Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance and one of the most common indoor air pollutants. It is a highly suspected cancer-causing agent. It is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and may cause a wide variety of reactions, including skin reactions, ear infections, headaches, depression, joint pain, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, sleep disturbances, and many more. How many of these names would you have recognized as formaldehyde? Manufactures can legally use over 30 different trade names for this chemical. Below are some… (http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/02/Aug02/080602/98f-0052-sup0014-vol5.txt and http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html for more info on formaldehyde)

Formalin
Quaternium-15 (formaldehyde releasing agent)
Methanal
Methyl Aldehyde
Methylene Oxide
Oxymethylene
Bfv*
Fannoform*
Formol*
Fyde*
Karsan*
Methaldehyde
Formalith*
Methylene Glycol
Ivalon*
Oxomethane
Formalin 40
Formic Aldehyde
Hoch
Paraform
Lysoform*
Morbocid
Trioxane
Polyoxmethylene
denotes trade name

Think about This!

62 toxic chemicals are in the average home.
Over 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WWII.
Toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.
Over 3 million poisonings are reported every year and household cleaners are the NUMBER ONE cause of poisoning of children.
Bleach is linked to the rising rates of breast cancer in women, reproductive problems in men and learning and behavioral problems in children.
Since 1980, asthma has increased by 600%. The Canadian Lung Association and the Asthma Society of Canada has identified common household cleaners and cosmetics as triggers.
Formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene are found in common household cleaners and cosmetics. These chemicals are cancer causing and toxic to the immune system.

Are they bad for my health?

Ask Dr. Weil: Air Fresheners

Are they bad for my health?

By Andrew Weil, M.D., Prevention



More on this in Health & Fitness



Q: I use air fresheners in my home, but have been told I shouldn't. Are they bad for my health?

A: It certainly looks like they are. Recent research strongly suggests that they raise your risk of a number of pulmonary diseases. Last year researchers found that being exposed to chemicals from air fresheners as little as once a week may increase your odds of developing asthma symptoms by 71 percent. And a 2006 study showed that people with high blood levels of the chemical 1,4 dichlorobenzene—commonly found in air fresheners—were more likely to experience a decline in lung function.

Other studies point to a cancer link. University of California, Berkeley, researchers determined that, when used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, some air fresheners emit pollutants that create high levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen shown to cause cancer in animals and respiratory irritation in humans.

Last year, the Natural Resources Defense Council evaluated 14 air fresheners, 12 of which had varying amounts of phthalates, chemicals that may affect fertility, cause cancer, and trigger developmental abnormalities in infants. The NRDC and other environmental groups filed a petition calling for all air freshener-related products to be tested for consumer safety and regulated by the government.

I recommend freshening the air by opening windows and eliminating the sources of unpleasant odors. If you enjoy aromas indoors, opt for natural items such as a lavender plant, potted herbs, or a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Andrew Weil, M.D., is a pioneer in the field of holistic health and founder and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona. He received his medical training at Harvard University.

Provided by Prevention

Air Fresheners/ Deodorizers
Contain: formaldehyde, methylene chloride, and propane. Harmful to lungs if inhaled in large quantities or for an extended period of time. Solid fresheners are fatal if eaten.

**Glade plug-ins were found to be the most highly volatile chemical in the average household- DO NOT USE. Air fresheners are readily inhaled and pleasant enough to seem harmless.

**Air fresheners only mask odors, not freshen or sanitize the air.

Sol-U-Mel
Simmer a mixture of cinnamon and cloves in water on the stove.
Leave box of baking soda open in the room or refrigerator to deodorize and absorb food odors.
Set out an open dish of vinegar.
Sprinkle baking soda on odor-producing areas.
Pet odor eliminator: cider vinegar.
Ventilate with a fan or open windows, or both to avoid odor accumulation in your home

Ant Control
Toxic pesticide exposure leads to immediate, long-term poisoning. There are many less dangerous chemicals available for ant control.

