Amy's Columns

Is That Shampoo Really Organic-NEW!
Poisons in Everyday Household Products? You've Got To Be Kidding
The Nontoxic Kitchen
Top Ten Nontoxic, Earth Friendly Living Suggestions
Genetically Engineered Food: Responsible Science or X Files Episode?
Food Irradiation: Treating The Symptoms, Ignoring The Causes
Healthy Children

The Nontoxic Kitchen

Over generations the kitchen has been considered the heart center of the home. Sadly, kitchens of today, like the rest of the house, are more like hearts with arteriosclerosis clogged with all sorts of toxic synthetic chemicals. According to David Pearson author of "The Natural House Book", the modern kitchen is "unhealthy and overconsuming; it is sometimes dangerous and always polluting...wasteful of energy and water and fails to recycle valuable waste materials... Since food is handled in the kitchen, it, more than any other space, must be toxin and pollution free."

So, what are the sources of pollution in our kitchens and what can we do to protect ourselves?

Foods and Beverages

Foods and beverages may be contaminated with a variety of chemicals that have been intentionally or unintentionally added during their production, handling, storage, and processing. Perhaps you're familiar with the dangers of pesticides, but have you heard about the human and environmental health effects of: genetically engineered organisms, food irradiation, food additives (artificial colors, flavors, preservatives), hormones, antibiotics, municipal sludge used as fertilizer, mold, bacteria, or industrial chemicals in our food supply? Many of these chemicals cause cancer, and damage our brains, reproductive and immune systems. Certified organic, ideally homegrown or locally grown, is the best choice. Testing your drinking water for toxins is a wise idea. Investing in a tap and shower water filter is one good way of eliminating toxins in your home.

Cookware

Some cookware and cooking practices are detrimental to our health as well. For instance, avoid aluminum pots and pans as foods cooked in aluminum can react with the metal to form aluminum salts associated with Alzheimer's, dementia and impaired visual motor coordination. Even stainless steel cookware can become a problem if an abrasive material is used frequently to clean it thereby releasing small amounts of the toxic metals, Chromium and Nickel. No-stick finishes like Teflon and Silverstone scratch easily and release little bits of plastic into the food when cooked, as well as toxic fumes over high heat. Glass, cast iron, stainless steel (without abrasive cleaning), and terra cotta without lead glaze are the best choices.

Microwave Ovens

I am a proud member of the 10 percent of the population that does not have or use a microwave oven as I am convinced that sooner or later the truth will come out about the negative impact that these modern conveniences have on our health. I've never like food that was hot on the outside and cold on the inside. According to Paul Brodeur, author of the book, "The Zapping of America", military and industrial interests have prevented biologists from fully researching the effects of microwaves because the military relies upon unrestricted use of microwave radar surveillance. Imagine if the biological effects of microwaves were revealed to the public.

Barbecuing and Grilling

Though barbecuing season is over, you might be interested (or very depressed) to know that most barbecued and broiled foods contain benzo (a)pyrene, a proven cancer causing substance. For some reason, when the heat source is below the food, more carcinogens are created whether a charcoal or gas grill is used. However, cooking temperature, type of fuel, fat content of meat, all affect the amount of benzo(a)pyrene that is created. Broiling in the oven with the heat source above the food seems to be o.k.

Plastic Food Packaging

Plastic food packaging, in addition to creating unnecessary waste that has to go somewhere, also creates health problems. Some types of plastic are carcinogenic; others migrate from packaging into our food and water. Typically, the softer the plastic, the less chemically stable it is, and the more it vaporizes over time even after the smell disappears. Some plastic food wraps and flexible plastic food containers are made from poly vinyl chloride (PVC). PVC can cause cancer, birth defects, genetic changes, vision failure and liver dysfunction. When PVC is burned in incinerators it creates Dioxin, a very potent known carcinogen that accumulates in fat tissue. Dioxin lands on the crops that the animals and we eat, organic and conventional alike. The amount ingested is greatly reduced by avoiding meat and dairy products, as most toxins, including Dioxin, tend to accumulate in fat tissue. Also, be sure to choose canned foods with enamel lining to avoid exposure to lead.

Pressed Wood, Paints, stains, etc.

The informed consumer should also be aware of the fact that formaldehyde outgasses from pressed wood kitchen cabinets (and approximately 85 other consumer products, like mascara). Solid wood is a much better alternative. Most paints (latex & oil-based), stains, self-stick vinyl wallpapers, adhesives, and vinyl flooring also contain toxic chemicals that should be avoided. There are nontoxic alternatives to all of these products. A wonderful resource book for alternatives is Environmental By Design: A Sourcebook of Environmentally Aware Material Choices, by Kim LeClair & David Rousseau.

Conventional Chemical Cleaning Products

Conventional cleaning products may be wiping away the dirt and grime but leaving behind dangerous chemical residues. Don't be fooled by colorful packaging and labels claiming to be all natural, biodegradable, and nontoxic Trade secret laws enable up to 99% of the products to be hidden from the public in the "inert" ingredients, which is often where the most toxic chemicals can be found. The vast majority of consumer products do not list these inert ingredients. I have been successfully cleaning my house with a few truly nontoxic homemade and store bought cleaning products for over 7 years now. For example, a paste made from borax powder, water, and distilled white vinegar is an effective mold and mildew remover for bathroom tiles. Toxicity testing by Anderson Labs, an independent toxicology lab, found that Ecover unscented dish soap was a safer choice. Also, one would be wise to stop using all air fresheners, disinfectant sprays and deodorizing products. They do not clean the air; they only inhibit our ability to smell by coating our nasal passages with a nerve deadening chemical or oily substance. Spray disinfectants kill germs on contact. Once your counter is wiped clean, new germs descend from the air.

The toxic effects of common household products are not limited to the user of the product. Pollution is created during the manufacturing, use and disposal stage--a three-pronged attack. Though many communities are equipped with hazardous household waste pickup days and some of these products can be recycled (like latex paint) many are destined for toxic waste landfills. It just doesn't go away.

Thankfully many nontoxic and least toxic alternatives exist for most of the everyday conventional products. In fact, to find out what I use and purchase safer products for yourself, go to: www.greenlivingnow.com. The positive impact of switching to these safer alternatives is multidimensional. We all vote with our purse strings. If there is no demand for chemical laden products, the supply will diminish and the manufacturers will be forced to change. Once we switched to these healthier alternatives, shopping actually became easier.

It is much easier to blame the power plants, corporate polluters, the government, our neighbors, or anyone else but ourselves for the disastrous state of our environment. Though none of us are solely responsible or perhaps even aware of the impact of our choices, we all contribute to the problems. In fact, Union of Concerned Scientists, Michael Brower and Warren Leon, in their book, The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, tell us that there are three areas of household consumption that create the highest amount of environmental damage: transportation, food, and household operations (cleaning products, pesticides, heating & hot water, lighting & appliances, etc.).

So, what is a concerned person to do? The critical first step is to educate yourself, raise your awareness of the impact of each choice. Once informed, the next and perhaps most difficult step is to change your behavior. We can change, and if we don't, who will?

Amy Todisco is the President and Owner of greenlivingnow.com organic and natural product webstore. She was the founder and executive director of the nonprofit, the Consumer's Healthy Home Center (CHHC). CHHC was created to hire independent toxicologists to test a variety of household products for their potential inhalation health effects, and then recommend the safest products to consumers. Amy closed down CHHC to create the greenlivingnow.com webstore. She felt that she could inspire and positively impact more people through the webstore. Contact her at: amy@greenlivingnow.com

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