Biological contaminants include bacteria, molds, mildew, viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, house dust, mites, cockroaches, and pollen (see more about Asthma triggers at www.epa.gov/asthma). There are many sources of these pollutants. Pollens originate from plants; viruses are transmitted by people and animals; bacteria are carried by people, animals, and soil and plant debris; and household pets are sources of saliva and animal dander. The protein in urine from rats and mice is a potent allergen. When it dries, it can become airborne. Contaminated central air handling systems can become breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and other sources of biological contaminants and can then distribute these contaminants through the home.
By controlling the relative humidity level in a home, the growth of some sources of biologicals can be minimized. A relative humidity of 30-50 percent is generally recommended for homes. Standing water, water-damaged materials, or wet surfaces also serve as a breeding ground for molds, mildews, bacteria, and insects. House dust mites, the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, grow in damp, warm environments.
Read More...
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Showing posts with label Toxins in the Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toxins in the Home. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The 10 most dangerous toxins in your house
Household toxins? Look no further than your kitchen cabinets.
It's official: Staying home is hazardous to your health. Toxins found in the home injured 789,000 Americans between 1992 and 1995, and new research suggests that this figure is underestimated.
"Toxins in U.S. homes now account for 90 percent of all reported poisonings each year," says Ross Ann Soloway, administrator of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. That's an epidemic of hazardous living by any standard. And while these figures include everything from non-fatal aspirin overdoses to the deadly consumption of drain cleaners, they fail to include long-term exposure to toxins like lead and asbestos.
To address the climbing domestic injury rates associated with household toxins, Congress and the Centers for Disease Control in 1992 created the Unintentional Injury Center to focus on the health dangers of consumer goods and modern home living. Other federal agencies are following suit. The EPA now has branches which deal with home indoor air quality, lead exposure and ubiquitous low-level toxicity, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development publishes a pollution look-out list for first-time home buyers.
The short list of toxins under your roof may surprise you:
Formaldehyde offgasses (evaporates) from cushions, particleboard and the adhesives used to manufacture most inexpensive wood-based products. Carpets and carpet cushions may also offgas formaldehyde, causing eye and upper respiratory irritation. According to the EPA, formaldehyde may even cause cancer;
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, warns the Surgeon General. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that can seep into homes through cracks in the basement, the surrounding foundation and in well water. It enters the body quietly through the airways;
Lead keeps epidemiologists returning to the drawing board, says Soloway, "mostly because we know more now about the adverse effects of low-level exposure." Levels once thought to be acceptable are now known contributors to learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Lead is found in paint in older houses, old plumbing and soil near highways and busy roads. It causes neurological and kidney damage, high blood pressure, disrupted blood cell production and reproductive problems;
Carbon monoxide will kill an estimated 660 Americans this year. Don't look for exhaust fumes in the attached garage; the biggest culprit is the unserviced furnace burning propane, butane or oil; Arsenic is still lacing many household pesticides and is increasingly used as a wood preservative. Low levels of inorganic arsenic "may cause lung cancer risk," according to the CDC. The Department of Health and Human Services agrees, adding arsenic compounds to the list of unknown carcinogens;
Vinyl chloride is the source of "new car smell": The plastic interior of a new car offgasses this known carcinogen. Water sitting in PVC pipes overnight may also be steeping into a toxic tea. Very large exposures can lead to "vinyl chloride disease," which causes severe liver damage and ballooning of the fingertips;
Hydrofluoric acid "can cause intense pain and damage to tissues and bone if the recommended gloves happen to have holes in them," says Soloway. This highly corrosive substance is the active ingredient in many household rust removers.
But even the most liberal list of known toxins pales next to the order of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs comprise hundreds of natural and man-made, carbon-based agents. They react quickly with other carbon-based compounds, and evaporate easily, making them ideal solvents. VOCs can be found in disinfectants and pesticides, too.
