moving info

Please find even more info here

I love this blog site but it seems easier to keep stuff use-able at the new location and that is where more updates will be added.

thanks!

t

Phosphates

By now, you have probably heard that phosphates are not good for the environment, BUT do you know how that really applies to your day to day life?

When too much phosphorus exists in a waterway (think stream, river, ocean) it makes the growth of green algae overgrow.

Think about it like this the phosphorus is naturally occurring in nature but too much works like a miracle grow for the algae and then that chokes out all the natural growth, killing natural plants, fish, crabs etc.

In fact, just one-pound pf phosphates can produce between 400 and 700 pounds of green algae!

That massive growth not only turns the water green (like pea soup), but it also changes the ecosystem.  Algae blocks the sunlight, killing the plants below the surface, and the natural oxygen production.  Then as the algae dies, it consumes massive amounts of oxygen when decomposing.  Now you have stagnant, non-oxygenated water and the animals (fish, frogs, crabs what ever was living there) die.

Now we know phosphates are bad for the water and the ecosystem; and yet are used by many companies in their dishwashing, dishwasher, washer, and other soap products. The reason they continue to use it is because they are cheap and effective and what they are used to.

Many of those companies use trickster advertising on the package, but you can outsmart them.

Easiest thing is do not buy products with phosphates on the label (remember they do not have to list on the label all of the ingredients, so if you are not sure of the company be very wary) you do NOT have to use phosphates for effective cleaning, and natural alternatives do not have to make the products more expensive.

If you see a label (this is an actual example from Cascade auto-dishwasher soap) that says “contains just 4.5% phosphorus in the form of phosphates, equal to 1 gram of phosphorus per tablespoon”

you might think hmm not much

What that MEANS however is the 4.5% represents just the amount of phosphorus and NOT the total amount of phosphates.  This is important because a phosphate molecule is MORE THAN just phosphorus atoms; it also contains sodium and oxygen atoms.  So even though the phosphorus content is 4.5% the actual amount of total phosphate (the whole phosphate molecule, not just the phosphorous atoms) is approximately 18% or nearly 4 grams of phosphates per tablespoon.

Here is to reducing YOUR footprints on the planet!

doing the laundry

Last time you tossed some smelly socks, a t-shirt or bath towels in the washing machine did you think about your impact on your body? the environment?

Perhaps you are now thinking I am talking about, “make sure and wash a full load to save water”; well of course, that makes sense but no, I am talking about more then that. I am thinking more along the lines of the containers of detergents and brighteners and what is IN them; what you will add to the load to “clean” your favorite sheets and your new jeans.

First of all as stewards of the planet we all know that when we throw something “away” it actually goes somewhere; away from you, yes, but to a new place. It is obvious that we want to buy things that we can reuse and or things that will last longer.

Have you ever had the experience with laundry soap that you wash your clothes in it, then put on the clothes and it itches like crazy on your skin, some people even break out into a rash. Well there are a few reasons for that obviously the largest is that what you “washed” your clothes in actually stayed IN the fabric.

In fact because of the harsh nature of grocery store laundry products clothing is generally given a life expectancy of just 50 washings.(1) Has your favorite little black dress become more a of a little grey dress? How about your favorite white team t-shirt, looking a bit grey? I am going to cover some of the main reasons for both of those problems, and why they contribute to why clothes are not lasting after many wash loads.

First most detergents rely on alkaline formulas to remove stains. Now that is an effective way to remove stains but it also causes a break down in the fabric, making your clothing wear out and fade faster. That graying of your whites, there is a name for that – redeposition, which simply means that while the stains are broken down they swirl around in the water and are then redeposited on the clothes! That often leads a person to grab for the old stand by bleach; and we KNOW the dangers of bleach. However, did you know that household bleaches, which claim to disinfect, are classified as pesticides under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

Meanwhile we are using water to “clean” our laundry and it is going down the drain taking it with it alkaline chemicals, the other fillers and chemicals and pesticides. While some is staying on the fabrics, you wear and sleep on and bath with or let a pet sleep on.

