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

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

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

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

Four Steps To Organic Motherhood

From Mercola.com:

More and more parents want to raise their children in an environment as free from toxins as possible.

In response, retailers are producing more products suitable for this goal. Sales of organic baby care products were up 34 percent in 2005, and preliminary numbers show an even greater increase in 2006.

Pregnancy and childbirth focus many parents' attention on health and environmental concerns. Numerous studies have shown that blood contaminants can pass from mother to fetus with alarming ease, and that the developing organs and tissues of children are more susceptible to damage from toxins.

Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, authors of The Complete Organic Pregnancy, recommend the following common-sense first steps:
1. Don't renovate your home during pregnancy or early childhood to avoid exposure to sometimes-toxic dust
2. Switch to non-toxic cleaning products
3. Choose organic foods when possible
4. Use all-natural products

The Daily Green May 12, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comment:
Oftentimes, concerns over health and environmental issues don't hit home until you're faced with the responsibility for a brand new life -- your baby. Since toxins in a mother's bloodstream can easily transfer over to the fetus during pregnancy, many pregnant moms start questioning the safety of products used everyday.

You do live in a highly toxic world, surrounded and submerged in chemicals of all kinds, some worse than others.

The Daily Green Web site offers some tips to get you started on your quest to limit the potentially toxic dangers to your child, including a number of strategies I have previously recommended on this site, such as switching to non-toxic cleaning products and other all-natural products, and choosing certified locally grown, organic foods whenever possible.

If you want to go even further, which certainly couldn't hurt, you can take a look at Dolan and Zissu's new book The Complete Organic Pregnancy to guide you along the way.

In addition to "Going Green," don't forget to take animal-based omega-3 fats -- especially during pregnancy. Omega-3 fats like DHA:
Prevent the vast majority of premature deliveries
Maximize children's intelligence
Optimize vision in infants

Related Articles:
Toxins, Brain Chemistry, and Behavior
Cleaning Products Can Harm Your Children
Six Reasons Why Cancer Rates Among Teens are on the Rise

Examples of some common household pesticides found in bathrooms and kitchens include roach sprays; chlorine bleach; kitchen and bath disinfectants....

Pesticides and Child Safety

Although pesticides can be beneficial to society, they can be dangerous if used carelessly or if they are not stored properly and out of the reach of children. According to data collected from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, in 2004 alone, an estimated 71,000 children were involved in common household pesticide-related poisonings¹ or exposures² in the United States.

A survey by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding pesticides used in and around the home revealed some significant findings:

• Almost half -- 47% -- of all households with children under the age of five had at least one pesticide stored in an unlocked cabinet, less than 4 feet off the ground (i.e., within the reach of children).

• Approximately 75% of households without children under the age of five also stored pesticides in an unlocked cabinet, less than 4 feet off the ground (i.e., within the reach of children). This number is especially significant because 13% of all pesticide poisoning incidents occur in homes other than the child's home.

Bathrooms and kitchens were cited as the areas in the home most likely to have improperly stored pesticides. Examples of some common household pesticides found in bathrooms and kitchens include roach sprays; chlorine bleach; kitchen and bath disinfectants; rat poison; insect and wasp sprays, repellents and baits; and, flea and tick shampoos and dips for pets. Other household pesticides include swimming pool chemicals and weed killers.

EPA regulates pesticides in the United States under the pesticide law (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act). Since 1981, the law has required most residential-use pesticides with a signal word of "danger" or "warning" to be in child-resistant packaging. These are the pesticides which are most toxic to children. Child-resistant packaging is designed to prevent most children under the age of five from gaining access to the pesticide, or at least delay their access. However, individuals must also take precautions to protect children from accidental pesticide poisonings or exposures.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL POISONING:

• Always store pesticides away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or garden shed. Child-proof safety latches may also be installed on cabinets and can be purchased at your local hardware stores;



• Read the label first and follow the directions to the letter, including all precautions and restrictions;



• Before applying pesticides (indoors or outdoors), remove children and their toys as well as pets from the area and keep them away until the pesticide has dried or as long as is recommended by the label;



• If your use of a pesticide is interrupted (perhaps by a phone call), properly reclose the package and be sure to leave the container out of the reach of children while you are gone;



• Never transfer pesticides to other containers that children may associate with food or drink;



• Never place rodent or insect baits where small children can get to them;



• Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use;



• Alert others to the potential hazard of pesticides, especially caregivers and grandparents;



• Teach children that "pesticides are poisons" -- something they should not touch;



• Keep the emergency phone number 1-800-222-1222 of the Poison Control Center near your telephone.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, try to determine what the child was exposed to and what part of the body was affected before you take action, since taking the right action is as important as taking immediate action. If the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or having convulsions, give needed first aid immediately. Call 911 or your local emergency service.

If the person is awake, conscious, not having trouble breathing, and not having convulsions, read the label for first aid instructions and contact your local Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. In most cases, the pesticide products label provides you with a "Statment of Treatment" to follow in emergencies. The appropriate first aid treatment depends on the kind of poisoning that has occurred. If first aid instructions are not available, follow these general guidelines:

GENERAL FIRST AID GUIDELINES:

• Swallowed poison. Induce vomiting ONLY if emergency personnel on the phone tell you to do so. It will depend on what the child has swallowed; some petroleum products or caustic poisons will cause more damage if the child is made to vomit.
  
  
• Poison in eye. Eye membranes absorb pesticides faster than any other external part of the body; eye damage can occur in a few minutes with some types of pesticides. If poison splashes into an eye, hold the eyelid open and wash quickly and gently with clean running water from the tap or a gentle stream from a hose for at least 15 minutes. If possible, have someone else contact a Poison Control Center for you while the victim is being treated. Do not use eye drops or chemicals or drugs in the wash water.
  


• Poison on skin. If pesticide splashes on the skin, drench area with water and remove contaminated clothing. Wash skin and hair thoroughly with soap and water. Later, discard contaminated clothing or thoroughly wash it separately from other laundry.
  


• Inhaled poison. Carry or drag victim to fresh air immediately. If you think you need protection such as a respirator and one is not available to you, call the Fire Department and wait for emergency equipment before entering the area. Loosen victim's tight clothing. If the victim's skin is blue or the victim has stopped breathing, give artificial respiration (if you know how) and call rescue service for help. Open doors and windows so no one else will be poisoned by fumes.
  

Additional pesticide product information can be obtained from the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378. NPIC is a toll-free information service operated Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time (9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time).

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1. The American Association of Poison Control Centers defines poisoning as an adverse reaction due to symptoms from exposure to a poisonous substance.

2. The American Association of Poison Control Centers defines exposure as having contact with a potentially poisonous substance; however, not necessarily showing symptoms of being poisoned.

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Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (7506C)
EPA 735-F-93-050, September 21, 2004

		Last updated on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 URL: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/childsaf.htm