From the foods we eat to how we maintain our yards and clean our homes, we can be exposed to chemicals in many ways. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only a fraction of the more than 75,000 registered chemicals have gone through complete testing for human health concerns. Some chemicals have immediate toxic effects. Others are toxic to our bodies only after repeated, long-term exposure.
Children are especially susceptible to the negative effects of chemicals, warns the EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection.
Pound for pound, children breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food, and when they play, they crawl and put things in their mouths. As a result, children have an increased chance of exposure to potential pollutants, and because children's bodies are still developing, they may process these pollutants differently from adults. Nursing mothers and women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should also take precautions.
A good principle to follow is always to look for ways to reduce or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals as we go about our daily lives, to keep our homes safe for our children, our pets, and us.
What you can do
Simple changes in our everyday routines can reduce our long-term exposures to low levels of potentially harmful substances—changes in how we choose the products we buy, or the ways we clean our houses and take care of the yard. These changes will not only make our homes safer, they may also save us money.
Consider these helpful ideas for reducing toxic exposures in your home.
Reducing toxics inside your house
Until recently, indoor air pollution has been largely ignored as a source of exposure to toxicity. But studies have shown that levels of harmful chemicals in indoor air may exceed the standards set by the EPA to protect us from harmful chemicals. You can avoid such levels in your home by buying and using products that are free of toxic chemicals whenever possible.
Choosing the products you buy
Whenever possible, buy products that are free of toxic chemicals. Alternatives are available. The market for non-toxic household products is growing in response to customer demand.
When purchasing products, take a minute to carefully read the label. Look for products that appear to disclose all their ingredients.
Before you use a product, carefully read the directions and follow the instructions. Be sure to use the correct amount of a product. Remember, you won't get twice the results by using twice as much.
Select products (cleaners, shampoos, etc.) made from plant-based materials, such as oils made from citrus, seed, vegetable or pine. By doing so, you are selecting products that are biodegradable and generally less toxic. These products also provide the additional benefit of being made from renewable resources. Ask for plant-based products at your local grocery or retail store.
Choose pump spray containers instead of aerosols. Pressurized aerosol products often produce a finer mist that is more easily inhaled. Aerosols also put unnecessary volatile organic chemicals into your indoor air when you use them.
Ask for unbleached paper products or products bleached with hydrogen peroxide or oxygen, which produce less pollution during papermaking.
For yourself: Bath, beauty and hygiene products
Avoid using antibacterial soaps. Antibacterial agents, while not directly harmful to you, contribute to the growing problem we face when bacteria mutate to strains that are more drug-resistant. Remember, however, that hand washing with any soap is still vital to maintaining good health.
Purchase a mercury-free fever thermometer. Many effective alternatives are on the shelves at your local pharmacy. Broken mercury fever thermometers can be a source of toxic mercury levels in your home and discarded products containing mercury contribute to higher levels in the environment. consult your county house-hold hazardous waste program manager to learn where to take your old thermometer. (For information, see www.swmcb.org or www.pca.state.mn.us/waste.)
Use eye drops, contact lens solutions, and nasal sprays and drops that are free of thimerosal or other mercury-containing preservatives.
Look for unscented and natural dyes in products to avoid potential allergic reactions.
Recipes for personal care products using natural ingredients— baking soda, lemon juice, etc.—can be found online: www.care2.com/channels/solutions/self/114.
Keeping your house clean
Remove your shoes when you enter your house. Your shoes can track in harmful amounts of pesticides, lead, cadmium and other chemicals. Keeping a floor mat at your doors for people to wipe their feet on when they enter will also help.
Vacuum carpets and floors regularly. Children playing on your carpet may actually be more exposed to pesticides lodged in the carpet than from the outside, because pesticides break down less readily indoors than outdoors in the sunlight. Use a fine particulate filter, such as a HEPA filter, in your vacuum cleaner, if possible. Otherwise, the dust vacuumed up is redistributed into the air where it can be inhaled.
Single-ingredient, common household materials such as baking soda, vinegar, or plant-based soaps and detergents can often do the job on your carpet or other surfaces. Soap and water has been shown to keep surfaces as free of bacteria as antibacterial soaps do. If your carpet needs professional cleaning, enlist a carpet service that uses less-toxic cleaners that are low in VOCs and irritants.
Baking soda works well to clean sinks, tubs and toilets, and it freshens drains as well.
Vegetable oil with a little lemon juice works wonders on wood furniture.
Simmer a mixture of cloves and cinnamon or use vinegar and water as a safe and environmentally friendly air freshener. Consider how you can eliminate odor problems rather than just covering them up.
Use vinegar and water in a pump spray bottle for cleaning mirrors and shining chrome. Vinegar or soap and water with drying rags or a squeegee also work well for cleaning windows.
Use reusable unbleached cotton towels, rags, and non-scratch scrubbing sponges for all-purpose cleaning instead of bleached disposable paper products.
Use dishwasher detergents that are free of chlorine bleach and lowest in phosphates.
