Slow Death by Rubber Duck

By Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie with sarah Dopp. I read this book based on article by Jeremey Grantham. Other books in this series are Our Stolen Future and Silent Spring .

The toxins are too widespread. The sources of contamination are so numerous that no precaution taken by an individual will work completely. The below is a short guide to act at a personal level.

Action Items:

Phthalates

  • Avoid personal care products with heavy artificial fragrances, especially those with “Fragrance” or “Parfum” listed as an ingredient.
  • Take down that smelly PVC shower curtain and replace it with one made of recycled polyester or natural fibres.
  • Unplug your air fresheners. Many air fresheners contain phthalates. Baking soda is a natural alternative that can be used to absorb bad odours.
  • Be careful about toys. Many used to contain these as mostly these are banned already in western hemisphere.
  • Reduce your consumption of fatty foods, as these chemicals easily stick to fats.

Perfluorochemicals

Nonstickies

  • Avoid nonstick altogether. Instead use cast iron with oil or stainless steel.
  • Dump that old nonstick frying pan. Especially if it’s scratched.
  • Go easy on the grease. Avoid too much fast food—that hamburger, pizza or microwavable popcorn packaging may be coated with PFCs.
  • Avoid Teflon based clothes and all derived synthetic-fibres.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

Used as flame retardant coating.

  • Use naturally fibred products—like wool, hemp and cotton. They are chemical free and naturally fire resistant.
  • Dust and vacuum often to keep the dust and PBDEs away.

Mercury

  • Eat fewer big fish and more smaller fish. Avoid large predatory fish.

Triclosan

  • Avoid products labelled “antibacterial” that contain triclosan, and be wary of brand names such as Microban, Biofresh, Irgasan DP 300, Lexol 300, Ster-Zac, or Cloxi -fer molum. Triclosan is sometimes labelled by its chemical name 5-chloro–2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol.
  • Wash your hands the “old-fashioned” way, with a good 30-second lather of soap and water.
  • Reach for baking soda, borax or other natural household cleaners to clean the bathroom or kitchen.
  • Avoid products containing nanosilver and be wary of other nanoparticles, such as nanozinc (which is found in many sunscreens). Demand that these chemicals undergo safety testing prior to being used in products.

Pesticides

  • Go natural with chemical-free lawns.

Bisphenol A

  • When puzzling over the small recycling numbers on the bottom of plastic containers, remember this mantra: 4, 5, 1 and 2; all the rest are bad for you.
  • Avoid putting plastic containers in the microwave.

Guide to Plastic Recycling Symbols

Recycling Symbol Plastic Type and Description

1 PETE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE

Soda-pop bottles, water bottles, peanut butter jars, cooking-oil bottles, oven-ready & microwavable meal trays, detergent containers. Also used in textiles, carpet & mouldings. (A relatively safe plastic, designed for single use.)

2 HDPE HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

Milk, juice & water jugs, detergent bottles, plastic bags, yogourt cups, shampoo bottles, cereal box liners. It’s also used in piping, injection moulding, wire & cable coverings. (A relatively safe plastic, for use as food and drink containers.)

3 V POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

Water bottles, detergent & shampoo containers, cooking-oil bottles, mouthwash bottles, take-out containers, plastic wrap. It’s also used in toys, piping, siding, flooring & building materials. (Avoid: May contain and/or leach a potpourri of chemicals, including bisphenol A, lead, phthalates, dioxins, mercury & cadmium. Associated with carcinogens, hormone disruptors & adverse health effects.)

4 LDPE LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

Grocery bags, container lids, plastic wrap, garbage bags, food-storage containers, coating for paper milk cartons, hot & cold drink cups, frozen-food packaging, squeezable bottles. Also used in injection moulding, wires & cable covering. (A relatively safe plastic, for use as food and drink containers.)

5 PP POLYPROPYLENE

Margarine, yogourt, syrup & other food containers, some Rubbermaid, deli & take-out containers, drinking straws, clouded plastic containers, bottle caps, medicine bottles. Also in fibres, appliances, automotive parts & carpeting. (A relatively safe plastic, for use as food and drink containers.)

6 PS POLYSTYRENE

Disposable cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, take-out containers, yogourt containers, meat trays, plastic egg cartons, foam food containers. Also used in foam packing materials, Aspirin bottles, toys, CD cases, electronic housings, insulation, coat hangers & medical products. (Avoid: Can leach styrene, a brain & nervous system toxicant, associated with adverse effects on red blood cells, liver, kidneys & stomach in animal studies. Styrene is also in second-hand smoke, car exhaust fumes, drinking water & off-gassing of building materials.)

7 PC or POLYCARBONATE OR OTHER Other

These plastics are often labelled as “other” but include polycarbonate or a combination of various resins. Three- and five-gallon water bottles, milk jugs, baby bottles, sippy cups, reusable water bottles, citrus juice bottles, the lining of tin cans, oven-baking bags. Also used in custom packaging, dental sealants, pop cans, eyewear, CDs, snowboards & car parts.

(Avoid: Polycarbonate plastic is made with bisphenol A, which can leach from the polycarbonate plastic, especially when heated. Bisphenol A is a hormone disruptor, linked to early onset of puberty, obesity, recurrent miscarriages and decreased sperm count, and it is associated with breast & prostate cancers.)

© Prabu Anand K 2020-2026