**See www.pesticides.org for more information.
"Least toxic" chemicals- boric acid, salt or silica gel on trails, nest and traps.
2 Tb boric acid, 2 Tb sugar, 1 cup water. Soak paper towels, place on dishes, set out for ants.
Place a line of cream of tarter or red chili powder at point of entry.
Commercial sticky barriers to block.
Boiling water on nest to destroy.
Sweet: Float bowl of sugar water in sink to kill.
Carpenters/Termites: Reduce stored rotting wood.

Carpeting/Rugs Floor Cleaner
Contain: borax, trichloroethane. Toxic; irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membrane; may be flammable. Avoid breathing vapors and wear gloves to prevent contact with the skin.

Clean carpets on dry, sunny days with the windows open to speed drying time (and avoid exposure).

Sol-U-Mel or Prespot remover in your shampooer.
Neutralize odor: Sprinkle dry baking soda, or paste, let set overnight before vacuuming.
Grease stains: citrus-based solvents.
Alcohol, Coffee, or Tomato-foods Stains: Soak up, using club soda or clear cold water to rinse.
Sprinkle cornstarch on rug, then vacuum.

Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine is a reactive chemical and can form toxic gases when mixed with other cleaners, especially ammonia; irritant to eyes and mucous membranes; corrosive.

Dishwashing Detergent
Phosphates, chlorine, sodium carbonate, and surfactants in detergents are harmful if swallowed and will burn skin and eyes with contact.

Liquid dishwashing detergent is the mildest of the detergent cleaners; automatic dish detergent is the harshest.


Drain Cleaners
Highly corrosive to all body parts, vapors are irritants; poisonous. Chemical compounds in drain cleaners are highly caustic!
Clean out obstruction with snake or plunger.

DO NOT POUR GREASE DOWN SINK

Garbage Disposal Deodorizers
Chemicals will corrode pipes; harmful if vapors inhaled. Deodorizers are poisonous, toxic.

**See Air Fresheners/Deodorizers
Grind citrus rinds (natural deodorizer!).
Grind ice cubes.
Grind used lemons.
Pour baking soda down the drain.

Laundry Detergent/ Spot Removal
Phosphates, chlorine, sodium carbonate, and ammonium hydroxide in detergents and spot removers are harmful if swallowed and will burn skin and eyes with contact. Flammable; highly toxic; readily inhaled and absorbed.

AVOID DRYCLEANING - agents such as perchloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene may cause light-headedness, dizziness and central nervous system symptoms of toxic exposure, as well as a disposal problem for the drycleaner.


Metal Polishes and Spot Removers
Contain: ammonia, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid. Irritants; flammable; highly toxic. Hydrofluoric acid is highly corrosive to the skin, and may cause blindness. Keep tightly closed and safely stored.
Metals: 2 tablespoons cream of tartar and 1 quart hot water.
Metal: mix � c salt with enough vinegar to dilute, adding flour to create a paste.
Chrome: Clean: Rub baking soda with a dry cloth. Polish: (apple cider) vinegar or baby oil.
Aluminum: Fill cookware with hot water, adding 2 Tb cream of tarter for each qt, bring to boil and let simmer for 10 minutes; wash and dry.
Aluminum coffee pot: to remove lime deposits boil equal water and vinegar as long as needed.
Stainless Steel: Clean: baking soda. Polish: mineral oil.
Brass polish: Worcestershire sauce or paste of equal parts vinegar salt and flour. Rinse completely to prevent corrosion.
Copper cleaner: lemon juice and salt mix or paste of equal parts vinegar salt and flour. Rinse completely to prevent corrosion.
Silver: To clean: Large object- rub gently with baking soda and damp sponge. Small objects- place in pot of water with piece of aluminum foil on bottom. Boil adding 1 tsp baking soda + 1 tsp salt; add tarnished silver and boil 2-3 minutes. Remove and wash in soapy water and polish.
Rub gently with toothpaste on a cottonball.

Mothballs/Moth Crystals
Hazardous materials include naphthalene and p-dichlorobenzene. Poisonous when eaten and if residue is still present on recently stored clothing. Irritant to lungs, nose, and throat when inhaled. Long-term exposure to vapors may result in liver and/or kidney damage. Chemically sensitive individuals at a great risk.

