We’ll start our blog series in a time manner. We’ll take different times of the day and expose some things that you may be exposed to. My point to this series is to help you get some of the unknown chemicals out of your life by bringing them to your attention and giving you easy ways to replace what you removed! Your Green Life: Bit by Bit, Bite by Bite… one step at a time.

I’ll try to keep on track of just going through an average, everyday life. I say “try” because I do tend to wander at times! Today, I’ll start upon rising from bed! Or should I say stumble out of bed!

As you crawl out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, first thing is to make that amazing cup of energy, Joe, liquid life, or whatever you want to call your coffee. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to talk you out of coffee. It’s my vice and I’m proud of it! But I do enjoy a chemical free, happy cup of my morning elixir.

The media has done some great things recently about publicizing the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and nasties in public and bottled water. I’m not diving into water in this article. Maybe another blog. Until then, I do suggest some research on your own if you need to learn more.

First we’ll talk about what you make your coffee in. There are eco-friendly coffee pots that don’t use filters and barely any energy. A french press or a percolator is to name a couple. No need to throw away your coffee pot, just yet! If you have a drip model, there are healthy ways to have that morning elixir!

If your coffee pot has a filter, to be green and healthy, I recommend you really look into the kind of filter you use. There are options for eco-friendly, chemical free ways to filter your coffee. There are organic, reusable ones on the market that you wash after each use. Just dump your grounds into the compost and wash the filter. The Swiss Gold basket type are readily available in department stores. Some gold ones do come with some issues of various low quality wire and the mixing with coffee acids, so buyer beware. There are reusable ,organic hemp or muslin that are great and come with a bit of getting use to because they are floppy. I prefer the fabric to the gold ones.

If you don’t want to get rid of your paper filters just yet, please be cautious of what kind paper filter you do use. The standard white coffee filter is white because it has been bleached. In the bleaching process the coffee filters are left with dioxins from the chemical bleaching process.

The term “dioxin” is referred to a group of toxins that have a toxin level near radioactive waste. Dioxins have been stated by EPA as “likely human carcinogens and are anticipated to increase the risk of cancer at background levels of exposure.”

Dioxin accumulates in the body’s fat and stays there and disrupts the endocrine system. According to National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, studies have shown exposure to high levels of dioxins have an increased risk of cancer. Other studies have shown dioxins can cause reproductive and developmental problems, and an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. All that in your morning cup? What do I suggest then?

Unbleached, recycled filters are my choice. They can put in your compost as they break down quickly. Using recycled paper causes 74% less air pollution, 35% less water pollution, and creates 5 times the number of jobs than producing virgin paper from trees. It saves old-growth trees, forest eco-systems, native habitat and biodiversity. (Data from World Centric)

Take your green bite, bit by bit. Do what you can, when you can and how you can. It all accumulates too.

Stay tuned for our next in Your Green Life: Bit by Bit, Bite by Bite for an exchange about your actual coffee.

]]> http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/morning-exposure/feed/ 0 greenhypnotist http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/blog-series-your-green-life-bit-by-bit-bite-by-bite/ http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/blog-series-your-green-life-bit-by-bit-bite-by-bite/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:22:01 +0000 greenhypnotist http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/?p=63 ]]>

Your Green Life: Bit by Bit, Bite by Bite

As I sit here answering a couple emails with questions from a client regarding green, chemical free living, I do realize that everyone’s effort into the big green world is exactly what they can or want to do at that time. When clients ask just where they can start or what they can do to eliminate some, most or all of the chemicals in their life, I always suggest to take a small bite, so to say, and green bit by bit.

Parts of my hypnosis business involves motivation. Some of my clients come to be assisted in motivation in many different facets of their lives. From sales, public speaking to weight loss; the self talk, motivation you need to be successful comes from your subconscious. Your body listens to your mind. I assist you and your mind to talk nice to your body! Most of my clients know my eco-green values.  They also are holistically minded and are always interested in greening their life. Hence, the Green Hypnotist blog was born in 2008.