By now we all know the dangers that phosphates and bleach have caused to the water supply, and yet few people think they are contributing to the problem. After all, we need to have clean fresh smelling clothes and they would not sell it at the store if it wasn’t safe, right? Wrong in fact here in the United States the law instead is we will assume things are safe (innocent) and will not hurt you – until proven to be a safety hazard (guilty) so in fact consumers are the test market for many dangerous chemicals. We do know that the U.S. Federal Code of Regulations exempts manufacturers from full labeling of products if used for personal, family or household care.(2) According to the Consumer Protection Agency, 150 chemicals found in the home have been connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.

Now add to that many of the products you purchase contain soda ash and other fillers, which are there to add volume to the box, most of which goes straight down the drain; adding to the strain on waterways and treatment plants.

Think about it do you really think that they are all washed out of the fabrics you are washing; or is some of it the residue in the materials?

How about a couple of fun experiments, where we will see the story of your laundry detergent, and if it is ph balanced or alkaline?

Take a glass jar with a lid and fill it 2/3 full of water, add 1/2 scoop of your laundry detergent (or 1/2 of the liquid band) and then put the lid on and shake and shake and shake. If there are no fillers in the detergent then it will completely dissolve. However if there are fillers no matter how long or how hard you shake it will not.

To see if you have an alkaline formula put some of the detergent directly in your hand and then add a bit of water. If it is getting hotter in your hand, it is alkaline and SOME products are so alkaline that simply holding the product you will notice the heat. If there is no temperature change then it is pH balanced.

What SHOULD you be looking for in a laundry product? Well first pH balance and those that use organic surfactants, natural and biodegradable ingredients and enzymes to release the dirt from the fibers.

I hope you learned something new and found value in this article, it will not change the world BUT it could change part of your impact on it.

(1) Textile Industry affairs: label Talk Alert, Summer 1999, “Home Laundry Facts” www.textileaffairs.com/al2q99.htm

(2) USA FCR: Section 1910.1200C, Title 29, Section 1500.82 2Q1A

Resources

Where can I go for truth?

We have all been hearing lately about the Pet Food recalls. It can sure be scary knowing that there are dangers to our health and wellness (and our pets, and family members) lurking in places we like to think are safe.

It is hard too, to know where to look for good information. I find it frustrating and I know many of my friends do also. Is the e-mail that was forwarded true or false? Is the local news or local paper telling me the whole picture and about all the products? Where can I go for truth?

Well I offer some help!

First off when you have someone on your e-mail list that forwards you information, make sure that BEFORE you pass it on you make sure it is true.

A simple, FREE, and dependable site is snopes.com

Snopes does a great job of tracking down the truth and letting you know what is true, what is false, and what is not yet verifiable (perhaps true, maybe not) and also to let you know the WHEN part. One of the things you find in email forwards is they may have been true at one point, but no longer are. You also find one part of it is true, but not the rest (a known fact added to the tale to make it seem true) of the information.

You can sort through all the facts there with an easy to use search function, and frankly you may even enjoy snooping about some, and seeing some e-mails that you have gotten (and maybe passed on) that were not true; especially about BIG animals and such.

There is another site that I was just introduced to called recalls.org

I like how it breaks it down with FACTS, and in areas such as Food, Drugs, and Veterinary.

For example, have you heard yet that Poptarts were recalled this month? It was for a mislabeling you bought blueberry and ended up with hot fudge sundae flavor (who knew there were hot fudge sundae pop tarts?!?!)

What about more serious things like the LONG list from this month on baby wipes that were recalled for possible contamination of with Burkholderia cepacia, a recall that was for all of the states and Canada and involved 194,924 units?

Or the metal particles in some Little Debbie Products had you heard about that? I had not!

And this just in -McNEIL-PPC, Inc. (the “Company”) is recalling all lots of the GLACIER MINT™ and BUBBLE BLAST™ flavors of LISTERINE® AGENT COOL BLUE™ Plaque-Detecting Rinse after the Company determined that the preservative system is not adequate against certain microorganisms. The Company is recalling all bottles of AGENT COOL BLUE™ Plaque-Detecting Rinse, an estimated 4 million, from both retailers and consumers.