Solvents: Benzene and methyl ethyl ketome traverse cell walls unchecked by normal cell defense. Both are known carcinogens. Cousins toluene, xylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and trichloroethylene make up the lion's share of the solvent market;
Disinfectants: Phenols, which include biphenyl, phenolics and the preservative pentachloraphenol, are found in disinfectants, antiseptics, perfumes, mouthwashes, glues and air fresheners;
Pesticides: Chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, though all banned for nearly two decades, continue to show up airborne in older houses.
Don't be a statistical figure on the CDC's tracking list: Be aware of what substances, from pesticides to cleaners, pose threats in your household. Maintain ingredient awareness. Many poisonings still occur because of product combinations, like the ammonia-chlorine bleach reaction, which produces the deadly respiratory irritant chloramine (a problem labeling practices have not addressed).
Replace toxic agents with non-toxic alternatives. Above all, educate your household to reduce risk and exposure. For practical ideas on reducing your family's risk, consult the following books: "Living Healthy in a Toxic World" by David Steinman and R. Michael Wisner (Berkeley, 1996); "Toxins A-Z: A Guide to Everyday Pollution Hazards" by John Harte, Cheryl Holdren, Richard Schneider and Christine Shirley (University of California, 1991); "Home Safe Home: Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Everyday Toxics and Harmful Household Products" by Debra L. Dadd (Putnam, 1997).
About Toxins in your Home
About Toxins in your Home
Toxins pollute our homes and endanger our families on a daily basis. Our air, water, food, and the substances we use to clean our homes contain chemicals that are accumulating in our bodies and they are contributing to a variety of illnesses, from allergies, to autism, to cancer (read more about toxins as the hidden cause of many allergies). Experts like Dr. Hulda Clark (The Cure For All Diseases, 1995) explain that our bodies are often unable to cleanse these toxins from our systems, thus they set the stage for illness, especially in children who are more vulnerable. Between the 1970s and 2000, childhood cancers greatly increased and became the primary cause of death by disease for children. Deirdre Imus, author of “Green This” (2007), explains that Children are born today with toxins in their bodies. According to Imus, The Environmental Working Group found in their 2004 study that 287 toxins were present in the umbilical cord blood of babies.
There are more disturbing facts relating to children. Autism rates have skyrocketed to 1 in 166 children, while just ten years ago these rates were 1 in 10,000. Five million children under the age of 18 now suffer from asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis has now become a common childhood disease! If you are asking “where is the direct causal link” between these illnesses and toxins, my answer can only be, do you want the evidence to jump up and slap you? Over 100 million Americans live in cities that exceed federal smog standards, most municipal drinking water contains over 700 chemicals, and 25% of municipal water facilities are in violation of federal standards for drinking water! How long will we contemplate the evidence before we take action?
We are a dependent society; dependent on gasoline, electric appliances, and thousands of products that provide us with convenience. That convenience, however, comes at a high price. Toxins are contaminating our homes, our bodies, and our Earth. Indeed, there are about 80,000 chemicals used in the United States. The disturbing reality is that the Environmental Protection Agency has banned only five of these 80,000, despite convincing evidence that many are extremely dangerous!
Mark Schapiro, author of “Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products” (2007), explains that the European Union is actively adopting aggressive standards to protect the health of its citizens and the environment. The European approach, called the precautionary principle, attempts to prevent the harm of citizens before it happens, and as a result many toxic substances in Europe are already banned. What is America’s response to Europe’s moral leadership and “go-green” initiative? Well, American Lobbyists, whose numbers have tripled in the past seven years, are traveling to Europe in an effort to stop or slow their “green” initiatives. Shame on you, American industry!
Our neighbor to the north, Canada, has a “hotlist” of banned or restricted substances that closely resembles the European’s. It is clear, however, that we can not rely on American government and industry to protect us from the hazards and toxins from which the Europeans and our Canadian neighbors are now being protected. We need to protect ourselves by becoming well-informed and that’s what we attempt to do here. Let’s take a look at several dangerous toxins that, in America, “you can’t live without!”
