1. Indoor Air Pollution
Polyester (1953), "wrinkle free" fabrics developed from
xylene and ethylene.Polyester is the terminal product in a
chain of very reactive and toxic precursors. Most are
carcinogens; all are poisonous. And even if none of these
chemicals remain entrapped in the final polyester structure
(which they most likely do), the manufacturing process
requires workers and our environment to be exposed to some
or all of the chemicals shown in the flowchart above. There is
no doubt that the manufacture of polyester is an environmen-
tal and public health burdenthat we would be better off
without.
Polyester fabric is soft, smooth, supple – yet still a
plastic. It contributes to our body burden in ways that
we are just beginning to understand. And because
polyester is highly flammable, it is often treated with a
flame retardant, increasing the toxic load. So if you
think that youʼve lived this long being exposed to these
chemicals and havenʼt had a problem, remember that
the human body can only withstand so much toxic load -
and that the endocrine disrupting chemicals which donʼt
seem to bother you may be affecting generations to
come.
Did you know there are little
creatures that share your bed and
live on your stuffed animals - and
cause air pollution? They are tiny
dust mites, invisible to the human
eye. They like to eat dry flakes of
skin, and their waste affects indoor
air quality.
Synthetic fibre are
TOXIC
Stop buying
stuffed toys.
Keep the air
fresh indoor.
These pollutants can cause a range
of health problems, from triggering
allergic reactions and asthma to
cancer and even death.