Your Green Life: Bit by Bit, Bite by Bite is a blog series educating how we are exposed unknowingly to chemicals in our everyday lives but also how easy it will be to avoid them. Small steps and actions that you can do without any large amount of effort.

Green gets addictive! The more you remove chemicals, eat healthy and live well, the more you want to do.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Morning Exposure!

]]> http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/blog-series-your-green-life-bit-by-bit-bite-by-bite/feed/ 0 greenhypnotist http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/acetaminophen-use-after-mmr-vaccine-may-be-linked-to-autism/ http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/acetaminophen-use-after-mmr-vaccine-may-be-linked-to-autism/#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:00:32 +0000 greenhypnotist http://greenhypnotist.wordpress.com/?p=58 ]]>

A good portion of my private practice is pediatrics. I’m active in the pediatric wellness community. The term Pediatric Wellness means just what it sounds like. Wellness is key. Prevention, toxin free, not to overload their little bodies is a great way to start life. I don’t preach (well most of the time) but when I come across info from well trusted colleagues, I pass it on. Based on all my research, the increase in autism and ASD has grown in my children’s lifetime beyond comprehension. I have my beliefs, it’s not the post for it right now. But please take note of the following, it just could be a piece to the puzzle. Especially taking into consideration that acetaminophens use was an 80s birth…. just when autism started to rise.

It is something to think about. So please read below and pass it on!! Don’t take for granted that docs know about this.

In May 2008, scientists of a University of California San Diego reported that acetaminophen use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was associated with autistic disorder.

Let me repeat this once again. “Acetaminophen use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was significantly associated with autistic disorder when considering children 5 years of age or less.”

(Source: Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use, measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, and autistic disorder: the results of a parent survey. Schultz ST, Klonoff-Cohen HS, Wingard DL, Akshoomoff NA, Macera CA, Ji M. Autism. 2008 May;12(3):293-307.)

Why?  Acetaminphen suppresses glutathione levels  which doesn’t allow detoxification of vaccine ingredients such as mercury and aluminum.
Do your own research, come to  your own conclusions, but please pass the information along.

As I sit here this evening doing some research on safe hair products, I am constantly being reminded that just because it says “natural” doesn’t mean anything. And just because you’ve gone with a company in the past, doesn’t mean they’re still playing by the same rules. And lastly, if a company has a reputation of being green and natural, it doesn’t mean that all of their products are safe, green or natural!

The word natural is used quite loosely in the health and beauty industry. There have been a few companies that have been around since green and chemical-free became mainstream. Some have gotten the reputation as being all natural and chemical free. I only wish these companies would be consistent. Take for example Toms of Maine. Now owned by Colgate Company. Their inconsistencies in my opinion are outrageous. In my humble opinion *grin*, they ride their reputation from the beginning or their company and now some of their products have fluoride, SLS among other ingredients that they consider natural! It’s a cop out. Sure, it all comes from nature. If that’s the case, everything in the universe is natural as it’s derived from nature. I know people buy Tom’s based on their reputation of being safe and chemical free. People who can’t be bothered or who don’t take the time to actually look at the ingredients, use the reputation of the company to make their decisions. Toms are not the only ones who do this. Buyers beware, check all labels.

Raising a chemical free child in a not so chemical free world is a daily job. Aveeno natural products company is also riding the natural wave. Mothers all over are scooping up their products to keep their little babies as chemical free as possible. Their products have mineral oil (question cancer causing), PEG-80 (allergen, immunotoxicity) cocamidopropyl betaine (allergen, immunotoxicity), quaternium-15 (Allergies/ immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity, could contain formaldehyde) to name a few. Not something, I’m sure, green mommies are aware they’re slathering their babies with.

