Introduction: The purpose of this project is to research chemicals that are commonly used in household products (cleaning products, shampoos, conditioners, make-up, etc.) and find alternatives to those products.
Problem: People rely on products filled with malignant chemicals too much in their daily lives, while there are many simple alternative that are better for human health. These alternatives can be made with completely natural items that can easily be obtained at local stores.
Shifting Baseline: A shifting baseline is basically a change in human perception about a certain issue. When it comes to household products, there has been a very significant baseline shift. In ancient times, people used completely natural products for cleaning and improving human aesthetics and it was considered very normal. Overtime, however, more and more chemicals were put into these products, and the baseline continued to shift to accommodate the new ways. Now, a majority of household products are made in factories and include harmful chemicals and preservatives. Although most people do not think much about this, it is an extremely urgent issue.
Where This Problem Occurs: This issue is present everywhere. Nearly all homes contain products that can potentially harm the environment and most are given the opportunity to do so.
How This Problem Impacts the Environment: Although most products are filled with chemicals, not all are harmful and some are even made naturally. "Chemical" is a very vague term. The actual definition is "a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially." When most people think of chemicals, they assume they are harmful manmade liquids that you find in science labs. Although that is true to some point, there are many benign chemicals as well. In this project, however, we are focusing on malignant chemicals.
Short Term Impact:
Cost/Economic Impact of Solutions
Individual: The price of the materials, less jobs
Society: Less available jobs, many companies will become bankrupt, worse economy in the beginning
Positive Actions Being Taken Now
There are many people that are taking actions to make environmentally friendly products, that are not harmful towards the environment. More people are being educated about these problems and are making changes in the products they use.
Problem: People rely on products filled with malignant chemicals too much in their daily lives, while there are many simple alternative that are better for human health. These alternatives can be made with completely natural items that can easily be obtained at local stores.
Shifting Baseline: A shifting baseline is basically a change in human perception about a certain issue. When it comes to household products, there has been a very significant baseline shift. In ancient times, people used completely natural products for cleaning and improving human aesthetics and it was considered very normal. Overtime, however, more and more chemicals were put into these products, and the baseline continued to shift to accommodate the new ways. Now, a majority of household products are made in factories and include harmful chemicals and preservatives. Although most people do not think much about this, it is an extremely urgent issue.
Where This Problem Occurs: This issue is present everywhere. Nearly all homes contain products that can potentially harm the environment and most are given the opportunity to do so.
How This Problem Impacts the Environment: Although most products are filled with chemicals, not all are harmful and some are even made naturally. "Chemical" is a very vague term. The actual definition is "a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially." When most people think of chemicals, they assume they are harmful manmade liquids that you find in science labs. Although that is true to some point, there are many benign chemicals as well. In this project, however, we are focusing on malignant chemicals.
Short Term Impact:
- Human health problems (bioaccumulation)
- Chemicals getting into the waterways.
- Cost of the products.
- Manual labor to make the products.
- Biomagnification from water sources.
- Cost of products adds up.
- Pollution from the factories.
- Shifting baseline.
- Intoxicating people with products.
- People expect to pay a lot for products that could easily replaced with cheaper materials.
- Damage to human health.
- Industry
- Capitalism
- Education, informing people.
- Providing more available alternatives.
Cost/Economic Impact of Solutions
Individual: The price of the materials, less jobs
Society: Less available jobs, many companies will become bankrupt, worse economy in the beginning
Positive Actions Being Taken Now
There are many people that are taking actions to make environmentally friendly products, that are not harmful towards the environment. More people are being educated about these problems and are making changes in the products they use.