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Is Your Home Making Your Family Sick?
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| Follow these five tips for keeping your home safe. (Vanguard Press) |
Southampton - Co-authors and father/son team Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz of the new book, "The Healthy Home" (already a New York Times bestseller) take you from room-to-room through a typical home, pointing out the surprising health risks posed by the everyday products and behaviors of any modern family.
In your Kitchen: Although non-stick Teflon pans are convenient, in the long run, a little extra oil is healthier. Non-stick pans can release up to six toxic gases when heated on a regular electric stove, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants, and a chemical known to be lethal to humans.
In your Bedroom: Open any person's closet and you are bound to find the latest from your last dry cleaning run. Dry cleaning is a process where stain-removing chemicals such as Perchloroethylne (perc) is most commonly used. Long-term exposure to perc can cause kidney and liver damage and has been scientifically proven to cause cancer in animals. Even short-term exposure has its risks, including dizziness, a rapid heart rate, headaches and skin irritation. There are several things to limit perc exposure. First, you can reduce risk by airing out dry-cleaned clothing - hang outside/garage before wearing. For extra precaution, you can wear an undershirt/tank top underneath perc-treated clothing.
In the Laundry Room: Who doesn't love the clean scent of laundry detergents and fabric softeners? What most people don't know is that how these products get that "mountain spring'" or "fresh cotton scents" is through toxic compounds. A simple solution is to stick to more "green," natural alternatives or try replacing fabric softener with one-half cup of white vinegar to reduce static cling and soften clothing.
In the Bathroom: How many "products" (shaving cream, cologne, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, sunscreen) are part of your daily regiment? The government has created the terminology "maximum safe level" to set limits on the safe dosage of chemicals in products. However, if you are putting the maximum save level on your body in six different products, you have six times the safe dosage of those chemicals heading to your bloodstream. Take note of your daily beauty regimen and cut out a few things that aren't necessary.
In the Garage: Who doesn't love that "new car" smell? People love that scent so much that they buy car scents that recreate it. Where does that smell come from? The scent of a new car is the off-gassing of fresh plastics, vinyls, leathers, paints, and synthetic carpets. And new car owners are sucking it down by the lungful. Roll down your windows if weather permits and leave them open when not in the car, the cleaner air is on the outside.
In your Kitchen: Although non-stick Teflon pans are convenient, in the long run, a little extra oil is healthier. Non-stick pans can release up to six toxic gases when heated on a regular electric stove, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants, and a chemical known to be lethal to humans.
In your Bedroom: Open any person's closet and you are bound to find the latest from your last dry cleaning run. Dry cleaning is a process where stain-removing chemicals such as Perchloroethylne (perc) is most commonly used. Long-term exposure to perc can cause kidney and liver damage and has been scientifically proven to cause cancer in animals. Even short-term exposure has its risks, including dizziness, a rapid heart rate, headaches and skin irritation. There are several things to limit perc exposure. First, you can reduce risk by airing out dry-cleaned clothing - hang outside/garage before wearing. For extra precaution, you can wear an undershirt/tank top underneath perc-treated clothing.
In the Laundry Room: Who doesn't love the clean scent of laundry detergents and fabric softeners? What most people don't know is that how these products get that "mountain spring'" or "fresh cotton scents" is through toxic compounds. A simple solution is to stick to more "green," natural alternatives or try replacing fabric softener with one-half cup of white vinegar to reduce static cling and soften clothing.
In the Bathroom: How many "products" (shaving cream, cologne, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, sunscreen) are part of your daily regiment? The government has created the terminology "maximum safe level" to set limits on the safe dosage of chemicals in products. However, if you are putting the maximum save level on your body in six different products, you have six times the safe dosage of those chemicals heading to your bloodstream. Take note of your daily beauty regimen and cut out a few things that aren't necessary.
In the Garage: Who doesn't love that "new car" smell? People love that scent so much that they buy car scents that recreate it. Where does that smell come from? The scent of a new car is the off-gassing of fresh plastics, vinyls, leathers, paints, and synthetic carpets. And new car owners are sucking it down by the lungful. Roll down your windows if weather permits and leave them open when not in the car, the cleaner air is on the outside.
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