get involved
minimize chemicals
Chemical Burden
An estimated 1,000 new chemicals enter the market every year, in addition to the tens of thousands of chemicals already in commercial use. Very few of these have been tested adequately for the threats they may pose to wildlife and humans.
According to the Environmental Working Group, a not-for-profit research organization, there is growing evidence that many of these chemicals can alter fetal development, sexual and neurological development, impair reproduction, alter hormone function, cause cancers, and undermine immune systems.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average household generates about 30 pounds of household hazardous waste per year, for an annual national total of about 1.6 million tons. The types and percentages of HHW in our daily garbage are shown below.
Source: EPA.
Chart title: Typical HHW in an American Home.
Chart data: Home Maintenance: 36%, Batteries: 19%, Personal Care: 12%, Cleaners: 12%, Auto Maintenance: 11%, Pesticides: 4%,
Hobbies/Others: 3%, Pharmaceuticals: 3%.
Easy Action Tips
Choose Organic
Buy organic foods as much as possible and try to buy those produced in Colorado. Most supermarkets now have large numbers of organic products at affordable and competitive prices. Organic foods can help you reduce your exposure to pesticides, hormones and other chemical food additives.
The Environmental Working Group examined the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration and found that these fruits and vegetables consistently test positive for high levels of pesticides: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. Choosing organic varieties of these items may cut your overall food pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent. Visit www.foodnews.org for a handy shoppers guide.
Use Less Toxic Products
You can reduce your exposure to hazardous materials by purchasing the least toxic product available. Avoid products labeled "danger," "poison," "hazardous," or "warning." If you have to buy, "caution" is usually ok if used according to directions and "non-toxic" and "biodegradable" are even better. Consider making your own and save money: vinegar and baking soda cover a lot of territory. Also, many health food stores and online stores carry less hazardous products. Denver Recycles offers helpful guidelines on how to make safe consumer choices and create homemade alternatives.
Avoid Pesticides
If you must use pesticides, weed killers, and other chemicals, choose the least toxic kind, use it properly, and follow all directions on the label. Check the weather before you apply to make sure it is not going to rain in the next 24 hours. This will reduce pollution runoff to the nearest water body and increase the effectiveness of your efforts. The CSU Cooperative Extension offers helpful fact sheets on household and garden insects that include information about effective insecticide treatments and safer alternatives.
Dispose of Hazardous Waste Properly
Common household items such as cleaners, pesticides, solvents, thinners, motor oil, and paint may contaminate our air, soil, and water if disposed of improperly. This could cause harm to you, your family and pets, trash collectors, our community, and the environment. Even small amounts of these wastes, when thrown out in the trash, may pollute ground or surface water at a landfill. Products that are poured down the drain, onto the ground, or washed into gutters or storm drains can damage septic and sewer systems and pollute lakes and streams.
The best disposal method is to use the entire product. Or, find a neighbor, friend, business or charity that can use excess products. Whenever possible, take products such as used motor oil, automobile batteries, antifreeze, and paint to a recycling center. Consult the recycling directory offered by Denver Recycles to find locations. If you are still unable to reuse your household hazardous waste, call 1-800-449-7587 to schedule a home pick-up.
Minimize Use of Plastic Food Containers
Some plastics, including certain water bottles, may emit toxic chemicals (pthalates) into your foods. Pthalates may also be present in plastic tubing, baby toys, shower curtains, other vinyl/PVC products, and even cosmetics and adhesives. Research indicates that pthalates, which are used as softening agents, disrupt normal endocrine system functions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ingestion is probably the main route by which humans are contaminated with diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), the most widely used phthalate plasticizer.
Try to use glass, ceramic or stainless steel rather then plastic for your food and drink storage. Try to specifically stay away from #3, #6, and #7 plastics, and throw out any plastic that has become discolored or warped.
