How to Get Toxic Chemicals Out of Your Home
(Page 2 of 3)
January/February 2006
By Mindy Pennybacker
Alternatives: Happily, it's easy to get beautiful non-PVC flooring, furnishings, and countertops made of natural materials such as bamboo, cork, natural linoleum, concrete, ceramic tile, or wood from sustainably managed forests (look for the Forest Stewardship Council label). See The Green Guide and Environmental Home Center for products. Non-PVC toy listings can be found at The Green Guide.
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For food storage, use the least toxic, most recyclable plastic containers labeled with recycling codes 2, 4, or 5. Only a few brands of cling wrap are PVC free: Look for Glad Cling Wrap, Saran Cling Plus, and Best Yet Clear Plastic Wrap. Steer clear of PVC wraps from Reynolds and Polyvinyl Films's Stretch-Tite and Freeze-Tite wraps. ("Stretchy" or "flexible" in the names are a dead giveaway for phthalates.)
To avoid synthetic perfumes that may contain phthalates, read labels on cleaning and personal care products, candles, and air fresheners, rejecting those that list the general term fragrance. The Food and Drug Administration permits this labeling loophole to protect "trade secret" ingredients. Choose cleaners that list specific plant essential oils, which are naturally phthalate free
2. Pesticides
In a 2002 California study, exposure to household pesticides was associated with an elevated risk of childhood leukemia. And, the CDC's 2005 body burden study found that 90 percent of the thousands of Americans tested had pesticides in their bodies. The pesticide chlorpyrifos (Dursban), which was phased out for residential and school use between 2001 and 2003, was found in children at levels up to more than four times greater than what the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe. Chlorpyrifos belongs to a family of neurotoxic pesticides known as organophosphates, which continue to be phased out of use. They're being replaced by pyrethroid insecticides, which isn't a good fix, as these also attack the nervous system and have been found to trigger asthma attacks and skin irritation in sensitive people.
Alternatives: Don't use synthetic pesticides, including mothballs, in your house or garden. Instead, apply the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which deny pests entry, food, and water, and apply least-toxic controls sparingly, as needed. For example, you could seal cracks and crevices in your house, use boric acid to kill roaches in places beyond the reach of pets and children, and use essential oils such as peppermint to discourage ants. For specific pest-control tips and bait recipes, check the Bio-Integral Resource Center.