Consumer Sector Ideas

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>>> Skin-care products


http://living.msn.com/home-decor/cleaning-organizing/10-ways-your-home-could-be-toxic-1#9


The average American uses approximately 10 to 15 personal care products with a total of 126 different ingredients each day. "Their chemicals are absorbed into the skin and bloodstream, which can have toxic effects on our organs," says Cecilia Wong, a holistic skin-care expert. The most common offenders are parabens; hormone disrupters such as DEA, MEA, and TEA; fragrance; mineral oil, and propylene glycol, says Wong. Just as you scour nutrition labels, read the ingredient list on your beauty products and opt for those with plant or fruit essential oils, herbs, and natural preservatives, which are high in vitamins and antioxidants and are safe for your body. Just be sure to toss natural brands after three months—since they're preservative-free, they may go bad if kept for longer.


Shampoo


Many shampoos contain sulfates, a sudsing agent that's also used in laundry detergent and actually doesn't help get hair (or clothes) clean and ends up making strands more brittle. Whole Foods has an entire aisle devoted to non-detergent beauty lines, but we particularly like Lotus Moon's Abundant Shampoo because it's sulfate-, paraben-, and fragrance-free, and is made with all-natural organic ingredients like pink grapefruit and sweet-orange essential oils.


Clothing


Garments made from synthetic fabrics such as rayon, polyester, and spandex may be made or treated with toxic chemicals like formaldehyde in an effort to keep them wrinkle-free. Formaldehyde has been linked with upping your odds of lung cancer, so it may be a good idea to choose clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton, silk, hemp, or organic wool. Merino wool is less itchy, doesn't wrinkle, and is odor-resistant, meaning you'll save energy—yours and the environment's—by doing laundry less often. Icebreaker's super-comfy Villa Dress is made with merino wool and is versatile enough to wear to work and on date night.


Cookware


"We like the convenience of nonstick cookware, but it's full of chemicals like TOEEL and PTFA that have been linked to cancer," says Seo. "A better bet is ceramic cookware with that blue coating, which is free of all those chemicals." To make cleaning ceramic pans easier, cook on medium—not high—heat to avoid scorching the pan. Don't soak a hot pan in cold water overnight, because it will lead to warping. Instead, sprinkle some baking soda and dish cleanser in the pan and scour with a Brillo pad. Seo's cookware line has a ceramic-based nonstick coating that's 100-percent free of harmful chemicals like PTFE and PFOA and is dishwasher safe.


Tap water


Lead, chlorine, and pesticides can contaminate the stuff that comes out of the sink, so getting a filter may be a good idea. "But test your tap water with a kit like those sold at Home Depot to make sure you really need a water filter before you invest in one," says Seo. "Also, don't trash old filters when it's time to replace them, because they're loaded with lead and other chemicals that can leak inside a landfill and pollute ground water. Instead, drop them off at a community disposal event for harmful trash." Or invest in Multipure's water filters, which last a lifetime, and thanks to their carbon composition are a-okay to toss in the trash.

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