16 Ways to Heal Your Home.
Thursday, April 10th, 2008This is Co-Op America’s Spring 2008 Quarterly and it’s full of excellent tips to help you make your home safer for you, your family and the environment.
Our “Heal Your Home Center” is a one-stop shop for the articles we’ve written on nontoxic living over the past few years, from finding least-toxic paints and stains to making your own green cleaners to detoxing your entire bedroom. Move your mouse over this house to find parts of your home to heal.
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Bathroom1. Trash Conventional Body Care Products —
The Problem: More than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer, and very few products are tested for safety. Some products contain phthalates, which don’t appear in the list of a product’s ingredients. Instead, they are covered by the general term “fragrance.” Other troublesome ingredients include coal tar, which is made from petroleum waste; diethanolamine (DEA); 1,4-Dioxane; and parabens. These toxins may be linked to: endocrine disruptions, skin problems, and cancer.
The Solution: Look for body care products from one of the 600 retailers that have signed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Compact. These companies have pledged to phase out the 450 chemicals banned by the European Union in 2005 because they’re strongly suspected of being mutagens, carcinogens, or endocrine disrupters. You can also search the EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to learn about the products on your shelves.
Eco-bonus: Your green body care purchases help stop environmental contamination of our waterways. Buying organic supports sustainable, pesticide-free agriculture.
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Bedroom2. Mind Your Mattress—
The problem: Federal laws require mattresses to be fire resistant, so many manufacturers treat the mattress foam with flame-retardant chemcials. The most dangerous are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which some manufacturers are phasing out voluntarily. Mattresses and pads made of petroleum-based polyester, nylon, and polyurethane foam (including “memory” foam) can off-gas VOCs. The water-repellants and stain-resistant finishes used on many mattresses, and on some plywood or particleboard boxsprings, may offgas formaldehyde. These toxins may be linked to: endocrine disruption, cancer, neurotoxicity.
The solution: Choose mattresses stuffed with natural, nontoxic, and organic materials, and untreated with flame-retardant PDBEs or other chemical finishes. (If this information is not on the tag, call the manufacturer.) Mattresses with a layer of flame-retardant wool may be more affordable than all-organic mattresses. If you can’t replace your mattress, minimize off-gassing fumes by covering it with an impermeable encasement intended for allergy sufferers, by vacuuming frequently, by ventilating the room, and by using a HEPA air filter.
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Kitchen
1. Avoid Pesticides; Go Organic —The problem: Many conventional fruits and vegetables carry pesticide residues. Twenty-three of theHealthy Kitchen world’s 28 most commonly used pesticides are suspected carcinogens, and several are possible neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors. Consuming conventional dairy products and meat can expose you to the hormones used on food animals, which may be linked to endocrine disruption. May be linked to: cancer and endocrine disruption.
The solution: Buy organic foods, grown without toxic pesticides, when you can. If you’re on a tight budget, avoid conventional fruits and vegetables that carry the highest amounts of pesticide residue: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, spinach, and strawberries. Eating organic also gives your immune system a boost. A study at the University of California-Davis found that organic produce has 19 - 50 percent more cancer-fighting anti-oxidants than conventional produce.
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Home Exterior
3. Reduce Your Pesticide Use —The problem: Too many homeowners needlessly use hazardous chemical on their lawns, and these chemicals can drift into their homes and pollute indoor air. Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked with cancer or carcinogenicity, 15 with neurotoxicity, and 11 with hormone disruption, according to the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns. Many also pollute groundwater, and most are toxic to wildlife. These toxins may be linked to: cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption.
The solution: In many American yards, pesticide use is unnecessary and excessive. Visit Beyond Pesticides for least-toxic solutions to lawn care.
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Overall Healthy Home
3. Look for Sustainable Furniture —The problem: Some wood furniture can release VOCs from adhesives and finishes. Urea formaldehyde is used in particle-board furniture. Most upholstered furniture is treated with flame-retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These toxins may be linked to: cancer, endocrine disruption, neurtotoxicity, and respiratory irritation.
The solution: Seal exposed edges of particle board and pressed wood with a zero-VOC sealant (like AFM Safecoat’s Safe Seal sealant). Consider buying all-natural furniture, made from solid wood or natural, organic ingredients like organic cotton or hemp. Look for furniture made without toxic flame retardants.
Eco-Bonus: Wood furniture certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports sustainable forestry practices, preserving old-growth forests throughout the world.
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Much more, including plenty of helpful links, at the site. And remember, every little bit you do helps.
