Dangerous Chmicals in Slow Death by Rubber Duck

1249 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: negative effects about plastic pollution

Introduction
The main theme of the book is that we expose ourselves to dangerous chemicals from using common household products for cleaning and hygienic products. However, the real danger of using these chemicals is that most of our society doesn’t know the potential health effects and outcomes one is facing. Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially can affect our health.(World Health Organization). The theme of the book is relevant to environmental health because the authors are assessing their exposure to these dangerous chemicals that are found in the products that we use to continue with our daily lives. They publish their results and find that phthalates, PFOA and PCBs are both dangerous to human health and the environment.

Background
The environmental health problems described in this book are that phthalates, PFOA and PCBs are dangerous chemicals. We are exposed to these chemicals on a daily basis and they are common household products and hygienic products. We are also increasing our exposure levels, which can create negative health effects and affect our environment. The magnitude of the problem is enormous. Everybody uses and are exposed these products on a daily basis.
Phthalates are found in plastic materials. They can cause endocrine disruption, in other words it can affect our hormones. They can also cause damage in the environment. It can harm marine life since we don’t properly recycle throw away plastic materials. PFOA (perfluoroctanoic acid) is a carcinogen. Studies show that it can cause pancreatic canc...

... middle of paper ...

.../03-85/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

• Ross, P. R., Jeffries, S. J., Yunker, M. B., Ikonomou, M. G., & Calambokidis, J. C. (2004). Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA, reveal a combination of local and global polychlorinated biphenyl, dioxin, and furan signals. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 23(1), 157-165. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1897/03-85/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

• Rudel , R. A., Camann, D. E., Spengler, J. D., Korn, L. R., & Brody, J. G. (2003). Phthalates, Alkylphenols, Pesticides, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Other Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Indoor Air and Dust. Environmental Science and Technology, 37(20), 4543-4553. Retrieved from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es0264596

Show More
Related

  • Chemicals In Beauty Products The Story Of Cosmetics Case Analysis

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    Did you know, the personal care products you use every day have dozens of toxic chemicals that link to cancer, asthma, learning disabilities, and more? A campaign community working to build a healthier planet called The Story of Stuff and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, created a seven minute film called Chemicals in Beauty Products: The Story of Cosmetics. The purpose of this campaign film is to inform its viewers, specifically women and moms, about the toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo, that we may not know about. It addresses the top harmful chemicals that we are putting into our bodies, the products they are most likely found in, and

    Read More

  • EPA Protecting the Planet

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    EPA. (2009, December 29). Retrieved January 15, 2011, from Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health: http://www.epa.gov/teach/

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Bisphenol A

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bisphenol A (2,2-(4,4-dihydroxydiphenyl)propane) can be found in many areas across the urban world, including the air that humans breathe and the water that humans drink. BPA is soluble in organic substances, which allows it to effectively enter the human system (Staples, 1998). It is a readily biodegradable compound with a half-life of three days that is easily metabolized in the adult human body, as well as in other organisms (Staples, 1998). A study found that 99% of BPA was degraded into carbon dioxide and water in microbial populations (Staples, 1998). Because of the quick degradation of BPA in organisms, including humans, it has been concluded that the intake of the chemical is much higher than what can be measured through processes like blood and urine sampling (Vandenburg, 2007). There tends to be low bioaccumulation of...

    Read More

  • BPA Essay

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyday millions of Americans come in contact with many different forms of plastics and think nothing about it. Whether its drinking from water bottles purchased at your local super market to eating leftovers from food storage containers in your refrigerator, plastics are everywhere in the world and it seems as if they’re here to stay. But have you heard of the chemical Bisphernol-A? Also known as BPA, this chemical compound is found in just about every plastic that you come in contact with and has created quite the uproar in the media over the last several years in question on its safety for consumer use. Scientists from around the world believe that BPA is the cause of many adverse health effects found in infants and adults, but the scientists aren’t the only ones voicing their opinions on the subject. Many concerned consumers in light of recent studies on the controversial BPA chemical are worried about what they themselves and their families are ingesting and exactly how it is affecting them. This problem amongst consumers has been so great that many companies such as Wal-Mart have demanded the removal of baby and infant products that contain the controversial chemical BPA from their store shelves.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Bioaccumulation

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    The various activities of human beings affect adversely all environments where the plants, the animals and the humans live (Kaya et al., 2002). The numbers of chemicals which are the most important group of environmental pollution were limited to a few thousand until the beginning of this century and the majority part of that was constituted by plants, animals and mineral origin accounted for natural ingredients. The production of the chemicals which were 7 million tons in 1950 is estimated to reach 400 million tons today. On the one hand consists of hazards, on the other hand increasing quantities of usage of requirements for the modern living that has increased the importance of the determination of threshold limits of chemicals before and after the production (Utku, 2008).

    Read More

  • Personal Hygiene Case Study

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to official data of the survey conducted by the European Commission (2009), Europeans think that pesticides contain chemicals posing a risk to them. But at the same time, they are wary of personal hygiene products, washing powder, handwash laundry and dishwashing detergents . By the respondents’ opinion, bathroom, floor

    Read More

  • Endocrine Pollulation Essay

    721 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...et al. (2011). Using fluorescent imaging, the researchers found evidence of abnormal vascularization, neuron branching, and neuromast cell development in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to the known endocrine disruptor during early life stages. Aluru et al. (2010) determined that maternal exposure to BPA can cause multiple adverse effects on developing offspring. Unfertilized rainbow trout eggs were treated with three different concentrations, fertilized, and resulting juveniles were observed throughout development. Aluru et al. (2010) concluded that oocyte exposure to BPA leads to modified stress performance, delayed hatching times, and growth suppression in juvenile rainbow trout. The following image is taken from Aluru et al. (2010), showing both the decrease in body size and production of yolk observed in juvenile rainbow trout hatched from BPA-exposed oocytes.

