5 Ways to Limit Your Exposure to Everyday Chemicals

Have you ever thought twice about the safety of the products you use every day? Do you think that the things you buy all the time, like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste, are safe? You probably think that since you use products like these all the time they must be safe, the government wouldn’t let unsafe chemicals be sold in stores! But I wouldn’t be so sure; we are actually exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals every single day all day. Did you know… -More than 85% of the chemicals that exist in our environment have NEVER been tested for possible harmful effects on humans.* -Women and girls who are exposed to high levels of industrial chemicals are at risk for developing reproductive health problems, like early puberty and breast cancer.* -The level of chemicals currently found in the average person can interfere with how the body develops and its ability to reproduce.

Here are 5 Ways to Reduce Your Risk:

1. Become Aware. The first step in limiting your exposure to toxic chemicals is to know that they exist and that they can cause health problems. The more you know about the toxic chemicals in your environment the easier it will be for you to learn how to avoid them.

2. Learn More. Once you become aware of the health effects of certain chemicals, learn about where they are found. A good way to do this is to visit cosmeticsdatabase.com, it will tell you a lot about what is contained in products like shampoo and face wash. You will probably be surprised to find out what is lurking in your makeup bag or bathroom.

3. Change Your Buying Habits. Once you are aware of the chemicals that are in some of the products you use, don’t rush to throw them out. Just make sure the next time you buy lotion or makeup you make a conscious decision to buy products that are safe for yourself and the environment. Even if its only one item you can afford to replace, replacing ONE toxic cosmetic product with an organic one is better than none.

4. Watch What You Eat. Carefully wash your fruits and vegetables and understand the difference between organic v. non-organic and research the chemicals that you don't know or understand to make a more informed choice about your diet.  Washing your produce helps remove any chemicals that may be on the skin of whatever you are eating. 

5. Share What You Learn. Tell your friends about what you know about the harmful chemicals that exist in our environment and spread your awareness! Talk about it with friends or write a Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or blog update about it. The more people that change their buying habits and stop buying things that contain toxins the more influence your consumption will have on the marketplace. What we buy or choose not to buy has the power to shape what companies make. If we show them that we don’t want bad chemicals in our products they will be forced to react, either by having to reduce the amount of chemicals they use or by getting rid of the bad chemicals altogether. Learn more from these sites: Women’s Health and the Environment This site offers information about what is know about environmental toxins, their health effects, and what you can do to protect your health. CosmeticsDataBase.com As mentioned above, this site lets you look up what chemicals are in everyday products like mascara and face lotion. It will also help you shop for healthier products. Environmental Working Group This site has information the different chemicals that exist in our environments, the health effects of those chemicals, and current research. *Info from a report, Girl, Disrupted: Hormone Disruptors and Women’s Reproductive Health, by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment. It can be found here.