Local Sewage Facilties

Brightwater Treatment Plant:

The Brightwater Treatment Plant is the primary sewage plant servicing my residential area. In addition to my area, south Snohomish County, it also services North King County. It has the capacity to treat an average 36 million gallons of wastewater per day. 

In addition to this plant, there are other smaller plants which service the surrounding areas. The Carnation Plant services the small, rural community of Carnation, Washington. The South Treatment plant service the east and south of King County. The Vashon plant services Vashon Island. The West Point Treatment plant services the City of Seattle, and parts of south Snohomish County. Lastly, there are four Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facilities that operate during heavy rainfalls. These facilities are located throughout King County.

Campaign for Tap Water

If I were to create an ad campaign directed a decreasing the public's use of bottled water, I would use the slogan..."Don't get manipulated, get liquidated." This implies that the corporation which sell bottled water attempt to manipulated their buyers, by fostering fears of their tap-water. Through buying bottled water, people spend much more money (up to 500x more) than if they were to use their tap-water. Therefore, liquidation implies being free the debt that the bottled-water manufactures place their buyers in, by charging so much for a product which is often times worse than tap-water.

The weakness in this slogan is that some may not understand it. It could more beneficial to use a shorter, simpler slogan. Of course, the addition of a picture of bottled water would probably help get the point across. In addition, further statements can be added beneath the slogan. I believe the use of a positive social-norm,  such as "most tap-water is better than bottled water...see (insert webpage) for more details," would help to educate people on the benefits of using tap water over bottled water.

CCR & water Quality

My Water Supply:

The water treatment facility which provides water to my residence is the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District. This water district purchase water from the City of Everett, Washington. The water itself originates from the Spada Reservoir, which is fed by the Sultan River, coming from the Northern Cascade mountain range. The Spada Reservoir is manmade, was created in 1964, and contains about 50 billion gallons of water. This water allows the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District to supply 175,800 residents within the local area with a clean water supply.

The Alderwood Water & Wastewater District compiles an annual CCR for the residents it serves. This is exceptional, given that they are not mandated by any law to provide this information. Therefore, I commend this water district for taking responsibility, and providing its consumers with this annual CCR. 

According to their CCR, the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District's water supply contains no perchlorate, no cryptosporidium and the levels of treatment polymers found within their water were at levels well below the maximum allowed by the EPA. Perchlorate is used in the disinfection process, and has been found to disrupt the Thyroid gland in humans. By disrupting the Thyroid gland, perchlorate can cause developmental and physical damage. Cryptosporidium is an intestinal parasite that is found in all of Washington's  rivers, streams, and lakes. Cryptosporidium can cause flu-like symptoms, and is resistant to chlorine. Lastly, treatment polymers are used as an additive to improve coagulation and filtration of water particulates. These polymers can be harmful at high levels, and the EPA sets limits the levels of treatment polymers found within public water systems. 

Other chemicals that have been found, or are monitored for, within the Alderwood Water and Wastewater District's water supply include Nitrates, Coliform Bacteria, Fluoride, Residual Disinfectant, Haloacetic Acids, and Trihalomethanes.

• Nitrates average level= 0.046ppm EPA Max =10ppm
• Coliform Bacteria average levels= 0%/150 samples a month EPA Max= 5%/month of total samples 
• Fluoride= 0.8ppm ( a reduction from 1.0ppm, 0.8 is the lowest allowable for fluoride by the EPA) EPA Max=4ppm 
• Residual Disinfectant= 0.6ppm EPA Max=4.0ppm
• Haloacetic Acids (by-product of chlorination process used to kill disease causing microbes) = 33.2ppb EPA Max= 60ppb
• Trihalomethane (by-product of chlorination process used to kill disease causing microbes) = 57.5ppb EPA Max= 80ppb

Disinfection by-products average measured:

• Bromodichloto-methane=2.3ppb (ideal lvl=0) 
• Chloroform=47.3ppb (ideal lvl=300)
• Dichloroacetic Acid=9.4ppb (ideal lvl=0)
• Trichloroacetic Acid=20.9 ppb (ideal lvl=300)
• Monochloroacetic Acid= No data (ideal lvl=0)
• Dibrimoacetic Acid=No data (ideal lvl=0)

Lead and Copper Results:

• Lead=0ppb EPA Regulations=0, action required at 15
• Copper=0ppb EPA Regulations=1.3, action required at 1.3

Turbidity is also reported. Turbidity is a measure of the amount of particulates in the water supply. This can include a wide-range of bacterias,viruses and protozoans that cause disease. This is a required process by the EPA, and the levels for the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District were 0.06 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). EPA Limit for total Tubidity= 0.3 NTU

From the results, which all come from 2015, the level of toxins within my water supply appear to meet or exceed the EPA standards. However, of the toxins which are at higher levels than ideal, by-products of the disinfection process are higher than the standards set. Considering that these by-prodcuts include chemicals such as Chloroform, I was surprised to see that I consume some pretty dangerous chemicals, though they are at relatively low-levels.  

I was surprised to see that Chloroform was in the water supply. This is a dangerous chemical, which at high doses can cause toxic hepatitis and induce liver and kidney failure. Also, I was surprised to see that Bromodichloto-methane was present in the water. As this is a banned substance, due to its negative affects on the ozone layer, I assume that this is naturally occurring in the cleansing process of the water supply. At high levels of inhalation, Bromodichloto-methane can cause illness. 

The Source of the Water Supply:

As stated earlier, the water supply that feeds into my residence is supplied by the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District. This entity purchases its water from the City of Everett. The city of Everett has a water treatment facility at its reservoir, Spada lake. This is a manmade reservoir which is fed by the Sultan River. The Sultan River originates in the Northern Cascade Mountains, where several springs and melt water combine themselves to form the Sultan River. 

Therefore, if I was a drop of meltwater on the Cascade mountain range, I would end up flowing into the Sultan River, which would supply the Spade Reservoir. From here, I would be pumped into the City of Everett's water treatment facility, before being pumped to the city of Everett itself. From here, if I were purchased by the Alderwood Water & Wastewater district, I would be pumped to their treatment facility, undergo further treatment and testing, and eventually by pumped to my residence. 

Overall, according to the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District CCR report, I consume relatively good-quality water. However, I have to assume that the water district is being honest in their reporting. I cannot help but be suspicious that all chemicals tested are conveniently well-below the EPA maximum levels. Nonetheless, I feel privileged that I consume probably much healthier water than most of the population of the earth. 

I do not use a filter, but I have used one in the past. I believe that this is a prudent measure, which if used properly, can help reduce your risk for toxic exposure. The main motivator for me to use a water filter, is my concern for my wife, and any future children we may have. I would not want my family to be needlessly harmed by the water supply, if a water filter may have helped prevent such exposure. 

I do not often drink from bottled water, and instead drink from my apartment's tap. Also, I drink water from my office's filtered water dispenser. However, this class has reinforced for me the need to avoid drinking water from plastic sources, unless those sources are BPA free. Also, there is really no difference between bottled water and tap water. Essentially, all eater comes from the same source. Therefore, purchasing bottled water is somewhat of a waste, put you at risk for BPA exposure, and creates waste which negatively Impacts the environment. Overall, I believe an investment in a good-quality water filter is a worthwhile investment. 

Drinking Water

Drinking Water 

As made clear by the videos, our whole society functions off of water. Unfortunately, much of this water is disappearing, both above and below ground. This is due in part because we are using more water than can be naturally replaced. For instance, the ground water that is used for agriculture here in the United States, is often used too aggressively. Consequently, the reservoirs of ground water once abundant, are now nearing depletion.

