What’s the level of air pollution in YOUR home?

We all know that our home is our castle . . .  and we like to think of it as our refuge from the world around us.  But if we looked under our sinks, in our cupboards and around our laundry room, how much pollution does regular use of common, everyday cleansers, soap, sprays and deodorizers leave in our home?

Let’s take a look at just a few of the common activities that women – and their children by virtue of being in the home at the same time – are involved in that cause unsafe exposure. We’re really only interested in a very superficial look, so we won’t examine unusual activities that would only occur once or twice a year.

Most women start the day by taking a shower, washing their face, brushing their teeth, putting on deodorant and makeup and getting dressed for the day.  Maybe they add some hair styling gel and spray to make sure their hair stays in place for the day.  The final touch is a brilliant swipe of lipstick – making sure they carefully blot so it doesn’t smear – and some lotion on their hands and they are ready for their day!

So far, they have exposed themselves – and their household environment – to more than 200 potential toxic elements.  From phthalates, parabens and SLS in the shower gel and shampoo to the PEGS, FD&C Color Pigments in their makeup or the fluoride in their toothpaste and the water in the shower, women are immersing themselves in pollutants and toxins.  But, you say, it’s their choice, right?  It certainly is, but when the toxins spread throughout the home (not just the bathroom), their children cannot make a choice.

Just think about how we use everyday cleaning products to keep our homes nice and tidy.  We start with a bit of spray cleaner on our dust cloth to keep ‘dust’ from flying into the air.  Well, now, do you think every bit of that spray ends up on the dust cloth?  No, some of the mist ends up in the air and gradually floats to the floor where it lingers about 12 -15 inches off the floor – right where youngsters and your family pets crawl and play.  In fact, the EPA says that the air inside of most homes is 10 times more polluted than the air out of doors – even in the inner city!

It might be interesting to read the label to see just what you’ve been spraying into the air for them to breath and ‘eat’, since animals walk on the floor and lick their paws as they groom themselves.  It’s not unusual to find ingredients like PEGs, Propylene Glycol (PG), Alcohol, Fragrances (which could mean up to 4,000 different chemicals) and Triclosan in the products.
 
If we are going create a ‘green home’ and a ‘green lifestyle’, the first thing we really need to do is to begin to read labels.  Just because a product is made from natural ingredients does not mean it is healthy or that your family is safe from harm. After all, petroleum is a natural substance but I probably don’t want to bathe in it or breathe it in!

Researchers are warning the public that some of these substances have the ability to affect brain development and the behavior of children’s endocrine system – which governs their reproductive organs.  Some of the synthetic chemicals mentioned above are powerful xeno-estrogens (false estrogens) that are known carcinogens and mutagens.  They affect both males and females; can lead to early puberty, sterility in boys and a variety of neurological abnormalities in both boys and girls.

What’s the answer?  Purchase products that list all their ingredients so you know what you are using is safe.  Use a minimal amount of products delivered in a mist.  Choose products that are safe for the entire family and your pets. Look for products certified ToxicFree® - your assurance the products are free from carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins or any other known toxin or harmful ingredient. Continue to educate yourself about products and product ingredients.