Everyday household cleaners that can make cleaning faster and perhaps simpler, are full of chemicals. These chemicals have their costs. Many give off unhealthy fumes that can irritate the eyes, nose and lungs. Some cleaners are corrosive and can harm your skin.
Many contain ingredients that are suspected of causing cancer.Many cleaners can leave behind chemical residues. Children tend to touch everything and then put their hands in their mouths or pick up food dropped on the floor. They may be putting chemicals in their mouths along with their toys and food. Small amounts may not be immediately harmful but can accumulate to cause healthproblemsovertime.
As a parent, you are right to be concerned about the kinds of cleaning products used in your child's day care or schools. Cleaning products contribute to the contamination of indoor air, especially those containing solvents, perfumes or other irritating or harmful chemicals. Chlorine bleach can be irritating to the airways, especially to young children. Given the need to protect children in day care programs from disease, it is also important that the facility is cleaned well.
Because germ-killing products, or antimicrobials, are considered pesticides, all disinfectants sold in the United States must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In terms of regulation, antimicrobial pesticides differ from pesticides used to kill insects and weeds: Disinfectants, for example, must be shown to be effective in killing disease-causing bacteria.
Note that there are two types of disinfectants: hospital disinfectants and general use disinfectants. In addition, sanitizers are used to reduce microbes to safe levels. However, they are not required to eliminate them.EPA registration doesn't guarantee that the product kills germs. Many EPA-registered antimicrobial products are registered because they kill algae, odor-causing bacteria, bacteria that causes spoilage or deterioration, and microbes that are infectious only to animals.
For that reason, you should read the label carefully and contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer should be able to provide you with data on the kinds of disease-killing microbes the disinfectant kills and its level of efficacy. You should be able to find a customer service number on the product label or on the company's Web site.
If you want to hear more by attending a free online workshop on how you can change to safer and more effective products in your home, contact Marilyn at bobinchek@sbcglobal.net and say you want to attend a go green workshop.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Personal Care Products
Cosmetics and personal care products have been around since civilization began, and it's doubtful that we would ever want to give up the primping and pampering of our bodies that personal care products and makeup provide. But for most of history, personal care products were made of natural ingredients. Today this is increasingly less so. The products that feel so good to our skin and look and smell so good on our faces and bodies often contain chemicals and dyes that we should be warned about.
You probably know someone who is taking a medication that is applied through the skin. This method is used for administering medicine for hormone replacement for both men and women, and also, a patch is used to treat high blood pressure. Skin patches can also be purchased over the counter to help smokers stop smoking. Although the body takes substances in through the skin in a much slower way, what you apply on your skin will eventually make its way into your body.
So why is it that most of us apply many personal products to our skin throughout the day but never consider that these products will end up in our organs and tissues throughout our bodies? They most certainly do.
Like most of us, you probably use your favorite personal products with the complete assurance that the federal government carefully tests and screens each one and would never permit products with dangerous or toxic ingredients to reach the supermarket, drug store, and department store shelves. Sadly, your confidence in government screening to protect you may be naive. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) does not require premarket testing, review or approval for cosmetics. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will pursue enforcement action for problem cosmetics only after they are on the shelves.
This means that it's up to you to understand what you are purchasing and to make wise, healthy choices regarding the personal products that you and your family will use.
The cosmetic industry may not tell you that some of the ingredients used in its products are hazardous to your health. Become informed about the possibility of allergy-producing and cancer-causing substances in your personal products - your life may depend on it.
Source: What You Don't Know May Be Killing You
by Dr. Don Colbert
You probably know someone who is taking a medication that is applied through the skin. This method is used for administering medicine for hormone replacement for both men and women, and also, a patch is used to treat high blood pressure. Skin patches can also be purchased over the counter to help smokers stop smoking. Although the body takes substances in through the skin in a much slower way, what you apply on your skin will eventually make its way into your body.
So why is it that most of us apply many personal products to our skin throughout the day but never consider that these products will end up in our organs and tissues throughout our bodies? They most certainly do.
Like most of us, you probably use your favorite personal products with the complete assurance that the federal government carefully tests and screens each one and would never permit products with dangerous or toxic ingredients to reach the supermarket, drug store, and department store shelves. Sadly, your confidence in government screening to protect you may be naive. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) does not require premarket testing, review or approval for cosmetics. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will pursue enforcement action for problem cosmetics only after they are on the shelves.
This means that it's up to you to understand what you are purchasing and to make wise, healthy choices regarding the personal products that you and your family will use.
The cosmetic industry may not tell you that some of the ingredients used in its products are hazardous to your health. Become informed about the possibility of allergy-producing and cancer-causing substances in your personal products - your life may depend on it.