Moreover, what water sources are available, can often be made toxic for human use, due to human activity. For instance, much of the pesticides used in agriculture seep into the ground water, pipes, and streams, which feed into local communities. The people of these communities which are fed by such toxic water can suffer, as a result. Additionally, any of that same toxic water can also harm any animals that come into contact with it as well. Essentially, any toxic materials which end up in a water source, has the potential to negatively affect the entire environment. Although policies have been put into place to both preserve what water sources are left, and to help ensure that that water is untainted, such as the case with the Clean Water Act of 1972, much of our water remains near depletion, is toxic, and poorly managed.

The Clean Water Act:

The Clean Water Act of 1972 was a pivotal moment in environmental justice history. This act set the standard for water usage and cleanliness in the United States. As a reaction to highly-polluted waters, primarily due to industrialization and agriculture, the Chicago river became almost, virtually dead. This was the catalyst to the Clean Water Act, which set regulations to restrict pollution of water bodies within Chicago, and eventually the rest of the US.

I have learned to take water into consideration, when considering the Public's health. Part of this would be to promote water conservation efforts. I was amazed to see that in the United States, the average American uses 30 times more water than those in Sub-Saharan Africa. There are no doubt several contributing factors to this incredible disparity, but it goes without question that if water conservation is a concern, our extreme water use is something we should address as a society.

Also, this has made me consider the Dakota Access Pipeline. Originally, I was for the Standing Rock Sioux' cause to deny the passage of the pipeline because it would be an invasion into their sovereign nation by a foreign entity. However, this is not the only, or most important reason for which the Standing Rock Sioux have to denying access of the pipeline through their territory.  It is absolutely understandable that the Standing Rock Sioux are concerned that their drinking water may end up becoming contaminated by such a pipeline. Especially after seeing how toxins can escape into water supplies through broken or leaky pipes, it seems unreasonable , reckless, and illegal to build a pipeline through a community's water supply.

Vulnerable Populations

Vulnerable Populations:

BPA is found in many of our products, and has been positively associated with obesity. This is because BPA acts as an Endocrine Disruptor. In addition to BPA and its positive association to obesity, phthalates, atrazine, and Perfxuorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) are all common chemicals that we come into contact with almost everyday, and which also can cause obesity. 

In terms of obesity prevention, little attention has been give to reducing these chemicals within our food and other products, but has rather been focused on increasing physical activity and improved dietary habits. Although this can, and has produced positive results in combatting obesity, it would also seem prudent to reduce our chemical exposure to chemicals contributing to obesity.

As to why there is little to no attempt at reducing obesogenic chemicals in food and other products, I imagine much of that reason lies with money. If manufacturers had to find alternative chemicals to use, which do not cause obesity or other health maladies, it may cost them more to produce their products. Consequently, these manufacturers would loose profits. This loss of profit may be the culprit as to the reason for why there are few attempts at reducing obesogenic chemicals.

In addition, I feel that the knowledge of obesogenic chemicals is not widespread among the general public. This would have the affect of ignorance, where most of us remain blissfully unaware that other factors contribute to our battles with weight-gain. Therefore, it may simply be necessary for more people to help spread awareness of these obesogenic chemicals that could possibly lead to more efforts to reduce people's exposure to obesogenic chemicals. 

Radon Exposure Prevention

Radon Exposure Prevention:

Radon exposure is a serious issue which is often overlooked and unknown to the general public. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for 21,000 excess deaths due to lung caner. Radon originates from decaying Uranium, which is often found in the soil of agricultural areas. The radon within the soil can seep upwards, getting into water supplies, which in turn leads radon into commercial and residential areas, such as homes. Many of us are exposed to radon through the use of showers and drinking tap water. If more people were educated about their personal risk of exposure to radon, and methods which could help reduce their risk of exposure, it may help reduce the incidence of radon related mortality and morbidity. 

