What the Chemical Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know

It is no longer news that there are chemicals and carcinogens almost everywhere in our daily lives. However, there aren’t a lot of people who know exactly where, what, and which brands are selling us products that contain toxic substances, let alone how these chemicals are harmful to our health.

It is easier to look away and ignore the ugly truth about chemicals. But it is hard not to trust “huge brands” that we see every day to deliver us healthy products. It is only when a health issue suddenly crops up that we start questioning brands, their products they deliver and their impact on our health:

Why do kids with healthy parents get developmental or learning disabilities? Why is a fit person with a healthy lifestyle suddenly diagnosed with cancer?

Yes, sometimes things just happen. We feel we were unlucky and feel helpless about our inability to do anything about this.

But what if we actually could have, and should have?

Disease is proportional to toxic chemical use

Certain diseases such as breast cancer, reproductive problems, and diabetes increase in proportion to toxic chemical exposure. Over 200 industrial chemicals are neurotoxic for adults, while another 1000 chemicals are neurotoxic for laboratory animals. It is even worse for babies. Even small chemical disruptions can cause long-term damage to children at levels that aren’t harmful to an adult. One in six children in the United States has a developmental or learning disability, some studies show that this may be partly due to toxic exposures and gene-environment interactions.

How far can brands go to make sure their products sell?

Certain diseases such as breast cancer, reproductive problems, and diabetes increase in proportion to toxic chemical exposure. Over 200 industrial chemicals are neurotoxic for adults, while another 1000 chemicals are neurotoxic for laboratory animals. It is even worse for babies. Even small chemical disruptions can cause long-term damage to children at levels that aren’t harmful to an adult. One in six children in the United States has a developmental or learning disability, some studies show that this may be partly due to toxic exposures and gene-environment interactions.

An investigation(1) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uncovered that a certain batch of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder was tainted with carcinogenic chemicals and that they have been keeping this information away from the public. In 2019, JnJ(2) issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its talcum baby powder after the FDA found traces of asbestos, which is carcinogenic. For decades prior to this, the company claimed that its products were asbestos-free.

Another example is P&G, an American consumer goods corporation. P&G’s products were reported to contain BHA, recognized as a carcinogen by the state of California. Various P&G products have been found to contain a lot of banned chemicals, but they would ship their old, dangerous formula to countries with poor regulations. The company even spent millions in Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote its products, which contain cancer-causing chemicals.

These few examples are just the tip of a very huge and problematic iceberg.

The more you understand the “what, how, and where” of these chemicals, the more you know how to deal with them. Staying away from certain products, personally boycotting certain brands, or simply educating people about the harmful stuff we expose ourselves to – these are all simple steps to start with.

It is vital to be well informed of this old, but increasingly disconcerting space, to protect the health of our families, children, and the environment.

Keep in mind that it is never NOT an option for you to choose the right products and to find the best solutions for your life.

Join STINK! film screening and a community of like-minded, conscious individuals to share what you think on this issue and possible solutions!

Green Initiatives' 111th documentary screening, Stink!, is an award-winning 2015 American documentary film directed by Jon J. Whelan that uncovers the truth behind toxins and carcinogens 'legally' hidden in consumer products.

Film comes with Chinese subtitles. Screening will be followed by discussions with My Beauty Farm, a brand of DIY natural cosmetics workshops & distributor of organic beauty products.

References:

1. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/
2. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7588445/J-J-recalls-Baby-Powder-FDA-finds-cancer-causing-asbestos-bottle.html
3. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2010/04/01/toxic-chemicals-and-a-childs-brain-development
4. https://act.credoaction.com/sign/PG_carcinogens