(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 05, 2010 ) Emyvale, PEI. Adrian Desbarats, President of Fashion and Earth, began "We all try to do what’s best for our body. We eat the right vegetables, we exercise, and we pay attention to labels. We even try to get those eight glasses of water a day. But, sometimes we need to stop and consider if there might be more to that glass of water than meets the eye." Drinking bottled water is expensive and bad for the environment; water filters work well but aren’t always available. So what’s in that drinking water, anyway? And, since water is such a huge part of our food, does does contaminated water mean contaminated food?
One of the main concerns is that the widespread use of pesticides and insecticides does indeed contaminate our drinking water.
Adrian reported "One of the most widely used pesticides, atrazine, has been banned in the European Union. However, in the United States, an estimated 33 million Americans have been exposed to this pesticide through their drinking water (according to the New York Times). This has been described as a “widespread and dangerous problem that has not been communicated to the people most at risk, “ according to Jennifer Sass, PhD, a Senior Scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council. So what can this contamination lead to? Atrazine has been shown to be an endocrine disrupter, which means it affects hormones, especially reproductive hormones. That means poor sperm quality in males and poor fertility in females. Studies have also linked Atrazine contaminated water to various types of cancer, as well as Parkinson’s disease."
Pesticide contaminated water is widespread in the US – and particularly in the “Cotton belt,” which refers to the southern States. The cotton belt includes the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, California, and (to a slightly lesser extent), North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and New Mexico. In these States, cotton is sprayed with large amounts of herbicides and insecticides. These chemicals not only become part-and-parcel with the crop; but they also leach out as run-off finding their way into watersheds, streams, and groundwater, affecting public supplies of water (as well as animals and plants along the way). "According to the USDA, upwards of 57 Million pounds of pesticide were used on U.S. cotton fields in one year alone", Adrian continued.
Health problems from these toxins range from mild to extreme. Headaches, skin irritations, breathing problems, and vomiting might be incurred after low exposure – while blood disorders, liver and kidney damage, reproductive damage, cancer, and death are other possible reactions at high doses.
This doesn’t mean you should stop drinking water – and it certainly doesn’t mean you should stop having your nightly bath! But, we need to be aware of what is going on in the world around us. Everyone in North America – and the world, for that matter – should have the right to clean drinking water. So what can you do? While we can’t always control what large corporations do to their crops, we can certainly control the products we use in our own homes – and often in our communities. Studies have shown that children who grow up in homes that use pesticide are twice as likely to develop brain cancer. Do yourself, your garden, and your children a favour – and don’t use harmful chemicals in your home!
Adrian suggested "Call your local town hall and find out what steps have been taken to ensure that your drinking water is clean. Make healthy choices. Shop organic. Buy products that are earth-friendly – from your cabbage and broccoli to your yoga pants and socks! Filter your water – activated carbon has been shown to be very effective at removing Atrazine for example. Look for items that are certified as organic, and choose all-natural products within your home. Communicate with health officials to let them know of your concerns; and refuse to purchase items that were grown using pesticides."
"In our everyday choices, we can create change – and leave the toxins behind. Goodbye, Pesticides!", he concluded.
Adrian Desbarats, President of Fashion and Earth, beginning with a background as a biologist, has a passionate desire to balance the needs of the environment with the needs of humans. Visit http://www.fashionandearth.com to shop for stylish and eco-friendly clothing for women.
Join a community of women who care about the future of their families, and the future of our planet. Visit http://www.fashionandearth.com.
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