Use bathroom cleaners that are free of aerosol propellants and antibacterial agents.
What you eat
Choose organic fruits and vegetables for your family whenever possible. They have been shown to have less pesticide residue.
Rinse all fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove fertilizer residues.
Don't microwave foods in plastic containers. Chemicals from the plastic container can become absorbed by food during microwaving. Cover with waxed paper or paper towel instead of plastic wrap to keep food from spattering.
Controlling pests
In order to survive, pests need food, water and living space. Remove all food sources through good sanitation and storage habits (i.e., screw-cap jars, zip-lock bags, garbage pails with tight-fitting lids). Block pest entrances to your kitchen by caulking holes, using door sweeps on the bottom of doors, and keeping window screens in good repair. Avoid placing chemical pesticides around your kitchen to kill indoor insect and rodent pests.
Avoid using no-pest strips. They contain pesticides that are released to the air in your home.
When storing winter clothing, use cedar blocks or bags of cedar chips hung with your clothes. Avoid mothballs that contain p-dichloro benzene or naphthalene, which are very toxic and also contribute to respiratory problems.
Consult your veterinarian for non-toxic pest control products for use on pet pests such as fleas and ticks.
Use non-toxic head lice treatments, including combing, enzyme-based treatments and mayonnaise or oil. See www.headlice.org for more information.
Doing the laundry
Instead of more complicated detergents, try using a combination of washing soda and borax in your machine. These are usually as effective as more complex formulas and are also usually cheaper.
When possible, hang clothes to dry outside to avoid using the dryer, which uses energy and depletes resources. In winter, fluff the clothes in the dryer, and then hang to dry indoors. You get the added benefit of increased humidity.
Avoid bleach when possible. If whitening is needed, use non-chlorine bleach, which are oxygen-based and often highly effective.
Buy clothes that don't need drycleaning or use an alternative called "wet cleaning." Clothes that have been drycleaned emit perchlorethylene, a chemical that can cause cancer. The wet cleaning process uses water so there are no harmful gases emitted from the cleaned clothing. MnTAP maintains a list of cleaners that use the wet cleaning process: http://mntap.umn.edu/drycl/consumer.htm.
Clotheslines: A healthy hangup
Don't rely on dryer sheets for freshening your laundry. Clotheslines are a great way to keep clothes, sheets and towels smelling clean. Fabrics will last longer if they're not tumbled around—after all, isn't dryer lint made up entirely of material from your clothes?
Reducing toxics in the yard
Mowing your grass to a height of about 3½ inches is the most important thing you can do to improve the health of your lawn. By keeping grass length longer, the roots grow deeper and can reach more water during dry periods. Longer grass also creates shade, making it harder for weeds to get established.
If you use a lawn service, consider a service provider that uses less-toxic alternatives.
Test the soil to see what your soil needs. Apply only as much fertilizer as is needed. Soil test kits can be purchased at a lawn and garden store.
If your grass grows in heavy clay soil, aeration can be very beneficial. Aeration decreases compaction and allows air and water to get to the roots.
Weeds such as dandelions can be removed easily by digging them up with a fishtail weeder when the soil is damp.
Top dressing your lawn with a compost-soil mix will reduce your lawn's water needs and make it more resistant to drought and disease. You will need to fertilize less often, and when you do, you can use less fertilizer.
Consider replacing parts of your yard with native perennials that lower maintenance and lessen the need for water and chemicals.
Ask at your garden store for less-toxic alternatives to chemical pesticides to control pests.
Building and remodeling
When building or remodeling your home, ask for building materials and supplies that have the least amount of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds. VOCs have been shown to cause cancer or developmental problems. Toxic fumes can come from unexpected sources like new carpet and cabinets.
Choose no- and low-VOC paints and varnishes when finishing walls, floors and furniture. Make sure you have proper ventilation.
Ask for carpeting that meets standards for indoor air quality established by the Carpet and Rug Institute. Once a carpet is installed, thoroughly air out the house for at least 48 hours.
For decks and playground equipment, use reclaimed cedar or redwood, which is naturally resistant to fungus and insects. Or use recycled plastic lumber. Ask about these products at your home improvement store.
Avoid using "green-treated" lumber, which is treated with the toxic compound copper chromium arsenate (CCA). In particular, don't use it for eating surfaces on picnic tables or children's play equipment. Clean up all scrap treated wood and sawdust and dispose of it properly—it should go to a lined landfill or licensed waste incinerator. Treated wood should not be burned at home for bonfires or stoves/fireplaces.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Toxic Chemicals in Your Home They Aren't Telling You About
From Mercola.com:
Several everyday consumer products are made with toxic chemicals that can't be found anywhere on the package label.
In a study, 40 household products such as hair coloring, lipstick and paints were tested for toxic chemicals. Out of these 40 products, evidence of the following chemicals was discovered in 34 of the products: glycols, organic solvents and phthalates. These chemicals did not appear on the label of the products.
