Nexus - 0702 - New Times Magazine-pages

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What the Small Print Really Means repellents, flea and cockroach sprays, rat poisons, and some Many people whose immune systems are still strong, don't swimming-pool (anti-fungus, anti-algae) chemicals. But understand the danger of chemicals and accuse sensitive people of — pesticides also include other items that are identified as exaggerating (if not altogether fabricating) their symptoms. germicidal, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial or disinfectant. The However, the fact that there are warning labels on common majority of kitchen, laundry and bath disinfectants and sanitisers, household detergents indicates the gravity of the situation: "Keep and products that kill mould and mildew, are legally classified as out of the reach of children"; "Avoid contact with eyes"; "Do not "pesticides" because they contain pesticides. These and other inhale"; "Use near open window"; "Harmful if swallowed"; "If pesticide-laden products are so harmful, they are required by law swallowed, flush with water"; "If swallowed, do not induce vom- to say "Keep out of reach of children" on the front label. It is iting. See your doctor or call your local poison control centre alarming to realise that the same chemicals designed to kill immediately." rodents or fleas may be in laundry detergents, hand soaps and dish Sometimes a label might read "For external use only"—which soaps classified as "anti-bacterial". When we use these products, sounds relatively innocuous, but think about it. Why can't we the pesticides seep in through our skin. ingest it, unless it's because the substance is poisonous? Clinical In legal parlance, an "adult" is a 180-pound male, so what ecologist Alfred Zamm suggests a good rule to follow: "If you adversely affects an "adult" will have an even worse effect on a can't eat it, don't breathe it."° We would not need any of these woman, and especially a child. A large man with a strong consti- warnings if the chemicals were harmless. Yet even so, as we shall tution will be less vulnerable than a petite woman whose exposure see, these labels do not reliably indicate the extent of the danger _ to chemicals has already debilitated her immune function (perhaps that we are actually in. to the point where she now suffers from fully fledged environ- There are many ways in which we ingest lethal chemicals. The mental illness). skin (which is the largest organ in the body) is highly permeable. The following charts (below and overleaf), assembled from That we can smell something indicates the physical presence of its government and industry sources, reveal the truth behind labels on molecules in the air, which are then poisonous chemicals. Don't forget transmitted to the bloodstream via that toxic = poison = "fatal". This the respiratory tract. And in case you makes the phrases "highly toxic", assume that "Do not swallow" per- A "moderately toxic" and "slightly tains to your child but not you (after That we can smell something toxic" meaningless. It is a matter of all, why would an adult drink a bottle indicates the physical presence how much of the poisons will kill f dish detergent?), understand that A . . and in what , rather the ticimeaast owed arcotes | OFS molecules in the ait, I ee a different from what they mean in which are then transmitted to "slightly toxic" is like saying that everyday usage. Legally, "swal - someone is "a little pregnant”. lowed" means "inhaled or absorbed the bloodstream via the However, I have included these through the skin". respiratory tract. phrases because some research labo- * Cleaning with vaporous cleansers ratories and offices use them as stan- in an enclosed area such as oven, dards. bathtub or shower, even with ventila- Ultimately, everyone dies—per- tion, means breathing the fumes. haps even at a fairly old age, even if * Holding a cleaning rag, sponge or mop soaked with a cleaner _ pesticide-ridden detergents have been kept at the kitchen sink. or polish means absorbing the chemicals through the skin. But we must ask: Would people be suffering from so many ¢ Eating from dishes washed in detergents whose residue then chronic, debilitating illnesses—in other words, prematurely dying migrates to your food, means eating the chemicals. from a stressed and slowly malfunctioning immune system—if we * Washing with laundry detergents that remain in the fibres of __ lived in a poison-free environment? your clothing is, again, absorbing the chemicals through the skin. What we consider "healthy" may only mean that: (1) the per- There are two categories of products that are legally considered son's symptoms have not manifested yet; (2) the person might be dangerous: (1) hazardous products, and (2) pesticides. manifesting slight symptoms (like a chronic sinus drip or feelings Hazardous products—which may be toxic, corrosive, irritant, of being a little "under the weather") that are not yet traceable to a flammable or radioactive—are regulated in the United States by "real" illness or anything to worry about; or (3) the person's obvi- the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Pesticides, which kill ous distress has not yet been associated with the deadly chemicals pests, are regulated by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and in our environment. It is not possible for an isolated part of the Rodenticide Act. body to be sick while other parts remain in so-called perfect What is legally considered a pesticide may surprise you. health. And different people manifest symptoms differently, Pesticides consist of (logically enough) weedkillers, insect sometimes in apparently unrelated areas of the body. indicates the physical presence of its molecules in the air, which are then transmitted to If the label says : It is considered: With the following result: POISON "Highly" Toxic A few drops to one teaspoon will kill an adult. DANGER "Highly" Toxic A few drops to one teaspoon will kill an adult. WARNING "Moderately" Toxic One teaspoon to one ounce will kill an adult. CAUTION "Slightly" Toxic Over one ounce will kill an adult. If the label says: It is considered: POISON "Highly" Toxic DANGER "Highly" Toxic WARNING "Moderately" Toxic CAUTION "Slightly" Toxic NEXUS - 45 What the Small Print Really Means That we can smell something the bloodstream via the respiratory tract. With the following result: A few drops to one teaspoon will kill an adult. A few drops to one teaspoon will kill an adult. One teaspoon to one ounce will kill an adult. Over one ounce will kill an adult. FEBRUARY — MARCH 2000