When I began writing about toxic chemicals in the home in 1982, little was known about the presence of toxic chemicals in consumer products or their health effects. I had to dig up whatever information I could find from poison control centers, medical libraries and toxicology books. There were no indoor air quality studies, or household hazardous waste collection programs or nonprofit organizations devoted to researching toxics.

Today, more than a quarter of a century later, our knowledge of toxic chemicals and their health effects have changed dramatically. Studies exist which show that toxic chemical exposure contributes to virtually every symptom and illness. I've established "Toxics & Health" as a place to show just how widespread the connections are between toxic exposures and everyday health problems. I will be posting many more articles on this subject.

When I was researching my new book Toxic Free, I realized that it is now known that toxic chemicals affect every body system. I've put together this little ebook to give you a tour of your body and the various illnesses that can result from exposure to toxic chemicals.

[Click on the image below to read this 17-page ebook]

more about effects of toxic chemicals at
Scorecard
Collaborative on Health and the Environment

Changing Times

In 2009, a major shift occurred in the world of toxic chemicals with the introduction of the Kid Safe Chemical Act. It's purpose was to strengthen the existing Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA does not require chemical manufacturers to develop new data on toxicity and exposure, which has led to products being put on the market that contain chemicals that have not been adequately screened for safety. It also allows manufacturers to include toxic chemicals in products without disclosing those toxic chemicals on the product labels. Though this bill did not pass, a new updated version, the Safe Chemicals Act, was introduced to Congress in April 2010.

In September 2009, the Obama administration asked Congress to draft a tougher law for regulating toxic chemicals in consumer products, to replace TSCA. In a speech given in San Francisco, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson admitted "As more and more chemicals are found in our bodies and the environment, the public is understandably anxious and confused. Many are turning to government for assurance that chemicals have been assessed using the best available science, and that unacceptable risks haven't been ignored. Right now, we are failing to get this job done." But they are also making improvements. In place now are action plans by the Environmental Protection Agency to study and eliminate six key toxic chemicals used widely in consumer products. 

Then in early 2010, the organization Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families released a report called "The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act". Based on more than 1200 studies, the report shows just how toxic chemicals are contributing to many widespread health problems and demonstrates how eliminating toxic chemicals from consumer products (by strengthening TSCA) will reduce health care costs. According to this study, 133 million people in the U.S.—almost half of all Americans—are now living with chronic diseases and conditions related to toxic chemical exposures, which now account for 70% of deaths and 75% of U.S. health care costs. They calculate that if only a fraction of toxic chemicals were removed from consumer products, it would save the U.S. health care system an estimated $5 billion every year.

What You Can Do

All of this political activity regarding toxics in consumer products has pushed toxics into the news to a greater degree than ever, and appropriate and effective legislation would go a long way toward reducing the amount of toxic chemicals in use. This is an unprecedented opportunity to make major progress in eliminating toxic chemicals from our homes and the environment.

However, we don't have to wait for government to act to eliminate toxic exposures in our own lives, and indeed, our consumer choices have an immense effect on what it sold in the marketplace, government regulation or not. Since I started writing about toxics in the early 1980s, the numbers of toxic free products available for purchase has skyrocketed—because WE—the consumers of America—are buying them.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Buy and read my comprehensive book Toxic Free to learn 50 first steps you can take to turn your home into a safe haven that is free from toxic chemicals.

2. Learn how to remove toxic chemicals that are already in your body at Toxic Free Nutrition.

2. Browse Debra's List for websites that sell nontoxic products you can buy today.

3. Read my Green Living Q&A blog for more information on nontoxic living. Here you can also ask any questions you have about living without toxic chemicals.

4. Call me for a personal consultation. I can help you understand toxic chemicals in products and choose safer products, and I also do on-site home inspections to solve toxic problems, anywhere in the world.

It is possible to significantly reduce our exposures to toxic chemicals and remove toxic chemicals already in our bodies--enough to dramatically improve our health and reduce health care costs. I've been living without toxic chemicals for more than twenty-five years, and you can too.