Freon
Dr. Hulda Clark (referenced above) has done extensive work investigating toxins that were contaminating her patients. Her findings are very enlightening, especially regarding cancer. Dr. Clark considers refrigerators to be the top cancer hazard in our homes! Every single person she has tested had Freon in their body; whether they had cancer or not. But she found that in cancer patients, the Freon was always concentrated in the cancerous organ. Once freon enters the body, it may never leave since the body doesn’t have a method of a detoxification for it. Dr. Clark recommends an alternative refrigerant called forane, which although toxic, is better handled by the body than freon. Dr. Clark also recommends doing a liver and kidney cleanse to help eliminate freon from the body.
Chlorine
Chlorine, when it’s in a liquid and solid state, is a powerful bleaching and disinfecting agent. It can also be found as a poisonous yellow-green gas; in fact it has been used in warfare as a choking agent-toxin. Today, chlorine is used in water purification, in bleach, in disinfectants, and in the manufacture of numerous products. For example, paper companies bleach their products with chlorine. Chlorine, however, is a double-edged sword. Dr. Konrad Kail, co-author of “Allergy Free” (2000), explains that chlorine irritates the skin, negatively affects the important acidopholus living in our intestines, causes cancer causing compounds, and it can deplete vitamin E and important polyunsaturated fats.
Chlorine has been designated as a hazardous air pollutant in the 1990 Clean Air Act, and it is the largest contributor of industrial injury in the U.S. In 2000, chlorine injured more than 18,000 children, as reported by poison control centers. In the U.S., industry mostly ignores the warnings and dangers of chlorine, whereas in Germany, for example, it is almost impossible to find chlorine bleach. Deirdre Imus, referenced above, recommends we disinfect household surfaces using distilled white vinegar. She also recommends the use of chlorine and bleach free writing paper, and chlorine-free paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, and tampons.
These are clear liquids used as plasticizers ; they make things bend and they make fragrances last longer. They include: dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and diethyl phthalate. They are used in nail polish, cosmetics, toys, adhesives, caulk, and paint, and they are used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which can be found in shower curtains, flooring, wall covering, food storage containers, and teething rings. The problem is, phthalates are toxic to the reproductive system and they may cause cancer. The European Union has already placed tight restrictions on the use of some phthalates; those in children’s toys for example. In America, it is “buyer beware.” It is wise not to store or microwave food in “number 3” plastic containers. In addition, try not to let plastic wrap come in contact with food in the microwave.
These chemicals are highly carcinogenic hydrocarbons that are byproducts of combustion. They are found in vehicle exhaust fumes, tobacco and marijuana smoke, charbroiled food, burnt toast, and wood smoke. In 2001, the National Cancer Institute found high levels of benzopyrenes in steak, chicken, and hamburgers that were grilled well-done.
Raymond Francis, who hosts the radio show, “An Ounce of Prevention” on KEST in San Francisco, stated that benzopyrenes affect a human gene that prevents cancer. He also said you can ingest this toxin even if you eat a raw diet, if your food is grown near exhaust fumes or a plant that makes asphalt. In her book, Dr. Hulda Clarke explained that foods raised to high temperature in microwaves and even toasters can produce benzopyrenes. Dr. Clarke recommends taking the supplements niacin or niacinamide, and vitamin B2 to help your body detoxify this harmful chemical.
PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is a chemical used in the manufacture of Teflon coatings in cookware. Dupont, the maker of Teflon, says it doesn't understand why PFOA is showing up in the blood of people throughout America. Dupont also says that its tests show Teflon is not toxic to humans, and their cookware is safe at temperatures up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, seems to disagree. They issued a report stating a high probability that PFOA is a carcinogen. In addition, the EPA recently fined Dupont in the amount of seventeen million dollars in a case involving the exposure of employees to Teflon chemicals.
Environmental groups explain that PFOA does not break-down and seems to last forever in the environment! Considering that the chemical is used in many products, including water resistant fabrics, carpets, food wrap, computer chips, and some food storage boxes, our environment could be getting a very high dose of PFOA that will last for generations. Naturally, there may be serious health consequences to the accumulation of this toxin in the environment. For example, studies on animals have suggested that PFOA may be a cause of cancer and hypothyroidism. Also, when the blood of several hundred children was studied in 2001, 96% of the blood samples contained PFOA.
