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Table of Contents: Overall Healthy Home  |  Eco Friendly Flooring | Eco Friendly Paint and Stains | Greener Paths for Plastic | Beyond Lead: Toxins in Toys  |  Healthy Bathroom  |  Healthy Bedroom  | Are your Candles Toxic | Healthy Kitchen | Healthy Home Exterior | Ten simple ways to clean green  | The Allergen-Free Bedroom  |  Facts about water filters | Green hands on Deck | The ugly side of Cosmetics

Most of the articles provided in this section are those that appear on the pages of Green America (the new Co-Op America).

Heal Your Home Center
Top Four Steps to a Healthy Home

1. Get Rid of Conventional Cleaners —

The problem: Many household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, harsh acids, and endocrine disrupters, which may be linked to: cancer; endocrine disruption; and eye, throat, and lung irritation.

The solution: Use nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners free from synthetic fragrances. Or save money and go easy on the earth by making your own.

Visit the National Green Pages™ category: cleaning products

Check out our Real Money article: Ten Steps to Clean Green

2. Use Care with Paints and Stains —

The problem: Conventional paints contain three chemicals worth worrying about: VOCs, fungicides, and biocides. Some paints have toxic pigments too. VOCs are the primary solvent in oil-based paint and a component in water-based paint. Biocides and fungicides are chemicals designed to extend paint's shelf life and prevent mildew once applied. Problematic ingredients can include mercury, arsenic disulfide, phenol, and formaldehyde. Paint containing lead levels greater than 660 parts per million is no longer legal in the US, but homes painted up to the 1970s may still have lead paint. These toxins may be linked to: reporoductive toxicity, neurotoxicity (lead paint), and developmental damage.

The solution: Use super-low or zero-VOC paints and stains. Look also for "biocide-free" paints with natural pigments. If your home was built before 1970, test your home and your children's blood lead levels. Paint over lead-based paint to minimize dust and chipping.

Visit the National Green Pages™ category: paints

Check out our Real Money article: Nontoxic Paints and Stains

3. Look for Sustainable Furniture —

The problem: Some wood furniture can release VOCs from adhesives and finishes. Urea formaldehyde is used in particle-board furniture. Most upholstered furniture is treated with flame-retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These toxins may be linked to: cancer, endocrine disruption, neurtotoxicity, and respiratory irritation.

The solution: Seal exposed edges of particle board and pressed wood with a zero-VOC sealant (like AFM Safecoat's Safe Seal sealant). Consider buying all-natural furniture, made from solid wood or natural, organic ingredients like organic cotton or hemp. Look for furniture made without toxic flame retardants.

Eco-Bonus: Wood furniture certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports sustainable forestry practices, preserving old-growth forests throughout the world.

Visit the National Green Pages™ category: furniture

4. Find the Right Flooring —

The problem: Wall-to-wall carpets are notorious for harboring allergens and trapping toxins like pesticides that get tracked in from outside. Most synthetic carpets and their adhesives also emit VOCs. Carpeting may be treated with benzyl benzoate or other chemicals for mothproofing or to repel moisture. These toxins may be linked to: cancer, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and respiratory irritation.

The solution: Don't put down new wall-to-wall carpeting, and consider removing any current carpet, especially if any family members have breathing problems. You can apply AFM's nontoxic Carpet Seal to lock in off-gassing toxins from newer carpets. Use a HEPA vacuum weekly to remove allergens.

Eco-Bonus: Wood furniture certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports sustainable forestry practices, preserving old-growth forests throughout the world.

Visit the National Green Pages™ categories: flooring and carpets/rugs

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Eco-Friendly Flooring

If you need to replace your carpets or floors, choose materials that are safe for your health and the planet.

EPA studies have shown that indoor pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than they are outside. To find the source of many of these pollutants, just glance down. Installation of new carpet and flooring can fill the air with hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including known and suspected carcinogens like formaldehyde and benzene. It can take years for these substances to dissipate. In addition, carpets are often treated with toxic chemicals for mothproofing or to repel soil and moisture. Carpeting is also notorious for trapping toxic lawn chemicals, VOCs, and allergens tracked in from outside.

