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A Message From Peter James
 


 

Oil Obliterates Obedience - The Commandments    

 

 

Exodus 20:2  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,

               out of the house of bondage.

 

(1)         3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 

(2)         4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,

               or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven  above, or that is in the earth beneath,

               or that is in the water under the earth:

            5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God

               am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third

               and fourth generation of them that hate me;

            6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

 

(3)         7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;

               for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

 

(4)         8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

            9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

           10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work,

               thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle,

               nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

           11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,

                and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

(5)        12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which

                the LORD thy God giveth thee.

 

(6)        13  Thou shalt not kill.

 

(7)        14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

 

(8)        15  Thou shalt not steal.

 

(9)        16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

 

(10)       17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife,

                nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass,

                nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

 

 

The Eternal gave us the commandments so that we could live happy and peaceful lives.

Unfortunately we have ignored them to our peril and as a result the world is set to implode

and we are destined to destroy ourselves, if the Eternal God does not intervene.

 

We have put other gods before the Eternal God.

We have made with our hands, idols from the blessings which the Eternal God has given us.

Most are unaware that oil, the black stuff out of the ground, is a major source of our idols.

We can erroneously think of it simply as a fuel of one type or another to power our cars, aeroplanes,

and other mechanical devices and also as a means of generating electricity.  

The reality is that there is very much more to oil, as I will illustrate.

 

It is for this reason it is greatly coveted    – the 10th commandment.

It is for this reason that we lie    to get it – the  9th commandment.

It is for this reason that we steal to get it - the  8th commandment.

It is for this reason that we enter into an adulterous relationship with Satan and his cohorts

                                                – the 7th  commandment.

It is for this reason that we kill   to get it  – the 6th  commandment.

It is for this reason that we dishonour our Creator – Father

                                                - the  5th commandment.

We utterly ignore the Sabbath oil or no oil  - the  4th commandment.

We use the name of God to justify our breaking of several  of the above commandments.

                                                - the  3rd commandment.

We worship and bow down and often unwittingly offer our children as literal sacrifices,

to the god of this world, in order to obtain by deception that which we have coveted.

                                                - the 2nd  commandment.

The things which we have created from oil,

or consume it, have become our illusionary idols, false gods.

                                                - the 1st  commandments

 

The following has been put together as a guide to enable you to get

a better picture of why the world is escalating daily into terrorism and outright world war,

and why our lives and the lives of our children are been sacrificed for the sake of petroleum.

 

What follows is a very brief summary of the products produced from oil.

The concept is just to give some facts by taking a quick look.

There is much more information to be found if one wanted to take the time to seek it out.

 

Petroleum literally means rock oil; oil that comes from rock.

 

Some medicines, such as penicillin, are made by organisms, but most are manufactured from chemicals, and many of these are made from petroleum products. Acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA, is the active ingredient in many of the well-known, over-the-counter pain relievers. ASA is manufactured from petrochemicals. One of the first uses of oil, dating back thousands of years, was as medicine. Other early uses included illumination and as a boat resin to help keep ships sea-worthy.

Back to "Everyday Uses of Oil"

 

 

You will probably be surprised to know that a plastic bottle is made from the same petrochemical as the fiber we call polyester!

All plastic products, many of the materials used to make the clothes you wear, or the carpet you walk on, plus hundreds of the other products we take for granted, are made from petrochemicals. As the name implies, a main ingredient in petrochemicals is oil.

 

 

Petroleum Products

 

  • artificial limbs
  • bags (garbage bags, shopping bags)
  • balloons
  • bandaids
  • candles
  • clothing (polyester, nylon)
  • combs
  • computers, calculators
  • crayons
  • credit cards
  • dishwashing liquids
  • disposable diapers
  • eye glasses, sunglasses
  • fertilizers
  • fishing rods
  • flooring (linoleum, tiles, carpets)
  • garden hose
  • hand lotion, cream, petroleum jelly
  • helmets (bicycle, hockey, etc.)
  • heart valves
  • helmets (bicycle, hockey, etc.)
  • insect repellent
  • insecticides
  • life jackets
  • milk jugs

·  paint brushes

·  panty hose

·  parachutes

·  patio furniture

·  pens

·  perfume

·  rope (nylon)

·  safety glass

·  shampoo

·  shower curtains, shower doors

·  soft contact lenses

·  soft drink bottles, plastic bottles

·  tape (clear, masking, etc.)