Although the study didn't test at what level these chemicals were harmful to people, they did find that these chemicals could contribute to impacting the nervous system, reproductive system and cause other health issues. For this reason, researchers expressed the need to look further into chemical affects and people's level of exposure to them.
Researchers also stated the most common toxic chemical that people would most likely inhale come from household products. These chemicals included chlorine, toluene, xylene, methyl, ethyl ketone and n-hexane.
Based on the findings from these studies, environmental groups recommended stricter labeling requirements.
A chemical spokesperson stated that these claims weren't supported by scientific evidence and served merely as scare tactics as a way to get people to not buy the products they depend on for everyday use. Another spokesperson for the cosmetic industry claimed that the amount of toxic chemicals used in cosmetics and other household products was very low and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Excite News July 14, 2004
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
Many people are not aware of the toxic chemicals in their everyday cleaning supplies and other household items, including cosmetics. You can avoid being exposed to some of these by seeking out natural items from your local health food store.
For more on safety tips in your home, you can read my past article How to Avoid the Top 5 Deadliest Household Tragedies.
If you are concerned about the numerous toxic chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis, I strongly urge you to read Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call. The author, Dr. Doris Rapp does a thorough job of uncovering the many ways we are exposed to toxic chemicals and how they could take a toll on our health and contribute to several chronic diseases.
Related Articles:
Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning
The Dangers of Chlorine and Issues With Sucralose
Poison for Profit - What A Business Plan!
The Truth About Antibacterial Soaps--And Why You Should Avoid Them
Toxic Chemicals Found in Nearly ALL Foods
Make-Up Holds Hidden Danger of Cancer
[Contact owner of this blog to learn how you can switch stores for safer for your home, health and environment products.]
Several everyday consumer products are made with toxic chemicals that can't be found anywhere on the package label.
In a study, 40 household products such as hair coloring, lipstick and paints were tested for toxic chemicals. Out of these 40 products, evidence of the following chemicals was discovered in 34 of the products: glycols, organic solvents and phthalates. These chemicals did not appear on the label of the products.
Although the study didn't test at what level these chemicals were harmful to people, they did find that these chemicals could contribute to impacting the nervous system, reproductive system and cause other health issues. For this reason, researchers expressed the need to look further into chemical affects and people's level of exposure to them.
Researchers also stated the most common toxic chemical that people would most likely inhale come from household products. These chemicals included chlorine, toluene, xylene, methyl, ethyl ketone and n-hexane.
Based on the findings from these studies, environmental groups recommended stricter labeling requirements.
A chemical spokesperson stated that these claims weren't supported by scientific evidence and served merely as scare tactics as a way to get people to not buy the products they depend on for everyday use. Another spokesperson for the cosmetic industry claimed that the amount of toxic chemicals used in cosmetics and other household products was very low and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Excite News July 14, 2004
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
Many people are not aware of the toxic chemicals in their everyday cleaning supplies and other household items, including cosmetics. You can avoid being exposed to some of these by seeking out natural items from your local health food store.
For more on safety tips in your home, you can read my past article How to Avoid the Top 5 Deadliest Household Tragedies.
If you are concerned about the numerous toxic chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis, I strongly urge you to read Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call. The author, Dr. Doris Rapp does a thorough job of uncovering the many ways we are exposed to toxic chemicals and how they could take a toll on our health and contribute to several chronic diseases.
Related Articles:
Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning
The Dangers of Chlorine and Issues With Sucralose
Poison for Profit - What A Business Plan!
The Truth About Antibacterial Soaps--And Why You Should Avoid Them
Toxic Chemicals Found in Nearly ALL Foods
Make-Up Holds Hidden Danger of Cancer
[Contact owner of this blog to learn how you can switch stores for safer for your home, health and environment products.]
The Toxic Danger of Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets
Many people will remember a famous TV ad where a woman races to her washing machine, fabric softener in hand, only to arrive just as the wash ends. This woman who "forgot to ad the fabric softener" was actually doing herself and her family a favor.
Although they may make your clothes feel soft and smell fresh, fabric softener and dryer sheets are some of the most toxic products around. And chances are that the staggering 99.8 percent of Americans who use common commercial detergents, fabric softeners, bleaches, and stain removers would think twice if they knew they contained chemicals that could cause cancer and brain damage.
Laundry
Here is a list of just some of the chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets:
* Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer
* Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
* Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders
* Limonene: Known carcinogen
* A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage
* Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list
* Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders
* Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic
* Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
* Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled
So how could products with pretty names like Soft Ocean Mist, Summer Orchard and April Fresh be so dangerous?
The chemicals in fabric softeners are pungent and strong smelling -- so strong that they require the use of these heavy fragrances (think 50 times as much fragrance) just to cover up the smells. Furthermore, synthetic fabrics, which are the reason fabric softeners were created in the first place, do not smell good either when heated in a dryer or heated by our bodies ... hence the need for even more hefty fragrances.
In other words, remove all the added fragrance that endears people to fabric softeners and -- like the cliché wolf in sheep's clothing -- the real smells of the chemical-laced fabric softener and the synthetic fabrics they were designed around may prompt people to shoot their laundry machines and be done with it.
