They say that the world is a massive book and if one does not travel, they read only a page. Few activities in life come close to the exhilaration of traveling. Some people have turned their passion for seeing new places and meeting new people into full-time professions.
Others plan trips to strike places off of their bucket lists at least once a year. This comes as a much-needed break from the usual monotony of life. The USA Today shares that 30% of Americans had major travel plans in 2024. On average, each trip costs somewhere near $1,700.
When one is spending such an amount on travel expenses, it’s natural to want a safe and comfortable trip. Sometimes, the real threat comes from toxins that we are prone to overlook amid the anticipation of fun and thrill. In this article, we will redirect your priorities to less-toxic travel. Read on to learn four tips essential for enjoying a healthier vacation in 2024.
Consider Using a Digital Boarding Pass
Did you know that the traditional boarding passes we use are printed on thermal paper? It is a special kind of paper designed to change its color when exposed to the heat of a thermal printer. You must be wondering what possibly could go wrong with that.
Given its nature, thermal paper must be coated with chemicals that react to heat to produce images in red, blue, or black colors. Besides airline boarding passes, thermal paper is used for other receipts like prescription bottles, luggage tags, and medical charts.
The chemicals used for coating these receipts are the problem, especially Bisphenol A or BPA. This chemical has been in industrial use since the 1950s to develop certain types of resins and plastics. As per the Mayo Clinic website, BPA exposure can have harmful effects on one’s health, including the risk of Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure.
A cashier may have a tremendously hard time escaping this chemical but as a traveler, you can take precautions. Perhaps there is little that can be done about luggage tags. However, you can reduce this toxic exposure by using a digital boarding pass throughout your itinerary.
Carry Your Own Snacks and Personal Care Products
Another important tip concerning responsible and healthy traveling is to carry your own snacks and personal care products. This can take various forms, and we shall discuss a few of them in detail. Let’s start with the food packaging.
Recent studies have found that most of these packages are lined with a thin toxic coat of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These are a complex group of over 12,000 chemicals formed using bonds of carbon and fluorine.
Being resistant to grease, oil, and water, PFAS may seem like an attractive choice for food packaging. However, their regular exposure has led to firefighters developing cancers of the kidneys, bladder, and testicles. Yes, PFAS are also used to manufacture Class B firefighting foam or Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) that puts out liquid-fuel fires.
Though AFFF had played a significant role in the firefighting industry for decades, it was only after the 2000s that its danger was exposed. Injured and unsuspecting firefighters filed the AFFF lawsuit in 2017 to seek justice.
Today, TorHoerman Law states that the litigation is awaiting settlements for personal injuries with over 8,000 pending cases. Even though PFAS exposure through food packaging will not be as high as in the case of firefighters, it is still bad. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) talks about certain risks like fertility issues, hormonal imbalance, and high cholesterol.
A simple switch to packing one’s own snacks, preferably homemade, in cloth bags can improve safety. As for the personal care products, our prime focus is the area of feminine hygiene. PFAS have also been found in feminine hygiene products like sanitary pads and tampons. It’s best to carry silicone-based cups or cloth sanitary pads to amp up the health factor.
Skip the Hand Sanitizer and Plastic Bottles
It has become the norm to watch Americans travel with a single-use plastic bottle in their hands. These products are called single-use because they are meant to be used for a short period before being disposed of.
It’s quite easy and convenient to grab a single-use plastic bottle and be on the way to an exciting trip. However, a much safer and more sustainable option would be carrying a stainless steel or copper water bottle.
Where plastic bottles come with toxic chemicals, these are toxin-free and copper bottles even add the benefits of anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. In case you forget to carry a water bottle, simply ask a coffee shop within the boarding gates for a cup and fill that with water. It is still a better alternative than purchasing a plastic water bottle.
On the same note, you must avoid using hand sanitizers. You can carry one just for the sake of emergencies but do not use it willy-nilly. Most brands of hand sanitizers contain a toxic chemical pesticide called Triclosan. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even provides a list of hand sanitizer manufacturers whose products should be avoided.
Cover Shoes With a Shower Cap
Will you be using more than a single pair of shoes while traveling? It is quite a common practice and is done for good reasons. You may need to carry a pair or two extra based on the itinerary, the destination weather needs, and more.
If that is the case, pack the unused pair in a shower cap or equivalent travel case. Do not let your shoe bottoms come in contact with the clothes or other items. The American Apparel and Footwear Association states that shoe soles carry with them harmful heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and chemicals like phthalates.
When packed uncovered, they simply become a source of added toxins inside your home and hotel rooms. The good news is that the same shower cap or travel case can be reused for years down the line.
We will not find it surprising if this article has overwhelmed you a bit. It is quite grim and shocking that something as fun as traveling can so quickly become a health hazard.
However, the truth is that the devil is always in the details. Take care of the abovementioned small aspects and you will secure your and your family’s health during each vacation. Happy travels!
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