I’m really not bashing Toms and Aveeno, just using them as an example. SLS and Fluoride have their own controversies too. My opinion, why use them if there are any issues with it. We don’t need foamy toothpaste (SLS) nor do we need exposure to yet even more fluoride than we get already in water. (Fluoride is an entire other subject for another time!) The term natural is not meant for the faint of heart. Just reading it on packaging these days has me thinking the company is hiding behind chemical. May not be the case all the time, but more and more it’s getting like that. The real companies are starting understand the misuse of the word! Reputations aren’t valued like they use to be.

Buyer beware, just because it’s a reputable company today with chemical free products, doesn’t mean next weeks trip to the grocery store will yield same results. I’ll go back and do more research on if there lies a genuine, safe hair color treatment. Yes, I’m getting grey and would like to fight it naturally!!

Organic cotton. Made with organic cotton. 100% organic cotton. Natural, untreated. Similar but not the same. Sometimes synchronicity strikes and if I listen, I usually find a life lesson or even an article in it! This one was the last week when I came across a new blurb about a very popular department store beginning to carry organic cotton jeans. I silently jumped and shouted, “yes.” I was truly excited to think inexpensive, USA made, organic jeans. That lasted for a brief moment.

The more I read and investigated about these jeans, the more once again big company and marketing is just plain deceptive. First of all, the jeans are made in China. Therefore, the carbon footprint of the jeans isn’t a plus. Second, the jeans are made ‘with’ organic cotton. Nowhere does it have to state the percentage of organic cotton that goes into the jeans so it can be very minimal. Third and most important. After the jeans are made, they are dipped and bathed in chemicals to soften, dye and break in. The fact that they have organic cotton somewhere in them is a moot point by then.

I have been a naturalist for many years.  I am informed and stay well informed regarding eco and green living.  What really makes me mad is that people who are uninformed regarding terms and labeling policies will buy these products thinking they are doing some good for their family and/or themselves.  They pay the extra to only to purchase items creatively labeled. This is what led me to the second half of the synchronicity.

The birth of a baby last week sparked some conversation regarding the clean slate of a newborn. How the little child coming into this world is unadulterated chemical free. Well, that’s actually an article for another time, but lets assume that babies come into this world chemical free. We try to introduce the best of the best and the healthiest of the healthiest for the baby. We breast feed, buy organic food, filtered water, chemical free baby detergent and so on. But what about their beds, the furniture or crib decor?

Chemicals from flame retardants used in pajamas, bedding and furniture have been found in toddlers’ blood. Flame retardants pass government standards when they do not wash out after 50 washes, so don’t think you’ll simply wash the items a few times.

According to a recent study, children under 4 years old had three times more of the neurotoxins known as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in their blood as their mothers. The study was released by Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. that advocates protecting public health and the environment.

PBDEs have been linked to be hormone disruptors and interfere with brain development. Infants’ clothes up to 9 months size are exempt. Doesn’t mean it’s not added, just means they don’t have to include the chemicals. But infants sleep on sheets, are exposed to bedding and furniture.  The least we can do is allow their little faces to come in contact with natural, untreated sheets.

So the next time you purchase crib sheets, do your baby a favor and buy sheets made with 100 percent organic cotton, naturally dyed, untreated. If the extra expense is an issue, consider only buying a couple and rotate/wash daily. Every bit helps and contributes to a healthy child and mother earth.

A local middle school is having development day for their students. Instead of going to classes for curriculum in the morning, they go to workshops for part of the day. What a great, innovative idea. I applaud such thought.

I was invited to hold two one-hour workshops on stress management tools for kids. Since this is an expertise of mine, I was excited and ready to explore an outline for the event.

About 50% of the clients that I see on a private basis are children. The stress management workshops I hold are majority corporate or adult groups such as battered women or spiritual, self-enhancement groups. So outlining such a workshop would be a bit different and possibly challenging since the kids are kids and focus is at a minimum.

Once I got started on the outline, exercises, and innovative ways to hold their attention, I began to think, “Oh my, how on earth am I going to get all the information I would love to share in one hour?” How can I teach these kids the multiple tools I have to alleviate some of their stress in hopes that they will walk away with something that they can use.