There are several sustainable flooring options that can minimize indoor pollution and mitigate health problems caused by toxic carpets. You can now choose from a rapidly growing line of carpets and flooring made from recycled and eco-friendly materials. Durable, stylish, and often less expensive than conventional floors and carpets, these sustainable options provide a responsible and healthy way to enhance your home.

Rolling Out the Green Carpet

The environmental and health costs associated with carpeting extend from the time of your purchase until your carpet’s disposal. Here are some ways you can minimize those costs:

Fast and cheap fix: If you are experiencing health problems that could be caused by your carpet, there is a cheap solution. Try a nontoxic, green carpet finish like SafeChoice Carpet Seal, available from American Formulating & Manufacturing. This product forms an insoluble water- and odor-resistant barrier that prevents chemicals from outgassing from carpets for up to five cleanings or one year.

Carpet: There are a wide range of sustainable carpets and rugs sold at competitive prices across the nation. Look for carpets made from natural fibers with little or no chemical treatment. Also, purchase carpets with natural-fiber backing attached with less-toxic adhesives.

Contempo Floor Coverings sells a variety of low-toxicity natural carpets made from woven wool and natural sisals, jutes, and seagrass. Natural Homeoffers a line of 100 percent wool carpets made with undyed or vegetable-dyed yarn and minimal natural latex (rubber) glue. Some boast no mothproofing or stain repellent chemicals. And Liberty Carpet One recently started a division called GreenFloors.com, which features carpets with high recycled (synthetic) content and less-toxic backings and adhesives. Their Web site will eventually help consumers recycle or donate old carpets.

Padding: Many carpets and carpet paddings contain plastics made from petroleum, an unrenewable and energy consumptive resource. Choose a carpet with lightweight backing that requires no additional padding, or use padding made from recycled materials. Eco Products sells 100 percent recycled cotton padding, and many mainstream companies offer recycled “rag pads.”

Installation: Finding the right carpet is just the beginning of your journey toward eco-friendly floors. Next, you’ll need to have your carpet installed, a process that often involves chemical-based glues that have been linked to respiratory problems and other health issues. Tacking carpets down is a safe and easy alternative to gluing that eliminates many potentially hazardous pollutants. However, if you do decide to glue, you can take steps to minimize your ecological footprint. Look for water-based, low-VOC glues to install your carpets. American Formulating & Manufacturing, the Environmental Home Center, and Natural Home Products offer such adhesives at prices competitive with conventional glues.

Disposal: Eventually, all the cleaning in the world won’t save an old and tattered carpet. But, when you finally decide to say goodbye to an older carpet, remember that every year people send 1.8 million tons of rugs and carpets to local landfills, and that most carpet will last up to 20,000 years. Instead of adding to that total, try to purchase flooring from companies that will recycle or donate your old carpet.

Few carpet recyclers exist who will take any and all old carpets off your hands. If you live on the west coast, the Los Angeles Fiber Company will accept your old carpets to turn them into carpet padding (323/589-5637, www.lafiber.com). The US carpet industry recently agreed to develop solutions to reach a national carpet recycling rate of 25 percent by 2012. Their Web site, www.carpetrecovery.org, will tell users how and where to recycle old carpets as new initiatives emerge.

Another way to minimize your ecological impact is to install carpet in tiles, if possible. This method allows you to replace smaller parts of it when they become worn down or damaged, rather than replacing the entire thing.

Finally, a professional carpet repairer can give your old carpets new life by mending, reweaving, refringing, and dying your old carpets. To find a carpet repair expert, consult your local yellow pages under “Carpet & Rug Repairing.”

Ranking Your Rugs

Rugs are a great way of adding style and comfort to any of your home’s floors, but they, too, can carry a steep environmental cost. Like conventional carpets, rugs frequently contain nylon and other petroleum by-products. To minimize the use of these resource-intensive ingredients, look for rugs made of natural fibers. For a list of companies that sell eco-friendly rugs or other flooring options, consult the National Green Pages™.