Avoid buying mothballs and moth crystals. Never use as an air freshener. Keep stored in a very secure and air-tight location.

**The powerful smell associated with mothballs is derived from paradichlorobenzene.
Clean any used furniture or clothing brought into the household.
Wash woolens well before storing (by hand using a mild soap) DO NOT DRYCLEAN, it is a significant source of air pollution.
Shake out wool clothing periodically.
Tightly wrap clothing to be stored (double wrap or place in sealed [cedar] chest).
Add newspaper, cedar chips (or sprigs) or dried lavender flowers to sealed container when storing, or sew dried lavender or cedar chips into small cloth bags and place with clothes.
Kill moth eggs by running through a warm clothes dryer cycle.
Infestation: place item in plastic bag in freezer for at least 48 hours, bring back to room temperature then freeze again. Tightly store the item to avoid reinfestation.
Vacuum rugs, carpets behind and under furniture, and upholstered furniture.
When use air out clothing before wearing.
Do not use inside or near people and animals.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Irritant, toxic when ammonia exposure is mixed with multiple chemicals. Mild to extreme irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and skin with contact; corrosive if swallowed.

**The average person in the U.S. uses 40.6 pounds of household cleaners each year.

Oven Cleaner
Corrosive to skin and eyes, soft tissue and internal organs. Aerosol oven cleaners are one of the worst contributors to indoor air pollution, especially individuals with sensitivities to the fumes from these products (like asthma and chronic bronchitis).
** No matter how thoroughly you scrub, residue from toxic cleaners remains and begins to emit fumes the second the oven is turned on.

Tub and Tile Cleaner
Corrosive, toxic compounds. POISONOUS

Vinyl Floor Cleaners and Polishes; Waxes and Strippers
Exposure will cause mild to extreme irritation with contact of nose, throat, eyes, or skin; corrosive if swallowed. Ammonia, sodium hypochlorite problematic and toxic.

**DO NOT MIX AMMONIA-BASED WITH BLEACH-BASED CLEANERS DUE TO HAZARDOUS FUMES Headaches and nausea may result from exposure

Window/Glass Cleaners
Chemical exposure to skin, eyes, nose, and throat may cause mild to extreme irritation. Corrosive if swallowed.


Wood Floor and Furniture Cleaners and Polishes
Toxic fumes; use in ventilated area. Flammable. Absorbed through mucous membranes, skin contact. Contain: turpentine, ammonia, trichloroethane, silicone

