ChemicalsChemicals

ChemicalsChemicals

Toxic chemicals find their Toxic chemicals find their way in to landfillsway in to landfills

Every year Americans generate Every year Americans generate 1.6M 1.6M tonstons of household hazardous waste of household hazardous waste

Toxic chemicals contribute Toxic chemicals contribute to water pollutionto water pollution

Pollution of land and water is a (growing) Pollution of land and water is a (growing) worldwide problemworldwide problem

Toxic chemicals Toxic chemicals

Pollute our world, our local environment, Pollute our world, our local environment, our home, and our most valuable our home, and our most valuable “possessions”“possessions”

Our learning goalsOur learning goals

How to:How to: Identify chemicals according to toxicityIdentify chemicals according to toxicity Take stock of the chemicals you haveTake stock of the chemicals you have Determine what to do with what youDetermine what to do with what you

havehave Avoid dangerous chemicals in theAvoid dangerous chemicals in the

futurefuture

  

QuizQuiz1.1. What are the most dangerous designation on a product that will What are the most dangerous designation on a product that will

warn you of it’s toxicity.warn you of it’s toxicity.

a. Cautiona. Caution

b. Warningb. Warning

c. Danger or Poisonc. Danger or Poison

2.2. Corrosive products can dissolve metal.Corrosive products can dissolve metal.

True FalseTrue False

3. How much is spent yearly for pesticide poisonings and illness?3. How much is spent yearly for pesticide poisonings and illness?

a. $250M b. $25M c. $2.5M a. $250M b. $25M c. $2.5M

4. If we stopped the use of pesticides what percent of crop loss 4. If we stopped the use of pesticides what percent of crop loss would occur?would occur?

a. 25% b. 9% c. 14% d. 1%a. 25% b. 9% c. 14% d. 1%

5. 5.

Warning labels show the Warning labels show the degree of toxicitydegree of toxicity

CautionCaution (labeled on “package”)(labeled on “package”) Least toxicLeast toxic Lethal dose: 1 oz. to 1 pintLethal dose: 1 oz. to 1 pint

WarningWarning Moderate (?) toxicityModerate (?) toxicity Lethal dose: 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoonLethal dose: 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon

Danger/poisonDanger/poison Most toxicMost toxic Lethal dose: 1 taste to 1 teaspoonLethal dose: 1 taste to 1 teaspoon

Other Attributes of ChemicalsOther Attributes of Chemicals Corrosive – can dissolve metal and severely burn Corrosive – can dissolve metal and severely burn

skin, eyes and internal organs if swallowedskin, eyes and internal organs if swallowed

drain cleanersdrain cleaners

oven cleanersoven cleaners

acid based toilet cleanersacid based toilet cleaners Toxic – can poison people/pets and cause illness Toxic – can poison people/pets and cause illness

including cancer or death if orally ingested or including cancer or death if orally ingested or absorbed through the skinabsorbed through the skin

pesticidespesticides

weed killersweed killers

many household cleanersmany household cleaners

Flammable/Ignitable – Catch fire easily if heated or Flammable/Ignitable – Catch fire easily if heated or placed near a flameplaced near a flame

kerosenekerosene

paint and furniture polish solventspaint and furniture polish solvents

spot removersspot removers

Reactive – if mixed, produce new chemicals that Reactive – if mixed, produce new chemicals that may be more dangerousmay be more dangerous

chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia or vinegarchlorine bleach mixed with ammonia or vinegar

Irritant – may cause itchy eyes or skin rashesIrritant – may cause itchy eyes or skin rashes

Air freshenersAir fresheners

carpet and upholstery shampooscarpet and upholstery shampoos

Where are these Where are these substances found?substances found?

Your home (including basement and Your home (including basement and garage)garage)

Where you work and playWhere you work and play

Your home probably contains more toxic chemicals than you realize!

Where are the chemicals Where are the chemicals in your environment? in your environment?

