GROWTH IN CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT INCREASED

FROM 1 BILLION POUNDS ANNUALLY IN THE 1940’S TO 500 BILLION POUNDS IN THE 1990’S . . . and now?

"It is well established that primary prevention is the most effective means of disease control. This is particularly true of cancer." Measures of Progress Against Cancer - Cancer Prevention.

"Lack of appreciation of the potential hazards of environmental and food source contaminants, . . . worsen the cancer problem and drive up health care costs." Cancer At a Crossroads: A Report to Congress for the Nation, National Cancer Advisory Board.

"We spend close to $100 billion a year on cancer treatment in this country. If we are going to get on top of this problem, we absolutely have to focus more on prevention." Dr Devra Lee Davis, senior adviser to the assistant secretary for health and human services. Washington Post.

SOME SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS:

Non carcinogenic alternatives are available. For example:

*Baking Soda is an excellent cleaner and deodorizer.
*Borax is an excellent disinfectant.
*Distilled White Vinegar is also safe and an excellent cleaner, available in both supermarkets and health food stores.
*Essential Oils distilled from plant oils, essential oils are less allergenic than synthetic fragrances. They add a pleasing fragrance to your cleaning formulas.
*Hydrogen peroxide is an alternative to bleach, available at supermarkets and drugstores.
*Lemon juice is an excellent cleaner, available in both health food stores and supermarkets.
*Liquid Soaps are an alternative to harsher detergents and other cleaning agents, available in health food stores and supermarkets.
*Pumice Stone is a good for stain removing.
*Sodium Perborate is an alternative to standard bleaches made with sodium hypochlorite. It is also an alternative to standard bleaches, available from chemical supply companies.
*Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a powerful cleaning material, TSP can be irritating and caustic; it does not pose long-term health hazards such as carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, or reproductive effects. Be aware that some products with the name TSP on their container do not actually contain trisodium phosphate.
*Washing Soda (also known as sodium carbonate, soda ash, and sal soda) is a strong cleaner, as an alternative to the chemical cleaners.

Also:

"No one should think that because the [Environmental Protection Agency] allows it, a pesticide is safe. No pesticide is safe. They're designed to kill living organisms. They should be treated with respect -including the warnings on the label." Jerome Blondell, EPA's pesticides office. USA Today.