Take Back Our Health!
Hazardous Waste
From www.earth911.com:
Household Hazardous Waste is any product that is discarded from a home or a similar source that contains volatile chemicals that are:
Ignitable: capable of burning or causing a fire
Corrosive: capable of eating away materials and destroying living tissue when contact occurs
Explosive and/or Reactive: capable of causing an explosion or releasing poisonous fumes when exposed to air, water or other chemicals
Toxic: poisonous, either immediately or over a long period of time
Radioactive: capable of damaging and destroying cells and chromosomal material
Some examples of HHW are used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline and pesticides.
The term HHW refers specifically to those products used in and around the common household, not used for any industrial purpose. These products can be harmful to the environment if they are not disposed of properly, which means they should not be dumped down the drain, and empty or partially empty hazardous waste containers should not be thrown in the garbage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year. The average home alone can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW in basements, garages and storage closets.t.
Household Hazardous Waste is any product that is discarded from a home or a similar source that contains volatile chemicals that are:
Ignitable: capable of burning or causing a fire
Corrosive: capable of eating away materials and destroying living tissue when contact occurs
Explosive and/or Reactive: capable of causing an explosion or releasing poisonous fumes when exposed to air, water or other chemicals
Toxic: poisonous, either immediately or over a long period of time
Radioactive: capable of damaging and destroying cells and chromosomal material
Some examples of HHW are used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline and pesticides.
The term HHW refers specifically to those products used in and around the common household, not used for any industrial purpose. These products can be harmful to the environment if they are not disposed of properly, which means they should not be dumped down the drain, and empty or partially empty hazardous waste containers should not be thrown in the garbage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year. The average home alone can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW in basements, garages and storage closets.t.
The Great Outdoors - Polluted!
Ever heard of the famous Black Sneeze in Los Angeles? Quite a reality check! Every minute we're putting dangerous chemicals into the air from driving our cars, producing products, burning trash, along with many other activities. At the same time, every minute, we're breathing those same chemicals into our bodies.
The research studies are getting more serious......A recent study by UCLA researchers have found a correlation between outdoor air pollution and heart disease - vehicle emissions may be the most damaging component of air pollution in triggering plaque buildup in the arteries which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
In addition to the six pollutants for which air quality standards have been set, toxic air pollution, also referred to as hazardous air pollution, consists of those substances in the air which are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, birth defects or other serious illnesses in people even at relatively low exposure levels.
Quote:
Pollution and smog standards are "too weak to protect people from the air they breathe." — Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson, June 21, 2007.
The research studies are getting more serious......A recent study by UCLA researchers have found a correlation between outdoor air pollution and heart disease - vehicle emissions may be the most damaging component of air pollution in triggering plaque buildup in the arteries which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
In addition to the six pollutants for which air quality standards have been set, toxic air pollution, also referred to as hazardous air pollution, consists of those substances in the air which are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, birth defects or other serious illnesses in people even at relatively low exposure levels.
Quote:
Pollution and smog standards are "too weak to protect people from the air they breathe." — Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson, June 21, 2007.
Children
Children probably feel the effects of lower levels of pollution than adults. They also experience more illness, such as bronchitis and earaches, in areas of high pollution than in areas with cleaner air.
A recent study conducted by the American Lung Association shows that as many as 27.1 million children age 13 and under, and over 1.9 million children with asthma are potentially exposed to unhealthful levels of ozone based on the new 0.08 ppm, eight-hour ozone level standard.
The California Children's Environmental Health Protection Act notes the health risks of formaldehyde – a solvent present in clothing, upholstery, drapery, paints, carpets, cabinets, adhesives and cleaning products in this pdf
A recent study conducted by the American Lung Association shows that as many as 27.1 million children age 13 and under, and over 1.9 million children with asthma are potentially exposed to unhealthful levels of ozone based on the new 0.08 ppm, eight-hour ozone level standard.
The California Children's Environmental Health Protection Act notes the health risks of formaldehyde – a solvent present in clothing, upholstery, drapery, paints, carpets, cabinets, adhesives and cleaning products in this pdf
Diesel Sout in Austin
The average lifetime diesel soot cancer risk for a resident of Travis County is 1 in 3,339.
This risk is 299 times greater than EPA's acceptable cancer level of 1 in a million according to CleanAir Task Force.
Click here for additional statistics.
This risk is 299 times greater than EPA's acceptable cancer level of 1 in a million according to CleanAir Task Force.
Click here for additional statistics.
Toxic Indoors
Indoor air quality doesn't get hardly as much attention as it should! We surround ourselves with chemicals, wall ourselves in and use ventilation systems that often keep recirculating them! The toxicity of our indoor air contributes to asthma, allergies, attention deficit disorders, cancer, among many other illnesses. The chemicals are outgassed from our cabinetry, our floors, carpet, new appliances/electronics, cleaning supplies, drapery, paint, and more. Radon, lead, formaldehyde, cigarette smoke, organic chemicals used in furnishings, and carbon monoxide from ranges, fireplaces, and heating systems are some of the common indoor pollutants.
Simply keeping them out of your home is the best way to avoid indoor contamination of course and when necessary, the alternatives made with natural or non-toxic materials are accessible and affordable!
Some more quick facts: The National Academy of Sciences reports that 15% of the US population have some degree of environmental illness from cumulative exposure to carcinogens and toxins (many present in building materials and carpets).
* Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors.Levels of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be as much as 10 times higher indoors than outdoors.
*As many as 15% of Americans are allergic to their own homes.
*The number of asthma cases in the U.S. more than doubled from 1980-1998 – surpassing 17 million. The EPA also reports that 90% of all regulated toxins are more prevalent indoors than out.
*The World Health Organization reports that 30% of all US homes contain toxic levels sufficient to create environmental illness. (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html)
*The Natural Resources Defense Council has reported that in the last 50 years 70,000 chemicals have been created that have never before been seen by the human body.
*Only 1,000 of those chemicals have been tested for effects on our nervous system.
*Only 100 of those are regulated in their use.
*250,000 violations of those regulations are recorded every 2 years.
Simply keeping them out of your home is the best way to avoid indoor contamination of course and when necessary, the alternatives made with natural or non-toxic materials are accessible and affordable!
Some more quick facts: The National Academy of Sciences reports that 15% of the US population have some degree of environmental illness from cumulative exposure to carcinogens and toxins (many present in building materials and carpets).
* Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors.Levels of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be as much as 10 times higher indoors than outdoors.
*As many as 15% of Americans are allergic to their own homes.
*The number of asthma cases in the U.S. more than doubled from 1980-1998 – surpassing 17 million. The EPA also reports that 90% of all regulated toxins are more prevalent indoors than out.
*The World Health Organization reports that 30% of all US homes contain toxic levels sufficient to create environmental illness. (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html)
*The Natural Resources Defense Council has reported that in the last 50 years 70,000 chemicals have been created that have never before been seen by the human body.
*Only 1,000 of those chemicals have been tested for effects on our nervous system.
*Only 100 of those are regulated in their use.
*250,000 violations of those regulations are recorded every 2 years.