Create A Safe and Healthy Home

Create A Safe And Healthy Home
KNOW YOUR A.B.C's. by Dr. Joyce M. Woods
Begin by thinking of your home as a toxic waste dump. The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals - more than a chemistry lab at the turn of the century. More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WW II. Less than 2% of synthetic chemicals have been tested for toxicity, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, or birth defects. The majority of chemicals have never been tested for long-term effects.
a. An EPA survey concluded that indoor air was 3 to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.
b. Another EPA study stated that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air.
c. CMHC reports that houses today are so energy efficient that "out-gassing" of chemicals has no where to go, so it builds up inside the home.
d. We spend 90% of our time indoors, and 65% of that time at home. Moms, infants and the elderly spend 90% of their time in the home.
e. National Cancer Association released results of a 15-year study concluding that women who work in the home are at a 54% higher risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home.
f. Cancer rates have almost doubled since 1960.
g. Cancer is the Number ONE cause of death for children.
h. There has been a 26% increase in breast cancer since 1982. Breast cancer is the Number ONE killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54. Primary suspects are laundry detergents, household cleaners and pesticides.
i. There has been a call from the U.S./ Canadian Commission to ban bleach in North America. Bleach is being linked to the rising rates of breast cancer in women, reproductive problems in men and learning and behavioral problems in children.
j. Chemicals get into our body through inhalation, ingestion and absorption. We breathe 10 to 20 thousand liters of air per day.
k. There are more than 3 million poisonings every year. Household cleaners are the Number ONE cause of poisoning of children.
l. Since 1980, asthma has increased by 600%. The Canadian Lung Association and the Asthma Society of Canada identify common household cleaners and cosmetics as triggers.
m. ADD/ADHD are epidemic in schools today. Behavioral problems have long been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and molds.
n. Chemical and environmental sensitivities are known to cause all types of headaches.
o. Labeling laws do not protect the consumer - they protect big business. The New York Poison Control Center reports that 85% of product warning labels were either inadequate or incorrect for identifying a poison, and for first aid instructions.
p. Formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene, xylene are found in common household cleaners, cosmetics, beverages, fabrics and cigarette smoke. These chemicals are cancer causing and toxic to the immune system.
q. Chemicals are attracted to, and stored in fatty tissue. The brain is a prime target for these destructive organics because of its high fat content and very rich blood supply.
r. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found more than 2500 chemicals in cosmetics that are toxic, cause tumors, reproductive complications, biological mutations and skin and eye irritations.
s. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, circulatory disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and hormonal problems are diseases commonly related to chemical exposure.
t. Pesticides only have to include active ingredients on the labels, even though the inert (inactive) ingredients may account for 99%, many of which are toxic and poisons.
Here are just a few additions sites with facts about toxins in our homes and environment
www.checnet.org • http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript117_full.html - transcript to Bill Moyer’s Show - Now — May 10, 2002 • http://www.scorecard.org/ • http://libertyzone.com/LC-Toxins.html • http://www.chem-tox.com/cancerchildren/default.htm • http://www.epa.gov/chemfact/ Cancer Prevention Coalition http://www.preventcancer.com/cpc/cancer1.htm http://www.tilia.se/index.htm http://users.lmi.net/~wilworks/ehn20.htm
There are solutions, alternatives and a way that we can make a difference. Get more info today and we can share with you our Mission, our belief and help you make a differenece in your life. Health and Wealth.

BIG News to the Vitamin World!!

Staying healthy in general we know is about keeping our immune system strong – and unfortunately the foods we eat today are sorely lacking in nutritional value – I think we are all aware that the vitamin wars are over – even the AMA stated in 2002 that everyone must take a daily supplement to ensure proper nutrition – but which one?
There are so many to choose from…. Plus it can get frustrating for folks taking a vitamin – many times they really don't feel any difference, right? Well that's because it's not what it says on the bottle that matters but instead what is actually being absorbed for your body to use – and more than that – if we are taking in adequate antioxidants to fight free radical damage – because science tells us that free radicals are the source of most disease and illness.
Well, I don't know if you caught the big announcement on the news – but on August 21st Melaleuca announced to the public their breakthrough scientific discovery called Oligo-Fructose-Complex , that binds the minerals - which is really what our body needs – to organic compounds to mirror the way minerals are found in fruits and vegetables which solves the problem with traditional multivitamins.
What this does is 2-fold. First, it keeps the minerals soluble in the intestine – which is where absorption takes place – in fact our supplements are 9xs more soluble than popular vitamins like One a Day and Centrum. But the biggest part of our announcement is the discovery that traditional vitamin/mineral supplements actually CREATE free radicals in the intestine – wiping out nearly all the antioxidants - all the 'good guys' - leaving our bodies virtually unprotected from free radical damage.
This is a very significant discovery in the wellness industry – Our Oligo-Fructose- Complex is patent-pending and is the first and only supplement that actually guards the minerals from producing free radicals which preserves the 'good guys' so they can be used and absorbed into your body – and it's exclusive to M.
We're so sure you will feel a difference in your health, your energy level and overall sense of well-being that we guarantee it with "the 90-day challenge." Try our Vitality Pack for yourself – if you honestly don't feel better – you can get your money back, guaranteed. That makes pretty good sense, doesn't it?

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE TOXINS IN YOUR HOME!

IMPORTANT FACTS regarding TOXINS in our environment

50 % of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality (Source: 1989 State of Mass. Study) 3 groups of people are primarily affected by indoor chemical concentrations because they spend more time indoors and their immune systems are weaker.