Of course, I finished the outline with much packed into the hour. But confirmed once again to myself, the point that school systems across the country really need stress management workshops for their children of at least… the very least…. two two-hour classes.

In these times where education funding is at an all time low and outside monies are not available, I can understand why this isn’t a priority. But just think of the enhancement that children would have using techniques taught at a stress management clinic. They would test better. They would focus more. They would identify just where their stress may lie physically. And most of all, they would come out having a better understanding of stress, how it affects their body, mind and self-esteem and those tools needed to combat it for life.

I really feel and urge educators that teen stress management is equally important as notebook organization and to take time and money out of their budget to adequately inspire children to de-stress !!

You may be finding it difficult to cope with life challenges more than usual. The February Blues are starting to hit. In the Northeast, we’ve had enough winter, the holidays are over, and we crave the sun and are lacking vitamin D. This year, stress factors are a bit extreme which are contributing to February blues even more.

Our winter has been colder and snowier than recent years. World affairs bombard us daily and are overwhelming and insurmountable. Media continually reminds us how bad it is everywhere. Economy, lay offs, top it off with global warming, excess chemicals in our lives and trying to live green in a not-so-green world, it’s no wonder why stress is at an all time high.

Stress can be good for motivation and keeping us safe in emergency situations, but the majority of the time, stress does a lot of negative things to our body, mind and spirit. Stress is well known to lower the immune system, inhibiting us from fighting colds, flu and other illnesses. Stress is a contributing factor to many negative feelings we have both physically and emotionally. Symptoms of excessive stress include feelings of anxiousness, problems sleeping, focus, muscle tension, headaches, stomach, digestion issues, social withdrawal to only name a few. According to Mass General Hospital, roughly 60 to 90% of doctor visits are for conditions related to stress. The mind/body is a vital component of effective health care.

Stress creeps into our psyche without our knowing. When was the last time you really focused on a song’s words to learn them. I’m sure not often. But you’ll sing to the songs on the radio and know the words. Just how did you learn them? When the media is playing in the background of your life, the negativity of the news will creep into your unconscious mind just as the words to the songs and stress you out!

It is helpful to identify where we hold stress in our physical body. Take a moment and close your eyes. Think of a stressful event. Scan your body. Where is it affecting you? Is your jaw or fists clenched? Are your shoulders up to your ears? Observe your stomach and breathing patterns. Notice where and how you are physically holding on to stress, so when life happens, you can identify the physical traits and use techniques to reduce them.

Take some time to practice even small stress management techniques. You’ll be surprised how even small blocks of a couple minutes here and there help.

Common stress busters are yoga, exercise, eating well, drinking plenty of water and calming music. Other effective ways to cope are:

• Turn off for a while. Turn off the news, your cell phone, PDA and other communication devices. Turn off your brain from thinking, analyzing and just be in the moment. Take a walk, focus on nature or even your footsteps. Be in the moment not matter what you’re doing and however mundane.

• Belly breath. Most of us breathe using only the upper portions of our lungs. Learning correct belly breathing promotes blood flow and increases oxygen supply. Put one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach. Take a deep breath by expanding your stomach and chest at the same time. Doing a few belly breaths, you’ll see your shoulders drop and a relaxation response begin to happen.

• Take a vacation in your mind. Visualize a place of imagination or a favorite place you’ve been. Use all your senses in this visualization. If your favorite place is Crane’s Beach in the summer, see the sand, feel the warmth of the sun enveloping your entire body, hear the waves roll in and out as your breath. Visualizing touching a shell as you pick it up. Be creative in your visualizations. Taking a 10 minute mind vacation is a great afternoon pick me up from stress.

• Neuromuscular relaxation is tightening muscles for a few seconds and then releasing them. The process naturally forces the muscles to return to a relaxed position. Working from head to feet or feet to head, flexing and releasing muscle groups.

Relaxation is a powerful antidote to stress. As stress management is practiced, the body learns to cope in times of need. Do yourself a favor, teach it to cope.

