How can scientists say household chemicals are dangerous to the earth?

Question

Everything we have came from the earth; so how can they pollute?

Answer 1

If we take ... say a million gallons of crude oil that we've pumped out of the ground - (it came from the earth, right?) and spill it across a couple hundred square miles of beaches and ocean... by your logic - that's not pollution.

"Pollution is the introduction of pollutants (chemical subtances, noise, heat, light, energy and others) into the environment which result in deleterious effects of such a nature as to endanger human health, harm living resources and ecosystems, and impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment"

Answer 2

I agree with the above response. Things like CFCs and DDT have been banned in the USA and other countries.
I suggest doing some experiments with a household plant... see if any of your household chemicals damage or kill it, then make a conclusion based on this evidence.
I would suggest looking into the pesticide problem faced mainly in south american agriculture, ecology, and the human life affected by it also. In mexico, certain pesticides that were banned in other countries are commonly used and even mixed in an unknown and secret formula. Many banks wont give loans to farmers unless they agree to use these pesticides since the banks are given special commercial incentives by the pesticide companies.
Research their affect on local wildlife as well as residues on villages near agricultural areas.

Below are just two links just to start you off. There are several more out there.

Answer 3

You are taking the natural unnatural argument to a new area. If man is natural, how can anything he does be unnatural. If he cuts down trees to build houses, and the soil in the forest where the trees were cut down erodes in the next rainstorm. It is natural, so its OK?

The soil erosion from the clear-cut forest is greater than what would occur "naturally" without mans interference. The soil washes into streams and decreases the number of fish that can be supported. We want more fish(for food, fishing whatever) therefore; clear-cutting the forest pollutes. It is an artificial definition, but we usually define everything based on how it affects people. So clear-cutting the forest creates pollution.

Chemicals are similar. As in Eric's example if someone spill a tanker load of oil in your field of corn, or in that stream in the forest, It harms things that people want. Naturally occurring or not that is pollution. Wouldn't my dropping a truckload of large, naturally occurring rocks, into you swimming pool pollute your swimming pool?

Answer 4

Do you think you would be safe if you dumped a bottle of Draino in the bathtub and then soaked in it for a few hours? What about spraying Chlorox and detergent in your eyes? That's what its like for fish and other aquatic organisms when the chemicals go down the drain - their eyes, gills, and skin are all bombarded with chemicals that cause irritation or injuries.

Answer 5

Because those chemicals don't exist naturally. The raw materials come from the earth, of course. but they are processed into new forms that are often toxic to plants and animals.

For example, the chlorine compounds in many detergents do not occur in nature. When released into the environment, they can kill many plants and animals--including people, ifthe concentration is too high.

Answer 6

Oven cleaners like easy-off if gets on your skin it will eat little wholes in your skin and the fumes are toxic, bleach is can be but toxic but a cap full water can be used as a sanitize dishes and toys. Gas is also dangerous

Answer 7

Are you serious? As an experiment, take a houseplant and pour a cup of laundry detergent in its pot and see what happens. Now imagine this happening to a lesser degree but on a much broader scale.

Answer 8

If you're around chemical products, it's necessary to get as much information as possible about them. They require special handling,use,instructions, and disposal. Read the labels completely, & follow them to the letter.

Answer 9

household chemicals were produced from natural ingrediants that came from the earth but are not naturally found in the earth, they are synthetic