Many hand-woven rugs are made overseas, where labor restrictions regarding workers’ rights and child labor are much looser than they are in the US. This second problem can be solved in one word—RUGMARK. This foundation monitors the production of hand-woven rugs across the globe and issues labels to rugs made without child labor.

Other Options

While carpets and rugs can be responsibly purchased and installed, the most eco-friendly flooring option is often avoiding them altogether. Here are some of the best alternatives:

• Hardwood Floors: For home-owners sold on traditional hardwood floors, the Forest Stewardship Council can make sure that your lumber comes from sustainably managed forests. Dozens of types of wood are produced in FSC-certified forests in which the trees are regenerated, biodiversity is conserved, and air and water quality are preserved. FSC-certified wood flooring comes in hundreds of different shades and styles. GreenFloors.com and EcoTimber specialize in eco-friendly hardwood floors. To find other sources for FSC-certified wood, visit www.certifiedwood.org.
• Cork: While softwoods are rarely considered ideal flooring material, cork is an excellent choice for many reasons. The natural elasticity of cork makes these floors especially comfortable; the wood provides thermal and acoustic insulation; and the durable floors recover well from marks left by furniture or high heels. The floors are also hypo-allergenic, so they won’t attract dust; are fire-resistant; and can even serve as a natural insect repellant. Better yet, the floors are produced using the bark of the cork oak tree, which grows back every three years. Contact the Natural Cork Limited Company for more information.
• Bamboo: Bamboo, a popular green flooring option, is 13 percent harder than maple and 27 percent harder than northern red oak, so it lasts longer and can withstand more use than conventional hardwood floors. The floors are naturally resistant to water, mildew, and insects, and they are sustainable since bamboo grows quickly and abundantly. Plyboo America sells bamboo floors.
• Tile and Linoleum: You can add life to any room with a colorful floor made of recycled glass tiles, which are ideal for modern bathrooms and kitchens. Natural linoleum floors are also hypo-allergenic and biodegradable.

For anyone considering these options, contact Ecofriendlyflooring.com, Natural Home, the Environmental Home Center, or Greenfloors.com.

It’s easy and cost-competitive to choose eco-friendly floors when your old floors need upgrading. All you have to lose are some pollutants.

When it's time to redo your old floors, choose eco-friendly options.

Enjoy beautiful, durable floors that are easy on the earth.

Keep toxic chemicals out of your home. Lessen your impact on the environment.

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Eco-friendly Paints and Stains

When renovating a room or a piece of furniture, choose less-toxic paints or stains and breathe clean indoor air while preserving the Earth.

Fresh, clean indoor air is the foremost priority for an ecologically sound home.

Of course, you might also want to enhance the aesthetic quality of your home or office by applying a fresh coat of cheerfully colored paint, or re-staining a battered piece of furniture to make it new again. Unfortunately, there are serious health hazards posed by this kind of project. A 2002 study by the National Cancer Institute found that men and women working in the painting trades had a “significantly increased” risk of cancer, a result that indicates that paints may be dangerous to your health, your family, and the environment. Since furniture stains contain many of the same chemicals in paint, you’ll fare no better with most stains.

Even if your furniture looks like it’s been through a tornado and the paint inside your home is covered with muddy handprints and errant smudges, it’s worth standing firm in your resolve to have clean air for your family. Attractive, simple-to-use nontoxic paints and stains are easier to find than ever before.

The Lowdown on Toxic Paints

The problem with most commonly available paints lies in their ingredient list, including:

VOCs: Many paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which refers to a class of chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature. When these VOCs off-gas, a process that can last for weeks depending on the type of paint, they may cause a variety of health problems like nausea; dizziness; irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract; heart, lung, or kidney damage; and even cancer.

