towards healthier camping

see also:

• risk management when camping
• choosing a camp site for your tent
• how not to get gastro or food poisoning when camping
• carbon monoxide poisoning - the silent camp killer
• heat injury, burns, heat rashes and heat illness
• staying cool while camping in summer
• cooling options for your tent
• first aid kits for camping and hiking
• survival kits for camping and disasters
• the problem with cold air whilst camping
• keeping warm when camping or hiking
• snake survival: how to avoid snakebites and first aid if you do get bitten on your bushwalks in Australia
• how to reduce your risks in lightning storms
• how to reduce your risks in the event of a tornado
• treating water to make it potable / drinkable
• how to reduce your chance of drowning on your camping trip
• pests in Australia
  • "sand flies" / biting midges
  • Mosquitoes in Australia
  • March flies

• one of the goals for many campers is to escape their urban lives for a while and to de-stress, chill out by taking time out to connect with nature and improve their overall mental and physical health
• unfortunately, in addition to the many things that could go wrong (see the wiki pages above), camping can increase exposures to toxins

• cadmium
  • cadmium has often been used to coat and protect metal tent poles but the manufacture process is quite hazardous and now, thankfully it is almost impossible to find cadmium camping products
• PFAS
  • PFAS is a large group of “forever chemicals” which until now at least, have been incorporated into almost every type of camping gear and clothing including Teflon, Goretex, WDR water proofing, non-stick frypans, etc - although this is now changing such as with Nemo using PFAS-free “Osmo” tent fabric
  • these chemicals provide much needed combination of “breathable” water-proofing and oil-proofing which reduces compromise of your gear due to skin oils while keeping you dry - less toxic alternatives tend to only provide the water-proofing but not the oil-proofing
  • PFAS does harm to the environment and eventually to humans via contamination of water supplies, but it is also hazardous to those in the manufacturing industry

• PFAS
  • see above
• plastic microparticles and nanoparticles
  • unfortunately the vast proportion of camping gear uses plastics of some type and as these are washed or degrade, they release enormous amounts of microparticles and nanoparticles which eventually wash out into the oceans and which has become a major problem for all animals, including humans, via the food chain
  • reducing when camping these would be ideal, but camping needs are only the tip of the iceberg - plastics are ubiquitous in general society and in most urban clothing
• non-biodegradeable soaps, detergents and other chemicals
  • where possible campers should be using bio-degradable chemicals
• “flushable” wipes
  • these will block septic tanks and drop toilets - if used, take them home with you!

• PVC
  • PVC materials off-gas and degrade over time releasing potentially carcinogenic vinyl chloride which can accumulate in your body
  • PVC is often used for floors of tents, clear plastic windows, structural beams in air tents, and in some tarps
  • if you must use them, ensure you allow them to air for a few days prior to first use to reduce the initial off-gassing exposures and keep your tent well ventilated
  • TPU is a safer alternative

• this is in addition to the many things that could go wrong whilst camping (see the wiki pages above)
• the wood camp fire
  • we all love a wood fire and a BBQ and whilst we all should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning - the silent camp killer and burns risks, the prolonged exposures to smoke is likely to cause acute and long term adverse health effects
  • if you burn toxic types of wood, you can get acute poisoning - lead or other chemical treated timbers, certain plants and trees are toxic (eg. camphor)
  • in addition, even “safe” wood fire smoke contains a range of potential toxins:
    • carcinogens
      • may contaminate the food you are cooking over the fire
    • airborne particulate matter
      • soot (elemental carbon)
      • coarse particulate matter 2.5-10 microns
      • fine particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5)
        • this is the most common component of biomass smoke
        • exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5, <2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) in air pollution is reportedly the largest environmental risk factor contributing to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, globally¹⁾
        • WHO recommends no more than 3 days a year of exposures above 15mcg/cu.m
        • a study in Sydney showed chronic exposure to even low levels of particulate matter was linked with an increased risk of death in those aged over 45yrs. Depending on the model used, it suggests between a 3-16% increased risk of dying occurred with each extra microgram of particulate matter per cubic metre of air.²⁾
  • reduce your exposure to wood fire smoke by either:
    • not using open wood fires,
    • use a properly exhausted sealed wood stove with separate air intake duct (eg. Winnerwell external air duct wood camping stoves),
    • avoiding over-crowded campgrounds with poor air flows when multiple camp fires are likely to be lit eg. valleys at Easter in Australia
    • site your tent / chair to be away from the smoke direction from a camp fire (generally you should have a cross wind between your tent and the camp fire)
• eating food or drinking from PFAS and other chemical cooking gear or drinking bottles
  • this is likely to add to your body load of these “forever chemicals” and should be avoided
• high salt, sugar or fat foods
  • unfortunately, most campers rely upon foods that are not the best for you, and over-indulgence in red meats and alcohol further exacerbates the health effects
  • try to moderate the unhealthy foods and minimise the processed meats like ham, salami, beef jerky and bacon
  • replace them with fruits, vegetables, cereals, eggs, nuts and you might be able to avoid the need for a fridge (although a cold drink on hot summer camps is a necessity!)