Many doctors say a growing number of health problems maybe tied to chemical exposure.
Americans are far too casual about using pesticides and chemicals, and it may be killing us, experts say.
The Regional Poison Center at DeVos Children's Hospital saw 771 cases of exposure to insecticides and pesticides in 1999 and 747 cases last year, center Director John Trestrail said.
"Most of the problems we deal with usually are the improper use of household chemicals. Most people don't read the label and they use too much or they use it in the wrong place," Trestrail said.
There also are many cases in which the landlord calls in someone to spray insecticide and neglects to tell tenants, he said.
Dr. Marion Moses, a pesticide expert from California, reinforced the message in talks last week with Grand Rapids area care workers, advocates for farm laborers and representatives from MIOSHA, the state agency that regulates workplace safety.
Many doctors, including Moses, believe a growing number of health problems may be tied to chemical exposure. Those include heart disease, asthma, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, infertility and several cancers.
Scientific studies show pesticides can increase risk of birth defects and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, leukemias and brain cancers in children.
People tend to worry most about an acute poisoning with immediate symptoms. But low-level exposure over time to a. slew of chemicals in common household products may be far more dangerous, Moses said.
"People think if it smells good, it's less toxic. But just because it's pine-scented doesn't mean it isn't a pesticide," Moses said.
Birds sounded the warning about DDT in the 1970s, when their young kept dying. And recently, birds have provided a new wake-up call.
New York health officials looking for West Nile virus asked counties to report bird deaths, and more than 80,000 dead birds were taken to the state pathology lab. A few thousand died from West Nile virus, an African disease that made its way to the United States last year.
But the rest died from pesticide poisoning - from the chemicals homeowners used on their lawns and gardens, state officials said.
Studies snow that homeowners apply most of the 4 billion pounds of pesticides used in the United States each year. Acre for acre, urban lawns and gardens, pubic parks and playing fields, golf courses and roadsides are sprayed more intensively than most farm crops.
Because children and pets play on lawns, they are particularly at risk.
Consumers have lots of toxic products to choose from - some of them products they would never guess were harmful, Moses said.
"There were 39 pesticides on the market in 1932," Moses said. "Today, there are 600 active ingredients registered as pesticides with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that are in 20,000 different products."
Synthetic chemicals are everywhere -- in schools, public buildings, parks, playgrounds and homes.
Most homes contain some formaldehyde, which is used to glue wood and produce a self-hardening insulating foam. It also is found in latex paints, fabrics, automotive resins and cheap furniture'
What people don't know is that formaldehyde releases particles into the air for up to three years and can cause flu-like symptoms, rashes, neurological illnesses and cancer, experts say.
There are toxic compounds in many household cleaners, personal-care products, perfumes, bug sprays, paints, hobby products, moth cakes, and spot removers.
Even products as innocuous as bath room air fresheners and furniture polish may contain harmful chemicals, Moses said.
There are more than 20,000 household pesticide products, containing more than 300 active ingredients. Those active ingredients have to be listed on the label, but the 1,700 inert ingredients do not. "
"You can die from some of those inert ingredients," Moses said.
A potent degreasing agent, synthetic sodium laurel sulphate or sodium laureth sulphate, is in many soaps, shampoos and bubble baths. Arsenic is used as a preservative for wood used in decks, picnic tables and playground equipment. And pesticides known as neurotoxins are commonly used to rid children, of: head lice. Even flea collars are toxic.
Some are less toxic than others, but all pesticides are poisonous, Moses said.
source: thanks to Steve Tvedten for sending this article
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