Do you remember the song Aquarius from the rock musical Hair?

At 7:25 am (GMT) on February 14, 2009 (the day dedicated to the patron saint of love, St. Valentine) and for the following 18 minutes, the Moon in Libra enters the seventh house of relationships. And Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house of spiritual transformation. How wonderful, an alignment of love and relationships!

The cosmos will be at a perfect alignment to support our collective manifestation of love and peace

Forty something years ago, a song titled Aquarius was on the charts.

When the moon is in the Seventh House
and Jupiter aligns with Mars
then peace will guide the planets
and love will steer the stars
this is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius

The astrological combination in first two lines – The moon in the Seventh House with Jupiter aligning with Mars in Aquarius – has actually occurred twice since the song came out. Once in 1973 and again 1998. However, when it occurs again this year, it does so along with other auspicious alignments. All the other planets are also in astrologically significant positions emphasizing change, cooperation and creativity. This rare alignment inspires the possibility for a breakthrough for tranquility in seemingly impossible situations. Just what humanity and Mother Earth needs at the moment!

There are 12 astrological ages. Each representing one of the zodiac signs. Each astrological age is approximately 2,150 years long, on average. Ages are believed by some astrologers to affect mankind while other astrologers believe the ages correlate to the rise and fall of mighty civilizations and cultural tendencies. Aquarius traditionally “rules” electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealists, modernization, rebels and rebellion, mental diseases, nervous disorders, and astrology.

For a lot of astrological believers, this is a great influence on our Earth, her events, consciousness and vibrations. Many people from around the world have attached much impact to this event and date that I believe collectively it will energize a wave of positive high vibrations and intention around the globe. I believe it will boost our vibrations and consciousness a little closer to a greater place. Some believe that greater place is toward the 5th dimension. How funny..The name of the group that brought the song to light!!

As an energy lightworker, I plan on setting a bit of time aside on February 14 in boosting our earth’s vibration. Why don’t you too! Collective consciousness is real.

Happy Valentines Day has an entire new meaning this year!!

Peace.

We all get those emails of random tips, “if you don’t send this to 150million people, your luck won’t change” and then there’s those jokes that seem endless. But once in a while, an email comes along that just makes your day.

Well, my friends, this is the Mother of all tips and I am passing along the email.   Am I the only one that didn’t know this????

Was this something we were supposed to learn from our Mom’s?????
I can’t believe it’s been there all this time.

I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself.
Whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box?
You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box.
Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over.
The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time.
Well, I would like to share this with you.
Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it,
and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end.
Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place.
How long has this little locking tab been there?
I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too.
I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too!
I can’t count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out,
when I was trying to cover something up.
I’m sharing this with my friends.
I hope I’m not the only person that didn’t know about this.

I know you’re going to go and check your boxes, so go ahead

but come back and comment about your AHA moment!

Stress and a bad economy has a hold of us. It’s time to get Back to Basics

Every news show. Every newspaper. Every radio and media event, we are being told how bad the economy is. We know!! Food has skyrocketed. Unemployment figures are soaring. And don’t even get me started on the billions that are getting pumped into the skyscrapers!!

We are where we are because America has lived beyond its means. As a child of parents who lived through the Depression Era, we had one car, simple meals, little material objects and entertained ourselves without many toys. Most of all, we were happy.

An attorney I worked for in my early 20s was very wealthy and lived a simple life. He became a somewhat father figure to me throughout the years working there. The one thing I remember him saying a lot is to “take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves.” I remembered that saying, but never quite took it to heart.

We need to shift the way think and the way we live our lives. The earth is crumbling from global warming and overuse of chemicals. The overspending pendulum has swung as far as it can. We, as a species, in order to survive must get back to basics. It is imperative for my children and my children’s children future.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When stuff happens, my nature is to calmly, methodically act. I am in the stress management business. I do practice what I preach (most of the time). Wellness today means body, mind and spirit. It’s time to be well.

