By Jenny Phillips and Chloe Schwabe
Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics
July 08, 2009
They weren’t the results Rev. Jim Antal expected when he participated in the Is It In Us study, which tested the levels of dangerous toxics in the blood of typical north Americans. The fifty-eight year old minister and president of the United Church of Christ, Massachusetts Conference, is a vegetarian and an avid cyclist. He learned that he has been exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals, including phthalates, brominated flame retardants, and Bisphenol-A. These chemicals are used in everyday objects like fragrances, textiles, furniture, cosmetics and water bottles despite research showing that concentrated levels can create significant health risks. “I expected that because I have a healthy lifestyle the levels in my body would be lower,” said Antal. “Now, I’m wondering if the water bottle on my bike, or other things I thought were safe, are actually causing harm.” Concerns like these have prompted the National Council of Churches to address environmental health issues.
Toxic Legacies
Synthetic chemicals are pervasive in our modern lives—throughout our homes, schools, and churches. Overall, there are 82,000 chemicals approved for use in the United States. In 1976, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) grandfathered in 62,000 chemicals without safety testing. Since then, a mere 200 of these chemicals have been tested and only five banned from use. Scientists have found considerable evidence that many more are not as safe as we thought. Though invisible, toxic chemicals are in everyday items from plastic bottles to personal care products and even food. Synthetic chemicals and heavy metals in consumer products, building materials, cleaners, and plastics are contributing to an unprecedented incidence of illness and disease ranging from asthma to cancer. Some areas of concern are:
- Chemicals in Consumer Products: Ingredients in plastics, including Bisphenol-A, dioxins, formaldehyde and phthalates have been linked to a variety of significant harms to human health not limited to hormone disruption, respiratory ailments, cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities, and type II diabetes. These toxics are present in many consumer products.
- Mercury: The main sources of mercury are coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, and industrial boilers. Human exposure comes primarily through consumption of fish. Associated health affects include birth defects, heart disease and nervous system disorders.
- Ingredients in Personal Care Products: Personal care products such as shampoo, cologne, makeup, and hair “relaxers” have been found to contain reproductive toxics, neurotoxins, cancer causing chemicals, and hormone mimics linked to obesity.
Protecting the Body of Christ
Christians must speak out about dangerous environmental toxics on behalf of the whole body of Christ, according to Cassandra Carmichael, Director of Eco-Justice Programs for the National Council of Churches. “The health impacts of toxic chemicals effect the most vulnerable among us—children, the elderly, low-income communities, and people of color,” said Carmichael. “As followers of Christ, we are called to be active healers.” Carmichael recommends that people of faith be mindful of the products they use, and call upon government to mandate better regulation. In some cases, elimination of harmful toxics from industrial processes and consumer products is needed. The National Council of Churches has launched an environmental health program to educate Christians about toxic chemicals and pollution and to provide resources for toxic-free living. (http://nccecojustice.org/envhealthhome.htm)
The Council’s Eco-Justice Working Group hosted its Mindful Living Conference in October 2008, which focused on environmental health. Attendees left with tools for educating their communities and delivering a prophetic Christian witness to legislators which calls for justice for Creation and vulnerable human populations.
Faith in Action
Churches are actively responding to the call to protect human health and the health of God’s Creation with education and advocacy programs. Across the nation, congregations are hosting Green Cleaning Gatherings and Mindful Living Gatherings to learn more about this issue by using free downloadable toolkits from the National Council of Churches.
The NCC is also partnering with state councils of churches and interfaith organizations in Maine, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Michigan, Washington, and Connecticut, to offer presentations in local churches and provide opportunities for congregations to advocate for chemical policy reform and stronger safety standards. This advocacy work is an expression of faith, according to LeeAnne Beres, a United Church of Christ congregant and Executive Director of Earth Ministry in Seattle, WA. “As people of faith, we are called to care for ‘the least of these’,” she said. “We are working to eliminate toxics in children’s toys and products that are used disproportionately by women and communities of color to ensure a healthy future both for people and the planet.”
Faith-based advocacy on toxics is having an effect. In 2008, Washington, California, and Maine passed comprehensive chemical policies to regulate chemicals at the state level. Legislatures in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and Oregon are just some of the states considering comprehensive chemical bills in 2009.
Other states are taking steps to ban the chemical bisphenol-a (BPA) found in baby bottles, formula cans, and food cans. Scientists discovered that even at low levels this chemical is linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, type II diabetes, cancer, and early puberty in girls. In all, nineteen states have introduced bills to ban BPA. Faith groups have been an important part of this movement. Julie Erickson, director of public policy for the Baltimore Presbytery, testified in support of a BPA ban under consideration in the Maryland state legislature the past two years. Reverend Chris Morton of the Minnesota Council of Churches testified in favor of a state ban in April.
Public witness and outrage led Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) to introduce legislation in Congress that will establish a federal ban on BPA in all food and beverage containers. The voices of people of faith will be important to the success of this bill.
Green Knowledge is Power
Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics is a new, faith-based guide from the National Council of Churches that teaches about environmental health issues and equips faith communities to protect themselves and advocate for the elimination of toxics. It includes basic information on toxic chemicals as well as a Biblical and theological framework for eco-justice and advocacy. Sermon starters, bulletin inserts, and ideas for youth activities and personal action are also included. It is partnered with the Mindful Living Gathering Guide, which provides a simple step by step process to help concerned Christians to facilitate an adult education session on environmental health as a faith issue.
Jesse Turner, a United Methodist medical student at Emory University and a 2007 NCC Young Adult Eco-Justice Fellow, is excited about the Mindful Living resource. Growing up in the Appalachia region, he witnessed the human health impacts of environmental toxics released by mountaintop removal and saw a connection to social justice: “Over time I realized that people with power were making dangerous decisions—sometimes willingly and sometimes unknowingly—and that poor people were bearing the brunt of those decisions.” Turner sees great potential in the Mindful Living resources and the advocacy they will inspire because, “good, lasting policy comes out of values, and there is much to be gained in having religious voices speaking out for the health of all people.”
Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics and the Mindful Living Gathering Guide are excellent resources for learning about environmental health issues and equipping faith communities to protect themselves and advocate for the elimination of dangerous toxics. To get your free copies of these Mindful Living resources, and to learn more about the issues and opportunities for advocacy, please visit www.nccecojustice.org/envhealthhome.htm.