Do
you Have a Healthy Home?
Everyone faces health risks
in day-to-day living. Some are unavoidable. This brochure will make you
aware of some risks you can avoid by making informed changes which will
enhance the quality of your family's heath and future.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION You may be surprised to learn that the EPA
considers Indoor air pollution to be one of the nation's most important
environmental health problems. In their 1989 report to Congress about
indoor air quality, the EPA stated that "the air within homes and other
buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the
largest and most industrialized cities."
Household cleaners and personal care products (shampoos,
cosmetics, hair sprays, etc.) contribute to this pollution in YOUR home.
Many of these products release organic compounds while you are using them and
even when they are stored. Think about the odor as you walk down that aisle
of the supermarket! The EPA found levels of about a dozen common organic
pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher and occasionally up to 100 times higher,
inside the homes then outside, regardless of whether the homes were
located in rural or highly industrial areas.
Health effects from these exposures may occur immediately
after exposure or years later. Immediate effects include eye, nose and
throat irritation headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, fatigue. Asthma and
allergic reactions may also show up soon after exposure to these products.
Other health effects may appear years after exposure has occurred. These can be
severely debilitating or fatal and include damage to the liver, kidney or
brain, breathing problems and cancer.
Research indicated that people spend about 90% of their time
indoors. For stay-at-home Moms, infants, young children and the elderly,
this time is spent primarily at home. Children are especially vulnerable to the
toxic effects of household products. Children breathe at a faster rate
then adults and therefore inhale more pollutants per body weight. They
also spend their time closer to the ground where heavier pollutants will
settle. Not to mention the objects infants and toddlers pick up off the
floor and put in their mouths. Developing fetuses, infants and children are
also undergoing critical stages of development which may be permanently
affected by exposure to
certain chemicals.
Most commonly measured chemicals in the home caused cancer.
Amazingly the indoor concentrations of these chemicals were up to 5 times
higher then outdoor concentrations.
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. The
overall incidence of childhood cancer has increased about 13% since 1973
according to the National Cancer Institute (CNI). During this same period, some
childhood cancer rates have risen much faster. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma has
in-creased 30%, Brain Cancer 21%, leukemia 21%. Has exposure to indoor air
contaminants contributed to this disproportionate rise? To date little attention
has been given to lifestyle, diet and home environmental exposures as risk
factors. Consider the following: Children don't smoke, drink alcohol or
face occupational exposures known to cause an increased risk of cancer.
However, they are exposed to more pollutants in water, food and air. In
proportion to their body weight, children breathe twice as much air, eat 3-4
times more food and drink 2-7 times more water than adults.
Quaternium-15 and bronopol are preservatives used in personal
care products (including the leading baby shampoo and bath soaps).
Although not carcinogenic themselves, these break down to release formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde has been listed as a probably human cancer causing chemical
by the EPA.
Considering that most chemicals we bring into our homes have
never been tested for adverse effects on humans and that children are most
vulnerable to toxic effects, are we putting our children at risk for
future health problems which may be fatal?
Reproductive and Developmental Health Exposure to certain
toxic chemicals can cause infertility, miscarriage, birth
defects, hormonal disruption and/or chromosome damage. Substances of
concern include cleaning products, pesticides, cosmetics and personal care
products.
Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the
U.S. Birth defects also contribute to long-term disability. Incidences of 29
(out of 38) types of birth defects have increased since the 1980's. Only
recently are chemicals in the home being recognized as causative factors.
CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT There are several factors which contribute to
learning and behavioral problems. Exposure to common chemicals during critical
period of development is a preventative cause of harm. Approximately 17% of
American children have learning and/or behavioral disabilities including
attention deficit disorder which has been estimated to occur in as many as 20%
of school-aged children. Autism has increased 100% over the past 30 years. The
number of children in special education increased 191% from 1997 to 1994.
Most potential toxins to the developing brain have not been
adequately studied. EPA regulations currently do not require the household
chemicals be tested for possible effects on brain development before being
put in to the market. Due to the slow rate which "proof" of harm
shows up, generations of children are at risk and may be harmed before adequate
regulation and testing occurs.
