| As we get ready to clean our homes for holiday | | | | together. I go further and say, if it's not natural or |
| guests (and even if you are one of the lucky ones | | | | smells funny, don't use it. As warning labels are only |
| paying someone else to clean your home). Here are a | | | | addressing issues caused by ingestion. Ninety percent |
| few issues to be aware of. | | | | of health problems are caused by inhalation. Most of |
| The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has | | | | these chemicals fill the air with what we call a clean |
| shown that indoor air contains two to five times | | | | smell. I would recommend you rethink that clean |
| more pollutants per cubic foot that outdoor air and in | | | | definition and think of it as a poison smell. |
| extreme cases can be one hundred times more | | | | In the interest of keeping each Healthy Hint short |
| polluted. The New York Times wrote in an article on | | | | enough to value your time each week, we will |
| Jan 6, 2001 that an EPA study revealed some toxic | | | | discuss specific ingredients next week. For now, try |
| levels in homes were "greater than the levels that | | | | to avoid the use of chemicals that have a strong |
| qualify as a chemical waste site for Superfund | | | | odor and/or list the caution words above. You may |
| status." It is important for you to know that you if | | | | also want to avoid the products that the Water |
| you are using chemicals to clean your house, your are | | | | Pollution Control Federation states are so toxic, they |
| unknowingly adding to your indoor pollution in a very | | | | must be disposed of in a toxic waste dump: floor |
| big way. A 2003 study conducted by the Mount Siani | | | | care products, furniture products, window cleaners, |
| School of Medicine in New York tested volunteers | | | | bug spray and nail polish remover. Other products |
| who did not live or work near industrial facilities. An | | | | that the National Cancer Prevention Coalition lists as |
| average of 91 contaminants were discovered in each | | | | the top cancer causers in our home are: J & J |
| person. Most of these contaminants come from | | | | Baby Powder, Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste, V05 |
| pesticides, personal care products and household | | | | Hair Conditioner, Clairol Nice N Easy Hair Color, Ajax |
| cleaners. These chemicals were capable of causing | | | | Cleanser, Lysol Disinfectant. |
| cancer, brain and nervous system damage, birth | | | | To get your house clean, Use the a high density fiber |
| defects and immune system problems. | | | | clean room or Magic cloth, damp towels, baking soda |
| As a rule of thumb, many experts advise that if a | | | | and other environmentally and personally safe |
| product label includes the notice "warning", "poison" or | | | | products. You will go into the holidays breathing |
| "danger" - stop right there and avoid the product all | | | | easier! |