Summer brings lots of fun outdoor activities, traveling, spending time with friends and family. Protecting ourselves from excess sun exposure and the annoying outdoor critters usually has us reaching for products that contain known toxins to the human body and Mother Nature.
Sunscreen, insect repellent and after sun products are just a few seasonal products that are used frequently. There has been a surge in the sales of new RV’s and travel trailers in the past year, which increases exposure to the off gassing of chemicals used in the production process.
As we spend more time outdoors in our campers, motor homes, and tents, we also expose mother nature to environmental pollutants such as household cleaners, shampoos, dish soap, insect repellent, sunscreen and so much more. It is up to each of us to make choices that support our health and the health of our planet while still enjoying the great outdoors.
A lot of people are completely unaware of the hidden toxins in the products they use and how they are impacting human and environmental health. For some, exposure leads to obvious symptoms that happen quickly (rash, trouble breathing etc). For most of us, it is a silent, slow poisoning, the damage of which may not show up for years. Hormone disrupting chemicals relate to fertility issues for men and women, various cancers, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid conditions, and obesity. Mother Nature does not fare out much better with the effect of toxins showing up in plants, animals, and aquatic life. I highly recommend the documentary Stink for a more thorough overview of this issue. Here's a quick video I did to further explain the importance of removing toxins and some tricks I personally use!