Recently, I stayed at a hotel with my family in Southern California. The grounds were nice and the rooms were spacious. Though, posted all around, inside and out, were WARNING SIGNS stating: This facility Contains chemicals known to the state of California to Cause Cancer and/or birth defects or other Reproductive Harm. All the happy vacationers excitedly swung open and close the doors and gates to which the signs were affixed: desensitized to the information. Most of us guests were lying over at this particular hotel before our big convergence on the "Happiest Place on Earth…. Disneyland," just blocks away.
Of course I needed more information, so I went to the desk and smiled, "I am inquiring about the known carcinogens that are being used here at this hotel." The concierge affably delivered me the information with the same enthusiasm he uses when imparting facts about the recently completed "Small World" renovation. He pleasantly handed a photocopy that outlined all the carcinogens that, he and I, all the expecting mothers, and all the anxious little kids awaiting Disneyland were presently inhaling and ingesting.
The list began with Furnishings, Hardware and Electrical Components including building material that contains formaldehyde such as: carpeting, carpet padding, wall coverings, wood surfaces, and vinyl. I read on, flabbergasted. Why would they go to such measures to warn of the harmful materials instead of just using the good stuff? I know they exist, and not for that much more cost. I read on.
"Construction and Maintenance Materials used in walls, floors, ceilings and outside cladding contain chemicals, such as formaldehyde resin, asbestos, arsenic, cadmium, and creosote, …certain painted surfaces contains chemicals such as lead and crystalline silica…"Yikes! At that moment, I felt like gathering up my toddler and 5 year old, whose birthday we were about to celebrate at Disney, and head back up to the mountains and our good clean air.
The list went on, but I will spare you: The subtitles being: Cleaning Products, Swimming Pools, Paints, Fuel and Engine Exhaust. Pest Control and Landscaping, and Foods and Beverages. We opted to skip the free continental breakfast now knowing that the milk for the cereal definitely came from cows injected with dangerous hormones, those bananas were certainly sprayed to the max with pesticides and suddenly, the coffee didn't smell so appealing.
I learned that it was part of California's Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement act of 1986) that now requires businesses to provide warnings prior to exposing individuals to chemicals know to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. I guess it was courteous that they went to such measures to make me aware, but I wondered, why they did not elect to use the healthy alternative in order to avoid posting the sign. Wouldn't advertising a healthy green hotel where building materials were selected with the health of their clients in mind help sell the place as well?
Working in the world of green building, sometimes I feel that I know too much…and I try not to get anxious over the pesticides in my food, the fumes that I am breathing, the heavy metals in my drinking water and the formaldehyde in the walls that surround me. But really, we all know someone who has suffered from cancer. We all know that the toxic chemicals in our environment do us no good. Isn't it time to start making some changes and moving towards a cleaner future?
We left our contaminated hotel and proceeded onto Disneyland. It was especially decorated for the holiday season, and the concierge at the front desk of the hotel bragged, "What's magical about our snow at Disneyland is that it is not cold."
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Be Well,
Daniel Kanow
EcoSpaces "Green Building Solutions"
Telluride, CO USA
(O) 970-728-1973 (F) 970-728-8007
Green Building Materials
Green Building Design Consulting
"Be involved in a Movement"
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