Minimizing the Toxins in Your Home

Yes, I’m here to tell you about some more of the bad stuff that’s found in your home.  It’s depressing that we just can’t seem to escape all the junk in this world.  But, don’t despair.  We can at least try to better our environment inside and out, which helps a lot!

I wanted to talk about fire retardants, (PBDEs and Deca), since we’ve already covered phthlates, BPA, and other ways to go green.  PBDEs are a type of flame retardant found in electronics, furniture, mattresses, futons, foam carpet padding, children’s car seats, automobile interiors, foam pillows, and other foam items.  According to a new EWG study, toddlers and preschoolers have three times the level of toxic fire retardants in their bloodstream as their mothers.  It’s very sad to me that children in the US have the heaviest burden of Deca pollution in the world.  Deca is a neurological and hormone disruptor and children are more susceptible to it’s effects. All of these different things leach chemicals into the air and onto your skin, where they get in your blood stream and even your breast milk.

Here are a few ways to avoid PBDE’s in foam according to EWG:

1. Inspect foam items.  Replace anything with a ripped cover or foam that is breaking down.
2. Use a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter.  These type of vacuums are more efficient at trapping small particles and will likely remove more contaminants and other allergens from your home.
3. Do not reupholster foam furniture.
4. Be careful when removing old carpet.  The padding may contain PBDEs.
5. When purchasing new products ask the manufacturer what type of fire retardants they use.  Avoid products with brominated fire retardants, and choose less flammable options like leather, wool, and cotton.
6. Buy furniture from Ikea!  Theirs is PBDE free!

And, ways to avoid PBDEs and Deca in electronics:

• purchase brands which have publicly committed to phasing out all brominated fire retardants, such as:  Acer, Apple, Eizo Nanao, LG Electronics, Lenovo, Matsushita, Microsoft, Nokia, Phillips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony-Ericsson, and Toshiba

Now I want to tell you a few more ways to help clean up your indoor environment.  Johnny and I have this great book, How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office.  I think that title is pretty self explanatory, but I’ll name a few plants mentioned in the book.  If you’d like to add some of these great plants to you home or office to purify your air, think about rubber plant, bamboo palm, or peace lily.  I think that seems like a pretty easy (and a great looking) solution!

I don’t want to weigh you down with one more thing to worry about.  I just want to try and help you be informed on ways you can change your envirnoment for the better.