Source: What You Don't Know May Be Killing You
by Dr. Don Colbert
Saturday, April 7, 2007
What Is A Toxic Substance?
A toxic substance means any chemical or mixture that may be harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. Did you know that some toxic substances are found in nature? There are naturally occurring toxins (poisonous substances coming from living organisms) found in certain plants like poinsettias and even some wild mushrooms and berries. However, the toxic substances contained in most everyday household products are synthetic which means they are man-made. The opposite of toxic substances are called non-toxic substances. Non-toxic substances are safe to use, and do not harm humans and the environment.
Many of the products you find in your home may have toxic substances. These products include:
drain cleaners;
oven cleaners;
laundry detergents;
floor or furniture polish;
paints, and
pesticides
While these products are useful at home, some of the chemicals in these products can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat, or can even poison you - so be careful! Kids, you must think about the products you use at home - are they toxic? If they are, be careful when you use them. If you are unsure, please check with an adult before you use them.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Asthma in Children
One of the more difficult things in being a parent is to care for the health and well-being of our children. This no doubt causes many of us anxiety and to worry if are doing the right things to care for our children. One of the biggest problems we have is that children simply do not come with an operator's manual that explains everything that can go wrong.
A good example of this is found in dealing with respiratory illness and disorders. Kids seem to pick up and share every flu and other illness that makes an appearance at the local daycare or school. Our job is parents is to determine if our sick child has one of those common flu-like illnesses or if the symptoms point to something much more serious.
The problem with asthma is that the symptoms are often very similar to bronchitis and other very common respiratory infections.
Childhood Asthma Symptoms:
Coughing. Coughing is caused by a buildup of mucus in the bronchial tubes that needs to be cleared. Mucus is a good indication of a respiratory infection or irritation. Coughing however is symptomatic of many childhood and adult illnesses. Although coughing is a symptom, the type of cough plays a role in identifying and understanding the underlying cause. Simply put, a rattling or loose type cough can suggest one type of illness, while a tight or hacking cough can lead a medical doctor in a different direction. Understand that both types of coughing, indicate illness but it's the type of cough that helps a doctor accurately diagnose the problem .
Wheezing is a whistling type of sound that you can hear when your child breathes. Although most commonly associated with asthma, some do not wheeze while others without asthma have a tendency to wheeze when ill. Again, accurate diagnosis is critical to determine the cause and if it is asthma develop an effective treatment plan.
Chest Congestion and Tightness. Chest congestion is symptomatic of influenza, but can also indicate a more serious respiratory disease like asthma.
Shortness of Breath Many asthma sufferers experience shortness of breath so profound that they feel as if they're being smothered. This is serious because asthma actually constricts air passageways making it almost impossible to get enough air into the lungs
These signs and symptoms may indicate that your child is suffering from asthma. While as a parent you cannot be expected to understand how these various symptoms interact or be able to accurately diagnose and illness, your medical doctor can. If you suspect that your child has developed a respiratory illness, get them to the doctor as soon as practical and get an accurate diagnosis .
About the Author
Abigail Franks has done extensive research into Asthma,Allergies, and their triggers. Visit the Asthma site for more information on Asthma Symptoms and Asthma Treatments
Asthma is the number 1 cause of absenteism in the classroom. The asthma rate has triples - 20 -30 million Americans currently afflicted. Asthma is triggered by the products we use in our homes to keep them "clean" but at what cost?
-->
A good example of this is found in dealing with respiratory illness and disorders. Kids seem to pick up and share every flu and other illness that makes an appearance at the local daycare or school. Our job is parents is to determine if our sick child has one of those common flu-like illnesses or if the symptoms point to something much more serious.
The problem with asthma is that the symptoms are often very similar to bronchitis and other very common respiratory infections.
Childhood Asthma Symptoms:
Coughing. Coughing is caused by a buildup of mucus in the bronchial tubes that needs to be cleared. Mucus is a good indication of a respiratory infection or irritation. Coughing however is symptomatic of many childhood and adult illnesses. Although coughing is a symptom, the type of cough plays a role in identifying and understanding the underlying cause. Simply put, a rattling or loose type cough can suggest one type of illness, while a tight or hacking cough can lead a medical doctor in a different direction. Understand that both types of coughing, indicate illness but it's the type of cough that helps a doctor accurately diagnose the problem .
Wheezing is a whistling type of sound that you can hear when your child breathes. Although most commonly associated with asthma, some do not wheeze while others without asthma have a tendency to wheeze when ill. Again, accurate diagnosis is critical to determine the cause and if it is asthma develop an effective treatment plan.