How can we protect ourselves against PFOA? We need to cook in well-ventilated areas when using Teflon, and we need to be careful about using high heat with this cookware. Of course, we might prefer to use stainless steel or cast iron cookware instead. In addition, we can avoid clothing and carpeting that contains stain and water resistance. Finally, be aware of flu-like symptoms if you use Teflon. This is sometimes called “Teflon-Flu” which behaves similar to the flu, but without a viral infection.
Dr. Gary Ginsberg, co-author of “What’s Toxic, What’s Not” (2006), calls VOCs “the most ubiquitous indoor air contaminants;” they are present in every home and every workplace. VOCs represent a great variety of toxins that have two things in common: they are liquids that can evaporate into the air we breathe, and they are organic or composed of carbon. VOC chemicals are used to create wrinkle resistance, stain resistance, and adhesion. These VOCs can vaporize from the products in which they are contained, thus polluting your indoor environment. Here are three of the more dangerous ones:
Formaldehyde
This chemical is a known carcinogen, but still used in cleaning products, permanent press fabrics, wallpapers, furniture, and mattresses. It is a respiratory irritant that can have serious effects on the body, such as dizziness, insomnia, headaches, and rashes. In the 1980s, formaldehyde foam insulation was banned in the U.S., but it is still used in many products, especially pressed wood and particleboard. It is advisable to purchase solid wood cabinetry instead of pressed wood products.
Perc
Perchlorethylene is an organic solvent that has been listed by the EPA as a hazardous air pollutant and it is encompasses 90% of all groundwater pollution in the U.S. Perc is used by many dry cleaners even though it is a carcinogen that can damage the liver, kidneys, and vision of unsuspecting victims. This toxin has even been found in mothers’ breast milk. There are safer alternatives to Perc that dry cleaners can use, but about 75% of dry cleaners still use this dangerous chemical. Since Perc takes a while to vent from the clothes after they are cleaned, it is wise to let your clothes air-out, outside, after picking them up from the dry cleaner.
Benzene
Benzene is a chemical that is used in a great variety of products, including: paints, plastics, detergents, rubber, and solvents. It is also found in cigarette smoke and petroleum solvents. The EPA has named this chemical a Class A carcinogen. Benzene exposure has been linked to: leukemia, skin problems, respiratory illness, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and lymph gland cancer. Even at low levels, benzene exposure can cause memory loss, tremors, headache, dizziness, and unconsciousness. If you feel you have been exposed to benzene, particularly at work, do a Google search for “benzene lawyer;” our search yielded about 26,000 listings.
Toxins pollute our homes and endanger our families on a daily basis. Our air, water, food, and the substances we use to clean our homes contain chemicals that are accumulating in our bodies and they are contributing to a variety of illnesses, from allergies, to autism, to cancer (read more about toxins as the hidden cause of many allergies). Experts like Dr. Hulda Clark (The Cure For All Diseases, 1995) explain that our bodies are often unable to cleanse these toxins from our systems, thus they set the stage for illness, especially in children who are more vulnerable. Between the 1970s and 2000, childhood cancers greatly increased and became the primary cause of death by disease for children. Deirdre Imus, author of “Green This” (2007), explains that Children are born today with toxins in their bodies. According to Imus, The Environmental Working Group found in their 2004 study that 287 toxins were present in the umbilical cord blood of babies.There are more disturbing facts relating to children. Autism rates have skyrocketed to 1 in 166 children, while just ten years ago these rates were 1 in 10,000. Five million children under the age of 18 now suffer from asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis has now become a common childhood disease! If you are asking “where is the direct causal link” between these illnesses and toxins, my answer can only be, do you want the evidence to jump up and slap you? Over 100 million Americans live in cities that exceed federal smog standards, most municipal drinking water contains over 700 chemicals, and 25% of municipal water facilities are in violation of federal standards for drinking water! How long will we contemplate the evidence before we take action?
