The Worst Health Risks from Environmental Toxins

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What Are Environmental Toxins?

Environmental toxins are toxic chemicals found in our environment – from the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the products we use in our homes and lives. We call them toxins because they have the potential to cause harm to humans and other living beings. 

Some environmental toxins are naturally occurring, such as lead or arsenic found in soil. Most environmental toxins are man-made chemicals that are sprayed on crops or used in the manufacturing of products. These man-made chemicals are in products we use every day, from plastics and furniture, to cleaning sprays and personal care products, to food and food packaging, and everything in between.

The Health Risks from Environmental Toxins*

The health impacts of environmental toxins have long been under-studied and under-reported. Part of the problem is that man-made chemicals are woefully under-regulated. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) maintains an “innocent until proven guilty” approach to chemicals and very few are even tested for safety. So companies can use any chemicals they want, without regard for human safety.

Meanwhile, environmental toxins are a silent threat to your health. Many independent studies have shown that there are serious health risks to exposures to many chemicals in our home environment and daily lives. Many of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, which means they mess with the hormones that regulate much of the functioning in your body. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are linked to developmental, reproductive, brain, immune system, and other problems.

It has also been shown that a person’s body burden – the total amount of chemicals and pollutants present in the body at any given time – is linked to overall wellness. All those little exposures to chemicals can add up to a big chemical burden on your body – so there is good reason to be concerned about exposure to environmental chemicals.

Without getting into all the unpleasant details, here are some of the health risks from toxic chemicals in your home and products:

How to Reduce Environmental Toxins in Your Home & Products

Are you ready to add minimizing environmental toxins to your healthy living plan? The good news is there are many action steps you can take to greatly reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals in your home and products! 

I always recommend starting with steps that are FREE and/or EASY! I’ve got a list of 10 easy ways to detox your home to gift to you when you sign up for my mailing list.

If you want to dive deeper and make the effort to protect your health and your family from toxic (but perfectly legal) chemicals in the products you use, consider signing up for my course Easy Home Detox.

Easy Home Detox is an online course designed to help you create a toxin-free home environment, by swapping out toxic products for better alternatives, and learning how to keep your home clean, healthy and safe for your family. This course is designed to show you exactly how to make the changes that work for you – without upending your life, or emptying your pocketbook. So you can stop letting toxic chemicals sabotage your health, and finally breathe easy in your own home!

*Sources: Environmental Working Group – Pollution in People, NCBI Body Burden Study