| According to an article in the Ecologist magazine in | | | | For example, research indicates that if exposed |
| July of 2000, there are now 70,000 chemicals in | | | | to benzene for 40 years at 1 ppm (within the |
| use. In fact, we are surrounded by chemicals, in | | | | law), a worker's chance of dying of leukemia |
| our homes, in our personal care products, clothing, | | | | would almost double! For arsenic, your cancer risk |
| furnishings, our food, water and more. Most | | | | is actually higher at lower doses! Low doses of |
| shampoos, for example, contain 10 or more | | | | biphenol-A can cause greater risk of breast |
| chemicals that are toxic to your health, and these | | | | cancer. Because of the increase in chemicals in our |
| toxins are absorbed very quickly by your body | | | | environment and the increased accumulation in our |
| through your scalp. Household cleaning products | | | | bodies, many health care professionals also think |
| also contain various carcinogenic and other toxins, | | | | that everyone needs to take specific steps to |
| as do home building materials. Around 1 in every 6 | | | | detoxify their body on a regular basis. You can |
| Americans lives closer than 4 miles to a | | | | detoxify by foods you eat, juicing, specific herbs |
| Superfund site, and many of us live in urban areas | | | | and supplements you take, by exercising, |
| with bad air quality. | | | | sweating and more. In addition, you may not be |
| 2000 New Chemicals Every Year Implicated in | | | | able to move to a cleaner city or house, but you |
| Cancer and More | | | | can take steps to replace the toxic products you |
| In addition, there are approximately 2000 new | | | | use in your life with more green alternatives. |
| chemicals introduced every year into our | | | | Some of the more simple and less costly green |
| environment. These chemicals have been | | | | products to start with include natural shampoos, |
| implicated in all sorts of diseases, from chemical | | | | cosmetics and lotions, non-toxic cleaning products |
| sensitivity to MS to cancer, and this means that | | | | and low VOC paints. Air and water filters are |
| we probably all need to perform some type of | | | | more expensive, but can really help reduce your |
| detoxification so these chemicals don't build up in | | | | toxic load over the long run. You might also want |
| our bodies and make us sick. | | | | to think about replacing your mattress and |
| Even Low Level Exposures to Chemicals Can | | | | bedding with more natural alternatives, especially |
| Accumulate and Cause Illness | | | | instead of buying a new conventional mattress. |
| In fact, there are many health professionals today | | | | Did you know that a conventional mattress has |
| who think that the barrage of chemicals we are | | | | more chemicals in it than a barrel of oil? With the |
| exposed to in our environment today is causing a | | | | new "blow torch" test for flammability, new |
| backlog in our bodies, and this is at least a | | | | mattresses today are extremely toxic and you |
| contributing factor in many diseases, including | | | | sleep with your body and head right on top of |
| cancer, heart disease, allergies, obesity, diabetes | | | | them! When you first start trying to reduce |
| and more. Take cancer for example, researchers | | | | chemicals in your home, it can seem like a |
| all agree that a high level of exposure to certain | | | | daunting task, but don't let that stop you from |
| chemicals will cause cancer. What they are finding, | | | | starting. Even small steps like making some |
| though, is that low level exposures over time can | | | | window cleaner out of ½ vinegar and |
| also accumulate in the body and contribute to | | | | ½ water will reduce the chemicals you |
| cancer over your lifetime, even if your exposures | | | | introduce into your body, and hence help you to |
| are at or below the accepted regulatory limit. | | | | improve your health. |
| That's one of the reasons why as you get older, | | | | Copyright 2008 Karen Pijuan. This article may be |
| your chances of getting cancer grow. | | | | copied only in its entirety and only if all links, |
| Chemical Exposure At Levels Below Regulatory | | | | including those in the resource box or the |
| Limits Still Can and Do Cause Cancer | | | | about-the-author section, remain intact. |