·  tapes - cassettes, vcr tapes

·  telephones

·  tennis rackets

·  tents

·  toys, dolls, model cars

·  tires (synthetic rubber)

·  toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes

·  trash bags

·  tv cabinets

·  umbrellas

·  unbreakable dishes

·  waterproof jackets, boots, pants



*** OIL (PETROLEUM) ***

*** MINERAL RESOURCES ***

 

In the 1940s the development of synthetic materials (such as nylon and polythene)

made from oil brought the arrival of the plastics industry - based on oil and gas as feedstocks.

CRUDE OIL IS MADE INTO DIFFERENT FUELS

Products Made from a Barrel of Crude Oil
                              (Gallons)

An image with the breakout of petroluem products: asphalt - 3 percent, jet fuel - 9%, propane - 6%, other products - 20%, heating oil and diesel fuel - 19%, gasoline 43 percent,After crude oil is removed from the ground, it is sent to a refinery by pipeline, ship or barge.  At a refinery, different parts of the crude oil are separated into useable petroleum products.  Crude oil is measured in barrels (abbreviated "bbls").  A 42-U.S. gallon barrel of crude oil provides slightly more than 44 gallons of petroleum products.  This gain from processing the crude oil is similar to what happens to popcorn, it gets bigger after it is popped.



An image of a typical refinery process flow diagram. Click on it to get a large version.





     note: The gain from processing is about 5%.

One barrel of crude oil, when refined, produces about 20 gallons of finished motor gasoline, and 7 gallons of diesel, as well as other petroleum products.  Most of the petroleum products are used to produce energy.  For instance, many people across the United States use propane to heat their homes and fuel their cars.  Other products made from petroleum include: ink, crayons, bubble gum, dishwashing liquids, deodorant, eyeglasses, records, tires, ammonia, and heart valves. 






     

 

 

 

 

Refinery Output and Final Products

 

 

Refinery Yield Per Barrel of Oil

Final Products Made From Crude Oil

Gasoline

45.8 Percent

Ink

Cosmetics

Jet Fuel

10.7

Heart Valves

Sneakers

Liquefied Gases

3.6

Crayons

Bubble Gum

Kerosene

0.3

Parachutes

Car Bodies

Distillate

20.9

Telephones

Tires

Residual Fuel Oil

6.8

Brassieres

House Paint

Feedstocks

2.9

Tape

Ammonia

Special Napthas

0.4

Antiseptics

Eyeglasses

Lubricants

1.2

Purses

Life Jackets

Waxes

0.1

Deodorant

Fertilizers

Coke

3.9

Panty Hose

Movie Film

Asphalt

3.2

Shoes

Loudspeakers

Still Gas

4.8

Volleyballs

Basketballs

Miscellaneous

0.5

Tape

Combs

Shortage (gain*)

-4.9

Floor Wax

Gasoline

*The final total product of a refined barrel of crude oil may exceed 1 barrel, since some of the lighter liquids are in a near gaseous state and accordingly take up more volume.

This list is only a sampling of the products made from crude oil. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. Rather it is meant to show in just how many areas products made from crude oil are found and used.

 

You will notice that the list gets bigger and bigger.

 

 

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Products Made From Oil

Clothing Ink
Heart Valves
Crayons
Parachutes
Telephones
Enamel
Transparent tape
Antiseptics
Vacuum bottles
Deodorant
Pantyhose
Rubbing Alcohol
Carpets
Epoxy paint
Oil filters
Upholstery
Hearing Aids
Car sound insulation
Cassettes
Motorcycle helmets
Pillows
Shower doors
Shoes
Refrigerator linings
Electrical tape
Safety glass
Awnings
Salad bowl
Rubber cement
Nylon rope
Ice buckets
Fertilizers
Hair coloring
Toilet seats
Denture adhesive
Loudspeakers
Movie film
Fishing boots
Candles
Water pipes
Car enamel
Shower curtains
Credit cards
Aspirin
Golf balls
Detergents
Sunglasses
Glue
Fishing rods
Linoleum
Plastic wood
Soft contact lenses
Trash bags
Hand lotion
Shampoo
Shaving cream
Footballs
Paint brushes
Balloons
Fan belts
Umbrellas
Paint Rollers
Luggage
Antifreeze

