Better living through chemistry…
I can remember going to Disneyland for the very first time when I was a young child and being dazzled by an exhibit designed by the giant chemical company, Dupont. We waited in a long line outside and were finally ushered into a theatre with a round stage. Dupont was showing the “home of the future”, with modern appliances and a woman’s voice, like Siri’s, followed the commands of the family members as they went about their lives.
It was a remarkable display of clean convenience and, since the more recent introduction of the internet and cellphones that have become small pocket computers, what seemed a little like science fiction fifty years ago, is the way most of us live now. On stage were robots taking commands from humans to do mundane things like add items to a virtual shopping list, change room temperatures, wash dishes and dry clothing without those giving the commands having to lift a finger.
Yet, hidden behind the walls, floors and ceilings in this modern home of the future were chemicals used as sealants made to last a lifetime. In the food pantry were cans, plastic water bottles and even baby bottles lined with known hormone disrupters – the “everywhere chemicals” – like BPA and phthalates – that have been found to influence thyroid and brain development in unborn children.
In the fifties and early sixties there were warnings about some of these chemicals by environmental scientists who were ahead of their time. Rachel Carson, author of “Silent Spring”, warned of the dangers of these chemicals as she watched and wrote about animal species who were becoming obsolete because of their toxicity. DDT, banned for decades is still found to this day in soil and crops.
“Endocrine disruption is, most simply, any disturbance in the proper functioning of hormones in the body due to a synthetic chemical exposure.”
-Leonardo Trasande, M.D.
Comparing children playing in playgrounds today with children sixty years ago, there are noticeable differences. Children now are considerably larger and often obese due to many of them being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes – a condition never seen in children until 2003. Girls in today’s world are in puberty and menstruating as young as eight years old from being surrounded by chemicals making up Fragrances in cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, candles and even cleaning products – chemicals that mimic Estrogen and are not regulated. There can be thousands of chemicals that make up these Estrogenic compounds and, along with the drop in the age of puberty in our children, they are also the cause of dropping sperm counts in men as young as twenty.
Hormones are chemical “messengers” that are part of the body’s endocrine system; they are made in glands that guide organs to do their jobs. Here’s a very brief list and descriptions of what they do:
–Testosterone/Estrogen: Gonadal hormones
–Thyroid Hormones: Control metabolism and, when not in balance can create symptoms of hair loss, feeling cold, dry skin, fatigue and weight gain (when in a hypothyroid state).
–Cortisol: Related to stress, can dull pain, keep us alert and control inflammation.
–Melatonin: Improves the immune system, anti-aging hormone (seen in large amounts in children), controls good sleep.
–Human Growth Hormone (HGH): Controls growth, muscle development as we age.
–Leptin: Found in fat cells, regulates food intake so we don’t overeat.
–Grelin: The “hunger hormone”, increases appetite.
–Insulin/Glucagon: Both work together to control blood sugar. Insulin brings glucose into the cells, when needed; Glucagon triggers the release of glucose from the liver.
“You are the last, best hope of Earth. We ask you to protect it. Or we, and all living things we cherish, are history.”
-Leonardo DiCaprio
Many of you know that I lost my home in the Woolsey fire in November, 2018, and after almost two years, I am finally able to begin rebuilding my home. I have been very concerned about the harmful chemicals used in building materials; chemicals like formaldehyde, are still used and may be used in my new home. After digging into the research to see what substitutions I could use in the drywall and flooring of my new home, the contractors were not willing to budge. I’m still pushing for the non-toxic drywall and also have discovered that the only non-toxic flooring available is cork.
In my next blog, because it’s such a big topic, I’d like to describe the different chemicals and the conditions they create that we should be aware of. Following that blog, I will discuss the things we can do to make change.
In 2007, when I built my home the first time, it was nearly impossible to find paints and stains made with no VOC; now, because of customer demand, you can find them at any paint store. My point here is that, because of customer education and demand, it is up to us to push for changes to protect the people and the planet we love.
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