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RVs AND PBDEs
- MANUFACTURERS SHOULD USE
MATERIALS THAT WILL NOT MAKE US
SICK
Toxic chemicals in our RVs
and a family run company that can
provide organic replacement
items. - by Judith Maywood
A study by the Ecology Center released in January 2006 found that PBDEs (toxic chemicals that are used as fire retardants)
and other chemicals used in vehicle manufacture are found in dangerous amounts in new vehicles. It talks about cars but
presumably is also applicable to new RVs. It seems to me that it is more relevant with RVs because we spend more time in them
- we don't sleep overnight in our
cars (at least not since my
college years.)
I think we should demand from the RV manufacturers that they should show an awareness and a willingness to utilize materials
that will not make us sick. |
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I am particularly please to see Roaming Times promoting "ANaturalHome" (see ad on this page.) This company is a family run
corporation that is dedicated to bringing quality eco-friendly organic cotton, wool and natural latex products to the
marketplace. They make PBDE FREE
mattresses and other natural products.
For most of my life, since my late teens, I became aware of cause and effect regarding one’s health. Expressions like: you
are what you eat, or work smart and play hard, or smoking is bad for your health, and later I heard my own admonitions to my
kids, to brush their teeth, not to eat much candy – etc. How boring is sounds – but the beat goes on – we do have to be
aware of cause and effect and take control and actions whenever we can.
Now they are saying that PBDEs, the chemicals used for the last 30 years to make fabrics and materials flame
retardant, is bad for your health and your offspring! I am asking myself why so many kids are autistic, are ADD, and
generally unfocused and hyper? – is it our culture? Probably, but also – our environment. We breathe and eat chemicals that
were produced to help us – but unfortunately it can often harm us and this takes time to show-up.
I did some research and found that PBDEs have been turning up in house and yard
dust, streams, and people’s bodies. There are
reports that relatively low-dose exposures to PBDEs in the womb of rats, can damage the offsprings reproductive and nervous
systems.
Governments are banning these chemicals. California passed a law to ban some of these compounds. IKEA the Swedish furniture
maker has eliminated these flame retardants from its products.
It is only sensible to try to reduce exposure to these harmful chemicals for ourselves and our families.
And to protect ourselves from the problems
in our RVs. Once we have become aware – we can be discerning regarding these harmful agents.
Check out ANaturalHome. They say: "Our mission is to provide organic products for the home that are durable, affordable, and
environmentally friendly. The simple goal is to create a line of organic and safe home accessories that are expertly made and
affordable -- and to manufacture them in a small community in Ohio. We do what we say, and we take full responsibility for
our actions."
Wow, that's great - the next thing is to insist RV manufacturers do the same - provide safe materials and take responsibility for
THEIR actions.
See the ANaturalHome
website.
Environmental
issues
RV Interiors
Are you alergic to
your RV?
Blog - things you
might like
Roaming
Times' RVs and RVing sections
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