In addition to polluting our indoor air, they can make their way outside to contaminate outdoor air as well. More than two-thirds of the 176 million pounds of VOC emissions generated in California come from paints and coatings, according to the California Air Resources Board. Oil-based paints generally contain more VOCs than water-based paints, making up around 40 to 60 percent of the paint’s contents. VOCs are the main solvents in oil-based paints, meaning they are used to dissolve and disperse the other ingredients. Water-based paints use water as the main solvent, but they still often contain five to ten percent VOCs.

Fungicides and biocides: Paints also contain toxic fungicides to prevent mildew growth, and biocides, which are used as preservatives to extend the full shelf life. Toxic biocides can be detected in the air five years after the paint containing the chemicals is applied. Like VOCs, fungicides and biocides contaminate both indoor and outdoor air. If paint is not disposed of properly, they can also seep into groundwater.

Pigments: Some of the toxic chemicals in paints come from the substances used to color them. Instead of chemical pigments, look for paints made with all-natural pigments.

Paints: What to Look For

Ideally, you’ll want to use paints that meet all three better health requirements—low VOCs,
low biocides, and natural pigments. Keep in mind that many paints labeled “low-VOC” simply meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s minimum requirements—which call for no more than 250 grams per liter (gm/l) of VOCs in “low-VOC” latex paints and no more than 380 gm/l for “low-VOC” oil-based paints. There are paints available with even lower VOC levels (0-100 gm/l). To find the VOC level, check the paint can label, or call the company and ask for a material safety data sheet.

You’ll need to tailor your eco-requirements to whether you’re looking for an exterior or an interior paint as follows:

Exterior paints: All exterior paints have fungicides, and low-biocide paints are not available for exteriors. The best choice for an exterior paint is one that has zinc oxide as the fungicide. Next best choices are zero- to very low-VOC paints, acrylic or latex paints, and recycled water-based paint. Avoid oil-based paints because of their high VOC content, as well as paint from old cans that may contain mercury or lead.

Interior paints: Milk paint and natural paints are the first choice for commercially available interior paint. Natural paints are derived from substances such as citrus and balsam, as well as minerals. Although these paints are made with natural materials and are petroleum-free, they often contain terpenes, which are VOCs derived from plants. However, natural paints do not off-gas biocides and fungicides.

Milk paint, which is made with milk protein (called “casein”) and lime, was the interior paint of choice in Colonial America. Milk paint is excellent for interiors and also gives wood a rich, deep color, allowing the grain to show through.

Latex paint with very low biocide and VOC levels is another top-tier choice. Again, latex paint is safer for the environment than oil-based paint, but it needs to be used with great care due to the strong terpenes.

Acceptable paints, although they contain biocides, include latex, acrylic, and recycled latex paints, assuming they don’t contain mercury or lead. Avoid oil- and solvent-based paints.

No matter which kind of interior paint you use, it’s best to keep the room well-ventilated. Also, never use old paint that may contain lead. Lead-based paints are extremely toxic, especially to pets or children who may eat dry paint chips. If you suspect that your home contains lead-based paint, call a certified professional to inspect and, if needed, remove the paint.

Stains: What to Look For

Like paints, stains can also contain high levels of biocides, fungicides, and VOCs, which pose the same problems outlined in the paint sections above. Paint is preferable to stain due to the higher levels of pesticides in stain.

To avoid polluting your indoor air and outdoor environment, use water-based stains and sealants without biocides and added dryers, or those made with beeswax or carnauba wax. Acrylic urethanes manufactured without the addition of biocides are acceptable choices for those who aren’t chemically sensitive. So is shellac (the alcohol evaporates). Avoid epoxies and oil-based formulas with dryers.

Besides darkening wood, stains also protect wood from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. The more pigment, the more protection from UV light. Clear sealants without UV protection won’t last long when exposed to the sun. Clear stains are loaded with pesticides and wood preservatives. Darker stains and sealants tend to be less toxic.

