My husbands cigarette box,
courtesy the government, lists
a handful of ingredients:
Tar, Nicotine, Carbon monoxide,
Formaldehyde, Hydrogen cyanide,
and Benzene. There are probably
more to list, but the flap
is only so big. Many families
with smokers have taken measures
to keep the children (or themselves)
away from smoke. They take
it to one ventilated room,
take it outside, or for the
ultimate and only full protection
they wisely abandon smokes
forever.
You're no doubt aware of that,
considering all the media
attention on a cigarette's
toxic fumes. What you may
not be aware of is the "ingredient
list" of everything that remains
in your home. There are still
dangerous fumes in homes everywhere,
and I'm not talking about
so and so's habit of breaking
wind.
Our homes have their own toxic
sludge, even sharing some
"ingredients" with cigarettes,
like Formaldehyde!
Did you know?
*Wrinkle-free sheets contain
formaldehyde. Your mattress
probably does too!
*Some bath towels contain
toxic chemical residues.
*If a family members workplace
has issues with asbestos,
lead, or other toxins, said
toxins can be carried home!
*That "new car smell" is Vinyl
chloride, a known carcinogen.
*Is your house over 30 yrs.
old? Until the '70's many
paints, floor finishes, and
possibly more home renovation
supplies still contained lead.
*Do you have a wood deck or
swing set in your back yard
put in before 2004? Weather
resistant lawn items made
before a certain 2004 (US)
ban contain arsenic.
*Most popular home cleaning
products contain Volatile
organic chemicals (VOCs) which
are linked to various medical
problems including cancer.
Craig Mouldey, the Wood Flooring
Guy (www.woodflooringguy.com)
says, "there are many products
in our homes, including plywood,
the core of cabinets, and
likely even laminate that
uses a urea-formaldehyde adhesive."
Your furniture, your carpets,
pretty much everything made
by man contains VOCs.
The National Academy of Sciences
estimates that 15% of the
population currently suffer
from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
and Environmental Illness
due to the toxic environments
we live in. So many home toxins
are in fact, like cigarettes,
linked to cancers and other
debilitating illnesses. The
next front in health may be
the home front.
Tips for Clearing the Air
in Your Home
-Avoid chemical products and
cleaners
+Instead use common baking
products like vinegar and
baking soda or purchase "all-natural"
non-chemical cleaners. If
you have a closet full of
chemicals, call your local
government office for information
about their disposal. They
consider these items hazardous
waste!
-Avoid the use of aerosol
sprays (Includes hygiene products!)
+Search for alternatives to
aerosol cleaners and hygiene
products. If you're an air
freshener addict you can substitute
it with an open box of baking
soda in every room. You can
use herbs as potpourri. For
more substitutions see this
page from NY's DEC website.
(http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/redrecy/hhw1.htm)
+Keep up on maintenance of
furnace, air conditioners,
etc. Consider investing in
some kind of air filter or
cleaner.
+Ventilate high humidity areas
such as bathrooms. In fact,
ventilate the whole house
weather permitting. Recent
studies show indoor air pollution
is worse than outdoor, even
in the big city.
+Have your home tested for
radon gas, mold, lead, asbestos
and other more common pollutants.
+Use solid wood or at least
seal any plywood or particleboard.
+Install hard floors and use
very few rugs. Hard floors,
which you can wipe clean,
won't harbor VOCs residue
from cleaners and aerosols
like carpets do. Choose stone,
tiles or hardwood floors with
nontoxic varnishes.
Also, when making purchases
for your home be it bed sheets
or renovation plans, google
for product information and
read labels to find out about
the products safety. Look
for "low-emitting," "pesticide
free,""no outgassing" or "no
offgassing," and other related
key phrases.
You won't be able to keep
out all chemicals, but you
may be able to reduce the
VOCs in your home by making
environmentally friendly choices
whenever possible. More than
ever there are companies devoted
to making safer products for
your home. By being VOC-conscious
you'll also reduce the amount
of hazardous waste being dumped
into landfills when the time
comes to dispose of your less
hazardous belongings. As an
unrelated but added bonus
the time it takes to research
products may prevent unnecessary
purchases that would just
add clutter to your home and
put a hole in your pocketbook.
Being toxin conscious thus
has a myriad of positive effects!
Being a smart and toxin-aware
shopper will help you clear
the air in your home. You
can make the world a little
safer for your family and
community.
Useful Resources
CHEC http://www.checnet.org/
Indoor Air Pollution Fact
Sheet* http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=117535
*Presently includes contact
info. to obtain a free pamphlet
containing more household
products and their associated
risks.
VOCs info. from the EPA http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html
About The Author
Rachel Lower is a freelance
writer and web designer, and
Editor-in-Chief of Christian-Mommies.com.
Visit her at http://www.rachellauer.com/.
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