Model cars
Floor wax
Sports car bodies
Tires
Dishwashing liquids
Unbreakable dishes
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Combs
Tents
Hair curlers
Lipstick
Ice cube trays
Electric blankets
Tennis rackets
Drinking cups
House paint
Rollerskates wheels
Guitar strings
Ammonia
Eyeglasses
Ice chests
Life jackets
TV cabinets
Car battery cases
Insect repellent
Refrigerants
Typewriter ribbons
Cold cream
Glycerin
Plywood adhesive
Cameras
Anesthetics
Artificial turf
Artificial Limbs
Bandages
Dentures
Mops
Beach Umbrellas
Ballpoint pens
Boats
Nail polish
Golf bags
Caulking
Tape recorders
Curtains
Vitamin capsules
Dashboards
Putty
Percolators
Skis
Insecticides
Fishing lures
Perfumes
Shoe polish
Petroleum jelly
Faucet washers
Food preservatives
Antihistamines
Cortisone
Dyes
LP records
Solvents
Roofing

 

 

Oil is one of the most important raw materials we have. It has been used for thousands of years. Nowadays, we used lots of things made from oil.

 

 

Jet taking off

Aeroplane jet engines burn kerosene to make them run. A Boeing 747 burns about 5 tonnes of fuel to take off and over 100 tonnes to fly across the Atlantic.

An oil refinery changes oil into useful products. These include:

  • fuels for transport - like petrol
  • grease that is turned into candle wax
  • bitumen for road surfaces
  • useful chemicals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These chemicals can be made into lots of different things like:

 

  • plastic
  • man-made fibres (like nylon and polyester)
  • washing powders
  • farming chemicals.

 

 

 

Using fertiliser

Pesticides are made from oil.

Corresponding Index Entries

324110

324110

2911

Acid oils made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Aliphatic chemicals (i.e., acyclic) made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Alkylates made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Asphalt and asphaltic materials made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Asphalt paving mixtures made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Aviation fuels manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Benzene made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Butylene (i.e., butene) made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Coke, petroleum, made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Crude oil refining

324110

324110

2911

Crude petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Cumene made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Diesel fuels manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Ethylene made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Fuel oils manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Fuels, jet, manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Gasoline made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Heating oils made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Hydraulic fluids made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Jet fuels manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Kerosene manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) made in refineries

324110

324110

2911

Lubricating oils and greases made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Naphtha made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Naphthenic acids made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Oil (i.e., petroleum) refineries

324110

324110

2911

Oil additives made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Oils, fuel, manufacturing

324110

324110

2911

Paraffin waxes made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Petrochemical feedstocks made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Petrochemicals made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Petroleum coke made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Petroleum cracking and reforming

324110

324110

2911

Petroleum distillation

324110

324110

2911

Petroleum jelly made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Petroleum lubricating oils made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Propane gases made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Propylene (i.e., propene) made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Refineries, petroleum

324110

324110

2911

Refinery gases made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Road oils made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Solvents made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Still gases made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Styrene made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Tar made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Toluene made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Waxes, petroleum, made in petroleum refineries

324110

324110

2911

Xylene made in petroleum refineries


Artificial fragrances
Artificial fragrances can be made from petroleum. Many do not degrade in the environment, and may have toxic effects on both fish and mammals. Additionally, they often can cause allergies and skin or eye irritation.

Artificial colors
Artificial colors can be made from petroleum, though some are made from coal. Many do not degrade in the environment and also have toxic effects on both fish and mammals. They do not serve any useful purpose. Additionally, they often can cause allergies and skin or eye irritation.

Methanol
(also methyl alcohol) A solvent derived from wood, natural gas, or petroleum, methanol is acutely toxic and can cause blindness.