Chest Congestion and Tightness. Chest congestion is symptomatic of influenza, but can also indicate a more serious respiratory disease like asthma.
Shortness of Breath Many asthma sufferers experience shortness of breath so profound that they feel as if they're being smothered. This is serious because asthma actually constricts air passageways making it almost impossible to get enough air into the lungs
These signs and symptoms may indicate that your child is suffering from asthma. While as a parent you cannot be expected to understand how these various symptoms interact or be able to accurately diagnose and illness, your medical doctor can. If you suspect that your child has developed a respiratory illness, get them to the doctor as soon as practical and get an accurate diagnosis .
About the Author
Abigail Franks has done extensive research into Asthma,Allergies, and their triggers. Visit the Asthma site for more information on Asthma Symptoms and Asthma Treatments
Asthma is the number 1 cause of absenteism in the classroom. The asthma rate has triples - 20 -30 million Americans currently afflicted. Asthma is triggered by the products we use in our homes to keep them "clean" but at what cost?
-->
Monday, March 19, 2007
Why Should I Worry
According to the EPA, most homes have airborne concentrations of hazardous chemicals that are two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
According to the EPA, toxic chemicals found in the home are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor airborne pollutants.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission connects 150 chemicals commonly found in our homes to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.
The National Cancer Institute has a list of twenty known carcinogens and over 2,200 chemicals that are probable carcinogens. Many of these chemicals are in the cleaners and personal care products you buy at your local grocery store.
What can you do?
There are many safe products on the market... all you have to do is change brands of products.
Link about what you can do:
http://www.ahealthcafe.com/cgi-bin/team.cgi?id=Ma28353&action=show
According to the EPA, toxic chemicals found in the home are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor airborne pollutants.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission connects 150 chemicals commonly found in our homes to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.
The National Cancer Institute has a list of twenty known carcinogens and over 2,200 chemicals that are probable carcinogens. Many of these chemicals are in the cleaners and personal care products you buy at your local grocery store.
What can you do?
There are many safe products on the market... all you have to do is change brands of products.
Link about what you can do:
http://www.ahealthcafe.com/cgi-bin/team.cgi?id=Ma28353&action=show
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Cleaning Products
DID YOU KNOW?
* An EPA study revealed that toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times
more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.
* The Asthma Society of Canada has identified common household cleaners and
and cosmetics as triggers to asthma.
The vast majority of domestic cleaning products contain an abundance of toxic chemicals, most of which could seriously impact your health. Indeed, household cleaners are the major source of home toxins. Approximately 500,000 tons of liquid cleaners are washed down U.S. drains annually. These products are absorbed through the skin, breathed into the lungs, and eaten from plates with chemical residue following “cleaning.” Ingestion, of course, is always a danger as well, and the number-one cause of household poisoning is dish detergent.
Most cleaning products rely on petroleum-based surfactants, solvents and other chemicals, some of which are known to be acutely toxic in large doses. Others have been linked to reproductive illnesses and cancer. Most of these chemicals have not been tested for their impact on human health. Many household cleansers contain substances such as the highly toxic halogens chlorine and fluorine as well as glycol ether, naphtha, and kerosene, which are neurotoxins and central-nervous-system depressants. These substances can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness.
Some of these products contain such a toxic cocktail of chemicals that the EPA has produced guides to help people choose environmentally friendly chemicals. Chemicals found in cleaning products are surfactants – substances that remove fat, proteins, and dust from clothes or surfaces to ensure that the fats and dirt dissolve in the washing water without sticking to the clothes or surface again. Many ordinary household products such as detergents, cleaning agents, dishwashing liquids, soaps, shampoos, and conditioners contain surfactants. These chemicals are well known to be toxic to fish and in aquatic systems. The toxicity of these surfactants on humans varies, but in many cases they can cause severe skin, eye, and respiratory harm. What’s more, when surfactants, which are classified as “inert” pesticide additives, are mixed with other active chemicals, they can hugely increase the toxicity of other chemicals – whether toxic chemicals in cleaning solutions or “active” pesticides in pest-control preparations.
The best thing to do is to clear them all out, and find healthier alternatives. What products are safe for my home? For more information click on: http://www.ahealthcafe.com/cgi-bin/team.cgi?id=Ma28353&action=show
Sources: Toxic Overload
Paula Baillie-Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D.
DID YOU KNOW?
* An EPA study revealed that toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times
more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.
* The Asthma Society of Canada has identified common household cleaners and
and cosmetics as triggers to asthma.
The vast majority of domestic cleaning products contain an abundance of toxic chemicals, most of which could seriously impact your health. Indeed, household cleaners are the major source of home toxins. Approximately 500,000 tons of liquid cleaners are washed down U.S. drains annually. These products are absorbed through the skin, breathed into the lungs, and eaten from plates with chemical residue following “cleaning.” Ingestion, of course, is always a danger as well, and the number-one cause of household poisoning is dish detergent.