    Read More

  • Slow Death Book Report

    1400 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since most people are unaware of the toxicity of some household items, it poses a problem for people who are uneducated about the toxicity in everyday household products. Kids are the most vulnerable to chemicals such as BPA and phthalates since they are still in their developmental stages. For instance in the Chapter 2 titled “Rubber Duck Wars”, the authors experiment with phthalates and detail how they are found in children’s toys which could easily land in their mouths causing these chemicals to enter their bodies. This is a very scary issue for most parents out there. The authors quoted Dr. Lynn Goldman, an EPA Specialist who stated that “children are most at risk to the effects of toxic chemicals in our food, water, and air. They consume more on a body weight basis than do adults, they breathe more rapidly and therefore inhale more potentially polluted air; they crawl around poking in dusty corners and stick everything they find in their mouths. But these activities simply explain how kids have greater levels of exposure. The most critical issues facing babies and children are that their developing bodies and brains cannot tolerate chemicals in the same way that adults can” (Smith, Lourie, & Dopp, 2009, p. xii)

    Read More

  • Plastic Pollution: A Threat to Oceans and Humanity

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is also debate on how much better biodegradable plastics are in the first place. This is because as biodegradable plastics break down, they break up into smaller and smaller pieces, but never quite disappear. This leaves the potential that the plastic would continue entering the food chain. But although biodegradable plastics aren’t perfect, they are still much safer than standard plastic and present a much lower risk. In addition, by making the shift to ban single use plastics, research towards better plastic alternatives will speed up and better solutions will become available. Over time, these new alternatives to plastics may spread to other items that aren’t single use, making an even greater impact on the health of humans and the

    Read More

  • BPA Essay

    1339 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although companies across the globe continue to produce multiple polycarbonate #7 plastic products with BPA, more is being noticed about the adverse health effects to humans can be harmful. Testing on mice has proven that some exposure to BPA can be linked to Cancer and neurological disorders. In countries which have banned the use of BPA in different products, would agree that this chemical is toxic and dangerous. However, as long countries like the United States, who do not currently support banning BPA countrywide due to limited scientific data to back all claims, BPA will continue to be a global issue which continues to be hidden in the dark and a mystery globally

    Read More

  • Endocrine Disruptors Essay

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    Endocrine disruptors that are used in building materials and electronics, such as: polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), phthalates (PAEs), and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been linked to a substantial increase in risk for breast cancer with extended exposure. Their presence in building materials and electronic equipment allow for all people to experience this extended exposure, as well as run the risk for a higher exposure in the event of a fire. The proposed policy will limit public exposure to these endocrine disruptors and in doing so, lower the risk of breast cancer by a noticeable

    Read More

  • Microplastics Essay

    1320 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the main challenges that face the environment today is the threat of plastic materials in the environment. All forms and sizes of plastic are harmful to the environment; this paper looks at the effects of microplastics which are small forms of plastic that are at least 5mm in size. Due to their small size, the microplastics end up being ingested into the bodies of aquatic animals causing health consequences that are uncertain to the organisms. This review focuses on the susceptibility of marine organisms to the physical, chemical and biological uptake of microplastics.

    Read More

  • Anthropocentric Environment Essay

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    In modern society, humans constantly pollute the environment by using cars, technology, food packaging, and a countless amount of other products. Despite understanding how causing mass amounts of pollution can harm, often there are minimal attempts to correct polluting behaviors, at least until it poses an immediate threat to humans. The idea that the environment is suffering due to our mass consumption through instances of climate change and pollution, is not nearly enough motivation to stop the use of things that may be harmful. In order to address pollution in any respect, there must be an immediate threat to the health and well-being of humanity. Rachel Carson highlights this idea in her

    Read More

  • Personal Care And Beauty Products Essay

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    Some examples of harmful toxins with difficult names include diethanolamine (DEA), formaldehyde, glucocorticoids, and triethanolamine (TEA). We are exposed to toxic chemicals in many ways. We may breathe them in as sprays and powders, swallow chemicals on our lips and, even rub them on our skin. According to a team of researchers who conducted a study on the relationship between exposure to phthalates and DNA damage on human sperm, “cosmetics frequently contain enhancers that allow ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. Studies have found health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including increased risk of sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system and low birth weight in girls” (Duty et al. 1164). There should be regulations banning toxic chemicals from personal care and beauty products because toxins are bad for our health (1), the consumer faith in cosmetic companies are suffering (2), and other countries recognized the effects and banned it while America has not

    Read More

  • Save the Rainforest!

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is sad to say but humans have played their part in deteriorating the earth. We have polluted and killed the very thing that takes care of us. If you ride by any lake or river you find trash and debris around it. In the “The Call of the Wild” the author says that we have committed war against the earth by the dumping of poisons and explosives upon it (337). Unfortunately, plastics are the things that are doing the most harm to our environment. Plastics are convenient and we use them everyday and these are the things that we find in the oceans, rivers and lakes. They are harmful to the earth as well as human health by directly intoxicating us with lead, cadmium and mercury. Plastic debris laced with harmful chemicals are often found inside of our marine life and can poison them. Plastic can survive for thousands of years and many invasive species are found in them which can disrupt our habitats. We need to limit our consumption of plastics and make sure that they are disposed of in their proper places.

    Read More

More about Dangerous Chmicals in Slow Death by Rubber Duck

Open Document