The world affairs bombard us daily and are overwhelming and insurmountable. Turn off! Turn off! Turn off! What, you may ask?? Turn off the news. Turn off your cell phone, Blackberry and other communication devices. And yes, that includes the computer (after you read this of course!!) Turn off your brain and just be in the moment. Take some time to practice even small stress management techniques. Want to know how? Visit my site for free techniques. www.WholeHealthHypnosis.com

I have been chemical conscious for about 20 years. When my son was young, people just thought I was an earthy, crunchy, hippie about 20 years too late! But even back in the early 80s, I was concerned what was in the food that my children ate and the chemicals that they were exposed to.

My mother baked from scratch. Prepackaged food was seldom used in our house because she was a frugal shopper and cooking from scratch was inexpensive. Well cooking from scratch just happens to be healthy too! Osmosis happens! I grew up without the want or desire to cook with a lot of prepackaged food, but my reasons were preservatives not finances. I found myself in my 20s and beyond baking bread from scratch and making real soap. Not detergent bars that you buy off the supermarket shelves, but real, honest to goodness soap. For some reason, I just knew it was better than that ingredient list on the back of the detergent bar!

Getting back to basics and “taking care of the pennies so that the dollars will take care of themselves” go hand in hand today. Cleaners are full of harsh, dangerous chemicals and they are expensive. Even the termed “green cleaners” aren’t as safe as the term “green” has you thinking. There are no guidelines to use the term “green.” Using home made household cleaners are safer, just as effective and slashes your grocery bill by a lot. Knowing just where our cleaning dollars are going and what the ingredients are is an eye opener. Making safe cleaners start with an understanding of safe and unsafe ingredients. Below are some of the most used chemicals and a brief description. There are many natural sites on the web with a plethora of recipes for household cleaners. Do a bit of research and make your own. The recipes are very easy and you know what is being spread around your home.

Want recipes?? Just give me an email and I’ll gladly return it with some of my favorites.

Remember, making cleaners from scratch is less expensive and more reliable because you know what ‘you’ are putting into it!!

The Household Toxics Tour

In the Kitchen

All-purpose cleaner, ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, brass or other metal polishes, dishwater detergent, disinfectant, drain cleaner, floor wax or polish, glass cleaner, dishwashing detergent, oven cleaner, and scouring powder contain dangerous chemicals. Some examples are:

• sodium hypochlorite (in chlorine bleach): if mixed with ammonia, releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems;
• petroleum distillates (in metal polishes): short-term exposure can cause temporary eye clouding; longer exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys, and eyes;
• ammonia (in glass cleaner): eye irritant, can cause headaches and lung irritation;
• · phenol and cresol (in disinfectants): corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage;
• · nitrobenzene (in furniture and floor polishes): can cause skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects;
• · formaldehyde (a preservative in many products): suspected human carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin, and lungs.

In the Utility Closet

A number of products are likely to contain toxic ingredients: carpet cleaner, room deodorizer, laundry softener, laundry detergent, anti-cling sheets, mold and mildew cleaner, mothballs, and spot remover all usually contain irritant or toxic substances. Examples:

· perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (in spot removers and carpet cleaners): can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; perchloroethylene is an animal carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen;

• naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (in mothballs): naphthalene is a suspected human carcinogen that may damage eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system; paradichlorobenzene can harm the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys;
• hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate in toilet bowl cleaner; either can burn the skin or cause vomiting diarrhea and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if inadvertently splashed in the eyes;
• residues from fabric softeners, as well as the fragrances commonly used in them, can be irritating to susceptible people;
• possible ingredients of spray starch (aside from the starch) include formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol; in addition, any aerosolized particle, including cornstarch, may irritate the lungs.