Are "Soft" Clothes Worth It?
Fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing for long periods of time. As such, chemicals are slowly released either into the air for you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb. Dryer sheets are particularly noxious because they are heated in the dryer and the chemicals are released through dryer vents and out into the environment. Health effects from being exposed to the chemicals in fabric softeners include:
* Central nervous system disorders
* Headaches
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Dizziness
* Blood pressure reduction
* Irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract
* Pancreatic cancer
Soften Your Clothes Safely With These Tips
Even if you don't feel the effects of these chemicals today, they can affect you gradually over time, and children, whose systems are still developing, are particularly at risk. There's really no reason to expose yourself to these risky chemicals when natural alternatives exist. Not only are they safer for you, your family and the environment, but they're much more economical too:
* Add a quarter cup of baking soda to wash cycle to soften fabric
* Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to rinse to soften fabric and eliminate cling
* Check out your local health food store for a natural fabric softener that uses a natural base like soy instead of chemicals.
It's likely that fabric softeners and dryer sheets aren't the only toxic products in your home. Many household products that consumers regard as safe are also full of toxic chemicals. Our past articles on PEG Compounds in Cosmetics and Phenols in Common Household Cleansers are two of the all-time most popular articles on SixWise.com and will make you more aware of the pervasiveness of harmful chemicals that can be eliminated from your home.
[Contact owner of this blog for more information on how you can switch stores to products that are safer for your home - wholesale!]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Williams
Although they may make your clothes feel soft and smell fresh, fabric softener and dryer sheets are some of the most toxic products around. And chances are that the staggering 99.8 percent of Americans who use common commercial detergents, fabric softeners, bleaches, and stain removers would think twice if they knew they contained chemicals that could cause cancer and brain damage.
Laundry
Here is a list of just some of the chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets:
* Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer
* Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
* Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders
* Limonene: Known carcinogen
* A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage
* Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list
* Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders
* Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic
* Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
* Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled
So how could products with pretty names like Soft Ocean Mist, Summer Orchard and April Fresh be so dangerous?
The chemicals in fabric softeners are pungent and strong smelling -- so strong that they require the use of these heavy fragrances (think 50 times as much fragrance) just to cover up the smells. Furthermore, synthetic fabrics, which are the reason fabric softeners were created in the first place, do not smell good either when heated in a dryer or heated by our bodies ... hence the need for even more hefty fragrances.
In other words, remove all the added fragrance that endears people to fabric softeners and -- like the cliché wolf in sheep's clothing -- the real smells of the chemical-laced fabric softener and the synthetic fabrics they were designed around may prompt people to shoot their laundry machines and be done with it.
Are "Soft" Clothes Worth It?
Fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing for long periods of time. As such, chemicals are slowly released either into the air for you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb. Dryer sheets are particularly noxious because they are heated in the dryer and the chemicals are released through dryer vents and out into the environment. Health effects from being exposed to the chemicals in fabric softeners include:
* Central nervous system disorders
* Headaches
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Dizziness
* Blood pressure reduction
* Irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract
* Pancreatic cancer
Soften Your Clothes Safely With These Tips
Even if you don't feel the effects of these chemicals today, they can affect you gradually over time, and children, whose systems are still developing, are particularly at risk. There's really no reason to expose yourself to these risky chemicals when natural alternatives exist. Not only are they safer for you, your family and the environment, but they're much more economical too:
* Add a quarter cup of baking soda to wash cycle to soften fabric
* Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to rinse to soften fabric and eliminate cling
* Check out your local health food store for a natural fabric softener that uses a natural base like soy instead of chemicals.
It's likely that fabric softeners and dryer sheets aren't the only toxic products in your home. Many household products that consumers regard as safe are also full of toxic chemicals. Our past articles on PEG Compounds in Cosmetics and Phenols in Common Household Cleansers are two of the all-time most popular articles on SixWise.com and will make you more aware of the pervasiveness of harmful chemicals that can be eliminated from your home.
[Contact owner of this blog for more information on how you can switch stores to products that are safer for your home - wholesale!]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Williams
Common Household Products that Can Poison Your Children
In the United States alone, someone is poisoned every few seconds. 40% of these cases involve children under the age of 3. 50% of these cases involve children under the age of 6. For this reason, it is important to lock up household chemicals in a high cabinet that is out of the reach of children. In 75% of these cases, the poison was a common household product (ie prescription drugs, non-prescription pain killers, vitamins, cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products, house plants, tobacco products and alcohol).
Here is a simple check list to use within your home.
Bathroom: medicines, toilet cleaners, antibacterial cleaners, air fresheners, drain cleaners, mold and mildew remover, and some cosmetics.
Kitchen: glass cleaner, antibacterial cleaner, dishwashing detergent, all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, oven cleaner, and ant or roach baits.
Living Room: flea collars, rug or carpet cleaners, furniture polish, cigarette or cigar butts in ash trays, and alcoholic beverages.