Therefore, it seems more and more often, the work of being a safe shopper falls only in your hands, I hope you find some value in the links I have shared. Remember that regardless of where you shop and what you buy be aware.

Recycle

Hi there, I know it has been awhile since I did a Toxin Free Homes newsletter. I came across a couple of cool things on recycling though and had to share.

First is a cute cartoon, about Sam Suds he is on the case of PVC The Poison Plastic. Check it out here: http://www.pvcfree.org/video.htm

Topic two; have you ever wondered what the products you recycle become? Well here is a small list for you. Aluminum cans may get a new life as cookware, bicycles, car parts and even home appliances. Plastic containers can become goggles, benches, fleece or polyfill jackets and even carpets. Paper products may become your next grocery bag, newspaper or magazine and the lower grades egg cartons, fruit trays and even home insulation. Glass is cool because is can be recycled over and over again but can also be a part of marbles, surf boards, roads, sidewalks and even tiles!

Then again trying to know what you can recycle and how to do it can be a place many folks stop, before they even start. So taken from Body + Soul magazine July/August 2007 is a great recycling 101-tip page. Of course, it is always best to check with your local providers.

Recycling 101
While recycling programs vary from city to city, a few rules hold true for most curbside collection programs. To find out about your local regulations or learn how to start a recycling program in your building, neighborhood, or city, visit earth911.org.

Hazardous Waste
This group includes household products that have corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients, such as rodent poisons, paints, batteries, electronics, cleaners, fluorescent lightbulbs, and thermometers.

Do Read product labels for disposal information.

Do Follow the “reduce-reuse-recycle” hierarchy. Reduce the amount of hazardous waste in your home, and use up as much as possible. Donate leftovers (find out where at earth911.org). As a last resort, arrange for disposal through community collection programs (call 1-800-CLEANUP or your local solid waste agency for dates and locations).

Do Participate in take-back and trade-in programs for batteries, computers, cartridges, and some electronics. See company Web sites for instructions.

Don’t Pour hazardous waste down the drain, storm sewer, or in your yard.

Don’t Put electronics out with your trash or recycling. Learn about the impact of “e-waste” and how you can help at svtc.org.

Metals
Do Recycle all aluminum cans. (If you’re not certain if a can is aluminum, test it with a refrigerator magnet. Aluminum isn’t magnetic.)

Do Rinse out tin cans (the kind that soup and pet food come in) before putting them in your bin. You don’t need to remove labels, but if they’re paper and come off easily, recycle them.Do Find out if your program accepts clean aluminum foil.

Do Remove plastic caps from metal containers and recycle them separately.

Do Check to see if your program accepts empty aluminum

Plastic
Do Rinse out containers before recycling.

Do Look beyond the number. Although pro­ducts may have the same number, they may not all be recyclable. For example, #2 bottles may be acceptable but not #2 wide-mouthed tubs. Check local rules to find out what’s okay.

Do Find out if your program requires removal of plastic bottle caps, which are often a different type of plastic. When in doubt, remove the cap and throw it away.

Don’t Mix plastic bags, film wrap, or molded plastic with your recyclables. Put film wrap in the garbage and recycle bags at a local supermarket. Donate usable products, such as chairs and kids’ toys, made with molded plastic.

Glass
Do Check local guide­lines to see which colors of glass (green/blue, brown, clear) jars and bottles you can recycle.

Do Remove caps, lids, and corks from jars and bottles.

Do Rinse out glass containers.

Don’t Put ceramics, heat-resistant ovenware (such as Pyrex and CorningWare), mirrors, windows, lightbulbs, drinking glasses, garden pots, or broken container glass (bottles and jars) into the mix.

Don’t Drive 50 miles to recycle a few bottles. If you don’t have curbside pickup, find a local collection facility or buy-back center (often located at supermarkets).

Paper
Do Keep it clean and dry. For many programs, a greasy pizza box or damp paper towels can render a whole bin useless. Limit moisture by putting recycling out on collection day, rather than the night before.

Do Flatten cardboard.

Do Recycle junk mail, including envelopes with plastic windows, unless local guidelines specify not to.