In the Living Room and Bedroom

Even the furnishings of the typical American home can be harmful. Fabrics that are labeled “wrinkle-resistant” are usually treated with a formaldehyde resin. These include no-iron sheets and bedding, curtains, sleep wear — any woven fabric, but especially polyester/cotton blends, marketed as “permanent press” or “easy care.” More modern furniture is made of pressed wood products emits formaldehyde and other chemicals. Carpeting is usually made of synthetic fibers that have been treated with pesticides and fungicide. Many office carpets emit a chemical called 4-phenylcyclohexene, an inadvertent additive to the latex backing used in more commercial and home carpets, which is thought to be one of the chemicals responsible for “sick” office buildings.

In the Bath

Numerous cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain hazardous substances. Examples:

• cresol, formaldehyde, glycols, nitrates/nitrosamines and sulfur compounds in shampoos;
• butane propellants in hair spray (replacing carcinogenic methylene chloride), as well as formaldehyde resins;
• aerosol propellants, ammonia, formaldehyde, triclosan, aluminum chlorhydrate in antiperspirants and deodorants’
• glycols, phenol, fragrance, and colors in lotions, creams, and moisturizers.

In the Studio or Hobby Room

Although legislation controlling many of the dangerous ingredients in hobby materials has recently been passed, exposure to certain art materials remains a health risk. Dangerous chemicals and metals include:

• lead in ceramic glazes, stained-glass materials, and many pigments;
• cadmium in silver solders, pigments, ceramic glazes and fluxes;
• chromium in paint pigments and ceramic colors;
• manganese dioxide in ceramic colors and some brown oil and acrylic paint pigments;
• cobalt in some blue oil and acrylic paint pigments;
• formaldehyde as a preservation in many acrylic paints and photographic products;
• aromatic hydrocarbons in paint and varnish removers, aerosol sprays, permanent markers, etc.;
• chlorinated hydrocarbons (solvents) in ink, varnish, and paint removers, rubber cement, aerosol sprays;
• petroleum distillates (solvents) in paint and rubber cement thinners, spray adhesives, silk-screen inks;
• glycol ethers and acetates in photography products, lacquer thinners, paints, and aerosol sprays.

In the Garage

A number of dangerous substances are frequently present, including paint; paint thinner, benzene, kerosene, mineral spirits, turpentine, lubricating/motor oils, and gasoline. Hazards among them include these chemicals:

• chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in paint thinner can cause liver and kidney damage;
• petroleum hydrocarbons, an ingredient of gasoline, motor oils, and benzene, are associated with skin and lung cancer;
• mineral spirits in oil-based paint are a skin, eye, nose throat, and lung irritant. High air concentrations can cause nervous system damage, unconsciousness and death;
• ketones in paint thinner may cause respiratory ailments; vary according to specific form of the chemical;
• ketones and toluene in wood putty; toluene in highly toxic, may cause skin, kidney, liver, central nervous system damage; may damage reproductive system.

In the Garden Shed

Pesticides, one of the most important single hazards in the home. Around 1,400 pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are ingredients in consumer products. Combined with other toxic substances such as solvents, pesticides are present in more than 34,000 different product formulations.

On the Patio

Charcoal lighter fluid contains petroleum distillates. Besides being flammable and imparting a chemical taste to food, some petroleum distillates contain benzene, a known human carcinogen.

Safe Substitutes for Household Toxics

Until World War II and the zenith of the Chemical Age that followed war-related research, householders used a limited number of simple substances to keep most objects in the house clean, order-free, and pest-free. Soap, vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, ammonia, borax, alcohol, cornstarch, and certain food ingredients were used to lift out spots and stains, deodorize, polish wood or metal, disinfect, scrub, repel pests, clean pets, wash and starch clothes, and to perform countless other household tasks. Simple cosmetic preparations kept hair lustrous and skin supplied with the aid of ingredients such as eggs, oil, clay, vinegar, and herbs.

The garden was fertilized and pests were kept down with naturally occurring substances. Weeds were weeded by hand. Even though some natural pesticides, like nicotine and rotenone, were indeed toxic to humans, they were not persistent in the environment. They degrade soon after application. Pyrethrum, a pesticide derived from a variety of chrysanthemum which is nontoxic to mammals, controlled a wide spectrum of pests. Although it is till widely used, it is usually mixed with other chemicals to increase its potency.

