Biggest myth or misconception about household toxics (Great Piece ENN!)
Toxic mold is largely a media creation. In the 1990s a study by the CDC drew an association between black mold and lung bleeding in infants in Cleveland. This study was widely reported, and started a panic that mold was a toxic insult to the lungs. What hasn't been reported is that this study has since been retracted. Once an impression is publicly on the loose it's hard draw it back in... (read more here)
ENN: On the flip side, is there anything out there that you feel presents a greater danger than we're generally aware?
G & T:Most people don't pay enough attention to their drinking water. Private wells can present big issues and problems can sneak up on you suddenly. Lax industrial practices in the past can have an adverse impact on well water for decades. Some water-soluble chemicals live for a long time in groundwater and move into neighborhoods gradually over time. You also have to consider what's going on in your neighborhood. If the guy down the street spilled a little gas on the ground as he was refilling his lawnmower that alone can be enough to cause problems in your well water... (read more here)
ENN: How does bottled water hold up under scrutiny?
G & T: People shouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security about bottled water because it's often just urban tap water or from a public water supply that has been distilled or filtered. There can be bacteria, trace levels of organics and metals. In fact, less testing is required of bottled water than city water, so it's not necessarily any better for you than tap water. By getting a carbon filter at home for your water intake, you're just as safe refilling your own water bottle and saving yourself some money! ... (read more here)
ENN: If you could identify a few relatively simple things that homeowners could do to reduce their exposure to?
G & T: Radon is one of most significant – but most preventable – household hazards. Exposure does cause lung cancer. But it's easy to test for and easy to fix.... (read more here)
Comments by Haase
Great piece guys! - How did you miss the biggest one on the list???
Household Chemicals & Hazardous materials (chemicals,batteries, paint, cleaners, aerosols)
With all the non-hazardous alternatives and local hazardous waste drop off stations... This is as tragic as it is preventable ;-(
I hope you cover this in your book. Can't wait to read it!
Quick facts on Household Chemicals & Hazardous materials (Need more? just ask ;-):
- Nationwide, more than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down the drain each day (EPA).
- OSHA estimates that 30 and 70 million U.S. indoor workers and approximately 37 percent of the population suffers from chemical sensitivities, skin rashes, or allergies due to poor indoor air quality...
- A U.C.L.A. study indicates that "adverse health effects have been identified regarding common chemical ingredients found in 222 cleaning products."
- The Average American Uses about 25 Gallons of toxic, hazardous chemical products per year in their home... A major portion of these can be found in household cleaning products.
- The toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution. (EPA)
- 150 chemicals commonly found in homes, have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities. — Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Consumer Products emit about 267 tons per day of VOCs during 2000 in California alone (ABR.gov)
- Cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10 percent of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers in 2000, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these, nearly two-thirds involved children under six, who can swallow or spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home.
Seriously, if you need more information on household hazards please contact me.
haase@neutralsolution.com
haase@neutralsolution.com