Vinyl,
aka PVC, is banned in over 14 countries and the European Union.
Unfortunately it’s still legally sold by U.S. retailers even though it
threatens environmental and consumer health at every stage of its
product life cycle. PVC can leach phthalates (linked to hormone
disruption) and lead (a potent neurotoxicant), contaminating indoor air,
dust, and eventually you. Go PVC-free by reading packages; look for a
#3 in the recycling arrows symbol. If a plastic isn’t labeled, call its
manufacturer. You can also smell check for PVC; it has that unique new
shower curtain scent.
Healthy
Child’s Facebook fans repeatedly cited dryer sheets as a toxic product
they’d be happy to live without. Why? Because synthetic fragrances found
in air fresheners, cosmetics, perfumes, and more can trigger asthma.
Though exact fragrance formulas are protected as trade secrets, many contain diethyl phthalate (DEP), which can be absorbed through the skin. Phthalates are both suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors increasingly linked to reproductive disorders. Unfortunately, phthalates are rarely listed on ingredient lists, making them tricky to avoid; trade secret formulas are exempt from federal labeling requirements. Until the law changes, consumers can choose fragrance-free products or use those scented with natural essential oils.
Though exact fragrance formulas are protected as trade secrets, many contain diethyl phthalate (DEP), which can be absorbed through the skin. Phthalates are both suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors increasingly linked to reproductive disorders. Unfortunately, phthalates are rarely listed on ingredient lists, making them tricky to avoid; trade secret formulas are exempt from federal labeling requirements. Until the law changes, consumers can choose fragrance-free products or use those scented with natural essential oils.
This
huge category of products deserves inclusion in their entirety because
of how extremely toxic they are. They’re made to be. That’s how they
kill things. Unfortunately, solving a pest problem may leave you with
another problem: Residual poisons that linger on surfaces, contaminate
air, and get tracked onto floors and carpet from the bottom of shoes.
There are so many non-toxic ways to eliminate both pests and weeds. Next
time you need to go on the offensive, choose them.
It’s
odd to wipe toxic chemicals all over your oven, floors, counters, and
toilets in order to get them “clean,” but that’s just what the majority
of us do with conventional cleaners. Corrosive or caustic chemicals,
such as the lye and acids found in drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and
acid-based toilet bowl cleaners, are among the most dangerous
ingredients because they burn skin, eyes, and internal tissue easily.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult for anyone to know what their cleaner
contains as cleaning product formulas, like fragrances, are currently
government protected trade secrets. Either opt for products from a
company voluntarily disclosing their natural, non-toxic ingredients, or
make your own.
Food
shouldn’t be on a toxic product list, but most cans are lined with
bisphenol-A (BPA), making them our main source of exposure to this
chemical, which has been linked to early puberty, cancer, obesity, heart
disease, depression in young girls, and more. Some brands are already
BPA-free, and still others have pledged to go BPA-free in the future but
haven’t yet. Buyer beware: some companies have switched to BPS, BPA’s
chemical cousin, which has been linked to many of the same problems. To
be safe, opt for fresh, frozen, dried, or jarred foods.
Can you believe lead, a known neurotoxin that has no safe level of exposure, is found in lipstick? A study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
discovered lead in 400 lipsticks at levels two times higher than found
in a previous study. Pregnant women and children are especially at risk
since lead can interfere with brain development. Either do without or
choose wisely; lead can still be found in “natural” products if they
contain natural mineral pigments, as it’s a naturally occurring element.
Get
this stuff out of your kitchen. Now. Studies have linked the
perfluorinated chemical (PFC) typically used to make pots and pans stick
resistant to cancer and infertility.
PFCs contaminate and persist in the environment and have been found in
low levels in the blood of 98 percent of Americans as well as all over
the globe—including in the bodies of polar bears. In addition to
cookware, PFCs can also be found in microwave popcorn bags and pizza
boxes, some dental flosses, stain-guarded furniture, and clothing.
Replace nonstick cookware with safer materials like cast iron, enamel
coated cast iron, and stainless steel.
Americans
buy a half a billion bottles of water every week. Most people do so
thinking they’re avoiding the contaminants that may be present in tap
water. For the most part, they’re wrong. Bottled water can be just as—or
even more—contaminated than tap water. In fact, some bottled water is
tap water packaged in plastic that can leach its chemical components
into the H20, and overpriced. Also, from manufacture to disposal bottled
water creates an enormous amount of pollution, ultimately making our
water even less drinkable. Do yourself and the world a favor and invest
in a reusable stainless steel water bottle. Then fill it with filtered
tap water.
This antibacterial agent is everywhere: soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, and even clothing. Studies have found it can contribute to drug-resistant bacteria
(i.e. superbugs) as well as harm the immune system, making us more
likely to develop allergies. It also contaminates our waterways when it
washes down the drain. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns consumers to read labels for triclosan and
recommends using just plain soap and water. If you still prefer to use
an antibacterial hand sanitizer, avoid those made with triclosan.
There are 300 toxic chemicals and 150 carcinogens potentially present in oil-based paint, according to a John Hopkins University study.
Safer options include water-based paint that is no- or at least
low-VOC. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are gases
emitted from products like paint. VOCs can include variety of chemicals
that may have adverse health effects. Natural finishes like milk paint
and vegetable or wax-based wood finishes are other good alternatives.