Bedroom: total release insect foggers, air fresheners, and moth balls.
Laundry Room: all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, chlorine bleach, woodstains and finishes, and laundry detergents.
Garage: motor oil, windshield washer fluid, oil-based and latex paints, auto batteries, antifreeze, spot-on pesticides to control fleas and ticks on pets.
Back Yard: weed killers, pool chemicals including algicides and chlorine, baits for rodent control, insect repellents, and some new bug zappers.
Now that you've taken not of what these products are, it's time to do something about them.
Here is what you can do:
First of all, it is very important that you keep all household chemical products and medicines out of the reach and out of the sight of children. These things really should be locked up whenever they're not in use. Remember that medicines and household chemicals on kitchen counters or bathroom surfaces are very accessible to young hands. It is also your responsibility to make sure that any medicines that visitors may bring into your home are also kept safely away from children.
Whenever you use toxic products, you should never let them out of your sight, even if you must take them along with you whenever you're answering the telephone or the doorbell. Studies show that most poisonings actually occur whenever the product is being used.
[How about using all NON-Toxic cleaning products in your home? Contact this blogger to find out how to switch stores to safer for your home products.]
You need to store all medicines away from household products, and all household chemical products away from food.
Keep products in their original containers with the original label intact. Make sure that you read the label before you use them.
Avoid taking medication in front of children, since young children tend to immitate adults. You should also make sure that you NEVER call medicine "candy."
The poison control number (1-800-222-1222) should be posted on or near every home telephone.
You need to know the names of the plants in your house and yard. If and when you fnd a poisonous plant, it should either be placed out of the reach of children or, better yet, removed.
Check your home for lead-based paints. You can receive detailed information about this by contacting the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Hoffman
Here is a simple check list to use within your home.
Bathroom: medicines, toilet cleaners, antibacterial cleaners, air fresheners, drain cleaners, mold and mildew remover, and some cosmetics.
Kitchen: glass cleaner, antibacterial cleaner, dishwashing detergent, all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, oven cleaner, and ant or roach baits.
Living Room: flea collars, rug or carpet cleaners, furniture polish, cigarette or cigar butts in ash trays, and alcoholic beverages.
Bedroom: total release insect foggers, air fresheners, and moth balls.
Laundry Room: all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, chlorine bleach, woodstains and finishes, and laundry detergents.
Garage: motor oil, windshield washer fluid, oil-based and latex paints, auto batteries, antifreeze, spot-on pesticides to control fleas and ticks on pets.
Back Yard: weed killers, pool chemicals including algicides and chlorine, baits for rodent control, insect repellents, and some new bug zappers.
Now that you've taken not of what these products are, it's time to do something about them.
Here is what you can do:
First of all, it is very important that you keep all household chemical products and medicines out of the reach and out of the sight of children. These things really should be locked up whenever they're not in use. Remember that medicines and household chemicals on kitchen counters or bathroom surfaces are very accessible to young hands. It is also your responsibility to make sure that any medicines that visitors may bring into your home are also kept safely away from children.
Whenever you use toxic products, you should never let them out of your sight, even if you must take them along with you whenever you're answering the telephone or the doorbell. Studies show that most poisonings actually occur whenever the product is being used.
[How about using all NON-Toxic cleaning products in your home? Contact this blogger to find out how to switch stores to safer for your home products.]
You need to store all medicines away from household products, and all household chemical products away from food.
Keep products in their original containers with the original label intact. Make sure that you read the label before you use them.
Avoid taking medication in front of children, since young children tend to immitate adults. You should also make sure that you NEVER call medicine "candy."
The poison control number (1-800-222-1222) should be posted on or near every home telephone.
You need to know the names of the plants in your house and yard. If and when you fnd a poisonous plant, it should either be placed out of the reach of children or, better yet, removed.
Check your home for lead-based paints. You can receive detailed information about this by contacting the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Hoffman
Interiors of Homes and Affects on Asthma
The inside of an asthmatic’s home is where most causes and triggers will be, making it especially important to identify them and minimize the effect.
Dust Mites
House-dust mites are tiny insects that live in the dust that builds up in carpets, bedding, soft furnishings and soft toys. Many asthmatics are sensitive to their droppings. Although they are an unseen trigger there are practical steps you can take to reduce their damaging affect.
Use hypoallergenic coverings on your mattress, duvet and pillows.
All carpets should be replaced with hard flooring, or tile. Your can have small, or area, carpets which you can wash periodically.
Vacuum often. Insure that your vacuum cleaner that has good suction and, most importantly, a filtered exhaust that goes into a hypoallergenic back and does not scatter the dust. Damp dust all surfaces or use an attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
All soft toys, stuffed animals, etc., should be put in the freezer for at least of six hours every other week so as to kill house-dust mites. To protect the fabric you can use zip lock bags or even cellophane.
Wash your sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases, in the hottest water possible, at least once a week. Some people are allergic to the feathers in pillows, however there is no conclusive evidence showing that synthetic hypo-allergenic pillows are better.
