Why your kitchen is killing you
Household cleaners still send kids to the ER - and have been linked to breast cancer.
From deadly drain and oven cleaners to abrasives and biocides (antibacterial products that can raise the risk of superbugs), common household cleaning products contain far too many environmental toxins. Over the past 17 years, common cleaners sent close to 270,000 children to the emergency room.
While child-proof packaging has substantially reduced the risk of preschooler poisonings, spray cleaners (that typically don't have child-resistant caps) account for approximately 40 percent of ER visits. "People don't realize that the handle can be activated by a small child," says pediatrician Carl Baum, MD, at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. "Kids will put their mouths on the nozzle and drink it in."
Far less exposure to household cleaners - when used long-term - may contribute to breast cancer, new research in the journal Environmental Health reports. Studying women on Cape Cod, scientists discovered that breast cancer risk increased two-fold when cleaners were combined with air fresheners for mold and mildew control.
Toxic chemicals can pop up in far less obvious places. Last month, for example, Kellogg recalled 28 million boxes of cereal due to high levels of a napthalene compound - similar to that used in mothballs - in their packaging.
What's most worrisome is that neither the EPA nor FDA have basic health and safety information on the specific chemical Kellogg used. "In so many cases, government agencies are missing data they need on even widely used chemicals," says Erik Olsen with the Pew Charitable Trusts, an organization calling for an overhaul of chemical laws in this country.
This problem is growing worldwide, too. Only last month, French scientists called for a "structured vigilance system" for household products and cosmetics to help consumers recognize risks.
Dr. Ann Louise's take:
Household cleaning products are downright scary! According to some estimates, Americans use up to 25 gallons of cleaners that contain a variety of toxic ingredients annually.
Dangerous substances, hormone disrupters that can pack on the pounds, and petrochemicals lurk in your everyday dishwashing detergent, scouring powder, laundry soap, fabric softener and window cleaner. Of the 2,000 household cleaners that have been evaluated by government agencies, nearly 200 contain cancer-causing agents.
Chemicals in air fresheners interact with ozone to create the carcinogen formaldehyde - not exactly what you and your family want to be breathing! They also add volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause allergic reactions, digestive distress and other health problems.
Clear the air in your home with a HealthWay Air Purifier. I have three in my home - kitchen, bedroom and guest room. The latest evolution in air purification, each filter detoxifies 1,000 square feet. A 360 degree air intake system sends dirty, polluted air through a 6-stage pre-filter to eliminate odors and scrub chemicals, gases and VOCs. Air is then forced through a Disinfecting Filtration System (DFS) which captures and kills viruses, bacteria, mold and fungi at a certified rate of 94-100 percent. Unlike traditional HEPA filters which can become a breeding ground, the DFS technology actually kills these harmful microorganisms, reducing the spread of sickness in your environment. Call UNI KEY at (800) 888-4353 for more information and to order.
Clean green for fall
We all want our homes to be clean - but they need to be pure, as well. For more than 30 years, I've used a biodegradable cleaning concentrate - environmentally safe and free of chlorine, nitrates and phosphates - mixed with water (about 1/4 teaspoon to 16 ounces water) for multipurpose needs, even window washing.
You can also make your own pure, all-purpose cleaner:
1 cup liquid Castile soap
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon tea tree oil extract
2 tablespoons witch hazel extract
4 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like vanilla for its aroma), optional
Mix these ingredients in a spray bottle and shake gently, before using to safely clean countertops, refrigerators, stoves and virtually any place you'd use a commercial cleaning spray. (If you have children, store this spray bottle up high where they can't reach. While the ingredients aren't toxic, they can give a toddler a tummy ache.)
Go natural, whenever possible
Before you begin to spend more time indoors this autumn, consider replacing linoleum and wall-to-wall carpeting - surprising sources of toxins - with glazed tile and hardwood floors. Use cotton or natural wool area rugs, many of which are exquisite, instead of synthetics that contain formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals. Not only is carpeting sprayed with pesticides, which you certainly don't want in your home, but also harbors dust mites and molds that cause allergies and asthma.
Similarly, select furniture made of hardwood and untreated fabrics. Particleboard and veneered wood, by contrast, are high in contaminants like formaldehyde. Look for fabrics and furniture that haven't been treated with fire retardants - linked to thyroid and fertility problems - and pesticides.
Replace no-iron and/or synthetic bed linens with all-natural cotton and other fabrics. Futons using natural cotton make good beds - without emitting harmful substances.
Sources:
• The Gut Flush Plan
• The Living Beauty Detox Program
• http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=641680
• http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/126/3/509
• www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/641680.html
• www.environmentreport.org/story.php?story_id=4914
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20718782
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20679298
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20646273
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20128903
• www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/01/AR2010080103469_pf.html
Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman is the award-winning author of more than 30 books on health and nutrition and guest on many TV and radio programs. She resides in Kootenai County. Information: annlouise.com