Agro Sector Ideas

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>>> 5 chemicals to yank from your home


Consider pulling these offenders from use on your house, garden, pets and kids. Here are simpler solutions to use instead.


By Marilyn Lewis

Apr 22, 2013


http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/blog--5-chemicals-to-yank-from-your-home


Concerned about home safety? Who isn't. The Natural Resources Defense Council suggests making your home palatable for all inhabitants by tossing out "the five stupidest chemicals that shouldn't be in your house."

You may be surprised to learn that companies aren't required to give safety data to the Environmental Protection Agency on new chemicals in their products. Most chemicals in use today have never been tested for safety, The New York Times says.

"Unlike pharmaceuticals or pesticides, industrial chemicals do not have to be tested before they are put on the market," according to The Times.


1. Antibacterials. Ditch antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, cleaning products, yoga mats, cutting boards, lotions, wet wipes and other antibacterial products. Why? Two words: triclosan and triclocarban. They're found in most antibacterial products.

"Triclosan is found in over 80% of Americans' bodies and exposure has been linked to allergies, impaired reproduction, hormone disruption, and weakened muscles," the NRDC says. The Food and Drug Administration says that, although studies show triclosan alters hormone regulation in animals, it hasn't been proved to hurt humans. At any rate, antibacterial products are no more effective than plai-old soap and water.

•Is your house trying to kill you?

2. Flame retardants. Flame-retardant chemicals in carpets, furniture, clothing and other household goods are linked to "real and measurable health impacts, including lower IQs and decreased attention spans for children exposed in the womb, male infertility, male birth defects, and early puberty in girls," the NRDC says. Some flame retardants were banned from childrens' pajamas in the 1970s. But they're back now. The EPA is investigating. Meanwhile, keep levels down at your house with regular dusting, damp mopping and vacuuming (use a HEPA filter.)

3. Flea-killing pet collars. Collars saturated with pesticides leave a residue that can be picked up by kids when they hang out with pets. Find safe flea-control products in Green Paws' product guide.
•Home, chemical-free home

4. "Weed and feed" lawn chemicals. Avoid products that use 2,4-D, Dicamba and Mecoprop, which can be tracked into the house on shoes and by pets. Small children who play or crawl on the floor are most at risk. Instead, spot-spray weeds in your lawn or pull them by hand.

5. Head-lice shampoos. The shampoos commonly used for killing head lice contain lindane, an insecticide that's a source of worry for a host of health reasons. Here's a PDF brochure on treating head lice at home without lindane.

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