We are a dependent society; dependent on gasoline, electric appliances, and thousands of products that provide us with convenience. That convenience, however, comes at a high price. Toxins are contaminating our homes, our bodies, and our Earth. Indeed, there are about 80,000 chemicals used in the United States. The disturbing reality is that the Environmental Protection Agency has banned only five of these 80,000, despite convincing evidence that many are extremely dangerous!
Mark Schapiro, author of “Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products” (2007), explains that the European Union is actively adopting aggressive standards to protect the health of its citizens and the environment. The European approach, called the precautionary principle, attempts to prevent the harm of citizens before it happens, and as a result many toxic substances in Europe are already banned. What is America’s response to Europe’s moral leadership and “go-green” initiative? Well, American Lobbyists, whose numbers have tripled in the past seven years, are traveling to Europe in an effort to stop or slow their “green” initiatives. Shame on you, American industry!
Our neighbor to the north, Canada, has a “hotlist” of banned or restricted substances that closely resembles the European’s. It is clear, however, that we can not rely on American government and industry to protect us from the hazards and toxins from which the Europeans and our Canadian neighbors are now being protected. We need to protect ourselves by becoming well-informed and that’s what we attempt to do here. Let’s take a look at several dangerous toxins that, in America, “you can’t live without!”
Freon
Dr. Hulda Clark (referenced above) has done extensive work investigating toxins that were contaminating her patients. Her findings are very enlightening, especially regarding cancer. Dr. Clark considers refrigerators to be the top cancer hazard in our homes! Every single person she has tested had Freon in their body; whether they had cancer or not. But she found that in cancer patients, the Freon was always concentrated in the cancerous organ. Once freon enters the body, it may never leave since the body doesn’t have a method of a detoxification for it. Dr. Clark recommends an alternative refrigerant called forane, which although toxic, is better handled by the body than freon. Dr. Clark also recommends doing a liver and kidney cleanse to help eliminate freon from the body.
Chlorine
Chlorine, when it’s in a liquid and solid state, is a powerful bleaching and disinfecting agent. It can also be found as a poisonous yellow-green gas; in fact it has been used in warfare as a choking agent-toxin. Today, chlorine is used in water purification, in bleach, in disinfectants, and in the manufacture of numerous products. For example, paper companies bleach their products with chlorine. Chlorine, however, is a double-edged sword. Dr. Konrad Kail, co-author of “Allergy Free” (2000), explains that chlorine irritates the skin, negatively affects the important acidopholus living in our intestines, causes cancer causing compounds, and it can deplete vitamin E and important polyunsaturated fats.
Chlorine has been designated as a hazardous air pollutant in the 1990 Clean Air Act, and it is the largest contributor of industrial injury in the U.S. In 2000, chlorine injured more than 18,000 children, as reported by poison control centers. In the U.S., industry mostly ignores the warnings and dangers of chlorine, whereas in Germany, for example, it is almost impossible to find chlorine bleach. Deirdre Imus, referenced above, recommends we disinfect household surfaces using distilled white vinegar. She also recommends the use of chlorine and bleach free writing paper, and chlorine-free paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, and tampons.
Phthalates
These are clear liquids used as plasticizers ; they make things bend and they make fragrances last longer. They include: dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and diethyl phthalate. They are used in nail polish, cosmetics, toys, adhesives, caulk, and paint, and they are used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which can be found in shower curtains, flooring, wall covering, food storage containers, and teething rings. The problem is, phthalates are toxic to the reproductive system and they may cause cancer. The European Union has already placed tight restrictions on the use of some phthalates; those in children’s toys for example. In America, it is “buyer beware.” It is wise not to store or microwave food in “number 3” plastic containers. In addition, try not to let plastic wrap come in contact with food in the microwave.
Benzopyrenes
These chemicals are highly carcinogenic hydrocarbons that are byproducts of combustion. They are found in vehicle exhaust fumes, tobacco and marijuana smoke, charbroiled food, burnt toast, and wood smoke. In 2001, the National Cancer Institute found high levels of benzopyrenes in steak, chicken, and hamburgers that were grilled well-done.