The three groups are:

Infants and toddlers
Elderly
Chronically ill
(Source
1988 EPA 5 years study)

The top 12 cancer causing products in the average home include the following:

Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder with Talc
Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste
VO 5 Hair Conditioner
Clairol
Nice N Easy Hair Color
Ajax Cleaner
Lysol Disinfectant
(Source:The National Cancer Prevention Coalition)

Liquid Dish Soap is the leading cause of poisonings in the home (contain formaldehyde and ammonia in most brands)

Of the chemicals found in personal care products:
884 are toxic
146 cause tumors
218 cause reproductive complications
314 cause biological mutations
376 cause skin and eye irritations
Source:United States House of Representatives report, 1989)

The State of California recently passed legislation requiring a 45% reduction in the amount of toxins found in:

Hairspray aerosols
Furniture polish
Window cleaners
Air Fresheners
Laundry detergents
Nail polish remover
Insect repellent
Hair styling gel and mousse
Shaving crème
(Source: Healthy Homes in a Toxic World)

Out of 1,435 pesticide poisonings in a 1Year period, over 40 % were due to exposure to disinfectants and similar cleaning products in the home.
(Source: State of California Study)

Just reducing (not eliminating) environmental carcinogens alone, would save at least 50, 000 lives from cancer annually (Source: Dr. Lee
Davis, former advisor to the Secretary of Health)

Women who work in the home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than woman who work outside of the home (Source: 17 year EPA study)

Over the last 20-30 years, as more toxic chemicals have been introduced in greater amounts, the levels of toxins stored in our bodies has risen.
Bioaccumulation studies have shown that some toxins store in our bodies for life. Greater and greater amounts are being stored at younger. Diseases
that used to occur later in life are now appearing at younger ages. Disease that used to be rare is more frequent. For example:

There has been a 28% increase in childhood cancer since the addition of pesticides into household’s products
(Source: National Cancer Institute)

In one decade, there has been a 42% increase in asthma (29% for men and 82% for women- the higher rate for women is believed to be due to the women’s longer exposure to household chemicals (Source: Center for
Disease Control)

Due to the increase in toxic buildup in our bodies,including the toxic buildup of formaldehyde, dead bodies are not decomposing as fast as they used too. (Source National Institutes of Health)

Bodies now start to decompose within 7 to 10 days after death. During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese bodies started to decompose within 24-28 hours, Americans didn’t start to decompose for 4 to 5 days. Two times as much formaldehyde was needed to embalm a person twenty years ago as is needed today.

There is an increased risk for leukemia in children where parents have used pesticides in the home or garden before the child’s birth (Source: Journal
of the National Cancer Institute.

Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities (Source: Consumer
Product Safety Commission)

Some products release contaminants into the air right away, other do so gradually over a period of time. Some stay in the air up to a year. These contaminants, found in many household and personal care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritations and some cause cancer. (Source: American Lung Association)

The following products are just a few that are so toxic they would be disposed in a toxic waster dump:

Floor care products
Furniture Polish
Window cleaner
Bug spray
Nail polish remover
(Source: Water Pollution Control Federation)

Warning labels on containers refer ONLY to toxins hazard from ingestion,however only 10% of health problems from chemicals are caused by ingestion.
90% are caused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of particles.

Government regulations require that only the most EXTREMELY Toxic substance must contain a warning label. Labels that say the following should be
removed from your home immediately:

Do not induce vomiting
Corrosive or fatal if swallowed
Harmful or fatal if swallowed
Call physician immediately- Get emergency aid

Warning (means that (1 teaspoon of product can harm or kill an adult)
Danger (means that as little as 5 drops can harm or kill an adult)

Phenol is a very common chemical that is found in household products. Health effects from phenol include:

Corrosive to any tissue
Harm to the central nervous system
Primary rout of entry is through the skin

Phenol is found in the following common products:

Air fresheners
Carmax
Blistex
Anti-itching and pain relieving lotions
Chloroseptic throat spray
Feminine powders and sprays
Furniture polish
Disinfectant cleaner
All-purpose cleaner