You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby

The 1978 Virginia Slims magazine ad featured a svelte woman striking a pose in an elegant shoulderless evening gown smoking a long, thin cigarette. Above the image was a black and white photograph of a woman hanging laundry outside. The ad text read: "Back then, every man gave his wife at least one day a week out of the house. You've come a long way, baby. Virginia Slims – Slimmer than the fat cigarettes men smoke."

We have come along way, indeed; a long way in protecting our environment from toxins since then. Today, we’d be hard pressed to find a public location to light up any cigarette, fat or slim. And the air we’d be hanging the laundry out in is a lot fresher!

Since the early 1920s lead had been blended with gasoline to prevent engine knocking and boost octane levels. Adverse health effects from elevated levels of lead in the blood were observed including permanent nerve damage, behavior disorders, anemia, and mental retardation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started working to reduce emission of this insidiously deadly metal in 1973. The catalytic converter which was introduced in 1975 required lead-free fuel. By January 1, 1996, the Clean Air Act completely banned the sale of leaded fuel for road use. For the same reason, paint containing lead was banned.

Asbestos had been commonly used as an acoustic insulator, thermal insulation, and fire proofing in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Aging asbestos crumbled and released fibers in the air. Breathing this air over time resulted in asbestos fibers becoming embedded in lung tissue causing serious lung diseases. In 1989 the use of asbestos was restricted.

When it comes to water, the major challenge for water suppliers has been to balance the risks from microbial pathogens and disinfection byproducts. Tap water tries to find equilibrium between bugs and bug killers. Yet filtered water is readily available in convenient sports bottles, from the office bubbler, the refrigerator door in the kitchen, and the insta-hot tap at the sink.

In addition, pesticide free organic fruits and vegetables are not only abundantly available in specialty grocers such as New Seasons and Whole Foods but they have made their way to most every grocery market in America. The same is true for antibiotic and hormone free meat, eggs, and milk.