Do Recycle magazines after removing all samples and non-paper inserts.

Don’t Throw in wax paper, Styrofoam, or heavily soiled paper (like oil-soaked fast-food wrappers).

Don’t Bundle papers together with tape, wire, plastic, or rope. If local guidelines allow bundling, use lightweight string.

Be well!

Over the Counter

Just in case you still believe that what you can buy at the grocery store is safe – that is NOT a given! Are you looking for some tools and honest practical advice to help you sort through some of what is out there?

I am ALWAYS learning more things, and looking for more tools. Here is something I came across recently that I think you will want to bookmark and utilize.

Many brand name and generic medications cause depletions in our bodies. Here are some examples:

Anti-inflammatory Medications

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Depletions – Iron, Melatonin, Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), Zinc

Now say you want to know what a deficiency of each of those substances looks like; for example Zinc:

Signs and symptoms of zinc deficiency include loss of appetite or sense of taste, growth retardation, skin changes, and increased susceptibility to infection.

On the other hand, want to take it a step further to say Ibuprofen; complete with the brand names and the foreign brand names after all with the entire media blitz on medications how does a person keep them all straight?

So say Ibuprofen; do you know when NOT to use it?

• If you have an allergy to aspirin, another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), ibuprofen, or any other part of the medicine. A few examples of NSAIDs are naproxen, diclofenac, nabumetone, and ketoprofen.

How to store it:

• Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.

• Store liquid (suspension) and chewable tablets at room temperature.

Alternatively, say the COMMON side effects of taking it:

• Feeling sleepy or unable to think clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Belly pain, heartburn, cramps, diarrhea, gas.

• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk to healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.

• Stomach bleeding or ulceration. Watch stools for dark, tarry black color. Talk with healthcare provider.

When you miss a dose? When to call for medical help? Precautions to take?

Now would you like to have a resource that could tell you all of that and more?

I would and I have found one –

http://www.alternativemedicine.com/common/adam/DisplayMonograph.asp?name=ConsLookups_DepletionsByDrug&storeID=02AD61F001A74B5887D3BD11F6C28169

Some of you may recall I sat on a jury trial not that long ago; it was a wrongful death case. A man who was overweight, had high blood pressure, history of heart disease, and was borderline diabetic; died suddenly one day. NOT painlessly, nor did he die instantly. There was not enough time between the 911 call and the emergency room treatment for any of his family to even say goodbye.

The case hinged on who was at fault, it was that the medication he was taking that had caused a “rare” (it has since been pulled from pharmacies) side effect that seemed a lot like the flu. Did they know enough, were the possible side effects, specifically the serious ones, explained accurately and adequately? Honestly, the day it happened, that family’s biggest concern was he was a large man and his wife could not move him with the weakness in his legs. He was not being able to walk to the car so they called 911. The belief was that he had the flu and it was worse and had caused is sugars to be in the wrong place. Sadly it was much more then that.

It goes to show we ALL need to be very aware of what we are taking, and what we are giving our loved ones. Especially those that do not have a voice, like our children or the seniors in our lives OR those that are ill. It is much harder to keep track of what you took when, and how many; when you are sick and feel like just curling up in a ball and sleeping. It is truly a time in your life to not only ask for help for yourself, but also to offer help to others.

Be healthy and well!

I want you to know I have been doing all of my personal care and cleaning product shopping since December 2005 from an Idaho based Warehouse Shopping Club. I order online or by a 1-800# and they UPS it right to my door. I never have to worry about any hidden toxins and I have saved a lot of time and money. If you are interested, I can show you how and you will even get $100 in free shopping. I will tell ya too, I get a thank you check for each referral. FYI for my friends in Canada, they deliver to you too!

Now in the theme of safer Toxin Free Homes here are some facts you may or may not already know. I know for a fact that the air quality in the toxic home I lived in on Columbus adversely effected my health, and nearly cost me my life when my cancer came out of remission.

The United States of America Federal Code of Regulations exempts manufacturers from full labeling of products if used for personal, family or household care. [USA FCR: Section 1910.1200C, Title 29, Section 1500.82 2Q1A]

Environmental Protection Agency studies have shown that indoor air pollution can be 3 to 70 times higher than outdoors.