Found in: Conventional glass cleaners.

Petroleum distillates
(also naphthas)
A broad category encompassing almost every type of chemical obtained directly from the petroleum refining process. Any ingredient listed as a "petroleum distillate" or "naphtha" should be suspect as it is, firstly a synthetic and, secondly, likely to cause one or more detrimental health or environmental effect.

Surfactants
A general term for Surface Active Agents. It is the term used to describe the active cleaning agents in a product. Conventional products use synthetic surfactants often derived from petroleum.

Found in: Conventional laundry products, all-purpose cleaners, dish detergent and dish liquids, and other common cleaning products.

 

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Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate/Tetrasodium pyrophosphate
Basic phosphates (tetrasodium being the more common of the two) used to reduce water hardness. (See phosphates above)

Found in: Conventional laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners.

Trichloroethane
(also methyltrichloromethane, TCA, methyl chloroform, chloroethane) A chlorinated solvent used for cleaning and degreasing, it is known to contribute to depletion of stratospheric ozone and will be phased out by the end of 2002. Trichloroethane is listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant and is on the EPA's Community Right-to-Know list.

Triethanolamine
(See diethanolamine)

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Xylene sulfonate
Xylene is a synthetic that, when reacted with sulfuric acid, creates a surfactant. Slow to biodegrade in the environment and moderately toxic.

Found in: Conventional laundry products, all-purpose cleaners, dish detergent.

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http://www.seventhgeneration.com/site/pp.asp?c=coIHKTMHF&b=83960

 

Ecology Center

The True Costs of Petroleum: Body Map

  Introduction  •  World Map  •  Community Map  •  House Map  •  Body Map  

Download a PDF version [400KB]

Petrochemicals and their byproducts, such as dioxin, are known to cause an array of serious health problems, including cancers and endocrine disruption. Of the more than 75,000 chemicals registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, only a fraction have gone through complete testing to find out whether they might cause problems for human health. Many that are produced in enormous quantities have never been tested at all. Usually, it takes dramatic episodes of workplace injuries or wildlife poisonings, combined with rigorous scientific proof of harm and public outcry, before the government will act to restrict or ban any chemical. And that is no accident. The current regulatory system allows synthetic chemicals into our lives unless proven beyond doubt to be dangerous.

Low and Poor Sperm Quality in MenTampons and Sanitary PadsHormone Function and Endocrine DisruptionFetal DevelopmentBody FatClothingLungsBreast CancerBreast MilkLotions, Sunscreens, and Body Care ProductsSoapsLearning DisabilitiesHair ProductsCosmeticsToothpastePetrochemicals and FoodPerfume and AftershaveBody Map


Terms

Dioxins are not intentionally manufactured. They are unintentionally formed as byproducts of chemical processes involving chlorine, such as the manufacture of pesticides and the bleaching of paper. The manufacture and incineration of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC, commonly used in consumer product packaging and medical devices) is another major source of dioxin. Two of the most serious health effects of dioxin exposure are cancer and endocrine disruption.

The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulate many of the body's functions including growth, development, and maturation, and the way various organs operate. The endocrine glands –- including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, and testes – release carefully-measured amounts of hormones into the bloodstream that act as natural chemical messengers, traveling to different parts of the body in order to control and adjust many life functions.

An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that, when absorbed into the body, either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body's normal functions. This disruption can happen through altering normal hormone levels, halting or stimulating the production of hormones, or changing the way hormones travel through the body, thus affecting the functions that these hormones control. Because endocrine disruptors affect the development of the body's vital organs and hormonal systems, infants, children, and developing fetuses are more vulnerable to exposure.

Exposure to endocrine disruptors can occur through direct contact with pesticides and other chemicals or through ingestion of contaminated water, food, or air. Dioxin is one known endocrine disruptor and there are others: diethylstilbesterol (the drug DES), PCBs, DDT, and some other pesticides. Many chemicals, particularly pesticides and plasticizers, are suspected endocrine disruptors based on animal studies. Chemicals suspected of acting as endocrine disruptors are found in insecticides, herbicides, fumigants, and fungicides that are used in agriculture as well as in the home. Industrial workers can be exposed to chemicals such as detergents, resins, and plasticizers with endocrine-disrupting properties. Endocrine disruptors also enter the air or water as byproducts of many chemical and manufacturing processes, and when plastics and other materials are burned. Further, National Institute of Health studies have found that endocrine disruptors can leach out of plastics, including the type of plastic used to make hospital intravenous bags (PVC.) Many endocrine disruptors are persistent in the environment and accumulate in fat, so exposures can also come from eating fatty foods and fish from contaminated water. (Visit www.mindfully.org.)

Pthalates are a particular group of petrochemicals that are known to have endocrine disrupting properties. Pthalates are used to make rigid plastics soft and pliable and are also commonly added to cosmetics. Pthalates are linked to elevated rates of endocrine disruption and are possibly carcinogenic. A Centers for Disease Control report found alarming rates of pthalates in urine and blood samples. Some common pthalates and the items in which they are used include:

Di-ethyl phthalate (DEP): Toothbrushes, auto parts, tools, toys, food packaging, insecticides, mosquito repellents, aspirin, and volatile components of cosmetics – perfumes, nail polishes, and hair sprays.

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP): Cellulose plastics, solvents for dyes, solvents for cosmetics (i.e., nail polish), food wrap, perfumes, skin emollients, hair spray, insect repellents.

Benzyl butyl phthalate: Plasticizers in adhesives, PVC flooring, wood finishes, tampon packaging.

What is the Precautionary Principle? The majority of the more than 2,000 chemicals that come onto the market every year are not subjected to even the simplest tests to determine toxicity. In addition, the ways that these chemicals react with each other and with our bodies is even less studied. A better way to create public policy is by using the Precautionary Principle as a guide to protect us and the environment from harm:

When an activity (or product) raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context, the proponents of an activity (the product manufacturer), rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof (to prove that the product is safe). The process of applying the Precautionary Principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties (the public and consumers).

Map Key

1. Petrochemicals and Food:

Pesticides — One way we ingest petrochemicals in food is from pesticides. Many widely used pesticides are classified by the EPA as probable or possible causes of cancer in humans; and many are known to cause damage to the nervous, reproductive and immune systems in laboratory animals. EPA pesticide regulations do not take into consideration potential chronic health effects from low-level exposures that do not cause immediate and obvious harm. The EPA also ignores potential combined effects from exposure to more than one chemical at a time. Current regulations do not consider exposure to vulnerable populations such as children and the immune-compromised. Dairy products, apples, bananas, broccoli, cantaloupes, and carrots have among the highest rates of petrochemical residues and are foods commonly consumed by children, who are particularly sensitive to pesticides. The alternative? Support organic, pesticide-free food production.

Plastics — An advertisement for the American Plastic Council calls plastic “an important part of your healthy diet,” noting, “ you could think of them as the sixth basic food group.” Yum! How true this is when you take into account the fact that plastics tend to migrate into food, especially meats, cheeses, and other fatty foods. More migration occurs if food is heated or microwaved in plastic containers. The safest bet is to avoid food sold or stored in plastic, especially plastic wraps, PVC, and polystyrene foam. Source: www.mindfully.org.

Meat and Dairy Products — Chemicals from the petroleum manufacturing process enter our bodies through the foods we eat, especially meat and dairy products. Chemicals such as pesticides and antibiotics tend to accumulte in milk and in animal flesh. Another way in which we ingest petrochemicals and dioxins is less obvious: The manufacture and incineration of PVC (polyvinylchloride, #3) creates and disperses dioxins into the air and water. From there, they enter the food chain and accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals.

Food as defense – Diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, which contain high levels of vitamins and anti-oxidants, help the body combat the effects of petrochemicals. Help counterbalance the effects of petroleum in your body and world by visiting local farmers’ markets to get your recommended 5 servings a day of fresh fruits and veggies. Plus, consider becoming a vegan and growing your own pesticide-free food instead!

2. Toothpaste — Many toothpastes include ingredients made from petroleum, such as artificial colors and mineral oil. Baking soda or natural toothpaste is a better choice.

