Environmental Justice
Action in Southern Africa
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Environmental Justice
Action in Southern Africa |
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Welcome to
There
are many, many hidden chemicals in our homes.
Some of these chemicals are safe but many of them are toxic (poisonous)
to humans. In an average
South African home you will find many household products and foods containing
chemicals that can make us sick. - cleaning
cupboard (for example in Jeyes fluid or mothballs) - bathroom
(for example in air fresheners or cosmetics) - garage
(for example in firelighters and petrol) - garden
(for example pesti Some
of these chemicals may be making us sick (for example, giving us cancer),
affecting our brains (for example, making us forget things or making us
restless), and affecting our hormones (for example reducing men’s sperm count
or causing babies to be born with physical problems).
The World Health Organisation says that most cancers are caused from
coming in contact with toxic chemicals in our environments. Even
if you buy well-known brands from well-known shops it does not mean the products
are safe. There are over 80,000 man-made chemicals in use today and only about
2% of these have been properly tested to see if they are safe for human use.
But even some chemicals which have been tested and been found to be
harmful are still allowed to be added to our foods and other household products. Some
people think that you can only be poisoned if you swallow something that
contains toxic (poisonous) chemicals. This
is not true. You can ALSO be
affected if you smell (breathe in) toxic chemicals or if these toxic chemicals
touch your skin and are absorbed by your body.
They can also damage your eyes. Remember that when you spray chemicals like this into the
air, they may disperse but do not disappear!
They are still there in the air for you to breathe in!
Even substances which appear to be solid or liquid can be giving off
toxic fumes (which you can sometimes smell) and which you are breathing in.
Other
people may tell you that the concentration (amount) of chemicals in our
household products is very low, and therefore you do not need to worry. This may be true sometimes.
But we need to also think of the many chemicals in the many different
products we eat and use everyday, and how these very many chemicals all add up
and mix together to have an added (or multiple) toxic affect. Let
us take you around an average South African house, and show you what chemicals
you may find, how they could affect you. We
will also tell you what are safer products that you can use instead. Links to other sites relating to household chemicals and non-toxic living:
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