Cartoon from: Accessed 25 July 2019
WELCOME TO THE TOX SPOT!
In this blog, you will learn about four different toxic substances – Nightshade (plant), Ethylene glycol (solvent), Mercury (metal), and Neonicotinoids (pesticide).
This site is meant to help educate about these substances on a relatable level. Here, you will learn about how these substances can enter the body and how they affect the human body once inside. You will also learn about ways to combat toxicity and growing research surrounding these substances.
- Nightshade – A plant most well known for its toxic family member (we all have one right?) Belladonna. As a mother of 2 (soon to be 3!) babies, this substance was of keen interest to me as it has been in the news several times in products marketed for infants. If that wasn’t reason enough to research this poisonous plant, it is also mentioned in a classic favorite movie Nightmare Before Christmas. Take a look into this famous flower and learn something new today!
- Ethylene glycol – A solvent that’s like the sweet old lady at the supermarket who you always see but never knew her name. A sweet-tasting clear liquid, commonly known as Antifreeze. (You know, those big blue jugs you typically see outside at the gas station on a snowy winter morning.) This product is used in many common household items, which should be of special interest to those who have children or pets. As sweet as this solvent might be, it has a bitterly deadly side. Read on to find out more!
- Mercury – A metal, a planet, a famous singer for Queen — what else can this product be?! How about deadly? For anyone over the age of 30, you are probably most familiar with this product as the red marker in old, glass thermometers. Ever wonder what happened to those things? Check out this blog to find out!
- Neonicotinoid – A pesticide whose name is not as familiar as its consequences. A large environmental issue today is the death of our bee population, which can be linked back in large to this toxic substance. If you’re like me and not a fan of the rising price for honey, check out this pesticide, known as “Nicotine for Bees” and learn why the drug problem amongst bees needs to be addressed!