This post is brought to you by Seventh Generation in cooperation with Mom Bloggers for Social Good to raise awareness about becoming a Toxin Fighter. All opinions are my own.
Want to hear a scary story? My mom used to run through pesticide fog when she was a kid. The truck would come spray the chemical and all the neighborhood kids called it “Smokey.” They’d dance in the fog! Seriously! I am completely convinced that my mother’s exposure to these chemicals somehow affected my ability to conceive. Back then, they really didn’t know much about the effect of toxic chemicals. While I feel that someone, somewhere should have had the common sense to tell these kids that running through pesticide fog wasn’t a good idea, I really can’t blame a generation who was just utterly clueless.
Sometimes it seems like we’re just as clueless today. I’ll admit, I really never gave much thought to potential toxins in my home. I assumed that everything from my cleaning supplies to the containers that held my food had to be safe. I mean, surely there is an agency out there making sure that we are not being exposed to dangerous chemicals in our own home, right?
Yes, I was naive. It wasn’t until I started reading blogs and became a blogger myself that I really understood just how many nasty chemicals we’re exposed to in our every day lives, and just how little any of the government agencies are doing about it. I feel like I’ve finally had my eyes opened, and now I want to make sure I do my part to keep future generations safe from toxic chemicals.
Stand up for Safer Chemicals
Did you know that there is an act called the Toxic Substances Control Act? It sounds like it would be a great thing, right? Clearly someone is looking out for us and keeping toxins out of our homes, right? Sadly, the Act is terribly vague and terribly outdated. Take a look at some startling facts about the current Toxic Substances Control Act:
- Since its passing 30 years ago, only 200 of the 62,000 chemicals in products on the market have been required to undergo testing.
- Of those 200, only 5 are even partially regulated.
- These untested, unregulated chemicals are found in more than just household cleaners. They’re found in toys, furniture, clothing and even the containers that hold our food and beverages!
- Exposure to these chemicals while in the womb or during early childhood can lead to all sorts of potential problems, including reproductive issues. Told you my mom running through pesticide fog couldn’t have been good for my fertility!
Petition Congress to Update the Toxic Substances Control Act
Join Seventh Generation in their efforts to collect 100,000 signatures and petition congress to update the Toxic Substances Control Act. It literally takes just a minute of your time. All you have to do is fill in your name, email address and state. That’s it. One minute to add your voice and stand up for safer chemicals.
Click here to sign the petition for safer chemicals
Look, I’m not claiming to be perfect. I still have some cleaners under my sink that probably contain nasty chemicals. I’m trying my hardest to transition over to more natural products, like Seventh Generation. I’m getting there. I think if we all at least promise to try to eliminate chemicals from our lives, we’ll be on the road to creating a much safer future for our children.
Will you sign the petition to ask congress to update the archaic Toxic Substances Control Act?
It’s awesome that you wrote about this because I guarantee that a lot of people had no idea about all those toxins. I knew there were some, but not that many!
That is crazy to know that there are so many chemicals in every day products like household cleaners and even toys and furniture! Very scary I will sign the petition because it must change for everyone’s safety and health. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
I had no clue about any of this so thank you for educating me.
That’s certainly some disturbing information, and what’s worse is that it doesn’t even surprise me. I’ll be signing the petition. Thanks!
We work to eliminate a lot of toxins from our household WE have a few products left that i haven’t found a natural option that works as well as the other. But I’m still looking. I love 7th generation products. They make an amazing body wash that I just love. I didn’t know we could sign a petition to get the Fed Gov to step in with eliminating toxins; or at least making people more aware of them.
I’m working on switching over completely to natural products for cleaning. It’s definitely a process.
It really is amazing to me how different life is just a generation or two later. I’m glad that we are all more aware now about what goes in, on and around our bodies.
So am I. I think our kids will be even more aware, and hopefully the next generation will get more things right when it comes to chemicals and what not.
I signed the petition and happy to do it. It is so important that we eliminate as many as toxins as we can.
I remember when I was younger, the crop dusters would come through and everything we owned, even inside the house, would be covered in a thick layer of white powder. I think that is why everyone around here gets cancer.
That is so scary! I have to wonder how anyone in past generations could have thought that was a good idea. I mean, a layer of white stuff covering everything, you have to think at some point, if it kills bugs, what is it doing to, say, my lungs?
It is amazing the things we use and do not realize how much harm they actually do. I love the Seventh Generation for making products we can use and trust.
I think because we grew up with so many chemicals we just assumed they were safe and didn’t think anything of it. Now that I’m the parent and I know better – it’s scary to know what we did when we were younger! The same with foods! There is so much I have been learning about foods. It’s insane the chemicals and toxins in our lives that we don’t realize!
Sometimes I think it’s a miracle we survived. Then I hear about the things my mom did, the chemicals she was exposed to, and I’m surprised my generation even exists!
I have to admit to not knowing enough about this at all, I should really try and find more things out :)x
I was pretty clueless too. I’m trying to become more aware of stuff like chemicals, food, etc. I’ll never be perfect, but I figure if I try to do little things at a time, it will add up.
I didn’t know that there were that many. I didn’t know there was a petition to stop them either.
It is scary when you hear how many toxins there are. WE really must do something about it.
Well, I always knew there were a lot – I guess I just didn’t focus on it too much – prevention is the key.
Gah, I’m mortified. I’m not surprised, but I am mortified. I’m glad there’s so much awareness now, things are changing for the better, slowly.
I was mortified too, although I was also surprised. I guess I shouldn’t have been though, it seems the US is pretty lax about stuff like this.
Toxins toxins everywhere. It’s so scary when you sit down and really think about it. I hope everyone signs this petition!
Me too! Something definitely needs to change!
That is why I am a big believer in eating healthy to help our bodies fighting these pesky toxins.
That is something else I need to work on! I am a horrible eater.
I thought I was pretty green and knowledgeable, but I didn’t realize quite how unregulated these toxins were. Wow. Thanks for sharing!
I was surprised to discover it too. We definitely need stronger regulation.
I think many Americans are naive about the chemicals that are in our every day products. We kind of expect the government has this under control for us, but this simply isn’t the case. We need to educate ourselves better on this, so this article is much appreciated in helping to spread the word!
Exactly. I was naive. I just assumed that the EPA and other agencies monitored what our stuff was made of!
It’s crazy to think of how much stuff is in our home that isn’t good for us! I’ve been keeping an better look out for it in the past few years though!
It is scary! I’ve only started paying more attention in recent years too, and I can’t believe how many things have dangerous chemicals in them.
It’s definitely so very important to try to stay away from toxins. I am so glad they are doing more to make sure we can.
That statistic is something to think about …. 300 before BIRTH. Wow. Thanks for sharing all this valuable info. It is something we all need to do more about.
It’s so important to be aware of the potential toxins that we are exposing our bodies to on a daily basis.
This is SO great!! I have cut out all cleaning chemicals in our house! I feel so much better when I clean now.
I’ve only recently started learning about Toxins… Toxins have ruined my body! Everyone needs to know more.