Buildings of the past were made with wood, brick, stone, glass, plaster, and cement. Furniture was made of solid wood, oiled to keep it polished. Rugs or carpets were made of wool or cotton. Insulation was built in by making walls thick, and roofing was constructed from wood shingles or tiles of clay or stone. Walls were plastered. Windows were made to be opened, so at least in good weather there was plenty of natural ventilation.

But toxic materials also were present in homes of the past. Not knowing enough about their hazards, housewives used such chemicals as arsenic, lead, and mercury to perform certain household chores. Interior and exterior paints were often made with lead; many American children are still living with the legacy of lead poisoning caused by eating chips of leaded paint. Asbestos, called a miracle mineral when its fire-resistant properties were discovered, is now known to be a cancer causer that contaminates hundreds of thousands of residences, schools, and other buildings in this country.

We do not need to return to the ways of the past to avoid exposure to house toxics, but we can take some lessons from the past for a better future. How can we do this?

Buy safe substitutes. For example, search for a soap-based garden insecticide (at least one national brand is available) instead of chemically–based ones.

When in Doubt, Leave it Out. In cases where there is no effective safe substitute for a toxic product, reevaluate how important the goal really is. Must you absolutely get rid of all insects in your garden, or can you live with some chewed-up leaves? If the goal is absolutely imperative, such as ensuring that termites do not invade your house, it is important to educate yourself thoroughly. You may have more healthful alternatives than your local pest company tells you.

Safe Substitutes in the Kitchen and Bath

One shelf of simple and relatively safe ingredients can be used to perform most home cleaning chores. All that’s needed is knowledge of how they work and how different ingredients should be combined to get the cleaning power needed for a specific job.

Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It has a number of useful properties. It can neutralize acid, scrub shiny materials without scratching, deodorize, and extinguish grease fires. It can be used as a deodorizer in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, on upholstery and on vinyl. It can help deodorize drains. It can clean and polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin. It also softens fabrics and removes certain stains. Baking soda can soften hard water and makes a relaxing bath time soak; it can be used as an underarm deodorant and as toothpaste, too.

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water. It can deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold, boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent, remove stains, and can be used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches.

Cornstarch, derived from corn, can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs, and starch clothes.

Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant.

Lemon Juice, which contains citric acid, is a deodorant and can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, clothes, and porcelain. It is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight.

Soap (NOT detergent) is made in several ways. Castle soap can be used as a shampoo or as body soap. Olive-oil based soap is gentlest to the skin. An all-purpose liquid soap can be made by simple dissolving the old ends of bar soap (or grated slivers of bar soap) in warm water.

Steel Wool is an abrasive strong enough to remove rust and stubborn food residues and to scour barbeque grills.

TSP is trisodium phosphate, a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint, that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals and it does not create any fumes.

Vinegar is made from soured apple juice, grain, or wine. It contains about 5 percent acetic acid, which makes it a mild acid. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, remove mildew or wax buildup, polish some metals, and deodorize. Vinegar can clean brick or stone, and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes. Use vinegar to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots and to shine windows without streaking. Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used straight.

Washing Soda or SAL Soda is a sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. It can cut stubborn grease on grills, broiler pans, and ovens. It can be used with soda instead of laundry detergent, and it softens hard water. These items are available from drug and chemical-supply stores.

The Safe Home of the 21st Century

Because Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, it is crucial to make the home environment as safe as possible. Indoor pollutants have proliferated in recent years, often either because modern construction techniques and furnishings manufacturers utilize hazardous materials or because consumers do not know enough about the products they buy to make informed choices.

But safe, nontoxic alternatives exist for nearly every real need around the home, and the search for them may help consumers distinguish between what they really do need, and what may be “luxuries” that could compromise their families’ health.

Until next time,

The Green Hypnotist

Household Toxic Tour Source: http://www.inspiredliving.com/~non-toxproducts.htm