Nontoxic spring cleanup.
Nontoxic Spring Cleanup
Many chemicals used in conventional household products pollute our
indoor air. Below, some suggestions for a safer, greener spring.
WHERE TOXINS HEALTH THREAT SOLUTIONS
FOUND
Conventional and Most are made from Ecover, Naturally Yours,
antibacterial petroleum, a Seventh Generation
dish detergents nonrenewable resource; laundry and dishwashing
and hand soaps, fragrances may cause detergent; thorough
disinfectant and irritation and trigger hand-washing with plain
all-purpose allergic reactions; some soap and warm water;
cleaners; laundry detergents contain Earth Power Herbal
detergents, alkylphenol ethoxylates Disinfectant; AFM
fabric softeners, (APES), suspected SafeChoice Super Clean;
stain removers hormone disruptors. Vermont soap works or
Antibacterial cleansers BioShield Cleaner. To
promote growth of soften fabric, add 1/4
resistant bacteria cup of vinegar or baking
soda to wash cycle; for
stain removal, try
soaking in water mixed
with borax, lemon juice,
or white vinegar
Chlorine bleach Highly caustic in the Ecover or Seventh
environment can create Generation
organochlorines, fragrance-free
suspected carcinogens non-chlorine bleach uses
as well as reproductive sodium hypochlorite,
toxins also healthier for water
supplies (see p. 4).
Pesticides such May cause harm to Use least toxic controls
as Dursban/ nervous and hormonal such as boric acid (see
chlorpyrifos, systems; may trigger p. 4); for specific
(now banned), respiratory problems pests, see Product
and diazinon and cause serious eye Reports at
and skin irritation; thegreenguide.com.
possible cancer risk
Old paints May cause learning and Use paints with labeled
(containing lead) behavioral problems; low or no VOC (volatile
or high-VOC brain- and organic compounds) and
paints nervous-system damage; natural paints made from
respiratory problems. renewable raw materials
SAFE DISPOSAL
To safely dispose of pesticides or paint, call your local solid-waste
agency or 800cleanup (cleanup.org), the National Pesticide Information
Center at 800-858-7378, or the National Lead Information Center,
800-424-5323. Never pour unused product down any indoor or outdoor
drain or put in your regular trash.
Personal Care Phthalates Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility). They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic. Used widely in fragrances, deodorants, nail polishes, hair produces and lotions lotions, n.pl nonoily treatments intended to be applied to the skin for a variety of cosmetic or medicinal purposes. . Various members of this family of chemical plasticizers plasticizers mostly triaryl phosphates, such as tricresyl, triphenyl phosphates, which are poisonous. See also triorthocresyl phosphate. have been found to produce cancer of the liver Noun 1. cancer of the liver - malignant neoplastic disease of the liver usually occurring as a metastasis from another cancer; symptoms include loss of appetite and weakness and bloating and jaundice and upper abdominal discomfort liver cancer and birch birch, common name for some members of the Betulaceae, a family of deciduous trees or shrubs bearing male and female flowers on separate plants, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. defects in lab animals. Phthalates often "hide" behind the term "fragrance"; choose products labeled "fragrance-free" or that are scented exclusively with pure botanical bo·tan·i·cal also bo·tan·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to plants or plant life. 2. Of or relating to the science of botany. n. or essential oils. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion