BP and Other Toxic Messes

This morning I was checking the local weather on The Weather Channel. Before the Weather on the Eights they did a brief story on the mess BP is creating in the Gulf of Mexico. Not the cheeriest of news to start the day I must say. That story was followed by a couple of commercials. The first commercial was for Minwax and the second one was for Liquid Fence. Hmmm. Everybody is pissed off, and rightly so, about the crimes against nature being perpetrated by the BP folks and then we’re asked to buy 2 perfectly lovely products that are also contributing to the toxic stew in and around our homes.

The Minwax commercial has a handsome man finishing a piece of furniture and he is explaining how easy it is with Minwax. Here’s some data from the Minwax MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet):

“Hazard And Precautions: COMBUSTIBLE. ACUTE: IRRITATION OF EYES, SKIN & RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. MAY CAUSE NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSION. EXTREME OVEREXPOSURE MAY RESULT IN UNCONSCIOUSNESS & POSSIBLY DEATH. HEADACHE, DIZZINESS, NAUSEA & LOSS OF COORDINATION ARE INDICATIONS OF EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO VAPORS OR SPRAY MISTS. REDNESS & ITCHING OR BURNING SENSATION MAY INDICATE EYE OR EXCESSIVE SKIN EXPOSURE. CHRONIC: CANCER HAZARD. CONTAINS COBALT NAPHTHENATE WHICH IS LISTED AS AN ANIMAL LUNG CARCINOGEN (FP N). RE PORTS HAVE ASSOCIATED REPEATED AND PROLONGED SOLVENT OVEREXPOSURE WITH PERMANENT BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE.”

And then we have a commercial with a grumpy guy grousing about the fact that deer are eating his plants in his garden. No problem, just spray Liquid Fence all over your stuff and the deer won’t bother them any more. Smart deer. Here’s what the label for Liquid Fence says:

“CAUTIONARY INFORMATION: This product may be harmful if swallowed. Avoid contact with eyes. If contact with eyes occurs, immediately flush with plenty of water. Seek medical attention if either occurs.
STORAGE AND DISPOSAL: Do not contaminate water, food or feed by storage or disposal.
STORAGE: Store in original container, in a cool, dry area inaccessible to children and pets. Protect from heat and freezing. Store between 40° - 90°F. Keep containers closed tightly to prevent evaporation. If spillage occurs, dilute with water and flush away.
CONTAINER DISPOSAL: Do not reuse empty container. Dispose of empty container as required by municipal or local laws.”

Shouldn’t we be just as pissed off, or maybe even more so, by the manufacturers that candy coat their toxic products with slick advertising, as we are by the really big polluters? There are ways to avoid poisoning your environment. Learn what’s in the products marketed beautifully on TV. Just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean it’s safe to have around. The more we know about the products we bring home, the better for everyone.