I have not known for a long time what fresh air smells like. Air that is just air unpolluted by chemicals around us. It is not just the air that is tainted, it is also the water and the food we eat as well as the things we surround ourselves with in the course of living and working that is scary.
An article titled "The pollution within" in the October 2006 issue of the National Geographic written by a journalist who underwent expensive tests to find out to what extent his blood contains harmful chemical compounds absorbed from the environment.
The article draws attention to the fact that we are not free from exposure to toxins in modern day living. In particular, a two-page spread giving information on the kind of harmful chemicals present in our homes forces us to look around us and see our surroundings with a new awareness. The chemicals, some of which are toxic go by the names of PBDEs, PHTHALATES, PFAs, PCBs, DIOXINs and these together with pesticides and metals and old paint are enough to make us wish we can return to a simple life in the caves.
I take the things in my home for granted not thinking about them as producing harmful substances that are detrimental to my health by their mere presence. For example items like foam mattresses and pillows, carpets, chari cushions, hair-dryers and telephones contain PBDEs that are used as flame retardants and they can build up in people's bodies. In the lab this chemical is causes developmental problems to animals.
Shampoos, soap, hair spray, toothpaste, shower curtains, extension cords contain PHTHALATES that have been tested harmful to the development of animals. PFOA used in non-stick pans in high doses cause cancer in animals. And here is the reason why we should not use plastic bottles countless times especially those plastic drink bottles that we tend to find useful for storing water. Some of these plastic bottles are made with a chemical that could cause harm to fetuses. The advice is to avoid using hard plastic bottles.
There are always strange smells in the air. A whiff of this and a whiff of that. If it's not the aroma coming from my neighbours' cooking, I can correctly say that the rest of the smells are chemical. In fact, it is easy to smell plastic going bad. We just have to be vigilant and sharpen our senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing.
As individuals, we can do our bit for the protection of the environment by keeping our needs simple. Now I finally understand why Japanese homes are so neat and uncluttered. The Japanese also live to a ripe old age. There must be some connection between this kind of uncluttered lifestyle and the ability to live long healthy lives.
An article titled "The pollution within" in the October 2006 issue of the National Geographic written by a journalist who underwent expensive tests to find out to what extent his blood contains harmful chemical compounds absorbed from the environment.
The article draws attention to the fact that we are not free from exposure to toxins in modern day living. In particular, a two-page spread giving information on the kind of harmful chemicals present in our homes forces us to look around us and see our surroundings with a new awareness. The chemicals, some of which are toxic go by the names of PBDEs, PHTHALATES, PFAs, PCBs, DIOXINs and these together with pesticides and metals and old paint are enough to make us wish we can return to a simple life in the caves.
I take the things in my home for granted not thinking about them as producing harmful substances that are detrimental to my health by their mere presence. For example items like foam mattresses and pillows, carpets, chari cushions, hair-dryers and telephones contain PBDEs that are used as flame retardants and they can build up in people's bodies. In the lab this chemical is causes developmental problems to animals.
Shampoos, soap, hair spray, toothpaste, shower curtains, extension cords contain PHTHALATES that have been tested harmful to the development of animals. PFOA used in non-stick pans in high doses cause cancer in animals. And here is the reason why we should not use plastic bottles countless times especially those plastic drink bottles that we tend to find useful for storing water. Some of these plastic bottles are made with a chemical that could cause harm to fetuses. The advice is to avoid using hard plastic bottles.
There are always strange smells in the air. A whiff of this and a whiff of that. If it's not the aroma coming from my neighbours' cooking, I can correctly say that the rest of the smells are chemical. In fact, it is easy to smell plastic going bad. We just have to be vigilant and sharpen our senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing.
As individuals, we can do our bit for the protection of the environment by keeping our needs simple. Now I finally understand why Japanese homes are so neat and uncluttered. The Japanese also live to a ripe old age. There must be some connection between this kind of uncluttered lifestyle and the ability to live long healthy lives.
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