerable to the slightest amount of chemicals and pesticides. Most of the testing
protocols for chemicals, however, are based on mature animals and ignore the specific physiological differences between mature animals and the fetus,
newborns, and developing young, including humans.
This is critically important, according to the USPCP, because
“approximately 40 chemicals classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as known, probable, or possible human carcinogens, are
used in EPA-registered pesticides now on the market.”
What is wrong with this picture?
The USPCP pointed out that these chemical contaminants are being passed on to the next generation, both prenatally and during breastfeeding. Numerous
environmental contaminants can cross the placental barrier; to a disturbing extent, babies are born ‘pre-polluted.’ According to a 2009 study by the
Environmental Working Group (EWG), up to 232 chemicals were found in the placental cord blood of newborns in the US. Many of these
chemicals such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls, are known to harm brain development and the nervous system.
The USPCP report further states that “Cancer incidence in U.S. children under 20 years of age has increased…Leukemia rates are consistently elevated among
children who grow up on farms, among children whose parents used pesticides in the home or garden…” Again, the assumption that low levels of chemicals will
cause no health issues is clearly unfounded. The amount of peer-reviewed published papers showing a wide range of problems caused by pesticides to the
fetus and newborn is substantial and compelling.
In sum, the testing methods used by the building industry, the food and drug industry, as well as our government, is shockingly inadequate and needs to
change for the safety of us all. Understanding the limitations of these test methods should make you skeptical about any test results that you read in
Material Safety Data Sheets, and will hopefully lead you to further discussion and deeper analysis of the real effects of these ingredients.
So, the next time someone tells you “it’s not that bad…a little bit won’t hurt you —you may want to advise them why that is not a valid assumption.
In part 2: Tips on how to choose safer products. Reliance on government chemical standards, green labels and even MSDS documentation in no way