The Best Brands to Try

To help you find the best paints and stains available, Real Money has developed the following list (be sure to check the National Green Pages™ as well):

American Formulating and Manufacturing (AFM) makes Safecoat paints, stains, cleaning products, and sealers without toxic chemicals. AFM products are pristine enough even for the chemically sensitive. They contain no formaldehyde, fungicide, or mildewcide, and meet strict VOC emissions standards. You must have the paints tinted at a local store.

Auro USA makes natural, low-VOC plant-based, interior and exterior paints and finishes that arefree from petrochemicals and solvents. You must tint your own paints using Auro natural pigments.

Environmental Building Supplies is the US importer of AGLAIA natural paints and finishes. AGLAIA offers a range of low-VOC, plant- based paints, stains, beeswax glazes, and more.

The Green Paint Company (508/476-1992) in Manchaug, MA, makes interior and exterior latex and oil paints that contain 90 percent reclaimed paint. The reclaimed paint comes from hazardous waste sites. The paint is filtered, then mixed with virgin paint, repackaged, and sold to willing customers. Although the product may be mixed from paints that are high in VOCs and biocides, it does provide a use for discarded paint.

Med Imports offers a paint alternative called Terramed, an all-natural, historically accurate, textured indoor wall coating made of imported Mediterranean clays, combined only with sand and cellulose. Chemical- and VOC-free. Available in 12 colors.

The Old-Fashioned Milk Paint Company is a family-run company in Groton, MA, that produces paints from milk protein. Available in 16 colors, Old-Fashioned Milk Paints contain no biocides, low VOCS, and natural pigments.

Timber-Tek UV Wood Finishes offers oil-based, water-born exterior wood finishes designed to stain, seal, and protect, all in one. Timber-Tek finishes contain no flammable solvents, low VOCs, and low biocides. Hazardous materials only make up nine percent of these products, compared to the industry average of 50–85 percent.

Weather-bos Stains & Finishes manufactures least-toxic, eco-friendly stains and finishes for interior and exterior surfaces. Made with natural ingredients, the finishes boast low VOCs and low biocides.

Making Paint, Disposing of Paint

You can also make your own paints and stains with natural ingredients and pigments. The most important reasons to make your own paints and stains are to avoid biocides, minimize your exposure to VOCs, and ensure the use of natural dyes and pigments. Author Annie Berthold-Bond offers paint and stain recipes, as well as recipes for natural pigments and dyes, in her book, Better Basics for the Home.

When it comes time to dispose of your unused paint, do so responsibly. Buy only the paint you need so you can use it all, and then recycle the steel cans. If you end up with a substantial amount of paint left, save it—store the can upside down to create a tight seal around the lid. Or, donate it to a local theater, neighbor, or community group. As a last resort, take it to a local hazardous waste collection program.

—Annie Berthold-Bond, with Tracy Fernandez Rysavy. Most of the information in this article comes from Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999). Annie Berthold-Bond is editor of Care2.com's Heathly Living Channel

Use nontoxic paints and stains in place of standard products.

Enjoy attractive, quality paints and stains that produce far fewer toxic fumes.

Greatly minimize the toxic chemicals you wouldotherwise put into the environment. Enjoy healthier indoor air after painting or staining.

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Greener Paths for Plastics

Conventional plastics can pollute the environment and leach harmful chemicals. Here's what you need to know to stay safe.

When plastic manufacturing took off in the early 20th century, plastic was heralded as a miraculous material—lightweight, flexible, and sturdy. Eventually, though, plastic’s down sides started to emerge: Toxic chemicals such as benzene and dioxin are released into surrounding communities during the manufacture of certain types of plastic, and some types leach chemicals as we use them. A plastic bottle tossed into a landfill will take hundreds of years to break down. Plastic bags that litter the landscape will kill animals that try to eat them, and they’ll harm aquatic life when dropped into bodies of water. Several studies have uncovered health risks associated with exposure to fumes from its incineration.

 

Plastic recycling has lightened some of the environmental burden of disposal, but the majority of plastics are landfilled or incinerated after a single use; the US plastic-bottle recycling rate is less than 25 percent, according to the American Plastics Council. Even if we raised that percentage, recycling plastic isn’t an ideal solution; the plastic we recycle doesn’t turn into more of the same kind plastic we tossed into the bin, but has to become lower-quality plastic that has limited applications, such as plastic lumber.

By reducing your use of plastic, choosing plastic products carefully, and using them safely, you can reduce the risks that plastics pose to the Earth and your family’s health.

Problems with Plastics 3, 6, & 7

Of most concern to your health and the environment are the types of plastic coded for recycling as #3, #6, and #7.

#3 (Polyvinyl Chloride): The nonprofits Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) and Environmental Health Strategy Center have asked companies to phase out the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a type of plastic widely used in construction and consumer goods, because it poses serious health threats at every stage of its life cycle. In a report entitled “PVC: Bad News Comes in 3s,” the groups explain that PVC production requires highly polluting and cancer-causing chemicals that have contaminated the areas where PVC is manufactured. They also point out that PVC is often made with plasticizers such as phthalates, which can leach out of or evaporate from the finished products and have been shown to cause developmental and reproductive damage. And, they point out that PVC incineration leads to the emission of dioxins, which are known to cause cancer, as well as reproductive, developmental, and immune problems. Landfilling PVC can cause the plastic’s toxic additives to leach into groundwater. PVC is very difficult to recycle and contaminates other kinds of plastics when recycled with them.

#6 (Polystyrene): Polystyrene is used in foam food trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, opaque plastic cutlery, and other disposable food service items. It’s a concern because the chemical styrene can leach from it into food and beverages. According to the EPA, short-term styrene exposure at levels above the Maximum Contaminant Level (used to set drinking-water standards) can cause nervous-system effects such as loss of concentration, weakness, and nausea. Long-term exposure can cause liver and nerve damage and cancer.

#7 (Polycarbonates and Others): Although the #7 designation is a catchall for plastics that don’t fit into one of the other categories, products marked with this number are often polycarbonates, which are used in plastic baby bottles, the plastic liners of metal food cans, sport water bottles, and other items. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor that is used in making polycarbonates and can leach from them when they’re used. A recent review of studies regarding BPA’s effects (Environmental Health Perspectives, August 2005) finds that more than 80 percent of published studies assessing the effects of low-dose BPA exposure on laboratory animals found significant effects, including alterations to brain chemistry and structure, behavior, the immune system, and male and female reproductive systems.

Be a Smart Plastic User

Here are ways to make your plastic use healthier and more environmentally friendly.

Reduce and Reuse: There are a few cases—such as that of medical supplies—in which it’s necessary to use plastic once and then discard it, but it’s often possible to find a better alternative. Avoid single-use items such as disposable bottles, plates, and cutlery. Carry a refillable bottle or mug for beverages on the go, and bring reusable cloth bags to stores. For leftovers and takeout food, reusable containers are better than foam boxes or plastic wrap and bags. If you regularly buy products that are only available in plastic packaging, buy the largest container available, rather than the multiple smaller ones, to cut down on the total amount of plastic used.

Take precautions: When you do use plastic, it’s best to choose those labeled #1, #2, #4, and #5 and avoid those labeled #3, #6, and #7. Even if you’re choosing the best plastic, though, there are still chemical leaching concerns associated with long storage or heat. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy has issued a “Smart Plastics Guide” that includes the following recommendations for using any type of plastic:

• Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers free of metallic paint.
• Beware of cling wraps, especially for microwave use.
• Avoid plastic bottled water, if possible.
• If you do use plastic water bottles, take precautions. If you use a polycarbonate water bottle, to reduce leaching of BPA, do not use for warm or hot liquids, and discard old or scratched water bottles. Water bottles from #1 or #2 plastics are recommended for single use only. For all types of plastic, you can reduce bacterial contamination by thoroughly washing daily. However, avoid using harsh detergents that can break down the plastic and increase chemical leaching.