Understanding risk of exposure can go a long way in reducing the morbidity and mortality of certain substances which adversely affect the health of humans. For instance, after it was determined that tobacco smoke inhalation was correlated to high incidences of lung cancer, the use of tobacco has dramatically decreased over time. Consequently, the incidence of tobacco related mortality and morbidity has decreased as well. In the same way, one can argue that educating the public on radon, their risk of exposure to radon, and how to prevent or lower their risk of exposure to radon, can help alleviate the incidence of radon related mortality and morbidity. 

Therefore, the creation of a national awareness campaign may be the first step in the prevention of radon exposure. To increase awareness to the general public, multiple sources of media should be used, in order to maximize the exposure of the information to the general public. This media can be in the form of T.V., radio, internet, and billboard advertisements. Short, yet effective messages can be displayed, with an associated source of more information. For instance, a billboard stating "Did you know that you are drinking radioactive water in your home? Learn more at (insert webpage here.com)," could be effective in leading people to the information that they need to reduce their risk of exposure to radon. 

Additionally, the risk of exposure to radon can be regulated. For instance, homes or businesses which have been found to have increased levels of radon, may need to be required to take measures to reduce radon levels. For instance, many home-owners who find that their water supply has unsafe levels of radon often have the foundations of their homes drained of any moisture of water, in the hopes that the radon levels will be decreased. Such measures may be beneficial if they were required, when radon levels are found to be at unsafe levels. 

Stakeholders in such efforts would include a wide-variety. For instance, home-owners associations, and real-estate agencies could be potential stakeholders, who would have a vested interest in radon levels within homes. Agricultural organizations, and food producers would also have a vested interest in radon level, as many farms have high levels of radon. Hospitals and community health organizations would also be potential stakeholders, who would be concerned about spreading awareness about radon exposure and prevention. 

National Library ToxNet

National Library ToxNet

Urea Formaldehyde:

Formaldehyde is a common toxin found in many products. Combined with Urea, Formaldehyde is used as an agricultural pesticide, and slow-release nitrogen fertilizer for farming and gardening. Formaldehyde is also found in building materials, such as insulation, glues, and wood-pressed wood products. In addition, it is found in tobacco and fuel products, preservatives, and disinfectants.

Formaldehyde can cause a wide range of negative health effects, regardless of the time and dose of exposure. The primary route of exposure is through inhalation, or direct skin absorption contact. Small dose and acute exposures can cause allergic reactions, such as skin irritation and respiratory distress. In larger dose, acute exposures, anaphylaxis and death may occur. Formaldehyde is also a carcinogen, which has been shown to be associated with cancer of the nasopharynx, leukemia, and sinonasal cancer. Also, Formaldehyde has also been shown to inhibit the repair of DNA.

In studies which have investigated chronic exposures to Formaldehyde in women, it has been shown to cause sterility, menstrual disorders, anemia, and low-birth weights. Those workers who may experience chronic exposures to Formaldehyde include hospital, mortuary, and construction workers.

Bleach:

Bleach is a commonly used disinfectant, and is used as a water and sewage purifier. The chemicals which make up bleach include Chlorine, Sodium Hypochlorite, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Calcium Hypochlorite, the active component of Bleach. Exposure occurs through inhalation and direct skin contact. Exposures can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, shortness of breath, cardiac and respiratory arrest, and death. Also, the chemical ingredient of Bleach, Sodium Hypochlorite, can cause corrosion of the skin, Methemoglobinemia and anemia

Transportation

Using the Transportation and Health Indicator, it was refreshing to see that the Seattle Metro area ranked high when compared to the rest of the US. In almost all areas concerning transportation, Seattle was above average, except land use, and proximity to major highways. 

Also, I found it interesting how transportation is tied to public health. The use of personal vehicles has a detrimental impact of the public health of a community. Therefore, a community's use of public transportation, and other means of transportation, can help deter the negative health affects of personal vehicles. 