Under your SinkUnder your Sink In you laundry roomIn you laundry room In your BathroomIn your Bathroom In your GarageIn your Garage In your BasementIn your Basement In your storage shedIn your storage shed

  

Start with an inventory

Once you have a list you can Once you have a list you can decide what to do with the decide what to do with the chemicalschemicals

OptionsOptionsUse it upUse it upGive it awayGive it awayRecycleRecycleDisposeDisposeKeep UsingKeep UsingStop UsingStop UsingFind an alternativeFind an alternative

The 5 Best Ways you can The 5 Best Ways you can protect the earth from protect the earth from toxic chemicalstoxic chemicals

Properly dispose of household wasteProperly dispose of household waste Use fewer toxic household productsUse fewer toxic household products Don’t use pesticidesDon’t use pesticides Change your eating habitsChange your eating habits Wherever possible stop using plastic Wherever possible stop using plastic

productsproducts

DisposalDisposal

Check out the alternatives firstCheck out the alternatives first Learn where in your county to dispose of Learn where in your county to dispose of

toxics like paints, batteries andtoxics like paints, batteries and

electronics. electronics. Call to find out hours, what they will take, if Call to find out hours, what they will take, if

you need an appointment, who is allowed to you need an appointment, who is allowed to take items there, costs, take items there, costs,

Legally you should not transport more than 5 Legally you should not transport more than 5 gallons at one time in your car.gallons at one time in your car.

Using less Toxic products

Do you really need to use it Try to find the least toxic alternative

Pesticides – a major Pesticides – a major problemproblem

Est. indirect costs of pesticide use in USEst. indirect costs of pesticide use in US $250M for pesticide poisonings and illness$250M for pesticide poisonings and illness $525M for damage to agricultural systems$525M for damage to agricultural systems $30M for destruction of: fish & wildlife, $30M for destruction of: fish & wildlife,

livestock poisoning, contamination of meat livestock poisoning, contamination of meat and milkand milk

$1.3B for testing drinking water for $1.3B for testing drinking water for contaminationcontamination

PesticidesPesticides

Stopping pesticide use in Stopping pesticide use in farming would result in farming would result in only an estimated 9% only an estimated 9% increase in crop lossesincrease in crop losses

Resistance to pesticides Resistance to pesticides has increased has increased dramatically in past 20 dramatically in past 20 yearsyears 600 species of pest are 600 species of pest are

now resistant vs. 7% in now resistant vs. 7% in the 1940sthe 1940s

Use less toxic household productsUse less toxic household products.. Avoid all products labeled “Danger.” Avoid all products labeled “Danger.” Look for “non-toxic” and “biodegradable” Look for “non-toxic” and “biodegradable”

on the label. on the label. Many health food stores and online Many health food stores and online

stores carry less hazardous products. stores carry less hazardous products. http://ecomall.com

Don’t use pesticidesDon’t use pesticides. But if you must . But if you must use a pesticide, use the least toxic kind, use a pesticide, use the least toxic kind, use it properly and only according to the use it properly and only according to the directions on the label. directions on the label.

. . http://gardensalive.com

Change your eating habitsChange your eating habits. . Buy Organic Foods as much as possible Buy Organic Foods as much as possible Try to buy locally. Try to buy locally. Eat less meat. Eat less meat.

PlasticsPlastics

Not considered under chemicals but gives off Not considered under chemicals but gives off chemicals into your foods and drinks and when it chemicals into your foods and drinks and when it decomposes it gives off chemicals into the decomposes it gives off chemicals into the atmosphereatmosphere

Production gives off harmful chemicalsProduction gives off harmful chemicals Stop using plastic whenever possible. When Stop using plastic whenever possible. When

plastic containers are heated they give off toxic plastic containers are heated they give off toxic chemicals into your foods. Better still, try not to chemicals into your foods. Better still, try not to use plastic for your food and drink storage. Use use plastic for your food and drink storage. Use glass. glass.