Take Care With Kids: The rapid development and immature immune systems of fetuses and children make them particularly susceptible to damage from toxins, so pregnant women and parents should exercise extra caution with plastics. The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) advises choosing cloth and wooden toys and avoiding plastic toys, which are often made of PVC and can leach harmful chemicals when chewed on. Or, consult Greenpeace’s Toy Report Card to learn which toy manufacturers have eliminated PVC from their products.

Plastic baby bottles are of particular concern to parents. Breastfeeding can eliminate the need for a lot of plastic, but parents may still want to use bottles for pumped breast milk or juice. CHEC recommends avoiding polycarbonate bottles, which are generally clear and rigid and bear the #7 symbol, and choosing bottles made of tempered glass or polyethylene and polypropylene (#1, #2, or #5); they note that Medela and Evenflo make bottles from safer plastics. CHEC also recommends using bottle nipples made of clear silicone rather than yellow rubber, because the silicone hides less bacteria and is heat resistant.

Recycle Responsibly: Recycle your plastics following the instructions given by your local recycling program. If you have a curbside program that doesn’t accept certain plastics, consult www.earth911.org to find an alternative drop-off site near you. Advocate for more extensive plastic recycling collections, and purchase items made from or packaged in post-consumer content.

New Trend: Bioplastics

Concerns about the rising price and supply limits of petroleum, as well as environmental factors, have spurred the use and development of bioplastics synthesized from corn, soy, sugar cane, and other crops. Toyota has started using bioplastics in some of its cars; Wild Oats, Newman’s Own, and Del Monte have adopted them for deli and food packages; and even Wal-Mart has begun using a corn based packaging for cut fruit and vegetables. Most of the bioplastic packaging used in the US is polymerized lactic acid (PLA) made by NatureWorks LLC, a company owned by Cargill.

Bioplastic's Benefits: Unlike conventional plastics, bioplastics biodegrade relatively quickly under the right conditions, and they’re made from annually renewable crops rather than petroleum. PLA can also be recycled into more of the same product repeatedly, while plastic can’t.

Early reports suggest that bioplastic can be an effective substitute for petroleum-based plastic. Last July, the Los Angeles Times published an article about Cargill’s Nebraska facility that manufactures PLA from corn. “The end products—which include T-shirts, forks and coffins—look, feel and perform like traditional polyester and plastic made from a petroleum base,” the article reports. “But the manufacturing process consumes 50 percent less fossil fuel, even after accounting for the fuel needed to plant and harvest the corn.”

Concerns: Since relatively few people in the US have access to commercial or industrial composters, which help bioplastics degrade, lots of bioplastic is ending up in landfills or recycling bins. In landfills, PLA will lack the light and heat it needs to degrade. Plastic recycling is unlikely to be adversely affected by PLA, which can’t currently be processed by mainstream recyclers, until it makes up a far greater percentage of plastic than it does now. The best option would be to develop a separate recycling stream for PLA.

The Sustainable Energy & Environmental Demand (SEED) Initiative of the organization Future 500 brings together NGOs, corporations, and governments to develop markets for emerging technologies that will reduce petroleum dependence. SEED is helping NatureWorks and environmental groups work together to make PLA as eco-friendly as possible. Issues include the large amounts of energy and chemicals used to grow and process the corn, the use of GMO corn, and waste disposal. NatureWorks has already taken positive steps in these areas by purchasing green-power offsets, offering customers options to buy non-GMO-corn offsets or GMO-free PLA, and buying baled PLA back from recyclers. They continue to work with stakeholders through SEED.

One danger of increased bioplastic use is that people might end up buying a lot of it if they think it’s less problematic than petroleum-based alternatives. A shift to bioplastics still needs to be accompanied by waste reduction.

Best Uses:When reuse isn’t feasible, bioplastics can be the best alternative. For instance, our Green Festivals, a joint program of Co-op America and Global Exchange, are held in venues where vendors can’t wash and reuse food service items. Instead, we use compostable plates, cups, and utensils from Biocorp and serve BIOTA water, which comes in compostable bottles. Hundreds of volunteers help attendees sort their waste into the appropriate bins, and we send the composting to a municipal composter afterwards.

