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Household chemicals rival vehicles as smog source- Sarah Quist

Household chemicals rival vehicles as smog source
Sarah Quist
BIOL 1610
2/17/18

This article was of particular interest to me as I have been keenly aware, for many years now, the dangers of toxic household products, personal products and chemicals used on lawns and gardens. Although regulations have made some progress in reducing vehicle emissions, smog remains a huge problem in US cities. A group of researchers set out to find what other sources could be contributing to the continuation of polluted air. The research was led by Brian McDonald, an air-pollution researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Bolder, Colorado. Brian stated that he was surprised to find that the products he used in the morning to get ready for work are comparable to the emissions coming from the tailpipe of his car. What they found was that chemical products are different than vehicle emissions in that they are designed to evaporate. "Once in the air, the compounds can escape outdoors, where a series of reactions transforms them into ozone and fine particles." says co-author Jessica Gilman, a chemist at NOAA in Boulder. The results showed that household chemicals contribute as heavily to air pollution in cities as do vehicles.

I first became aware of toxic personal products about 20 years ago when I went back to school for massage therapy. During that time I was studying a great deal about health and nutrition and found that it wasn't just what I put in my body that really mattered but what I put on my body as well. I started changing the products I used to natural, organic ingredients. I immediately noticed a difference on my body. Dry, itchy skin disappeared and my health improved greatly, among other things. Then I turned my attention to household products, such as cleaners. I found products with safe ingredients and in some cases even made my own. At that time I wasn't aware just how much toxic chemicals effect our air quality but I knew it was making a difference in my home and in the environment. It is becoming more clear just how much poor air quality effects health, anything from asthma to heart disease. Now days many people are looking for alternatives to harsh chemical products. There are many wonderful companies that now offer those alternatives. And people have become creative in making homemade products as well. I have used many homemade products myself. The more people change to safe, harmless products, the better our environment and air quality will be. And with that comes the added bonus of better quality of health.


https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02132-9

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