Nine ways to avoid household toxins

[Guest guest]

Nine Ways to Avoid Household Toxins

One expert offers tips for consumers who want to avoid exposure to

everyday household toxins and chemicals.

Gillham

Newsweek Web Exclusive

Oct 1, 2008 | Updated: 4:19 p.m. ET Oct 1, 2008

Barely a month goes by without some toxic scare, whether it's the

chemicals in the plastic used for some baby bottles, or lead in

lipsticks. You could be forgiven for being a nervous shopper, even if

much of the data on what's toxic is inconclusive. It's not necessary

to become compulsive, but to help cautious consumers navigate all the

confusing warnings and advisories, Nena Baker, author of " The Body

Toxic " (North Point Press, 2008), offers her tips for reducing your

exposure to everyday toxins.

1. Filter Your Water. A simple water filter can capture a lot of

pollutants. Some cities' water supplies can contain trace amounts of

arsenic, lead, perchlorate and/or atrazine, a pesticide that may

cause cardiovascular and reproductive problems, and possibly cancer.

(Though the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that

atrazine is not likely to cause cancer in humans, it is awaiting the

results of further studies.) Traces of atrazine in drinking water are

most likely to be found in areas of heavy agricultural production

like the Midwest and Southeast. (To find out how safe your city's

water is, get a copy of your local water-utility report at the EPA's

water-safety site.)

2. Know What ' s in Your Grooming Products. Shampoos, lotions and

makeup can contain a number of toxins like parabens and phthalates,

which have been identified as hormone disruptors and may be linked to

certain cancers. When shopping for cosmetics and personal-care

products, read the ingredients labels—avoid anything that includes

the words " paraben " (often used as a suffix, as in methylparaben)

or " phthalate " (listed as dibutyl and diethylhexyl or

just " fragrance " ). If there isn't an ingredients list, log on to

cosmeticsdatabase.com, a Web site devised by the Environmental

Working Group (ewg.org) that identifies the toxic ingredients of

thousands of personal-care products.

3. Don ' t Eat Microwave Popcorn. The inside of a microwave popcorn

bag is usually coated with a perfluorinated chemical (PFC) called a

fluorotelomer that can break down to form perfluorooctanoic acid

(PFOA). Designed to prevent oil from seeping through the bag, PFOA

can migrate into the food when heated. It has been linked to cancer

and birth defects in animals and preliminary epidemiological studies

suggest that a pregnant woman's exposure to PFOA may reduce her

baby's birth weight. Moreover, the EPA's scientific advisory board

has recommended that the chemical be listed as a likely human

carcinogen. The good news is that the EPA has asked manufacturers to

work toward eliminating PFOA from their products by 2015. While it's

unknown what level of exposure from popcorn bags is harmful, Baker

says that consumers should be aware that any exposure could result in

very long lasting presence of the chemical in your body. Some

perfluorinated compounds are extremely persistent and never break

down in the environment, she explains.

4. Don ' t Get Stain-Protection Treatment. This is an extra you can

add to new furniture, shoes or clothes, but Baker says you should

avoid this option because these treatments usually contain

perfluorinated chemicals. " If you use this on new furniture, it's

going to be in your home; you're going to breathe it, " she says.

Baker also recommends avoiding pots and pans that have a nonstick

coating. While nonstick materials are not made of perfluorinated

chemicals, the substance is often used in their production. If the

pan gets scratched or worn, the chemicals can be released into the

air, says Baker.

5. Limit Use of Canned Food and Plastic Containers. Baker recommends

reducing your intake of canned foods. Most canned goods are coated

with a resin lining derived from Bisphenol-A (BPA), which recently

made headlines because of its presence in the plastic used in some

baby bottles. A component of polycarbonate plastic, BPA may be linked

to certain cancers, fertility and behavioral problems in children.

The risk is especially great when exposed in the womb; women who are

pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant and young children

should be especially careful of their canned-food intake.

Not all plastics contain BPA, but because it can leach into food when

heated, Baker suggests that consumers avoid heating foods in plastic

containers. " If you can avoid heating plastic, it's probably a good

thing to do. " She suggests using glass or ceramic containers for

heating food instead. BPA can also leach into food when it is

scratched or worn; so to be safe, if you have a water bottle or other

plastic container, discard it if it becomes scratched or clouded.

6. Use PBDE-Free Electronics. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

are a family of flame retardants; two types of the chemical were once

added to furniture, car upholstery and mattresses, but were

voluntarily taken off the market by manufacturers after concerns were

raised about their toxicity. Another kind of PBDE remains on the

market however, and according to Baker, " it is equally as problematic

as the one voluntarily removed from the market. " The chemical, most

commonly found in TVs and computer monitors, is stirred into the

equipment's plastic and can heat up over time, causing the material

to break away and settle into the dust. Many manufactures have

stopped using PBDEs for electronics, but not all have. Check with the

manufacturer to determine if your goods contain PBDE. You can find a

list of PBDE-free products at the Environmental Working Group's Web

site.

7. Don ' t Use Paint Made With Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOCs

include a variety of chemicals and are found in some household

products like paint and paint strippers. They are emitted as gases

and have been associated with allergies, breathing problems and

asthma, and are suspected to cause cancer, according to the EPA.

Fortunately, low-VOC and no-VOC paints are readily available.

8. Patronize a Perc-Free Dry Cleaner. Perchloroethylene (perc) is

also a VOC and is most commonly used in dry cleaning. The EPA

identifies perc as a known human toxin and " a precursor to ground-

level ozone (smog). " It usually enters the body through inhalation

and remains stored in fat tissue. While many dry cleaners have begun

using alternative cleaning practices (the EPA has ordered a phaseout

of perc machines in residential buildings by 2020, and California

will eliminate all use of perc by 2020), it's best to ask what

chemicals they use. If they use perc, make sure you hang your newly

cleaned clothes outside for a day to air out the chemical.

9. Dust and Vacuum Weekly. Baker says that toxins like PBDE can

settle into the dust in your house, so to be extra safe, it's best to

keep your house clean through regular dusting and vacuuming. This is

especially important if you are pregnant, have a young child or have

a pet, which can transfer the dust through its movements.

URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/161841

[Guest guest]

I agree with all these except I think you should use a damp sponge mop

and a sponge to get up the dust. I've just concluded even hepa vacuums

stir it up (and I can tell by my eyes getting itchy etc). I go around

my apt with a sponge mop and get all kinds of yucky dust grime and

hair but it does congeal and doesn't get airborne and then re-settle.