Posts Tagged chemicals
Posted by Candice on August 21, 2008 at 22:46 pm
California has been the nation’s leader on chemical reform, from endocrine disruptors and phthalates to flame retardants and lead in paint. Now, the state is incredibly close to passing two landmark bills that would reform toxic chemical law but they are in danger of being de-railed by a strong opposition from Chemical Industry Interest Groups and Manufacturers. It is important for everyone who is concerned about the danger of BPA and PFCs to make their voice heard in support of these bills.
SB 1713 seeks to ban bisphenol A (a hormone disruptor) from baby bottles and sippy cups, and SB 1313 would ban cancer-causing PFCs (Teflon chemicals) from food products.
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Posted by Candice on August 13, 2008 at 23:19 pm
President Bush has said he will sign the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act into law this week. The bill, which was overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. Senate and also cleared by the House, eliminates lead in toys and either permanently or temporarily bans six types of phthalates (THAL-ates) in children’s products. Three of the six permanently banned while another three have been banned on a temporary basis.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals primarily used to make plastics and vinyl soft, flexible and more durable. They are found not only in children’s products but in a wide range of products including garden hoses, wiring and cables, construction materials, flooring, automotive interiors, upholstery and medical devices. Phthalates are also common in products like perfumes, cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and air fresheners. It is difficult to point to children’s toys as being the main source of exposure to these chemicals.
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Posted by Candice on July 25, 2008 at 17:16 pm
No one likes to mention the C-word but should we be asking if the chemical-laden household cleaning products prevalent in most homes are contributing to the increasing incidence of cancer? The statistics can be somewhat misleading because factors like earlier detection due to better screening methods and a reduction in the number of lung cancers related to smoking make it look like we are winning the war against cancer.
In truth though, the incidence of cancer is still increasing with well over a million diagnoses each year and more than half a million cancer-related deaths.
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Posted by Candice on July 13, 2008 at 21:52 pm
We all love that lemon fresh or pine-scented smell of a just-cleaned home or the floral scent of our favorite hand cream. But what’s in that enticing smell – is there any lemon, pine or flower at all? While they may seem natural to our olfactory sense, in most cases they are a blend of chemicals which can become airborne and even remain on laundry long after washing. For most people this is unlikely to cause a problem during normal use but for others they can cause problems when inhaled or irritate skin, particularly for babies and small children whose airways and skin are more sensitive than those of adults. Frequent or extensive use of a product or using several products together can cause the chemicals to reach levels in the air that can be harmful.
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Posted by Candice on June 27, 2008 at 16:09 pm
(Originally Posted 2.25)
Did you know that adding some house plants can help you to reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other indoor pollutants in your home? Plants, through their natural living process can remove toxins from the air as well as produce oxygen and add moisture.
A toxic chemical often found in household products (including furntiure, mattresses, particleboard, carpet backings, some grocery bags, facial tissues, paper towels) is Formaldehyde and fortunately there are plants which are highly effective at reducing levels of formaldehyde. The common the Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) is a beautiful flowering option as are Florist’s mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Other good choices are the Boston fern (Nephrolepi exalta ‘Bostoniensis’) and the Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii).
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