However, the use of public transit within the United States is definitely not the most convenient way to get around for many people. This is particularly true in metropolitan areas. Due to the rapid gentrification of major cities like Seattle, and San Francisco, many working-class and poorer individuals are forced farther and farther from the city, being pushed into the suburbs. It is an interesting change, considering that not that long ago, the rich preferred the suburbs over the city. However, this has changed, and getting your fancy condo in the middle of the city is the trend. 

As the demand for fancy condos and apartments increases in these cities, the supply of these increase as well. In turn, more affordable housing diminishes, and working-class, and poorer individuals are left to fend for themselves. 

Moreover, this forces individuals to rely on personal vehicles to get to their jobs in the city. Therefore, I find it somewhat humorous when a city, such as Seattle touts its"progressive" transportation system, when this system benefits mostly those who can afford to live in the city. Additionally, it appears somewhat condescending to tell those working-class and poor individuals that they should use public transit, when this is just not a practical decision for them to make, if they want to keep their jobs. If cities such as Seattle and San Francisco want to increase the use of public transit, they should work on ways to increase affordable housing within their cities, rather than pandering to the desires of the rich. 

This is the tragic irony for me when it comes to "progressive" cities like Seattle and San Francisco. These cities love to portray themselves as champions of social justice, when often times they work directly against the aims of social justice. I mean c'mon, San Francisco is arguably one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. Most people who have jobs in San Francisco have to come from considerable distance to get there, because there is no way they can afford a place there, unless they live with a ton of roommates for the remainder of their lives. Are these the people who should be told to spend 2-3 hours a day taking public transit? If so, they then sacrifice time with their families, and increase their stress levels, which negatively impacts their health. If San Francisco and Seattle are truly champions of social and environmental justice, they should be doing everything in their power to make their cities affordable. 

Air Pollution

Who and what are the top polluters in your zip code?

The top three polluters in my local areas are as follows:

1. Kimberly-Clarke Worldwide Inc.

2. Boeing Commercial Airplane Group

3. US Marine/Bayliner Marine

The top three chemicals released within my local are are as follows:

1. Hydrochloric Acid

2. Methyl Ethyl Ketone

3. Nitrite Compounds

What percent of the homes in your zipcode have lead-based paint?

1% of homes in my county have a high risk of containing lead-based paints.

Are there Superfund sites in your zip? (In your BLOG, make sure to tell us what a Superfund Site is)
In 2004, my county was considered among the top 10% in terms of designated superfund sites. There is one superfund sites within my county, Tulalip Landfill. This site has been taken off the EPA's National Priority List. The EPA considers the human hazard of this site to be under control. There is an estimated 4 million tons of commercial, industrial, and hospital waste within the site. What is notable is that the one superfund site located within the county, is within the Tulalip Indian Reservation territory...Why?

What did you learn about the air quality in your zip code?

The air quality in my local area would be considered pretty bad. In almost all areas, the county is within the bottom 90th-100% percentile in CO2, NO2,PM 2.5, PM 10, and volatile organic compounds, when compared to nearby counties. There are 77 good air quality days per year, with 2 days of unhealthful air quality.

The counties air quality poses as an added cancer risk to many (540,977) of the residents in my county. This is primarily contributed to by diesel emissions.

How about the water quality?

There are 145 bodies of water within my county, which are all considered impaired, because none of the 145 water bodies have been reported to the EPA for TMDL priority. Primarily, the water bodies appear to be affected by pathogens. Overall, the water quality of the county compares slightly better than the state and national averages.

How did your zipcode fair on a social justice / environmental justice basis? 

In terms of race and ethnicity, peoples of color, are more negatively affected toxic chemicals, cancer risk due to air pollutants, and facilities releasing air pollutants. Whites are more negatively affected by the one super-fund site. This is interesting because the superfund site is located on a Native American reservation. Maybe this is because some of these Native Americans identify as White, or there are populations of Whites living near the superfund site. These same trends remain true for those in poverty as well.

However, renters are less likely to be exposed or be affected by toxic chemicals, air-pollutants, and facilities releasing air-pollutants than are home-owners. This is interesting, and may be due to the fact that landlords are held legally accountable for their properties.

Overall, my county follows the general trend in terms of environmental and social justice. Typically, those who are non-white and impoverished are more susceptible to the maladies of the county, than are wealthier whites.

Environmental Justice

As a consequence of modern culture and society, particularly in the United States, there are disparities in health, separated by ethnic and racial lines. These articles helped exemplify the realities of those ethnic and racial health divides.

The social determinants of health which serve to place individuals in positions where their personal health is either harmed or promoted, are those social determinants such as income, education, and community resources. This is universal to all peoples, regardless of race or ethnicity. In general, those who are poorer, uneducated, or lack proper resources for health in their communities, will have poorer health than those who are richer, educated, and have access to health resources. This is a reality of our modern culture and society which should be combatted, so that all people are given the best chance to have and maintain a healthy life, rather than just those who can afford it.

However, more importantly, and pertaining to what these articles truly wish to convey, is that minorities in the United States, and elsewhere, disproportionately suffer from poorer health than their fellow countrymen. In particular, African-Americans suffer poorer health and poorer health outcomes when compared to all other racial or ethnic groups in the United States, except in some cases where Native Americans suffer the greatest disparities in health and health outcomes. Moreover, regardless of whether an African American is rich or educated, they will typically still be without the resources which promote health, and have poorer health and health outcomes than others races and ethcnicities.

The reasons for why this disparity exist among African-American communities is hotly debated. Many posit that this is the result of a society built upon racism, where the White majority has been given access to those resources which promote health, while African-American's health has been largely neglected. There is a plethora of evidence to suggest that racism, in particular institutional racism, plays a large role in the poor health and health outcomes of African Americans, and which these articles provided.

Institutionalized racism is a term used to describe a system of governance which is designed to benefit certain races over others. Considering that the United States was founded with African-American chattel slavery as an essential component of its economy, it comes to little surprise to see that such a system would neglect African-American's health. Institutionalized racism is often cited as the culprit in the poor health and health outcomes of African-American communities.

The racial injustice which is seen in such incidences as Flint, Michigan, and Richmond, California, should move us to confront institutionalized racism, and promote environmental justice. Environmental justice is a means to bring equality and equity to the African-American community, and all communities which suffer disproportionate health and health outcomes. If the United States is truly a country which believes "all men (and women) are created equal," then actions should be taken to ensure that this ideal comes to fruition.

In this way, Black Lives Matter, is a movement and reaction to years of neglect. The African-American community, and their plights, have largely been ignored by the government which is bound to protect them.  Instead, it appears that the system itself is working directly against African-Americans. Therefore, it is understandable that many African-Americans, and those who support African-Americans, are angry. In a country which prides itself on freedom and freedom of expression, this movement should be respected as a truly democratic movement aimed at giving a voice to the people. In this case, Black Lives Matter gives a voice to African-Americans, and brings attention to a sore spot in the American psyche.

However, it should be noted, that Black Lives Matter is not universally accepted or appreciated by all African-Americans. It is not a movement which has universally accepted tenants or stances, and is varied and reinterpretted by the opinions of each individual. In my opinion, it would be somewhat prejudiced to assume that this movement represents all African-Americans, in the same way as it would be prejudiced to assume that the counter movement, Blue Live Matter, represents all police officers, or that the West Borough Baptist Church represents all Christianity. Nonetheless, the racial disparities in health and health outcomes are important, and the idea that many who support Black Lives Matter attempt to convey, is that the system does not appear to appreciate or care for black lives. This concept, regardless of whether it is associated with the movement, Black Lives Matter, is real and important to tackle.