Almost 50% of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality [1989 State of Massachusetts Study]

The EPA conducted a study that found that toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution.

Of 2,983 chemicals analyzed that are found in personal care products:

• 884 are toxic

• 146 can cause tumors

• 218 can cause reproductive complications

• 778 cause acute toxicity

• 314 can cause biological mutations

• 376 can cause skin and eye irritations

[Source: United States House of Representatives Report through NIOSH, 1989]

Hand Gel

Ok to be fair, this newsletter, may make you think of the Darwin Awards, shake your head or even use a sentence like “thinning the herd”; BUT there is more to it.

I can be a bit of a freak about germs out in public, door handles, shopping cart handles, public bathrooms, port- potties…oh don’t get me started! (Yet I DO let my kid’s use the 10-second rule on food they drop on the floor…okay maybe I am a hypocrite but let’s continue). So like many people I was excited to hear about waterless hand cleaners. They seem magic! Clear and you rub them into your hands, and the germs go away, and magically so does the gel. Ahh perfection, right?

Well recently in Maryland at least one inmate got to reading the sides of the hand sanitizer and saw that, it says alcohol on the side. The product in question was Purell and it is 70% alcohol. The inmate who is generally described as calm and quiet, suddenly was “’red-eyed,’ ‘loony,’ ‘combative,’ and ‘intoxicated, lecturing everyone about life’,” 1

The Maryland prison incident was detailed in the Feb. 1, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Hospital tests showed the inmate’s blood-alcohol level to be .33 percent.

He is not the only one, an alcoholic was also treated he had been hospitalized for chest pain and tests; and he drank some from the bathroom dispenser. He explained that since it had MORE alcohol content then Vodka, he couldn’t pass it up.

Now it is a different type of alcohol, but it can still give you alcohol poisoning. Authorities are now considering, the places to use it and supervision needed; and have expressed concern over teens trying it. Well I have a question, what about a small child? How much do you think it takes a small child to ingest from a small bottle you carry in your purse, diaper bag or car?

Alcohol poisoning may result from accidental ingestion, particularly among children:

• Ethanol, for example, is found in alcoholic beverages as well as common household items such as after-shaves, colognes, perfumes, mouthwashes and medications.

• Isopropyl alcohol is commonly found in rubbing alcohol, lotions, some cleaning products and antifreeze.

• Methanol is found in items such as solvents, paints, varnishes, antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

• Confusion, stupor

• Vomiting

• Seizures

• Slow or irregular breathing

• Blue-tinged skin or pale skin

• Low body temperature (hypothermia)

• Unconsciousness (”passing out”)

It is not necessary for all of these symptoms to be present before seeking help. A person who has become unconscious, or cannot be roused, is at risk of dying.

One simple solution (especially if you have small children) is to use a hand sanitizer wipe. I have some suggestions, get those that are biodegradable and make sure you know what all of the ingredients in the product are. For example, make sure it contains NO bleach of any kind.

Also, it is good to know what to do if you suspect alcohol poisoning. If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning, even if they don’t have all of the signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical care. If the person is unconscious, call 911 or your local emergency number. If the person is conscious, call 800-222-1222 and you will be automatically routed to your local poison control center. The staff at the poison control center or at the emergency call center can instruct you as to whether you should take the person directly to a hospital.

Do not leave an unconscious person alone. While waiting for help, do not try to make the person vomit. A person who has alcohol poisoning has an impaired gag reflex and may choke on his or her own vomit or accidentally inhale (aspirate) vomit into his or her lungs, which could cause lethal lung injury.

Tell hospital or emergency personnel, if you know, the type and quantity of alcohol the person ingested, and when. 2

• 1. Dr. Suzanne Doyon of the Maryland Poison Center and Dr. Christopher Welsh of the University of Maryland School of Medicine wrote in one letter.

  2. from the MayoClinic.com

Please make your home safe, regardless of what products you choose because you are worth it!

Fabric Softeners

Fabric Softeners

This means both dryer sheets and the liquid you can add to the wash.