A dehumidifier, which dries the air, makes it difficult for the house-dust mites to live.
Furnishings and Carpets
Any furniture or flooring that is made from press board, a composite that is often used for shelving and furniture, contains a formaldehyde resin that gives off a pungent, colorless gas that can irritate the airways that can trigger asthma symptoms.
Carpets can also be a source of formaldehyde gas left over from the manufacturing process. If you are buying a new carpet you should ask the shop if they could unroll and air it before you bring it into your home or air it yourself as soon it is laid.
Keep in mind that pet allergens can linger for a long time on furniture and in carpets and are very difficult to remove without resorting to such a rigorous cleaning measure. Meaning that even if you own no pets the last owner of the home, especially if you just moved in, may have had pets. It may be worth steam cleaning the carpets before you move in.
Heating, Bathrooms and the Kitchen
Dampness, especially from bathrooms and laundry areas, has been linked with asthma and research has also shown that asthmatic have more problems when in homes without central heating.
Heating a home without using "fresh" air, that is just re-circulating the air, may be just moving the airborne dust mites from one area of the house to another. Many doctors have seen patients whose asthma symptoms, due to this re-cycled air, are much worse.
Houses that have gas fireplaces, stoves or ovens have higher levels of nitrogen dioxide. In some people with asthma nitrogen dioxide may cause other triggers to have slightly more effect on their symptoms.
Without adequate flues fireplaces can cause worsening of breathing problems, compared with central heating.
Fumes from Cleaning and Decorating
Many cleaning products and solvents are used around the house release chemicals that can cause breathing difficulties in people with asthma. These chemicals are known as volatile organic compounds (VOC's). The majority of household such as cleaning fluids, varnishes, glues and paints contain VOC's. [You do have a choice - contact this blogger to learn your options]
When cleaning, dusting, painting or working with any solvents, make sure that you are in a well ventilated area with the nearby windows open. Furniture polish, air fresheners, carpet cleaners and dry-cleaned clothes can all trigger asthma because they contain VOC's. Use solid or liquid alternatives rather than sprays if possible.
Wet paint causes problems as it's fumes may trigger asthma symptoms. New low-odor, water-based gloss paints are now available that may be slightly better for some people with asthma.
Stripping wallpaper often unsettles the dust that has accumulated over the years,so wash down wallpaper before starting as this may help to dampen down the dust, preventing it from becoming airborne. Ensure there is plenty of ventilation while working. Consider wearing a mask during during everyday cleaning and housework.
Building work and repairs
It is important to ensure that housing problems such as damp, poor ventilation and inadequate heating are resolved as quickly as possible. There is a link between poor housing conditions and asthma. However care should be taken as major renovation or structural repair can cause a lot of dust and other irritant triggers.
If you are contemplating any building work within your home it is worth seeing your doctor or nurse to check if a temporary increase in medicine is needed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Herman
Eczema Treatments - What's Available?
Millions of people suffer from eczema, with cases ranging from extreme and debilitation to mild and annoying. Treatments for eczema range from simple lifestyle changes to prescription medications. Some of the most common treatments for eczema are reviewed below.
Perhaps the simplest treatments for eczema involve simple lifestyle changes. The dry, itchy skin of eczema can be greatly alleviated with several small adjustments to your skin care regime. First, take cooler baths and showers. Hot water can be very drying for the skin, so cooling down your showers will help your skin retain more moisture. Avoid harsh, drying soaps and detergents. Gentle, non-scented moisturizing soaps and mild detergents help the skin avoid dryness and eliminate some of the irritants that can aggravate eczema.
Moisturizing the areas affected by eczema is essential. Moisturize often and liberally. Renew Intensive Skin Therapy lotion beat the number one dermatologist recommended brand in two double-blind studies done recently. Email me for more info on this product and other products that are safer for your home.
There are many more natural, home remedy treatments for eczema that have also had some success in relieving the itching and flaking of eczema. Placing an ice pack on the affected area can relive itching, as do oatmeal baths. Another home remedy is treating an oozing patch of eczema with milk. Soak a cotton ball or piece of gauze in cold milk and apply to the itchy area. Reapply two to three times and then rinse to alleviate itching.
Humidifying your home is another great solution. By adding more moisture to the air, you’re adding more moisture to your skin. Purchasing a humidifier can help prevent the excess drying or ezcema.
Be especially careful with your laundry products. Harsh detergents and chemical fabric softeners can aggravate eczema. Switch to unscented, mild detergent and fabric softeners that work in the rinse cycle to minimize irritation. Contact me for more information about safer for your home and body laundry products.
Another popular herbal remedy for eczema is Evening Primrose oil. Taken orally, this herbal remedy seems to alleviate some of the symptoms of eczema, possibly because of its high concentration of an omega-6 essential fatty acid.
There are several simple lifestyle changes and remedies to help alleviate the symptoms of eczema. Incorporating several of these tips into your skin care regime may help guide your eczema into a state of remission.