Most cleaning products rely on petroleum-based surfactants, solvents and other chemicals, some of which are known to be acutely toxic in large doses. Others have been linked to reproductive illnesses and cancer. Most of these chemicals have not been tested for their impact on human health. Many household cleansers contain substances such as the highly toxic halogens chlorine and fluorine as well as glycol ether, naphtha, and kerosene, which are neurotoxins and central-nervous-system depressants. These substances can cause confusion, headaches, lack of concentration, and symptoms of mental illness.
Some of these products contain such a toxic cocktail of chemicals that the EPA has produced guides to help people choose environmentally friendly chemicals. Chemicals found in cleaning products are surfactants – substances that remove fat, proteins, and dust from clothes or surfaces to ensure that the fats and dirt dissolve in the washing water without sticking to the clothes or surface again. Many ordinary household products such as detergents, cleaning agents, dishwashing liquids, soaps, shampoos, and conditioners contain surfactants. These chemicals are well known to be toxic to fish and in aquatic systems. The toxicity of these surfactants on humans varies, but in many cases they can cause severe skin, eye, and respiratory harm. What’s more, when surfactants, which are classified as “inert” pesticide additives, are mixed with other active chemicals, they can hugely increase the toxicity of other chemicals – whether toxic chemicals in cleaning solutions or “active” pesticides in pest-control preparations.
The best thing to do is to clear them all out, and find healthier alternatives. What products are safe for my home? For more information click on: http://www.ahealthcafe.com/cgi-bin/team.cgi?id=Ma28353&action=show
Sources: Toxic Overload
Paula Baillie-Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Cleaning Supplies
Toxic chemicals are all around us, in our homes, cars, work, and even supermarket. It is our job to limit the amount of toxic chemicals that enters our body. Exposure is the term for how toxic chemicals can enter our bodies. Exposure to toxic chemicals can occur through three ways, ingestion, inhalation, and absorption.
Chemicals are ingested through eating items that have chemicals on them. One common way toxic chemicals are ingested is through not adequately washing fruits and vegetables before eating. Inhalation occurs through breathing in chemicals. Chemicals can become suspended in the air and easily breathed in, the smaller the chemicals the deeper in the lung the chemical can go and the more harm they can cause. We breathe in toxic chemicals all day with the use of aerosol or spray cans. Absorption can occur when toxic chemicals come in contact with our skin. Our skin is a great barrier, but chemicals are still able to penetrate through skin or easily enter through cuts on our skin.
Cleaning is not something most of us enjoy, but it is part of life. Cleaning can expose us to very toxic chemicals found in common cleaning supplies sold in stores. When we clean we are exposed to chemicals through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption. Ingestion can occur by spraying toxic chemicals near food that is out on the counter. Inhalation through breathing after cleaner has been sprayed. Absorption can occur when we are wiping anything down with toxic chemicals and they touch our skin.
For more information on how to reduce the toxic chemicals we are exposed to and create healthy homes go to:
http://www.ahealthcafe.com/cgi-bin/team.cgi?id=Ma28353&action=show
Toxic chemicals are all around us, in our homes, cars, work, and even supermarket. It is our job to limit the amount of toxic chemicals that enters our body. Exposure is the term for how toxic chemicals can enter our bodies. Exposure to toxic chemicals can occur through three ways, ingestion, inhalation, and absorption.
Chemicals are ingested through eating items that have chemicals on them. One common way toxic chemicals are ingested is through not adequately washing fruits and vegetables before eating. Inhalation occurs through breathing in chemicals. Chemicals can become suspended in the air and easily breathed in, the smaller the chemicals the deeper in the lung the chemical can go and the more harm they can cause. We breathe in toxic chemicals all day with the use of aerosol or spray cans. Absorption can occur when toxic chemicals come in contact with our skin. Our skin is a great barrier, but chemicals are still able to penetrate through skin or easily enter through cuts on our skin.
Cleaning is not something most of us enjoy, but it is part of life. Cleaning can expose us to very toxic chemicals found in common cleaning supplies sold in stores. When we clean we are exposed to chemicals through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption. Ingestion can occur by spraying toxic chemicals near food that is out on the counter. Inhalation through breathing after cleaner has been sprayed. Absorption can occur when we are wiping anything down with toxic chemicals and they touch our skin.
For more information on how to reduce the toxic chemicals we are exposed to and create healthy homes go to:
http://www.ahealthcafe.com/cgi-bin/team.cgi?id=Ma28353&action=show
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