The more books I read about how we are living our lives and endangering our health, the more there is to ponder. As I read further into this book, I'm realizing that the reason people don't change their ways are twofold: financial (for the big companies) and habit. When we are accustomed to living in a certain manner, it is very difficult to give up certain comforts and go back to a more natural way of doing things. One of the reasons is that it takes more time and in today's fast-paced, instant-gratification society, that isn't appealing. When people work a 10 hour day, eating out or making something quick like opening a can of tuna is preferable to cooking a full-course meal. However, this is exactly why we are exposing ourselves to so many toxic chemicals. From using microwave popcorn bags and non-stick frying pans, to ingesting mercury from tuna and other fish, to drinking water imbued with contaminants due to the run-off of chemicals from our industries, to wearing or using stain-repellant or fire retardant clothing and furniture, we are "soaking in a toxic bath". And, I haven't even finished reading this book yet. What other products or industries are causing health and environmental concerns? And what can we do about it?
The latest tip, after reading about PBDE's or perfluorinated compounds (related to PCB's), is to put in hardwood flooring instead of carpeting, to stay away from products that use "halogenated flame retardants" (IKEA no longer uses these in their products) and to avoid furniture treated with Stainmaster products. In short, just be aware of what you are buying for your home because the chemicals used in their production leach into the environment and gather in the dust bunnies under your beds and couches or are in your mattress where you sleep at least 6 hours every night. Scary? You bet it is.
It's interesting to discover that big industries are the first to fight against laws that prohibit the use of chemicals. The authors point out that only when a major incident has proven the risk to mankind, is there any movement as far as legislation by governments to ban chemicals. And then, industry just invents a way around it by using other chemicals which may be even more toxic than the previous. An analogy that really hit home with me was that future generations will be able to date skeletal remains by the levels of certain chemicals in their bones.
In any case, all we can do is our best and certainly being aware of the dangers, puts my choices as a consumer in a much different light. I'm not about to throw out everything I own or replace carpet and furniture that is still in good condition. However, when the time comes to buy a new frying pan or purchase a new sofa, you can bet that I will ask more questions and make different choices now that I have more information.
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