Article (prior to edits) by: By Claire Bowes
Perhaps the simplest treatments for eczema involve simple lifestyle changes. The dry, itchy skin of eczema can be greatly alleviated with several small adjustments to your skin care regime. First, take cooler baths and showers. Hot water can be very drying for the skin, so cooling down your showers will help your skin retain more moisture. Avoid harsh, drying soaps and detergents. Gentle, non-scented moisturizing soaps and mild detergents help the skin avoid dryness and eliminate some of the irritants that can aggravate eczema.
Moisturizing the areas affected by eczema is essential. Moisturize often and liberally. Renew Intensive Skin Therapy lotion beat the number one dermatologist recommended brand in two double-blind studies done recently. Email me for more info on this product and other products that are safer for your home.
There are many more natural, home remedy treatments for eczema that have also had some success in relieving the itching and flaking of eczema. Placing an ice pack on the affected area can relive itching, as do oatmeal baths. Another home remedy is treating an oozing patch of eczema with milk. Soak a cotton ball or piece of gauze in cold milk and apply to the itchy area. Reapply two to three times and then rinse to alleviate itching.
Humidifying your home is another great solution. By adding more moisture to the air, you’re adding more moisture to your skin. Purchasing a humidifier can help prevent the excess drying or ezcema.
Be especially careful with your laundry products. Harsh detergents and chemical fabric softeners can aggravate eczema. Switch to unscented, mild detergent and fabric softeners that work in the rinse cycle to minimize irritation. Contact me for more information about safer for your home and body laundry products.
Another popular herbal remedy for eczema is Evening Primrose oil. Taken orally, this herbal remedy seems to alleviate some of the symptoms of eczema, possibly because of its high concentration of an omega-6 essential fatty acid.
There are several simple lifestyle changes and remedies to help alleviate the symptoms of eczema. Incorporating several of these tips into your skin care regime may help guide your eczema into a state of remission.
Article (prior to edits) by: By Claire Bowes
Poisons in our home - Several reasons to go chemical free?
Studies have shown that our indoor environments are five times more polluted than outdoors and three times more likely to cause cancer. Because our homes depend on recycled air that is not diluted in a large atmosphere like outside, it is all the more important to keep the inside of your home clean, without polluting chemicals.
Toxic chemicals around the home and in the kitchen
All purpose cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, dishwashing detergents, disinfectants, drain cleaners, floor cleaners, oven cleaners and scouring powders all contain dangerous chemicals. Ammonia is an eye irritant and can cause headaches and lung irritation. Children with asthma are especially sensitve to these fumes. Even at low levels, ammonia fumes may cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, laryngitis and watering eyes.
The phenol and cresol in disinfectants and air fresheners are corrosive and can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness and kidney and liver damage. These chemicals deactivate sensory nerve endings, attack the liver, spleen, pancreas and central nervous system. It takes more than a year to eliminate the toxic effects produced by spraying 2 oz. of these products.
The nitrobezene in furniture and floor polishes can cause skin discoloration, breathing problems, vomiting and is associated with cancer and birth defects.
Formaldehyde, which is common to many products is a known carcinogen and is a strong irritant to the lungs, skin, eyes and throat. It may also cause headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
Toxic chemicals in dishwashing detergents
Most dishwasher detergents contain chlorine in a highly concentrated dry form and is the number one cause of child poisonings. Dishwashing detergents usually contain a central nervous depressant called naphtha and a possible liver poison call diethanolsamime. Our dishes are the most frequently cleaned objects in our homes and the residues from toxic diswashing detergents accumulates on the dishes and is picked up by our food.
Toxic chemicals in the laundry room
Laundry detergents contain many chemicals including ammonia, enzymes,sodium, tripolyphosphate, naphthalene, phenol and sodium nitilotriacetate. These chemicals are linked to allergies, sinus problems, rashes and itches. The residue left on the clothes and linen is absorbed through your skin. The scent of the laundry detergent, for example, d-limonene, can irritate the skin and eyes, produce breathing difficulties and bronchial irritation. The phthalates that are used to make the fragrane last may disrupt hormones and cause birth defects.
Fabric softeners contain ammonia, petroleum distillates and strong artificial fragrances. They may also contain chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane; chemicals which are known to cause cancer and/or damage the brain, nerves and lungs. The heating of the dryer makes them even more dangerous.
Toxic chemicals in the bathroom
Toilet bowl cleaners contain hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate which can irritate the skin and eyes and can damage the kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite bleach is corrosive and it can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Some toilet bowl cleaners and rim blocks may contain naphthalene, an agent which may damage or destroy red blood cells, causing a condition called hemolytic anemia. With long term expose, naphthalene may cause liver and kidney damage, skin allergies, cataracts and damage in the retina. Inhalation may cause brain cancer in young children.
Regular shampoos and soaps contain harsh chemicals. "No tears" baby shampoos contain some of the worst chemicals including anesthetizing agents which mask the burning sensation that would be felt when the shampoo comes in contact with the eyes. Sodium laurel sulfate and its forms that are found in shampoos, soaps and toothpastes can lower brain acuity and are attributed to blindness.