Who doesn’t appreciate dryer sheets/softener? I know I do! I appreciate that when I open the dryer; I do not having everything stuck together in one massive static load and I like the soft feel of things like my blankets etc.

I am a cheater too with dryer sheets; I love to tuck them into my blanket storage chest and in my sheets on the shelf to keep them smelling fresh.

HOWEVER, did you know there are hidden dangers in MANY of the ones you can buy commercially? Words you can easily recognize and some you may not even be able to pronounce…but I can help you know what to look for and to avoid.

Can you believe that some of the ingredients are even more dangerous when heated?? Hello the dryer HEATS and dries!

ETHYL ACETATE now this one is one the EPA’s hazardous waste list and says – wash thoroughly after handling. So if it is in your dryer sheets, you need to wash your hands thoroughly AND then what re-wash your clothes when they come out of the dryer?

CHLOROFORM not just for the movies, but also in some fabric softeners and dryer sheets; do not heat.

How about those that cause CNS (central nervous system – brain and spine) disorders? ALPHA-TERPINEOL, BENZYL ALCOHOL, and CAMPHOR.

Now how about a narcotic, think you want that in your laundry room? Well if you have products, containing LINALOOL or BENZYL ALCOHOL you already do!

Now of just the chemicals I have listed:

TWO are carcinogens

FIVE cause respiratory problems

TWO lead to depression

And - we have not even discussed headaches, nausea, kidney failure, liver damage, anemia heart problems, muscle twitching, convulsions and more.

Two things to remember companies are NOT required to list all ingredients on their packaging, and not everything you can buy in the store is safe. Are any of you still reading or are you in the laundry room reading labels??

Be well!

Wishing it was spring? I am!

Well I have learned some new stuff and wanted to pass it on.

The first thing is about the plug-in gels. Do you use those? If you do, stop reading and go pull them out of the wall and throw them in the trash then come back. It really is that important to your health.

Basically what they are is perfumed formaldehyde once you learn how many things have formaldehyde in them it is no wonder we have so many more cases of cancer each year. From vehicles to personal care products, to carpeting to “make your house smell good” and more.

Of course, since manufacturers can call it any number of things it is hard to identify.

Also baby wipes, sadly a large number of them are filled with chemicals you would never use on you, much less a baby.

Here are some facts on one example of what to look for and why – compliments of the Environmental Working Group.

If your wipes contain – HYDROQUINONE who knows what that means right? And after all it is in Huggies Natural Care Wipes so that sounds safer right? Nope sorry.

Hydroquinone is in fact ranked a 10 or high hazard ingredient. The scale starts at 1 meaning things like water as an ingredient and 10 the highest or worst offender.

Why? Well for a number of reasons, it is considered to be a fragrance ingredient, and a skin bleaching agent (you also find it classified as an antioxidant and hair colorant).

So you will find it in anti aging products, and hair colors, skin fading and lightener products and more – and baby wipes.

It is a known human immune system toxicant (National Library of Medicine) and there is strong evidence that it is also a human skin toxicant (Cosmetic Review Assessments CRA); but allergies and immune toxicity are not the only concerns.

In fact the CRA says well it is safe IF you use it for brief discontinuous use and follow with a through rinsing.

Now when I have used baby wipes, I use them to clean up a mess, and be the whole cleaning and rinsing process. I do not use them to clean a baby’s bottom or hands and face, and then take them to a sink and do a full rinsing to clean the wipe off their skin.

Do you?

Also if you use a wipe with this in it on the face you need to be aware that this is a product that is both an eye and respiratory irritant. So if you have a child that is prone to sniffles, ear or sinus infections and you are “washing” their face with wipes you are adding to the problem.

It is also linked to cancer and to developmental and reproductive toxicity, neuro-toxicity, and endocrine disruption.

Some of the over the counter products that receive the BEST rankings on that 1-10 scale are:

Seventh Generation Unscented Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E (1)

Tushies Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera, Unscented (1)

Mother Nature Wipes Unscented Natural Formula Flushable Wipes (2)

Avalon Baby and Avalon Organics Flushable Biodegradable Baby Wipes (2)