Do You Have a toxic workplace? I am not talking about the “toxic workplace” often reported when a work environment is full of backstabbing, gossiping co-workers, a controlling boss or demanding clients. I am talking about toxic substances in your workplace that might be making you physically sick!
It is bad enough that we live in a society that is extremely dependent on harmful chemicals on a daily basis. We are exposed to these ubiquitous and devious substances every day, hiding in plastics, pesticides, car exhaust, soaps, emulsifiers, health and beauty aids, household cleaning products and a number of other places. They are in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air that we breathe. However, depending on where you work, your exposure to toxic substances could be intensified, contributing significantly to your health issues.
Occupational allergies are becoming an extremely common concern, with cases increasing in numbers and severity in recent years. There have been countless articles written on both “Sick Building Syndrome” and “Occupational Asthma”. Under these two modern diagnoses, people have complained of a variety of symptoms including watery eyes, runny nose, headaches, dizziness, nausea and tightening sensation in the chest. The curious thing about most of these symptoms is that they have a distinct pattern of getting worse while in the work environment and significantly better over vacations or weekends.
If you work in an enclosed office space, you might feel falsely safe and protected from environmental allergens. Modern office buildings are not only being built with toxic chemicals, but in order to conserve energy, they are also built tight as a drum with poor ventilation, leaving allergens and irritants with no place to go. Common sources – including malfunctioning or inappropriate, inefficient use of heating devices – can produce irritating pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide at harmful levels. Formaldehyde exposure is widespread and found in the resins in finishes, plywood, paneling, fiberboard and particleboard, and in some backings and adhesives for carpets.
Biological air pollutants like dander, molds and dust mites are carried by animals and people into and throughout buildings. Scents and hairsprays, construction products such as finishes, heavy duty cleaners, paints, thinners, dry cleaning fluids, some copiers and printers, some glues and adhesives, markers and photo solutions are among some of the common office products that emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC). New installations, carpet, wall coverings, paint or construction can all heighten problems with VOCs. If that isn’t enough to worry about, almost everyone has heard of the dangers of toxic mold thriving in cool, damp, dark places behind walls and under carpeting.
Some occupations that are even higher risk for exposure include industrial workers handling paints, chemicals, solvents and plastics; beauticians who work daily with hair dyes, perms, and nail polish/removers; people who are in the farming industry dealing with fertilizers and pesticides; photocopier technicians and dry cleaning merchants working with machines emitting potentially harmful gases.
What Can You Do?
If you feel that your workplace is making you sick, there are things you can do, short of quitting your job. Reducing exposure is important but it is also important to remember that having an allergic response to something often has less to do with the trigger and more to do with our body’s inability to respond to it appropriately. Make sure you are protecting your immune system by choosing healthy, organic foods in your diet for adequate nutrients and fiber. Drink plenty of filtered water, exercise regularly, choose non-toxic products for your home and consider partnering with a qualified healthcare practitioner to partake in a comprehensive body detoxification.
In your workplace, consider talking with both your supervisor and your OSHA or union representative regarding the air exchange system in your building. Interior landscaping can help absorb some of the “off-gassing” from VOC and formaldehyde. Buying plants like a Dwarf date palm, Bamboo palm or Janet Craig is an inexpensive, efficient method of cleansing the air. Keep your work area free of clutter, dust regularly and use a HEPA-type tabletop air purifier. Even though we cannot completely escape the toxins that surround us, we can make a difference for us as individuals and, little by little, the environment as a whole!
