I am not alarmist, as many of you know,  but I learned firsthand last year of the dangers of some personal care products when I got deathly poisoned by an Aveeno Sunscreen product. See Saving Your Skin.

As a healthcare provider I have also encountered difficult cases that were solved by looking at environmental factors.  This week, I am going to address some common causes of household toxins.  When you are doing everything possible to take care of yourself on the inside, it is good to look at some of these common household toxins.

#1 Cooking at high temperatures.  Frying oils at high temperatures or grilling constantly forms some carcinogenic compounds.  Do not grill foods without using a form of marinade which prevents these compounds from forming.  Never heat oils to a smoking point.

#2 Household air fresheners contain phthalates chemicals which cause known endocrine or hormone disruption and birth defects.

#3 Baby powder can cause respiratory distress and suffocation in infacts.  Talc is a known carcinogen.

#4 Formaldehyde, is a common chemical in carpeting, building materials, and particle board.  The Centers for Disease Control has found that long-term exposure can cause increased risk for lung cancer and other respiratory illness.

#5 Over 40% of childhood allergies could be eliminated by removing toxins and allergens in the home according to a 2001 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics.  Culprits include: dustmites, cockroaches, tobacco smoke, pets, wood smoke, drywall, wallpapaer, paneling materials, carpeting and mold.

#6 Incense, can cause cancer, asthma, and other respiratory illness, as well as possible mutagenic effects on DNA.  Candles often contain lead.

#7 Many antibacterial products contain a substance called triclosan which can lead to toxic poisoning in infants.  Also, use of antibacterial products can lead to overgrowth of antibiotic resistant pathogens. I have had families literally have to abandon their homes due to the illness provoking atmosphere of their house.

#8 Personal care products can contain lead, aluminum, and other heavy metals, fragrances may contain toulene a chemical noted to cause allergy and asthma in susceptible people.

#9 Pesticides in food....please see Is organic really better, in this module for tips on reducing your exposure to pesticides.

#10 Mold exposure due to a moist environment or dripping appliance, or faulty roof can be the source of severe illness.  I did diagnose one child with exposure to Staccybotris, or "black mold", a few years back, which was causing the young boy very serious health problems.

#11 Radon an odorless, radioactive gas gains access to your home via cracks in the foundation, or basement. 

#12 Unfiltered water, contains high amounts of chlorine which is a known risk factor for bladder cancer.  Carbon filters like Brita are effective at removing chlorine.

#13 Wood burning fireplaces can release high amounts of nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide, and ventilation and levels of these gases should be checked.

#14 Toys, containing lead and phthalates pose a big risk to children due to their undeveloped immune and neurological systems.

Visit the detoxification aisle of our store for great products and even GREAT prices and FREE shipping right here...

 

For information about materials and products please visit: http://www.ewg.org, and http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm.

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc

Apple-A-Day Clinic

8/12/08

 

PS: a special announcement:  Gardisil, a new vaccine for HPV infection has been associated with some unpleasant side effects including paralysis in some users, I will report more as the news unfolds. Thanks.

 

Best of Health!

 

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for top prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

 

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

 

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