3. Cosmetics — Petrochemicals are very prevalent in cosmetics. Examples include lip gloss, which is commonly made from petroleum oil, and nail polish, which contains petroleum-derived solvents such as toluene. Many cosmetics on the market contain harmful phthalates. The Environmental Working Group’s interactive website lists cosmetics by brand name and the hazardous ingredients contained in them. Visit it at www.ewg.org/cosmetics.

4. Hair Products — Hair mousse, gels, and sprays commonly contain endocrine-disrupting pthalates. Synthetic hair dyes include petroleum-derived coloring chemicals as well as other harmful ingredients such as ammonia and lead. Synthetic hair dyes are known to penetrate skin and to cause cancer in laboratory animals. To avoid warning labels about carcinogenic effects, manufacturers slightly reformulate their products by removing the carcinogen and replacing it, quite legally, with another chemical that is just as dangerous. Henna, derived from plants, is a safe alternative that has been used for centuries in Egypt and the Middle East.

5. Learning Disabilities — In a study in Mexico, pesticide-exposed children were less proficient at catching a ball, which is reflective of poor eye-hand coordination. They had lower stamina levels, more trouble remembering things, and were less able to draw accurate drawings of people. This study is one of many documenting the negative effects of petroleum products on the brain. However the overall effects of exposure to pesticides, plastics, and air pollution remain largely unstudied.

6. Perfume and Aftershave — These usually consist of a combination of chemicals, solvents, and natural essential oils in a base of alcohol, which can include toluene, ketone, and other hazardous substances. Approximately 95% of the ingredients in perfumes are derived from petrochemicals. Little scientific study has been done on the health effects of scented products, but generally they are recognized as highly allergenic and are notorious for causing skin irritation, headaches, and nausea. Try natural, essential oils instead.

7. Soaps — Many soaps contain petroleum-derived synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and mineral oil that may cause skin rashes and other allergic reactions. Instead, look for vegetable oil-based soaps without artificial fragrances.

8. Lotions, Sunscreens, and Body Care Products – Many body care products contain pthalates such as DEHP and DBP. In animals, both DEHP and DBP are toxic to the liver, kidneys, testes, and the nervous system. DBP is used extensively in perfumes, nail polishes, lotions, and hair sprays. High levels of exposure have been found in women of reproductive age. Ironically, some sunblocks contain suspected carcinogens, including diethanolamine and related ingredients (DEA, TEA), padimate-o, and titanium dioxide. Other ingredients are suspected endocrine disrupters: benzophenone (oxybenzone), homosalate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), and the parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, propyl-). Moreover, sunscreens can contain chemicals associated with skin irritation and rashes, including avobenzone (parsol 1789), benzophenone, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid). Not only are these chemicals potentially bad for you, they're bad for the environment. Diethanolamine has been found in waterways around the country, posing a threat to animals and humans. According to the National Toxicology Program, benzophenone has been found in surface water, groundwater, soil, and air, and may affect the liver and bone marrow of animals ingesting large amounts of contaminated water. This and other endocrine disruptors in sunblocks can also enter the water system when we swim or bathe, eventually winding up in fish, amphibians, and marine wildlife, and posing a threat to the animals' reproductive cycles. Source: Grist Magazine, Environmental Working Group.

9. Breast Milk — If breast milk from American women were bottled and sold commercially, it would be banned by the US Food and Drug Administration because it is contaminated with more than 100 industrial chemicals, including dioxins and pesticides. Despite the presence of toxic chemicals in human milk, breast feeding is a highly desirable practice. Breast feeding gives an infant immunity against gastrointestinal diseases and respiratory infections; it may also offer protection against food allergies. Furthermore, the alternatives (prepared formulas) are even less healthy. Source: Rachel’s Hazardous Waste News #193.

10. Breast Cancer — Over the last 20 years, breast cancer alone has claimed more American lives than the Vietnam war , the Korean war, World War I, and World War II combined. Cancer mortality has risen from 5% of American deaths a hundred years ago to 25% today. Overall lifetime cancer rates for Americans have risen from one in four people in 1960 to 1 in 2 for men and more than 1 in 3 for women. When so many petroleum products and derivatives are known carcinogens, it’s hard not to see a connection.

