• About
    • Our Mission and Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • Individual Action >
      • So Much You Can Do!
      • Run For Office
      • Buildings (Home/Office) >
        • Gas
      • Transportation
      • Food
      • Landscaping
      • Solar
      • Waste >
        • Gift Wrap
        • Reduce Plastic
    • Group Action >
      • Donate
      • Volunteer
    • Global Action
    • More Action In Wellesley >
      • Other Local Organizations
      • Pollinate Wellesley >
        • Milkweed Sale
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Green Schools
    • Mission and Who We Are
    • Teachers >
      • Environmental Education
    • Green Team Representatives >
      • Smart Event Guide
      • Borrow Free Supplies for Your Event!
      • End of year Locker Cleanout Tips
    • Families >
      • School Supply list

Eliminate Unhealthy Chemicals in Your Home

5/29/2019

 
Picture
Is Your Home Toxic?
The documentary Stink! that was shown last week got us thinking about how we can eliminate chemicals in our homes.  Today, we live in a technological synthetic society.  We are surrounded by chemicals everywhere, many of which are not good for the health of humans, animals or the environment.

The folks at Naturepedic Organic Mattress Gallery here in town shared information about toxins in our homes - click on "Read More" below. 

There are MANY suggestions that came from the Stink! film — again, click on "Read More" below — such as when buying skin care products (skin being our largest organ), try the Environmental Working Group’s useful Skin Guide or their household cleaning guide here.

Many products on the market use terms like “organic” or “non-toxic” or “eco-friendly” or “natural” to advertise their products.  More often than not, these words are unsubstantiated claims. The only way to know is to check the validity of the claim through objective sources, i.e. certifications and lab testing proof.

Feel free to email us with your thoughts on this topic and suggestions on reducing toxins in your home.  

The folks at Naturepedic Organic Mattress Gallery here in town shared some of the following information about toxins in our homes. The home can be particularly harmful as far as chemical exposure is concerned.  Our homes are sealed environments which amplifies exposures to any chemicals present.  We spend so much time living, eating, and sleeping in our homes.  Controlling what we bring into our homes is the best way to make our home a safer healthier environment. 

The home contains all kinds of chemical substances that are mixed into consumer products during the manufacturing process.  Examples of these chemicals are:
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) VOCs are found in furniture, couches, mattresses, plastics, building materials, carpeting, cosmetics, shampoos, paints, and more VOC exposure has been associated with cancer, birth defects, respiratory irritation, headaches and more
  • Flame Retardant Chemicals (FRs) FRs are found in almost all consumer products including clothing, furniture, mattresses, plastics, memory foams, toys and more FR exposure has been associated with cancer, reproductive & development damage, thyroid disfunction and more
  • Per-fluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) PFCs are waterproofing and stain-resistance agents. They are found in many consumer products including mattresses, carpeting, clothing, furniture fabrics and more PFC exposure has been associated with reduced immune system function, multiple organ damage, developmental problems and more
  • Phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastics, such as found in vinyl mattress covers, and as fragrances in cosmetics and cleaning products Phthalate exposure has been associated with reduced fertility, increased risk of breast cancer, allergies, asthma and more
  • Lead is a toxic heavy metal and found in a few cosmetics, paints, and textile products and more.  Lead exposure is associated with reproductive and developmental harm; muscle disorders; organ problems

When purchasing consumer product to bring into your home, make sure that you are not bringing in toxic chemicals.  To do this you need to educate yourself and make healthier choices as to which products and which brands you purchase.  Every product group mentioned has a corresponding alternative available from companies that strive to reduce and/or eliminate toxic chemicals in their products. 

Thank you to Kelly Caiazzo for compiling the following information following the documentary screening:


Thank you to all who attended the Sustainable Wellesley and Wellesley Natural Resources Commission documentary screening of Stink!.  We packed the Wakelin Room with approximately 70 attendees in honor of Rachel Carson Day on May 27th. That’s a lot more people who are now aware of the fragrance loophole and lack of regulation of known carcinogens and toxic chemicals in our everyday products! Vote your values! As helpful as it is to know how to buy safer products personally, sweeping change happens when busy consumers don’t need to do their homework because of protective legislation.  If the film resonated with you, consider making chemical regulations and transparency part of your voting agenda.

