Water | Resources
Toxic Chemicals Safety Act moves through Congress
The toxics reform bill, H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Chairmen Waxman (CA-30) and Rush (IL-01). Toxics reform is now moving through both houses of Congress. Yay! We’re making progress.
If you would like to show your support, add your signature to Environmental Working Group’s petition at Toxic Chemicals Safety Act Petition.
Dr. Hauschka
One of the first companies to produce a complete line of holistic facial and body care products for men and women. These therapeutic preparations restore balance and health to the skin by stimulating the skin’s ability to take care of itself. Plant ingredients are grown using biodynamic forming, then hand harvested at sunrise to capture plant vitality. Freshly harvested plants are then immediately brought to the laboratory where they undergo rhythmical processing that ensures the plants’ healing quality is captured and carried to your skin in the finished product. These products have the natural fragrances of their plant ingredients and pure essential oils. Check their website for a directory of local and online stores, and where you can have a professional therapeutic treatment. I’ve had one and they are wonderful. My skin truly glowed!
Dr. Bronner Magic Soaps
A mainstay in the natural cleaning products aisle for decades, Dr. Bronner's now has new soaps "certified organic under the USDA's organic food regulations…They are made with organic coconut, olive, hemp and jojoba oils, and most are scented with organic essential oils [comes unscented and in non-floral scents like peppermint in addition to simple florals]. They contain no synthetics, no petrochemicals and no floral water fluff. All cylinder bottles are now made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic…The bar soaps are wrapped in 10% HempFlax / 90% post-consumer recycled paper."
Dr. Bronner Magic Soaps
A mainstay in natural food stores for decades, Dr. Bronner's now has soaps "certified organic under the USDA's organic food regulations…They are made with organic coconut, olive, hemp and jojoba oils, and most are scented with organic essential oils [comes unscented and in non-floral scents like peppermint in addition to simple florals]. They contain no synthetics, no petrochemicals and no floral water fluff. All cylinder bottles are now made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic…The bar soaps are wrapped in 10% HempFlax / 90% post-consumer recycled paper."
Drainbo Natural Drain Cleaner
A fast-acting, industrial-strength, all-natural, biodegradable drain cleaner without chemicals, caustics, acids and solvents. Made from "a seven strain bacteria formula that uses the natural process of biological decomposition that has kept our environment in perfect equilibrium since the beginning of time. It's nature's way of recycling and renewing through a steady decomposition of organic waste matter and its conversion to simple, essential substances. This ongoing process is the work of trillions of tiny, naturally occurring, living microorganisms that use organic waste as their food and energy source." Can be used throughout the house. Safe (actually beneficial) for septic tanks.
Direct Laboratory Services
Offers lab tests without requiring a doctor’s prescription. You order the tests online, then take your receipt to a local lab, where your blood is drawn. Get results online in 48 hours or have them mailed to you. Tests include ALCAT, Alcoholism, Allergies, Anemia, Amino Acids, Arthritis, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Comprehensive Wellness Profile, Colon, Drug Screen, Food Allergies, Hair Elements, Homocysteine, Organic acids, Prostate, VAP Cholesterol Test, and more.
Clothes from China
Question from Mary Marston
In September I will have to use community washing machines for several weeks. Concerned about my favorite clothes picking up odors from the laundry products of others, I bought several pair of inexpensive drawstring pants online for daytime and sleep. Two of the pants are made in China. One is a beige plaid. The other is white with dark blue flowers sketched over. The dark blue probably takes up 30% of the fabric.
Do you feel it would be safe to wear these for a few weeks? I would wash them at least three times before wearing them. Do you think the dye could contain heavy metals or pesticides? At 5.99 apiece, I could afford to throw them out if you think there is a big risk.Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
Well, here’s my logic.
They probably don’t contain pesticides from the fabric or dye. You don’t mention the fabric, but pesticides in cotton are removed during processing. Dyes don’t contain pesticides that I know of.
Heavy metals are used to fix some dyes, but I don’t know how much remains as a residue in the fabric.
It’s hard to give an evaluation without knowing the fabric and finishes, but I can say I have purchased some cheap clothing in the past and had no problem with it. Not that all cheap clothing is safe because the clothing I purchased was fine, but if you prewash it and only wear it for a few weeks, it’s probably OK. Use your own judgement.
Whole house air exchanger
Question from Meg
I am looking to buy and have installed a whole house air exchanger. Does anyone have any experience with this type of device? We recently moved to Florida and opening the windows for fresh air is miserable during summer. My daughter (age 7) has severe MCS.
Also, how do we find an experienced company to install it? A Heating and AC company?
Debra’s Answer
This question sent me on an interesting search.
First, I should say that I spent most of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area until 2002, when we moved to Florida. San Francisco and its surrounding area has it’s own built-in air conditioning: the fog that comes through the Golden Gate on most summer afternoons. In fact, this fog can be so chilling that Mark Twain once quipped, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Needless to say, most homes in the area do not have air conditioners and we live with the windows open most of the year.
So living with air conditioning was a new and strange thing when I moved to Florida.
When I first read your question, I had to find out two things.
1) Do air conditioners need air exchangers at all? (I assumed that my air conditioner was bringing fresh air in from the outdoors already.)
2) Do air exchangers exist for air conditioners? (My first introduction to air-to-air exchangers were ventilation devices that exchanged heat between outgoing indoor air and incoming outdoor air, so as to not lose the energy used to heat the indoor air.)
MCS and Low-E Glass
Andre Fauteux, Publisher/Editor of La Maison du 21e siecle magazine in Canada, asked me to post this question.
Has anyone had symptoms from bad lighting through Low-E* glazings on windows?
is there any data or scientific studies on the health impact of Low-E glazings?
Just post your answers here as comments and Andre will pick them up.
Debra 🙂
* Low-e windows have ultra thin metallic coatings on them that can help stop the loss of heat from your home.
The Story of Cosmetics
This new video just came out last week, from the Story of Stuff Project and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. I think most of you reading this blog already know what this video says, but it is a great educational piece for people who don’t already know how toxic beauty products are. So please pass it along to anyone you think needs to see it.
http://storyofstuff.org/cosmetics/
As you all know, there are many beauty products that are NOT toxic and ARE made from natural and organic ingredients, and many of them are listed on the Body Care page of Debra’s List.
