10 Things You Need To Know About Your Health and Home

Everyone knows that the environment needs help but what about our homes? The EPA has stated that indoor air pollutants are 3 to 70 times higher than outdoors.
Here are some facts that really scared me and I thought I should share them with you.
1. Asthma Higher in Women: In one decade, there has been a 42% increase in asthma. 29% for men and 82% for women The higher rate for women is thought to be for our longer exposure to household chemicals.
2.Dish Soap: Liquid dish soap is the leading cause of poisonings for kids under the age of 6. Most brands contain formaldehyde and ammonia!!!
3.Of 2,983 Chemicals Found In Personal Care Products:
884 are toxic
146 cause tumors
218 cause reproductive complications
778 cause acute toxicity
314 cause biological mutations
376 cause skin and eye irritations
4. 70,000 New Chemical Compounds: Since 1950 there has been at least 70,00 new chemical compounds introduced into the environment. Only a small percentage has been tested for human toxicity!!!!
5. Chemicals In Homes : There are 150 chemicals in our homes that are connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.
6. Women Who Work From Home: There is a 54% higher chance that a women who works from home will die from cancer than a women who works outside the home.
7.Whats In Our Dust?: Phthalates (shown to disrupt reproductive systems and cause breathing problems in children.) ,
Alkyl phenols (mimic natural estrogen hormones) ,
Pesticides (cause cancer) ,
Brominated Flam Retardants(mimic thyroid hormones),
Organotins(poisonous in small amounts and can disrupt hormones and reproductive systems) ,
Perfluorinated surfactants ( can damage organ function and sexual development in lab animals).
Try and say those 3 times fast!!
These chemicals are coming from everyday consumer products that we have in our homes. Example- Teflon cookware, Plastics.
8. Cosmetics and Personal Products: There are around 4000 chemicals used in our everyday cosmetics and personal care products. About 95% of these chemicals are traced back to petroleum. Manufactures do not reveal the actual components of the products but rather mark them as “trade secret”.
9. Our Mattress: There are even chemicals on our mattress!!! You are probably asking yourself, “For what?” Well, to make the mattress “safer” they use PBDE’s to flame retard your bed. Also to make it stain-resistant they use PFC’s. These chemicals are known to cause cancer and also are known carcinogens!!
If you are using polycotton sheets or wrinkle-resistant sheets , you are also exposing your self to chemicals. Formaldehyde is the big one. It causes cancer, respiratory problems, insomnia, asthma and the lists go on!
10. “The Dirty Dozen”: This is a list of the top 12 cancer-causing products in the average home. It was put together by the National Cancer Prevention Coalition.
Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder with Talc
Crest Tarter Control Toothpaste
VO5 hair conditioner
Cover Girl Replenishing Natural Finish Foundation
Whole Milk
Beef Frankfurters (Oscar Meyer)
Clairol Nice-n-Easy hair color
Ajax Cleanser
Lysol Disinfectant
Zud Heavy Duty Cleaner
Zodiac Cat and Dog Flea Collar
Ortho Weed-be-Gone Lawn Weed Killer
It has been stated that by just reducing (not eliminating) environmental carcinogens alone, we would save 50,000 lives annually from cancer. We don’t have to live this way. There are safer alternatives that are being phased into the market place. All we have to do is know the facts and buy responsibly.
So, what can you do? Buy Green. Its that simple. Read labels, and if you cant pronounce the names on the label don’t buy it. Anything that ends in “-cide” is more than likely not going to be good for you or your family.
Be creative in how you clean. Make homemade cleaners and air fresheners. There are many different organic concoctions that you can make to clean your house effectively, such as vinegar or lemon juice.
In the end you will be happier when you and your family are not as sick as much. And who knows , you might save one of your family members from a deadly disease!!!