Below are some resources to help simplify the process of making safer consumer choices.  Because kids should be worried about what’s on their pancakes, not what’s in their pajamas!

Resources: 
Apps for the phone: 
  • Silent Springs Institute App,
  • Detox Me: https://silentspring.org/detoxme/
  • Environmental Working Group App,
  • Healthy Living: https://www.ewg.org/apps/
Textiles: 
  • Oeko-Tex certification: https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/consumer/consumers_home/consumers_home.xhtml
  • Avoid flame retardants, look for pajamas that say “wear snug fitting, doesn’t contain flame retardant”
  • Tip: Google “oeko-tex certified _____” to find products, you’ll often discover brands and companies that way for everything from sheets to shirts
Cosmetics: 
  • The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
  • The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: http://www.safecosmetics.org/
Household cleaners: 
  • The Environmental Working Group Guide to Healthy Cleaners: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners
  • 12 Homemade Cleaning Products that work from HuffPost (careful with vinegar on porous surfaces like marble):  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/12-homemade-cleaning-products-that-really-really-work_n_57853926e4b0e05f0523a9db
  • Books like Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson have recipes for making homemade cleaners, and the Wellesley Free Library has titles like Green Housekeeping by Christina Strutt and Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness by Hallie Cottis.
dishwasher pacs –
  • I use this powder in my dishwasher, but there are dishwasher pods & pouches listed in the EWG guide as well. 
Sunscreen:
  • Look for sunscreens labeled “reef safe” and avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate in particular
  • EWG Sunscreen Guide:  https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
Lawn Care:
  • Video about Healthy Yards in Wellesley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xztcmcjH_f0&feature=youtu.be
  • Organic Landscapers that Service Wellesley:
  • Letter from the Wellesley Board of Health and NRC about toxic lawn chemicals: https://wellesleyma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14672/Joint-Letter-from-the-Board-of-Health-and-NRC-about-Pesticides-in-Wellesley-2019pdf
Reading Labels: 
  • EWG guide to label decoding: https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/content/decoding_labels
Documentary and website resources pages: 
  • https://stinkmovie.com/take-action/S
  • ilent Spring Institute: https://silentspring.org/
  • Sustainable Wellesley: www.sustainablewellesley.com
  • Wellesley Natural Resources Commission: https://wellesleyma.gov/418/Natural-Resources-Commission-NRC
Audience suggestions:
  • Consider googling soap nuts (soap berries) for laundry – some attendees have had great success, one person recommended ones originating from Nepal
  • When speaking to people to encourage environmental change, using language like “Would you consider…” is less likely to put them on the defensive. A great tip for initiating respectful conversations!

Additional questions: Please don’t hesitate to e-mail me if you’re having difficulty finding a product replacement or have questions. I’m not an expert, but I am an enthusiast who has found a lot of resources who are experts. I am happy to point you in the right direction or dive into the problem solving with you to find a solution that works. 

There’s also a local Facebook group where people swap resources and problem solve together to find more environmental solutions for living: Sustainable Living Wellesley Facebook Group

Thank you so much to everyone who attended! Jon Whelan, the film’s narrator and director, responded personally to our request for a non-profit screening license to show the film. I was able to send him a photo from the event thanking him for the license and let him know how many attendees we had.  Given how personal the film was for him after losing his wife to cancer, it was meaningful to me to share with him how many of you showed up to hear his message. Thank you.  Special Thanks to Raina McManus of the NRC for presenting, Dr. Michael McManus (Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry) for fielding the Q&A, and Sustainable Wellesley volunteers Ellie Perkins and Janie Penn.




Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    11th Hour
    2022
    350.org
    5 Minutes
    Action
    #ActioninWellesley
    Actions
    Add To Your Resume
    Air Quality
    Air Source Heat Pumps
    All Ages
    Apartment
    Appliances
    Attorney General
    Author
    Award
    Banks
    Beacon Hill
    Becca Rausch
    Bike
    Bikes
    Biking
    Bill McKibben
    Biodegradable
    Boards And Committees
    Book
    Book Club
    Book Group
    Books
    Borrow
    Boston
    Build
    Builders
    Building
    Buildings
    Bus
    Business
    Buy Nothing
    Cabell Eames
    Call
    Cancer Causing
    Candidate
    Candidates
    Car
    Car Free
    Cars
    Catalog
    Catch Connect
    Children
    Christmas Tree
    Clean
    Clean Energy
    Clean Heat
    Clean Up
    Climate Actin
    Climate Action
    Climate Action Committee
    Climate Action MA
    Climate Action Plan
    Climate Angst
    Climate Bill
    #climatechange
    Climate Distress
    CLimate Justice
    Climate Matters
    Clothing
    Coach
    Cold
    Comfort
    Commonwealth
    Community Service
    Commute
    Compost
    Conservation
    Conserve
    Conversation
    Cook
    Cooking
    Cooking Technology
    Cool
    Coping
    Corporate Responsibility
    Create
    Cynthia Creem
    Dana Hall
    Dave Becker
    Decarbonize
    Demonstration
    Dems
    Design
    Distress
    Donate
    Drive
    Drought
    Dryer
    Easier
    Easy
    Efficient
    Elect
    Election
    Electric
    Electric Appliances
    Electric Car
    Electric Experience
    Electricity
    Electricity V
    Electric Lawn Care
    Electric Vehicles
    Electrificatino
    Electrification
    Electrify
    Electronic Waste
    Energy
    Energy Assesment
    Energy Audit
    Energy Efficiency
    Energy Efficient
    Energy Price
    Energy Savings
    Energy Use
    Environment
    Environmental Justice
    Environmental Voters Projct
    Equitable
    EV
    Events
    Evolutions
    Experts
    Fall
    Family
    Farm Animals
    Fashion
    Fast Fashion
    Fathers Day
    Feel Good
    Fields
    Finance
    Food
    Food Pantry
    Food Waste
    Free
    Fridays For Future
    Fun
    Fund
    Future
    Garage Sale
    Garden
    Gardens
    Gas
    Gas Leak
    Get Involved
    Get Off Gas
    Get Together
    GHG
    Global Climate Strike
    Goals
    Go Green
    Grass
    Green Building
    Green Consumer Alliance
    Green Schools
    Grow Food
    Hardy School
    Health
    Healthy
    Healthy Family
    Heat
    Heater
    Heating And Cooling
    Heating System
    Heat Pump
    Heat Pumps
    Help Others
    High Efficiency
    High Performance
    Holiday
    Holiday Lights
    Holidays
    Home
    Homes
    Hope
    Hot Water
    House
    Hunnewell School
    HVAC
    Hybird
    Ideas
    Idle
    Idling
    Incentives
    Indiction
    Induction
    Inspiration
    Inspire
    Internship
    Investment
    July Jubilation
    Junk Mail
    Jupiter
    Kelsey Hudson PhD
    Kids
    Landscaping
    Lawn
    Lawn Care
    Lawn Mower
    Lawns
    Leadership
    Lead On Climate
    Leaf Blower
    Leaf Blowre
    League Of Women Voters
    LEED
    Legislation
    Legislators
    Library
    Lighting
    Light Plant
    Lights
    Lincoln
    Living Sustainably
    Lobby
    Local Government
    Local Politics
    Make Change
    Marathon
    Marine Pollution
    Masks
    Mass Climate Action
    Mass Save
    MCAN
    Meatless Monday
    Meet
    Meet Goals
    Meet New People
    Meet People
    Mindy Domb
    Mini
    MIT
    Mobility
    Mobility Plan
    Money
    Mopo
    Mother's Out Front
    Mower
    Municipal Light Plants
    Mustang
    Native
    Native Garden
    Native Plants
    Natural Resources
    Natural Resources Commission
    Nature
    Neighbor
    Net Zero
    New Construction
    New Year
    No Cost
    Noise
    Olin
    Opportunity
    Organize
    Parade
    Parenting
    Partner
    Party
    Passive Home
    Passive Homes
    Peabody
    Peak
    Pension
    Pets
    Pfas
    Pipe Lines
    Pizza
    Plants
    Polestar
    Police
    Politics
    Pollinate
    Pollution
    Pre Loved
    Pre School
    Psychologist
    Public Transit
    Questions?
    Quiet
    Rainwater
    RDF
    Reach Goa
    Reach Our Goals
    Read
    Realtors
    Rebate
    Rebates
    Recycle
    Recycling
    Recycling Facility
    Reduce Costs
    Register To Vote
    Renewable Energy
    Renovate
    Renovation
    Reslience
    Retro Fit
    Reuse
    Re-use
    Rev. Vernon K. Walker
    Rides
    Rummage Sale
    Run
    Run For Office
    Safety
    Save
    Save Energy
    Save Money
    Saving Us
    School
    Schools
    Science
    Scoot
    Sen Mike Barret
    Share
    Share Inputt
    Shop
    Show
    Smart Heating And Cooling
    Snow Blower
    Social And Family Event
    Solar
    State House
    Statewide
    Stay Warm
    St. John's School
    Stove
    Student
    Students
    Summer
    Supplies
    Support Climate Action
    Survey
    Take Action
    Talk
    Teachers
    Test Drive
    Thanks
    TikTok
    Tiny Home
    Tonight
    Town Goverment
    Town Government
    Town Hall
    Town Meeting
    Town Of Wellesley
    Town Politics
    Toxins
    Train
    Transit
    Translate
    Transportation
    Tree Planting
    Try
    TV
    Use Less
    Vehicles
    Virtual Event
    Volunteer
    Vote
    Vote Your Values
    Walk
    Washing Machine
    Waste
    Water
    Water Conservation
    Wayland
    WeCare
    WEF
    Wellesley
    Wellesley Free Library
    Wellesley Green Schools
    Wellesley High School
    Wellesley League Of Women Voters
    Wellesley Middle School
    Wellesley Police
    Wellesley Police Department
    Wellesley Public Schools
    Wellesley RDF
    Wellesley Students
    Wellesley Town Hall
    Wellesley Water
    Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
    Weston
    What's Is New
    Whs
    Winter
    Work
    Wrap
    Write
    Yard Sale
    Year End Charitable Giving Wellesley
    You Are Invited
    #YouCanDoIt
    Your Talents
    Your Values
    Your Voice
    Your Voice Heard
    Zero Emissions