PCBs are an example of a chemical which was not recognized
to be harmful until catastrophic epidemics drew attention to its effects. These
epidemics occurred in Japan and Taiwan in the early 1970's when thousands of
people ingested rice oil accidentally contaminated with PCB's Newborns who
had been exposed while inside the womb had a variety of developmental
effects including low birth weight, borderline mental retardation and
increased behavioral problems. PCB's had been used from the 1920's
to 1970’s. It was not until this tragedy occurred that production
was banned in most of the industrialized world.
Asthma The relevance of asthma rose 61% from
1982 to 1994. In 2001 31.3 million people reported being diagnosed with
asthma; 92 million were children. In 2000 children had over 728,000 ER visits
for asthma with the highest rate among children 1 to 4 years old.
Asthma is also one of the most frequent causes of school absence
among children. The number of children dying from asthma increased almost
threefold from 1979 to 1996.
Asthma incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality
continue to increase despite advances in treatment. One change that has
corresponded with the increase in asthma is building construction. Following
the energy crisis in the 1970's, buildings have been better insulated and thus
more airtight. Without a free flow of air, asthma triggering pollutants,
such as chemicals from cleaning agents and tobacco smoke, become trapped
indoors.
Toxin Checklist (This is a sampling-not all inclusive!)
_____Air Freshener (Aerosol) - Contains butane, propane,
ammonia, phenol, and formaldehyde. Harms include cancer, central nervous
system damage, liver damage and tumors.
_____All-Purpose cleaner - Contains ammonia, 2-butoxy ethanol,
and phenol. Linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, kidney and liver
damage. Can cause chronic lung irritation.
_____Basin, Tub, & Tile Cleaner - Contains 2-butoxy
ethanol, ammonia. Linked to tumors, central nervous system disorders, liver
damage, kidney damage, and reproductive disorders
_____Carpet Deodorizer (Powdered) - Contains sodium
aluminosilicate, a suspected human carcinogen. Exposure to dust can cause
lung irritation, asthma-like symptoms, and headaches.
_____Cosmetics - Many contain formaldehyde as a
preservative (a possible human carcinogen). Many cosmetic products are
untested and unregulated. Use extreme caution.
_____Dishwashing Liquid - Contains ethanol, glycol ethers,
formaldehyde, ammonia. Mixing product with bleach can produce toxic fumes.
Repeated exposure can cause asthma-like symptoms and harm the central
nervous system.
_____Furniture Polish - Contains phenol, petroleum distillates,
heavy naptha. Repeated exposure has been linked to cancer, birth defects,
heart, liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.
_____Liquid Laundry Detergent - Contains ethanol,
triethylene glycol. Repeated exposure to fumes can cause chronic lung
irritation. Repeated contact with skin can cause dermatitis.
_____Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Vapors have been shown to
interfere with brain function and produce asthma-like symptoms. Can cause
muscle spasms, damage to blood tissue, and reproductive disorders.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
As consumers, we must be aware of alternatives and methods to
make our homes safer. A very easy and convenient way to reduce the level of
chemicals in our home is by using alternative, safer methods for personal care
and household products. We CAN stop using these harmful products as we do
have alternative choices. Keeping our houses and bodies clean does not mean we
have to use dangerous, cancer-causing chemicals.
We CAN stop using these harmful products as we do have
alternative choices. Keeping our houses and bodies clean does not mean we have
to use dangerous, cancer-causing chemicals.
WHAT ARE OUR ALTERNATIVE CHOICES?
If you could purchase products that are:
· Safer for you and your family
· Less toxic and environmentally safe
· Up to 30% less expensive than grocery store prices
· Better than what you are currently buying
· Delivered to your doorstep
· RISK-FREE with a 100% money back guarantee
WOULD YOU SWITCH STORES?
For more information on how to switch to safer home care and
personal care products contact:
Angela Skellington-Bice
315-245-8907
nontoxicmom@myway.com
Income Opportunities Available