Biomonitoring

Watching Anderson Cooper's piece on biomonitoring revealed some disturbing new facts of life for me. It is disturbing to me that there appears to be no way to evade the synthetic toxins which pervade modern life. Even if you are taking every precaution, there really appears to be no way to avoid these toxins invading your body. Therefore, although this is disturbing, it makes me consider what options are available to reduce my personal toxicity exposure, and how to reduce it for the general population.

Chemical(s)	Potential Health Effects
Dioxins	Carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, cognitive disfunction
DDT	Reproductive toxicant
Organophosphate	(pesticide) neurotoxicant, Parkinson’s
Lead	Neurotoxicant, kidney toxicant, insomnia, impotence
Solvent	Liver toxicant, neurotoxicant
PCBs	Carcinogen, toxic to immune, neuro, and repro systems
Phthalates	Repro toxicant (infertility), testicular damage, endometriosis, endocrine disruptor

As is obvious by these lab results, the products we use become a part of our biology. Unfortunately, these chemicals are harmful to the human body. Although it is impossible to reduce our contact with many of these chemicals, there are ways for us to reduce our risk of exposure. For instance, abstaining from the use of make-ups, and  reducing the amount of use of shampoos and conditioners, may help to reduce one's risk of exposure to toxic chemicals.

Personal Care Products

Chemical Connections: Troubling New Science

Jane Hoolihan laid out how many of the products we use in everyday life contain several substances which are harmful to human health. The primary issue which specifically concerned me was the FDA's approval of many of the products mentioned for human use. It would seem prudent for the FDA to bar corporations from using some of the ingredients found to be harmful for human consumption. However, this often appears to not be the case.

One such example that I found interesting was the use of Fragrance. This term "Fragrance" is used for a variety of toxic chemicals that exist in many products, particularly personal care products. What is particularly interesting about this product is that manufactures are not required to list the specific ingredients contained in Fragrance.

Also of note, many of the personal care products appear to have adverse affects on women health, in particular. It was amazing to see that for the average girl of today, the onset of puberty comes much earlier than it has in the past.

Many of the synthetic chemicals used in these personal care products have also been linked to breast cancer. This has not just been correlated in a few experiments or studies, but in numerous experiments and studies. Considering this, it is even more amazing that the correlation between synthetic chemicals in the use of personal care products appears to be largely ignored by those entities, such as the FDA, tasked with protecting us from harm.

Moreover, not only are these chemical synthetics linked with early onset puberty and breast cancer, but Autism has been linked with the use of synthetic chemicals. Although Autism rates may have risen due the disorder being more properly defined, it is still significant that common, personal care products have been linked with Autism. Autism incidence is rising, and this may have a lot to do with the use of synthetic chemicals. Therefore, I believe that not only should this link be further researched, but it should be validated through the policies imposed on manufactures in the production of personal care products.

Despite the fact that many of these personal care products appear to have more adverse affects on females rather than males, there are still exposures that males are prone to. In particular, Diethyl phthalate (DEP) was mentioned by Jane Hoolihan to adversely affect the reproductive system of males. This substance can harm the sperm of males, thus harming the reproductive system of males.

In general, it is impressive to me that there are so many possible exposures we are susceptible to in our daily lives. Whether at work or at home, we come into contact with a variety of chemicals that have the potential to cause us great harm. Not only is the production of these products poorly managed by those agencies tasked to check these products before human use, but it is almost impossible to not come into many of these toxins within our daily lives. Therefore, it is evident to me that not only should I be more conscientious about what I consume and come into contact with, but that I should help through a career in public health to reduce the harm corporations impose on the public.

Household Products

Windex Crystal Rain Pump Spray:

According to the National Library of Medicine's Household Product Database, the Windex Crystal Rain Pump Spray appears to be a fairly safe product to use. This product does have a slight flammability risk, with a rating of 2, but all other potential hazards are either listed at a rating of 0, or do not have enough information within the database to formulate a ranking. However, I did note that the product does contain the ingredient Fragrance, which has some potential for eliciting allergic reactions. Overall, this product does not appear to be of any major concern for toxicity hazards.

Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover:

According to the National Library of Medicine's Household Product Database, Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover is not a major health concern, and is approved by OSHA. However, the database does note that the product contains Hydrogen Peroxide, which can cause skin irritation, respiratory irritation, and eye irritation. It is recommended that any prolonged contact with the product to the skin should be removed via thorough rinsing with warm water.

Questions:

What Surprised Me?

I was surprised that the products used for personal hygiene appeared to have more harmful effects to the human body, than these cleaning products. Also, I was surprised that the same ingredients used in the personal hygiene products were also being used in these household cleaners.

Did I Decide to Change My Behaviors?

No. These products appear to be adequately safe for use as household cleaners. However, it is always beneficial to be educated on what is contained in the products that you use, and has encouraged me to become more educated on the products I am currently using.

Should Everyone Know About the Risks?

Yes! Everyone should be educated on the potential risks which are contained in the products they use. I believe that many of us choose not to be educated, because we trust that these corporations are held to certain standards which prevent them from placing overly harmful ingredients into their products. However, it has become apparent to me that this is simply not the case, and that more should be done to ensure that these corporations are checked, before releasing their products for consumption by the general public.

Personal Care Products

1. Old Spice Men's Fresher Collection Body Wash:

According to the Safe Cosmetics Database, this body wash is considered a moderate hazard, with a ranking of 5. Of the ingredients that are of primary concerns as health hazards, Fragrance and Methylisothiazolinone are the most hazardous.

The ingredient Fragrance is essentially a concoction of various, undisclosed scent chemicals, which have been associated with allergic reactions, dermatitis, respiratory distress, and negative effects on the reproductive system.  According to the Safe Cosmetics Database, Fragrance is a high health hazard.

The ingredient Methylisothiazolinone is a preservative which can cause allergic reations, and has been associated with neurotoxicity, in some studies. According to the Safe Cosmetics Database, this ingredient has a high health hazard rating.

How I respond to this Information:

Since this product appears to be considered a moderate health hazard, I am considering changing to a new product. In particular, I am interested in looking at alternative products, which do not contain "fragrance".

2. Suave Professionals Moisturizing Shampoo:

According to the Safe Cosmetics Database, this shampoo is considered to be a moderate hazard. Fragrance, DMDM Hydantoin, and Methylisothiazolinone are the ingredients of this shampoo that are considered hazardous. DMDM Hydantoin is considered a high health hazard by the Safe Cosmetics Database. It is otherwise known as a Formaldehyde Releaser, which acts as a preservative.

How I respond to this Information:

Again, I am now concerned about the ingredient, fragrance, and am interested in looking at alternative products which do not contain fragrance. This may require spending more money on organic products, however, the benefits would be improve health and reduce risk of toxic exposure.

Questions:

What I am surprised about?

I am surprised that these products, which are widely used and accessible, contain any ingredients which are well-know to be dangerous for human use. Also, I am surprised the FDA has not restricted companies from using ingredients in their products which they know to be harmful to public health. It appears evident to me that there is a gap between what companies produce, and the what the FDA give approval to.

Will I change the use of these products for myself?

The information has definitely informed me that these products can be potentially harmful to me, and has inspired me to make myself more informed of the products which I use. However, it has not entirely convinced me to stop using these products, only to do more research on the subject, before deciding if I should continue using these products or not.

Should Everyone Know about these Risk?

Yes, of course.

What primarily concerns me is that these products are typically more affordable and accessible to the larger public than organic products. The organic products will typically avoid using materials which are harmful to people, but often are inaccessible and not affordable to the general public. Therefore, those who are most vulnerable, the poor, are the ones forced to purchase the products which are most harmful for human consumption. This is one of the issues which I feel most strongly about in our society, where only those who can afford health are the ones receive it. This is not how it should be, but it is how our society currently functions.