Toxic chemicals in air fresheners
Air fresheners are amongst the worst indoor air pollutants. Most air fresheners coat your nasal passages with an oil film or release a nerve deadening agent to interfere with your ability to smell. They may contain methoxychlor which is a pesticide that over-stimulates the central nervous system and accumulates in fat cells.Air fresheners available in aerosol form normally contain petrochemical propellants such as butane, isobutane and propane which at high concentrations, are neurotoxic. These chemicals are easily inhaled where they may wreak havoc on children and asthmatics by irritating the airways.
Some air fresheners contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and naphthalene, which we discussed in the toilet bowl cleaners section. Paradichlorobenzene (PDB) may also be present and is a suspected to cause cancer and damage to the reproductive system, liver and nerves.
Resources:
The Household Toxic Tour
Chemical Warfare Agents and Toxic Waste Disguised as Household Cleaning Products
Top "10" Hazardous Household Chemicals
Fact Sheet: Safe Substitutes at Home: Non-toxic Household Products
Toxic chemicals around the home and in the kitchen
All purpose cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, dishwashing detergents, disinfectants, drain cleaners, floor cleaners, oven cleaners and scouring powders all contain dangerous chemicals. Ammonia is an eye irritant and can cause headaches and lung irritation. Children with asthma are especially sensitve to these fumes. Even at low levels, ammonia fumes may cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, laryngitis and watering eyes.
The phenol and cresol in disinfectants and air fresheners are corrosive and can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness and kidney and liver damage. These chemicals deactivate sensory nerve endings, attack the liver, spleen, pancreas and central nervous system. It takes more than a year to eliminate the toxic effects produced by spraying 2 oz. of these products.
The nitrobezene in furniture and floor polishes can cause skin discoloration, breathing problems, vomiting and is associated with cancer and birth defects.
Formaldehyde, which is common to many products is a known carcinogen and is a strong irritant to the lungs, skin, eyes and throat. It may also cause headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
Toxic chemicals in dishwashing detergents
Most dishwasher detergents contain chlorine in a highly concentrated dry form and is the number one cause of child poisonings. Dishwashing detergents usually contain a central nervous depressant called naphtha and a possible liver poison call diethanolsamime. Our dishes are the most frequently cleaned objects in our homes and the residues from toxic diswashing detergents accumulates on the dishes and is picked up by our food.
Toxic chemicals in the laundry room
Laundry detergents contain many chemicals including ammonia, enzymes,sodium, tripolyphosphate, naphthalene, phenol and sodium nitilotriacetate. These chemicals are linked to allergies, sinus problems, rashes and itches. The residue left on the clothes and linen is absorbed through your skin. The scent of the laundry detergent, for example, d-limonene, can irritate the skin and eyes, produce breathing difficulties and bronchial irritation. The phthalates that are used to make the fragrane last may disrupt hormones and cause birth defects.
Fabric softeners contain ammonia, petroleum distillates and strong artificial fragrances. They may also contain chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane; chemicals which are known to cause cancer and/or damage the brain, nerves and lungs. The heating of the dryer makes them even more dangerous.
Toxic chemicals in the bathroom
Toilet bowl cleaners contain hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate which can irritate the skin and eyes and can damage the kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite bleach is corrosive and it can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Some toilet bowl cleaners and rim blocks may contain naphthalene, an agent which may damage or destroy red blood cells, causing a condition called hemolytic anemia. With long term expose, naphthalene may cause liver and kidney damage, skin allergies, cataracts and damage in the retina. Inhalation may cause brain cancer in young children.
Regular shampoos and soaps contain harsh chemicals. "No tears" baby shampoos contain some of the worst chemicals including anesthetizing agents which mask the burning sensation that would be felt when the shampoo comes in contact with the eyes. Sodium laurel sulfate and its forms that are found in shampoos, soaps and toothpastes can lower brain acuity and are attributed to blindness.
Toxic chemicals in air fresheners
Air fresheners are amongst the worst indoor air pollutants. Most air fresheners coat your nasal passages with an oil film or release a nerve deadening agent to interfere with your ability to smell. They may contain methoxychlor which is a pesticide that over-stimulates the central nervous system and accumulates in fat cells.Air fresheners available in aerosol form normally contain petrochemical propellants such as butane, isobutane and propane which at high concentrations, are neurotoxic. These chemicals are easily inhaled where they may wreak havoc on children and asthmatics by irritating the airways.
Some air fresheners contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and naphthalene, which we discussed in the toilet bowl cleaners section. Paradichlorobenzene (PDB) may also be present and is a suspected to cause cancer and damage to the reproductive system, liver and nerves.
Resources:
The Household Toxic Tour
Chemical Warfare Agents and Toxic Waste Disguised as Household Cleaning Products
Top "10" Hazardous Household Chemicals
Fact Sheet: Safe Substitutes at Home: Non-toxic Household Products
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