By all accounts, I should be dead. My wood cabinets are laced with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. I’ve had a history of microwaving my food in plastic containers, which leach toxins. I’ve been sleeping on – and thus inhaling – a mattress manufactured from cotton surely grown with pesticides. And I regularly trade the germs on my kitchen counters for DNA-mutating chemicals found in cleaning supplies.
The more I read green literature, the more I think: How on earth have I survived? How have any of us lived past our eighth birthdays? Then I take a deep cleansing breath and remember the reassuring words Dad used to say to Mom when she worried about us kids: “Don’t worry, Dear. They’ll die of something else.”
Many green causes contain worthy truths. Others are overwrought and under-attributed. Take, for instance, this comment from one well-intentioned green writer – whose scientific credential is that she’s an interior designer – on the dangers of chlorine bleach. She writes: “Chlorine releases chloroform, a probable carcinogen, into the air as you use it. As it breaks down into the environment, chlorine creates byproducts that combine with other naturally occurring organic compounds to form organochlorines. These compounds are believed to cause cells to mutate when they accumulate in the food chain. This can harm DNA and cause cancer.”
Holy Toledo! How did we go from getting our clothes whiter with chlorine bleach – perhaps the one thing my grandmother, mother and I have agreed on – to mutating cells, harming DNA and causing cancer? Thinking about this is making me dizzy and short of breath, or maybe it’s my office cabinets, which are maple-veneer covered particleboard. Formaldehyde is a binding agent in particleboard. But wait. I thought buying particleboard was more environmentally correct than getting hardwoods from the rain forests.
Confused? Me, too.
Marni Jameson is a nationally syndicated columnist who lives in the Denver area. Reach her at marnijameson.com.
Experts separate fact from hysteria in going green
I called a few experts – real science types – to help me separate green facts from hysteria, and find out what substances I should consider subtracting from our home. Here’s what I learned.
Not enough research. Most studies on exposure to supposedly harmful chemicals have involved animals and unusually high doses. Low doses in humans haven’t been well studied, according to John Meeker, assistant professor of environmental epidemiology at the University of Michigan. In other words, scientists have had trouble finding volunteers who want to spend days with their noses stuck in beakers of formaldehyde or chlorine. Not even teenagers will do this.
Balance is key. Many people believe that if a lot of a substance is potentially harmful then none is best. But that’s not always true. The sun causes cancer, but some is good for us, and life depends on it. Our bodies need selenium, a chemical in the sulphur family, but too much can be deadly. The key is to find a balance between a harmless or healthy level of exposure, and a toxic one.
Know your tolerance. Certain people are more chemically sensitive than others, just as some people are more allergy prone. If a person has been overexposed to a toxin at work, he will be more sensitive if exposed at home, Meeker says . Parents of small children should be more vigilant as little ones are often more sensitive and spend a lot of time on the ground.
Formaldehyde fears. This chemical is in everything from toothpaste to carpet, and many wood products. Some people worry about the fumes. Chuck Frihart, a wood chemist and head of wood adhesives for the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wis., confirmed that the adhesives in most pressboard or MDF (medium density fiberboard) contain formaldehyde, too much of which is harmful. However, when natural wood degrades, it also releases formaldehyde. We’ve been living with aging wood for centuries. Formaldehyde levels in American wood products fall below the baseline for concern. Ironically, the wood from exotic rain forest trees, which some people choose over manufactured wood products, often releases harsher toxins to protect the tree against insect infestation in nature.
Open the windows. The best solution for indoor pollution is fresh air. If you’ve just gotten new carpet, or cabinets, which do release fumes, leave the windows open. Rates drop off fast, says Frihart. In one week they drop to half. In another week the level halves again. If you’re painting or installing drywall, insulation or carpet, wear a mask.
Cut back on chemical cleansers. Some eco-friendly experts suggest using vinegar mixed with water as a cleaning agent. I tried it, but didn’t like having a kitchen that smelled like salad dressing. Plus, it left a dull finish. I prefer diluting my regular cleaning chemicals (Windex and 409) with water. Other nontoxic cleaners include baking soda, borax and lemon.
Beware of scams. Lack of clear scientific evidence drives many people to pay more for products they believe are safer. If you don’t mind paying extra, and you like the green-labeled product, then buy it. But be leery of marketing from companies that stand to profit from paranoia. When you hear a claim, carefully consider the source. Be green, but be smart.
Focus on the positive. You’ll probably die of something else. But it’s spring now, so go open some windows.
