Green Your Home Tips

Seemingly innocuous objects—from toys, to plastic containers, to cookware—in your home or workplace may be hazardous to your health. For example, plastics used in common household objects can disrupt the sexual development of baby boys. The culprits are chemicals called phthalates, found in toys, baby bottles and hundreds of other plastic products. Researchers at the University of Rochester studied eighty-five infant boys and found a strong correlation between their mothers’ exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and disturbances in sexual development, including smaller penis size and incomplete testicular descent.

• Avoid purchasing items that are not biodegradable or recyclable, particularly with items that have a short lifespan.
• Replace petroleum-based paraffin candles that pollute the air with renewable, clean-burning beeswax, palm or soy candles. Also, make sure the wicks that are used are pure cotton—many wicks contain lead which burns into the air.
• Avoid purchasing plastic toys made with soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which release phthalates into a child’s saliva if sucked or chewed. Instead, look for toys composed of wood or untreated natural fibers such as organic cotton, hemp, and wool.
• Discard nonstick pans. When heated above 660, the coating on nonstick pans emits fumes which cause flu like symptoms. Carcinogenic toxins are released when heated over 680 degrees. Replace nonstick with stainless steel, cast iron, enamel cast cookware or ceramic titanium. With a little patience, you will not miss the nonstick pans. For example, with stainless sauté pans, heat on a lower-than-usual setting, add a bit of oil or butter and wait until hot, then cook. Make sure that pan is absolutely clean before using, and you will have no difficulty with food sticking to the surface of the pan.
• Plastic
  • Use a non-PVC wrap. BestYet Clear Plastic Wrap, Glad Cling Wrap and Saran Cling Plus are made without PVC. Even better, avoid use of plastic wrap altogether. Replace wrap with glass or ceramics bowls and lids to store food.
  • Avoid plastics that are labeled #3, #6 or #7, as they are made out of PVC and can leach traces of phthalates into the food. Choose products marked #2, #4 or #5 instead, as they are PVC-free.
  • Avoid reusing single-use plastic water bottles, as they leach toxins and carry germs. Instead, choose a hard plastic bottle from Nalgene® or stainless steel.
  • Never heat food in a take-out container or use plastic wrap on a container when heating in microwave. The heat causes toxins to leach out of the plastic and into food.
  • Avoid heating any plastic container in microwave. Opt for glass, Pyrex™ glass or ceramic.

rnExcerpt from Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet, copyright 2007.