Increased vigilance by government and industry is the only way to prevent chemicals from polluting people

Maine people are polluted with dozens of hazardous industrial chemicals, according to a new study conducted by the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine with help from the University of Southern Maine.

In 2006, my daughter Lauralee and I participated in a study with 11 other Mainers. We were tested for dozens of hazardous industrial chemicals, the first such study of chemical pollution inside Maine people. The results have caused me great concern – 46 different chemicals (of 71 tested) were found in samples of blood, urine and hair taken from everyday Mainers.

Lauralee and I had measurable levels of 36 toxic chemicals in our bodies. I had the highest phthalate total and the highest level of BADGE-40H, one of the bisphenol-A chemicals tested. Phthalates are found in everyday vinyls, adhesives and beauty products and are believed to threaten reproductive health.

Bisphenol-A is a chemical used to make reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles and early exposure to this toxic chemical may predispose adults to breast cancer and other chronic diseases. Unfortunately, Bisphenol-A is widely used and totally unregulated.

Lauralee had higher levels of mercury, arsenic and flame retardants than I. We are both disturbed by the results. It’s one thing testing positive for mercury. We know there are steps to avoid consuming too much mercury, but it’s a completely different ballgame when one hasn’t a clue what the other chemicals are, let alone where they came from.

How did we ever come to learn and know mercury was a problem? Can we learn from the past mercury education campaigns to understand more about other harmful chemicals?

My participation in this study has opened my eyes to the fact Maine people are exposed to toxic chemicals everyday – chemicals that pollute our bodies. There is no way to know which beauty products I may use that contain these dangerous phthalate chemicals. There is no system to test or regulate plastic products we use everyday, resulting in exposure to health-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol-A.

Most chemical pollution happens in the normal course of our daily lives – most people are unaware they are being exposed. The chemicals detected in this study are found in products throughout our homes. Our pillow cases have warning labels, but the plastics we’re using carry no such label. It’s unbelievable to me that we are treated like human guinea pigs for products that are already on the market.

There is a common sense answer to this problem – shouldn’t the industry be testing chemicals and their side effects before they are put on the shelves? I like to think I’m a conscientious consumer. I’m buying more organic products and urging my family members to get their wells tested for lead and arsenic.

I no longer use plastic in the microwave or re-use plastic water bottles. All of these actions are pro-active and good, but chemicals in the body are bigger than ourselves.

The best solution is to also call upon companies that make these products and ensure they are testing their products for health and safety, replacing toxic chemicals with safe, affordable and effective alternatives, and putting warning labels on the household products that may be threatening our health.

It’s wrong to think that what we don’t know cannot hurt us. This isn’t about making different choices. One can’t “lifestyle” their way out of a problem that has invaded every facet of our daily lives. We need government regulators and the chemical industry to evaluate chemicals, regulate their products and provide information to the public.

Leading a healthy lifestyle depends on it.

Violet Raymond, of Winthrop, was tested for toxins by the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine in its study, “Body of Evidence: A Study of Pollution in Maine People,” released in June. She is a community organizer with the Maine Civic Engagement Project in Lewiston.