Art | Resources
A Sensational Spin on Toxics in Consumer Products
This week there has been a an article going around with the sensational headline:
There Are ‘Fracking’ Chemicals In Your Toothpaste,
Detergents and Ice cream.”
Well, I wanted to know what horribly toxic fracking chemicals were in toothpaste, so I started reading the article. But it just didn’t make sense.
So I searched for a different article on the subject and found the original press release about the study, which said no such thing.
In fact, the study tested samples of fracking fluid collected in five states, and found that the chemicals contained in fracking fluid were “no more toxic than substances commonly found in homes.”
The pollutants were various forms of ethylene oxide.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) , ethylene glycol can have a variety of health effects.
In addition to eye pain and sore throat, exposure to EtO can cause difficult breathing and blurred vision. Exposure can also cause dizziness, nausea, headache, convulsions, blisters and can result in vomiting and coughing. Both human and animal studies show that EtO is a carcinogen that may cause leukemia and other cancers. EtO is also linked to spontaneous abortion, genetic damage, nerve damage, peripheral paralysis, muscle weakness, as well as impaired thinking and memory. In liquid form, EtO can cause severe skin irritation upon prolonged or confined contact.
It is used in the production of many consumer products, and may not appear on the label.
My point here is that information on toxics in consumer products should be presented in a factual way and not in a way that is misleading. Fracking chemicals were NOT found in toothpaste, detergents and ice cream. They were found in fracking fluid.
I take issue with both the article and the press release. One made it sound more toxic than it is, the other lessened the concern by comparing it to innocent household products.
I prefer facts.
Po-Zu Shoes
These amazing shoes are made from organic cotton, wool, coconut husks, natural latex, cork, and leather. “All our materials come from naturally renewable sources and are responsibly harvested. They contain no pesticides, bleaches or toxic dyes and are locally sourced wherever possible. We use organic cotton in our shoes and all our leather is chromium-free. You can read about our materials in more detail here.” Every shoe has a complete materials description (click on the “materials” tab on each product page). Great styles! This company is based in the UK. I don’t usually recommend websites out of the country, but I’ve never seen anything like these shoes! You can even have them custom-make shoes to your own design specifications.
Erik Organic
Hardwood furniture, individually handcrafted with love by woodworking artisans, in beautiful modern designs. Choose from furniture for dining room, living room, office, and bedroom…even handcrafted office chairs. All can be customized to your needs. They use my favorite Tite Bond glue and a low-VOC finish is available by request “for people with MCS”.
Pure 7 Chocolate
Raw, organic, unprocessed chocolate bars and bites, sweetened with organic honey. 72 or 80 percent cocoa. “We craft raw artisan chocolate using the world’s purest and best organic ingredients, and use innovative low heat techniques to keep the chocolate in its most pure and potent form. After lots of experimenting (and lots of tasting), we came up with a groundbreaking method of making mouth-watering chocolate, sweetened naturally using only raw honey. What’s not to love? There’s no dairy, soy, gluten, refined sugars, preservatives, or chemicals in our chocolate – only organic, pure ingredients.” I’ve tasted this chocolate and it’s delicious! Even though it’s raw and pure, it’s like a regular chocolate bar…only better.
Potting Shed Creations
Creative “starters” for growing gardens anywhere, including upcycling bottles into practical planters, garden-in-a-(rice paper)-bag for sunny windowsills, darling replanted steel “window boxes” to grow indoors on a sill, and many more clever ideas for your own home or gifts. And, they have their own USDA organic certification for handling seeds and bulbs, in addition to the materials being organic, renewable, found, and reclaimed. I loved browsing this site and getting ideas for how to grow food in simple ways.
Daneson
“Fine flavored toothpicks” that come in little glass vials so you can carry them with you. They are made in the USA from birch and other materials obtained from American and Canadian suppliers. The company is a net contributor to the environment, maintaining a minimum 1:100 ratio of milling to repeating forestland. The flavors are original blends, all natural, and organic when possible.
Summit Spring
Raw “Living” Spring Water “gathered from one of the oldest and most revered natural spring water sources in North America and comes to you just as it “bubbles from the spring™” mere minutes after leaving the Earth…Summit Spring, the source of Raw Water, is so pure that we were given the first and only exemption from treatment in Maine’s history. Summit Spring water exceeds every State and Federal guideline for drinking water, straight from the ground…The fact that we capture real, natural Maine spring water from a centuries old true free-flowing source, without the use of pumps or boreholes and then gravity feed the water to our bottling facility located just 50′ away, without any transport, with complete control over “cradle to grave” packaging coupled with decades long testing and safety history-gave the regulatory bodies confidence in awarding this unprecedented approval.” Comes in glass or PET bottles.
Essential Oxygen
This dental “brushing rinse” made of food-grade hydrogen peroxide, aloe and a potent blend of USDA certified organic essential oils. Developed by the founder to solve her own dental problems, it whitens teeth, heals gums, freshens breath, improves tooth sensitivity, kills oral bacteria, and more. I’ve tried this and love it. It’s a rinse and tooth cleaner in one, just swish it around in your mouth and then brush your teeth. It made me smile!
Essential Oxygen
Pure 3% food-grade stabilizer-free hydrogen peroxide that you can safely use for first aid, body and oral care, produce washing, household surfaces, dishwasher, laundry and stains, plants and garden, pets and more. “The hydrogen peroxide found in brown bottles in drugstores is intended for cosmetic and industrial use, It is manufactured with stabilizers to extend shelf life…which contain significant quantities of heavy metals and other toxins, such as sodium phosphate, sodium stagnate, acetanilide, and phenol.”
Long Life Teas
“Long Life Tea was developed over 400 years ago for the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty by his Royal Physicians. The Emperor was very specific that his tea must provide pleasure & health, have an attractive appearance, and provide a pleasant aroma. Today all Long Life Teas honor these same principals. We create organic, good tasting healthy teas and each blend follows the Chinese philosophy of bringing balance and harmony.” All teas are handcrafted, using the finest quality certified organic herbs and teas. “The filter paper is not heat-sealable, therefore no type of glue has been added to it, the thread is made of natural cotton and the innovative method for fixing the thread does not use metal staples or adhesives, and each tag offers a special proverb.” Choose from green teas combined with various herbs, plus a detox tea and the original “long life” blend.