Raymond Francis, who hosts the radio show, “An Ounce of Prevention” on KEST in San Francisco, stated that benzopyrenes affect a human gene that prevents cancer. He also said you can ingest this toxin even if you eat a raw diet, if your food is grown near exhaust fumes or a plant that makes asphalt. In her book, Dr. Hulda Clarke explained that foods raised to high temperature in microwaves and even toasters can produce benzopyrenes. Dr. Clarke recommends taking the supplements niacin or niacinamide, and vitamin B2 to help your body detoxify this harmful chemical.
Teflon
PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is a chemical used in the manufacture of Teflon coatings in cookware. Dupont, the maker of Teflon, says it doesn't understand why PFOA is showing up in the blood of people throughout America. Dupont also says that its tests show Teflon is not toxic to humans, and their cookware is safe at temperatures up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, seems to disagree. They issued a report stating a high probability that PFOA is a carcinogen. In addition, the EPA recently fined Dupont in the amount of seventeen million dollars in a case involving the exposure of employees to Teflon chemicals.
Environmental groups explain that PFOA does not break-down and seems to last forever in the environment! Considering that the chemical is used in many products, including water resistant fabrics, carpets, food wrap, computer chips, and some food storage boxes, our environment could be getting a very high dose of PFOA that will last for generations. Naturally, there may be serious health consequences to the accumulation of this toxin in the environment. For example, studies on animals have suggested that PFOA may be a cause of cancer and hypothyroidism. Also, when the blood of several hundred children was studied in 2001, 96% of the blood samples contained PFOA.
How can we protect ourselves against PFOA? We need to cook in well-ventilated areas when using Teflon, and we need to be careful about using high heat with this cookware. Of course, we might prefer to use stainless steel or cast iron cookware instead. In addition, we can avoid clothing and carpeting that contains stain and water resistance. Finally, be aware of flu-like symptoms if you use Teflon. This is sometimes called “Teflon-Flu” which behaves similar to the flu, but without a viral infection.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Dr. Gary Ginsberg, co-author of “What’s Toxic, What’s Not” (2006), calls VOCs “the most ubiquitous indoor air contaminants;” they are present in every home and every workplace. VOCs represent a great variety of toxins that have two things in common: they are liquids that can evaporate into the air we breathe, and they are organic or composed of carbon. VOC chemicals are used to create wrinkle resistance, stain resistance, and adhesion. These VOCs can vaporize from the products in which they are contained, thus polluting your indoor environment. Here are three of the more dangerous ones:
Formaldehyde
This chemical is a known carcinogen, but still used in cleaning products, permanent press fabrics, wallpapers, furniture, and mattresses. It is a respiratory irritant that can have serious effects on the body, such as dizziness, insomnia, headaches, and rashes. In the 1980s, formaldehyde foam insulation was banned in the U.S., but it is still used in many products, especially pressed wood and particleboard. It is advisable to purchase solid wood cabinetry instead of pressed wood products.
Perc
Perchlorethylene is an organic solvent that has been listed by the EPA as a hazardous air pollutant and it is encompasses 90% of all groundwater pollution in the U.S. Perc is used by many dry cleaners even though it is a carcinogen that can damage the liver, kidneys, and vision of unsuspecting victims. This toxin has even been found in mothers’ breast milk. There are safer alternatives to Perc that dry cleaners can use, but about 75% of dry cleaners still use this dangerous chemical. Since Perc takes a while to vent from the clothes after they are cleaned, it is wise to let your clothes air-out, outside, after picking them up from the dry cleaner.
Benzene
Benzene is a chemical that is used in a great variety of products, including: paints, plastics, detergents, rubber, and solvents. It is also found in cigarette smoke and petroleum solvents. The EPA has named this chemical a Class A carcinogen. Benzene exposure has been linked to: leukemia, skin problems, respiratory illness, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and lymph gland cancer. Even at low levels, benzene exposure can cause memory loss, tremors, headache, dizziness, and unconsciousness. If you feel you have been exposed to benzene, particularly at work, do a Google search for “benzene lawyer;” our search yielded about 26,000 listings.
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