M9.2:Six Chemical Classes
Highly Fluorinated Chemicals
Recently in school we are learning about drug chemistry and depending on what molecular structure and chemical element being used to design the drug will have a totally different effect and many are toxic. Fluorine was one of the element that can make a drug toxic if used in the design because it is in the class of halogens, and this class can cause steric hindrance on the compound making it difficult to be metabolized and excrete out of the body. If a compound can't get out of the body then it can build up and cause toxicity that may lead to mutations and cancers. Therefore I am not surprised that fluorine is toxic but I was not aware that fluorine was used as a repellent in rain coats and in the microwave popcorns that I eat. I hope all manufacturers would stop using fluorine in their products because it can get into our water, where clean and safe drinking water is crucial to our livelihood.
Antimicrobials
As we had learned and talked about antimicrobial a few modules back, overuse of antibacterial products such as soaps and hand sanitizers is not a good thing. It is alarming that 3/4 of women have Triclosan in their breast milk, which mean many babies have ingested the chemical into their body which can affect their development especially during one of the most crucial period. Just like fluorine, the chemicals in antimicrobials belong to the class of halogens, which does not break down.
Flame Retardants
It was interesting to read that fire retardants is not really effective in slowing ignition and fire safety. Flame retardants are used in a lot of things that we may come in contact with such as mattress, building materials and fabrics. There is no wonder why most people will test positive for flame retardant because it's all around us. Manufactures should come up with better substitutes and more green options.
Bisphenols &Phthalates
This is a class of chemical that is hard to avoid. The development and widespread use of plastics worldwide had made us dependent on it for it's convenience. I am glad we are starting to made progress in banning the use of plastic which would benefit our health and environment, but there is still a long way to go. As mentioned even though a product say that it is BPA free, the substitute that is used have similar hormone disrupting properties, which is concerning . I think promoting less use of plastic containers, drinking bottle drinks and plastic toys may be a good start to lower our exposure to this class of chemicals.
Some Solvents
I expected most solvents to be harmful because many of them can cause toxicity and if a large amount is inhaled it will affect our brain development and function. If you are to get your house painted, remember to have good ventilation and to air out the house before moving in or staying inside. It may be a good idea to use more gentle and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Certain Metals
I think we all heard how harmful leads are, so it's not surprising to read about how certain metals can impact our well-being. I have recently learned about how arsenic can affect our cells and can lead to cell death, once the cell dies it can not be regenerated, therefore high levels of arsenic ingested can be detrimental. If a person get arsenic poisoning, they need immediate medical attention if not it can lead to death.
Recently in school we are learning about drug chemistry and depending on what molecular structure and chemical element being used to design the drug will have a totally different effect and many are toxic. Fluorine was one of the element that can make a drug toxic if used in the design because it is in the class of halogens, and this class can cause steric hindrance on the compound making it difficult to be metabolized and excrete out of the body. If a compound can't get out of the body then it can build up and cause toxicity that may lead to mutations and cancers. Therefore I am not surprised that fluorine is toxic but I was not aware that fluorine was used as a repellent in rain coats and in the microwave popcorns that I eat. I hope all manufacturers would stop using fluorine in their products because it can get into our water, where clean and safe drinking water is crucial to our livelihood.
Antimicrobials
As we had learned and talked about antimicrobial a few modules back, overuse of antibacterial products such as soaps and hand sanitizers is not a good thing. It is alarming that 3/4 of women have Triclosan in their breast milk, which mean many babies have ingested the chemical into their body which can affect their development especially during one of the most crucial period. Just like fluorine, the chemicals in antimicrobials belong to the class of halogens, which does not break down.
Flame Retardants
It was interesting to read that fire retardants is not really effective in slowing ignition and fire safety. Flame retardants are used in a lot of things that we may come in contact with such as mattress, building materials and fabrics. There is no wonder why most people will test positive for flame retardant because it's all around us. Manufactures should come up with better substitutes and more green options.
Bisphenols &Phthalates
This is a class of chemical that is hard to avoid. The development and widespread use of plastics worldwide had made us dependent on it for it's convenience. I am glad we are starting to made progress in banning the use of plastic which would benefit our health and environment, but there is still a long way to go. As mentioned even though a product say that it is BPA free, the substitute that is used have similar hormone disrupting properties, which is concerning . I think promoting less use of plastic containers, drinking bottle drinks and plastic toys may be a good start to lower our exposure to this class of chemicals.
Some Solvents
I expected most solvents to be harmful because many of them can cause toxicity and if a large amount is inhaled it will affect our brain development and function. If you are to get your house painted, remember to have good ventilation and to air out the house before moving in or staying inside. It may be a good idea to use more gentle and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Certain Metals
I think we all heard how harmful leads are, so it's not surprising to read about how certain metals can impact our well-being. I have recently learned about how arsenic can affect our cells and can lead to cell death, once the cell dies it can not be regenerated, therefore high levels of arsenic ingested can be detrimental. If a person get arsenic poisoning, they need immediate medical attention if not it can lead to death.
I was really alarmed to learn that many of these chemical classes are used in our everyday products as well. And it is difficult to switch to other products with substitute chemicals because they can be just as toxic. It is just a no win situation! I guess the only thing we can do is just abide by each video's recommendations on how to avoid each of these chemical classes in our every day lives.
ReplyDeleteHi Feng,
ReplyDeleteI think it is ridiculous the number of harmful chemicals we use daily. The one thing that surprised me the most was the antimicrobials section. It really is surprising that an antimicrobial such as triclosan is found in breast milk and there is no real way to be aware of it before delivering the milk to your baby.