Toxic Chemical Green

During a recent conversation with a less green friend, I was asked if it was really possible to feed the world without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Was it worth a slight compromise to ensure nobody went hungry? What was so bad about chemicals anyway?

According to the Cancer Prevention Society;

One in three people will get cancer during our lifetimes, a figure expected to rise to one in two by 2020. During our lives, we are unwittingly exposed to thousands of chemicals associated with cancer and other illnesses. Many of these are man-made, including synthetic chemicals found in everyday consumer products, the home, the workplace and in environmental pollutants. We believe that if we are to bring down cancer rates then we must reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation. 

A recent issue of Time Magazine highlighted the thousands of unregulated chemicals we encounter on a daily basis. (Toxic Environment from May 9, 2011).  In fact, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) from 1976 only regulates five chemicals in the past three decades.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS, POLICY, AND INTENT. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— (1) human beings and the environment are being exposed each year to a large number of chemical substances and mixtures. (2) among the many chemical substances and mixtures which are constantly being developed and produced, there are some whose manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment; and (3) the effective regulation of interstate commerce in such chemical substances and mixtures also necessitates the regulation of intrastate commerce in such chemical substances and mixtures.

World Health Organization studies of toxic risks, including the Agricultural Health Study which concludes a link between pesticide use and several cancers, including pancreatic, lung, colon and leukemia. We don't need to feed the world poison to feed the world efficiently. Some simple measures you can take today:

• Join a CSA (community supported agriculture)  
• Eat less meat
• Start a garden
• Educate yourself 

Here is a short video from the Sierra Club called the True Cost of Food . It is eye opening and a true reminder that the simple cheap choice may not be as easy or as economical as it seems.



(On June 10th, yours truly will be walking for 24 hours straight to raise money for the American Cancer Society during our local Relay for Life). If you've never participated in a Relay, it's a moving opportunity to find hope, raise money and awareness. We're not powerless and there is Hope. If you'd like to help sponsor my walk, follow the link above. Thank you! 

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