photo by Jaako

My friend Becky has been sending out e-mails occasionally with different information about the environment. I thought that I would start posting them in some form or another and we are talking about her maybe doing some writing for one/change.

Toxic Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell’s 10 Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality:

If you don’t use a toxic chemical in the first place, then you don’t have to contain it, clean it up, or be exposed to it—which is what preventing pollution is all about. Here’s a list of the top 10 things you can do to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals to create a safer indoor living environment for you and your family.

1. Household Cleaners.
Look for labels that divulge ALL of the cleaner’s chemicals. Be sure to avoid using cleaners that contain these suspect hormone disrupter chemicals: Nonyl- and octyl-phenols are used to make alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) detergents.

2. Disinfectants.
Limit the use of disinfecting products in your home. They contain chemical agents that are capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Overuse could lead to the growth of ’superbugs.’ The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies disinfectants and antimicrobials as pesticides.

3. Lawn Care and Pests.
Children and pets in particular are exposed to pesticides tracked inside homes from lawn treatments. Pesticide exposure also occurs from using off-the-shelf pest repellents. Use organic lawn care methods like mowing high and adding topsoil. To get rid of pests, remove food sources, use boric acid and traps.

4. Vinyl Floor and Wall Coverings.
Flexible vinyl household products like flooring and wallpaper are manufactured using PVC that may have toxic chemical additives including phthalate plasticizers and lead. As these products are used, they create dusts that accumulate these chemicals. Choose non-PVC wall and floor coverings to minimize potential exposure to these toxins.

5. Building Materials.
Plywood, oriented strand board, kitchen cabinets and home insulation are all products that can contain formaldehyde, a known human cancer-causing chemical. Choose solid woods and formaldehyde-free insulations when constructing or renovating your home.

6. Personal Care and Beauty Products.
Choose products that are fragrance free and reduce your use of nail polish and acetone nail polish remover. If you do use these products, be sure to open your windows.

7. Dry Cleaning.
Ask your dry cleaner if they offer safer alternatives such as liquid carbon dioxide or “wet cleaning” rather than the commonly used cleaner perchloroethylene, a suspected cancer-causing chemical.

8. Got Moths?
Eliminate the use of mothballs since they contain naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Instead, clean and seal wool clothes, use cedar blocks, shavings or oil.

9. Mold.
Dry is the operative word. Prevent mold and the overuse of bleach by preventing moisture build up in the first place. Fix leaky pipes and faucets immediately. Make sure that water slopes away from the foundation of your home.

10. Basement.
Do not leave a car running even with the garage door open especially if the garage is under the living area. Carbon monoxide can easily seep through walls and floors. When your oil company calls during the slow summer months to clean your boiler, don’t delay. And test your house for radon.

Bonus Tip: Avoid Tobacco Smoke.
Ask those who live with you to smoke outdoors. Indoor tobacco smoke is a major contributor to airborne contaminants in the home. Over 4,000 chemical compounds, of which 40 are known or suspected carcinogens, have been identified in tobacco smoke.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 12th, 2007 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Environment, General, One/Change tips, educational, resources. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.