In the Home
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
Like the PCBs of an earlier generation, a new persistent pollutant is showing up everywhere, from the blubber of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest to human breast milk in the Arctic. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a sub-family of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), are neurotoxins linked to behavioural problems, and learning and memory disorders.9 These toxins are widely used as fire retardants in such common consumer products as the foam in our furniture and mattresses, insulation materials used in our homes, and the plastic and circuitry of our television sets and computers. Banned in Europe, the North American market accounts for half of the world’s consumption of PBDEs. Invisible predators, PBDEs are now found throughout our environment, from computer dust to falcon eggs. In fact, since their introduction in the 1970s, PBDE levels have doubled in North America every four to five years.
Making smart consumer choices
Pick up a magazine, flick on the TV and the product pitches are everywhere: “get the new scrubbing power of our floor cleaner” … “catch the scent of ocean breezes with our new air freshener” … “feel sparkly clean with our body wash”. But do you really need all these products? And even for the products that you do need, are there better choices that reduce the impact on the environment and on your health?
Sometimes the first question is easy to answer. Products like plug-in air fresheners, for example, do little more than mask odours and contribute to indoor air pollution. Heavily fragranced products often contain endocrine-disrupting synthetic musks that have been shown to cause reproductive problems in wildlife. But even for products you do need, it’s important to know what the ingredients are. For example, some common household cleaning products may contain carcinogens or ingredients that are considered to be CEPA-toxic (toxic to human health and the environment under the provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act). Check it out before you buy with some of these tools below:
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Environmental Choice
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In the Garden
In 2007, public outcry inspired the Manitoba government to restrict the phosphorus content of household dishwasher detergents and lawn fertilizers. While this may lower the amount of harmful nutrients in Lake Winnipeg, these measures will not address the problem of toxins found in chemicals intended for the garden or home.
Many insecticides and fungicides sold for domestic garden use contain endocrine-disruptors, reproductive toxicants and carcinogens, such as captan and maneb, both commonly used fungicides. A 2004 review by the Ontario College of Family Physicians highlighted the increased risk of cancer posed by some pesticides and called for reductions in their use. Concerned about this risk, and the link between “cosmetic pesticides” (chemicals used simply to make gardens and lawns look better) and childhood leukemia, Canadians in many communities have convinced their municipal governments to enact bylaws that restrict or ban the use of cosmetic pesticides.