    RSS Feed

×

Sign up for updates!

Get Our Newsletter

Contact

info@sustainablewellesley.com
75 Emerson Road
Tel: 781-772-1188

Support us!

Volunteer
Donate

Follow us!

Copyright © 2019 By Sustainable Wellesley
Photos used under Creative Commons from Rennett Stowe, Fan.D & Dav.C Photgraphy, Ivan Radic, KOMUnews, focusonmore.com, Ivan Radic, shixart1985, vwcampin, shixart1985, Scrap Pile, garlandcannon, Ivan Radic, We Like Sharing, Ruth and Dave, Ivan Radic, REM Photo, Images_of_Money, Raed Mansour, comedy_nose, Ivan Radic, RLHyde, aqua.mech, dc_gardens
  • About
    • Our Mission and Who We Are
  • Take Action
    • Individual Action >
      • So Much You Can Do!
      • Run For Office
      • Buildings (Home/Office) >
        • Gas
      • Transportation
      • Food
      • Landscaping
      • Solar
      • Waste >
        • Gift Wrap
        • Reduce Plastic
    • Group Action >
      • Donate
      • Volunteer
    • Global Action
    • More Action In Wellesley >
      • Other Local Organizations
      • Pollinate Wellesley >
        • Milkweed Sale
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Green Schools
    • Mission and Who We Are
    • Teachers >
      • Environmental Education
    • Green Team Representatives >
      • Smart Event Guide
      • Borrow Free Supplies for Your Event!
      • End of year Locker Cleanout Tips
    • Families >
      • School Supply list