11. Lungs — Every year over 5,500 people in the US die from asthma. Children are particularly susceptible. Asthma, like many environmental health problems, disproportionately affects minority and low-income communities; rates are more than 21% higher among African-Americans than among whites. And the incidence of the disease is doubling every ten to fifteen years. This rise can be traced to increased environmental pollution, from both household sources and industrial and motor vehicle pollution. An extensive body of studies has found strong associations between asthma and other respiratory health concerns and direct exposure to motor vehicle pollution resulting from residing or attending school near major roads with high traffic levels. Also implicated are the plastics and other petroleum products used in homes and buildings, such as carpeting and insulation. The “outgassing” of plastics used in building products creates serious indoor air quality issues which are known to cause increases in asthma and other serious allergic reactions. Source: Environmental Health Perspectives.

12. Clothing — Clothing made from synthetic fibers such as acrylic, nylon, and polyester, and coated with formaldehyde finishes, will continuously give off minute plastic vapors as the fabric is warmed against your skins (outgas), causing unknown effects as well as known ones: commonly allergies and breathing troubles. Cotton grown for clothing uses enormous amounts of pesticides and petrochemicals and may be just as hazardous to wear as synthetics. Try picking clothing made from organic cotton, hemp, or tensel, as well as purchasing reused clothing, which may outgas less.

13. Body Fat — Petrochemicals tend to accumulate in body fat. The most notorious petrochemical in body fat is polystyrene; studies have shown that virtually all people in the United States carry polystyrene in their body fat. The International Agency for the Research on Cancer has classified styrene as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

14. Fetal Development — The petrochemicals that are so pervasive in our environment have especially adverse effects on rapidly growing fetuses and infants. Laboratory animals exposed prenatlly to one form of dioxin displayed physical deformities, retarded growth, and changes in physiology. Adverse effects on learning and behavior were also evident.

15. Hormone Function and Endocrine Disruption — Many plastics and other petroleum products mimic the effects of natural hormones in the body, disrupting normal hormone function. Many of the most studied synthetic hormone disruptors are known as xenoestrogens, because they mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Xenoestrogens come from factories, not food. But they wind up in food because they get into the environment, where toxic organic pollutants like DDT can persist for more than 50 years. Even pesticides banned in the US can wend their way back to our homes by way of imported fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Xenoestrogens can also be encountered in items of everyday use - gasoline, weed killers, even some plastics.

16. Tampons and Sanitary Pads – Commonly made from synthetic fibers derived from petroleum, tampons and pads can outgas harmful chemicals and because they’re also usually bleached, they contain dioxins. Traces of the dioxin TCDD – possibly the most toxic chemical ever produced - has been found in tampons and is a known carcinogen. It’s also known to cause birth defects and sterility as well as liver damage and suppression of the immune system. Plus, it can be absorbed easily through the skin. The alternative: For thousands of years women have used rags. Today’s alternatives also include organic, bleach-free cotton tampons and natural latex “Keepers.” Source: Home Safe Home

17. Low and Poor Sperm Quality in Men — Men exposed to pesticides commonly used on crops are far more likely to have defective sperm and low sperm counts than men who are not exposed. This is even true for men who do not work on or live next to farms but are likeley exposed to pesticides in drinking water. Source: Environmental Health Perspectives.

Sources / Resources

Rachel’s Environment and Health News, www.rachel.org
Environmental Health Perspectives, http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/
Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org
Health Care Without Harm, www.hcwh.org
Home Safe Home, Debra Lynn Dadd, (Penguin Putnam, 1997)
Women’s Cancer Resource Center, www.wcrc.org
www.mindfully.org (extensive information on health and toxics)

Updated July, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only way out of our dilemmas is Jesus Christ.

         He is the only way of escape.

                 Praise the Lord.

          Come soon Lord Jesus.

                         Amen.

    

 

 Messages By Peter James

(Bible Explanations, Messages of Life, Hope & Encouragement)