By Theodora Filis Most of us like to believe that the widespread contamination of our groundwater, soil, and air is entirely due to the irresponsibility of large industries. We refuse to accept the notion that in our own everyday lives, we are contributing to the poisoning of the planet. However, commonly used substances such as paint thinners, household pesticides, cleaners and solvents, and some aerosols produce hazardous waste. Our responsibility for them does not end at our curbside. Leaching out of municipal landfills and into groundwater released in the air from garbage incinerators, or discharged from sewer systems into public waters, toxic waste comes back to haunt us. Many of those same household products present a direct health hazard to you and your family. Most commercial polishes, for example, contain poisonous solvents that emit vapors. These products are often composed of the same toxic chemicals that industrial dumpers have used to eliminate bugs in your garden th
It is imperative we all pay attention to the impact of our collective and personal actions on the environment. During the next decade, our global community will be unable to deal effectively with the formidable environmental challenges posed by decades of environmental mismanagement. There are many environmental issues I write about in this blog, some will scare you, and it is my hope, these articles will give you a reason to question and search for answers.