Bioplastic is also a good option for collecting kitchen compost and yard trimmings destined for commercial composting, because the bags can be composted along with their contents. With a little forethought, we can all reduce our use of plastics and make the healthiest choices for our families and the planet.

Types of Plastic

• #1, PETE or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) — Used for clear beverage bottles. Widely recyclable; generaly considered safe, with some precautions.
• #2, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) — Used for colored or cloudy bottles and jugs, yogurt containers, and other tubs. Widely recyclable, but consumers need to verify with local recyclers whether tubs and bottles (which are made differently and can’t be recycled together) need to be separated. Generally considered safe, with some precautions.
• #3, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) — Used in some cling wrap and bottles, as well as pipes and other construction materials. Not widely recyclable; recommended to avoid because it can leach toxins into food and is an environmental problem throughout its lifecycle.
• #4, LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) — Used for garbage bags, food storage bags, and some cling wrap and bottles. Not widely recyclable; generally considered safe, with some precautions.
• #5, PP (Polypropylene) — Used in butter tubs, some baby bottles, and other rigid containers. Not widely recycled; generally considered safe.
• #6, PS (Polystyrene) — Used in foam trays, takeout containers, coolers, egg cartons, and packing peanuts. Not widely recyclable, although many packing and shipping stores accept packing peanuts for reuse. Recommended to avoid because styrene may leach into food and beverages.
• #7, Other (Includes Polycarbonate and mixed materials) — Used in five-gallon water bottles, some baby bottles, and some liners of metal cans. Not widely recyclable; recommended to avoid because bisphenol-A can leach from polycarbonate into food and beverages.

Minimize your use of conventional plastics .

Conventional plastics place a heavy burden on the environment and can leach harmful chemicals.

New plant-based plastics are made with fewer harmful chemicals and biodegrade under the right conditions.

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Beyond Lead: Toxins in Toys

Recent headlines have brought lead-painted toys to the forefront, but lead's not the only toxin that raises concerns.

Michael Rainville of Maple Landmark Woodcraft, a Vermont green toy manufacturer, has never seen business pick up as fast as it has in the last couple months. “We are phenomenally busy,” he says. “We’re scrambling to figure out how to meet demand.”

Rainville knows why there is renewed interest in the colorful wooden trains, buses, and cars he sells—the recalls of hundreds of thousands of Chinese-made toys containing lead paint last summer were a surprising wake-up call to many parents.

“There’s a lot of fright over the fact that there are issues parents weren’t aware of before with conventional toys,” says Rainville.

When parents ask persistent questions about whether Maple Landmark is truly manufacturing in the US, Rainville offers to hold up the phone “so they can hear the saws running and know we’re making the toys under one roof.” He then tells parents about the company’s other sustainable features: the toys are all made from sustainably harvested Vermont wood. Safe paints and finishes range from beeswax coatings to colorful lacquers. In addition, Maple Landmark packs its toys in secondhand boxes and shipping materials, and takes care to recycle whenever possible. It donates its scrap wood to farmers for sawdust bedding and to locals for kindling.

Once parents learn about everything the company does to ensure safety and sustainability, they’re reassured that Maple Landmark toys will be safe for their kids, says Rainville. If you’re wondering how to ensure that the children in your life only play with safe toys, we’re here to help. We’ve gathered some of the most important considerations in selecting safe toys.

Rules in Toyland
Toys sold in the US are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which enforces federal standards for children’s products. General laws regulating all products concern sharp points or edges, parts small enough for a child to swallow, and lead in paint, according to Consumer Reports. Unfortunately, this does not mean that the government tests toys for safety before they go on the market.

On the contrary, the CPSC is “entirely reactive,” says Ruth Ann Norton, the executive director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning (CECLP). Once a toy is already on store shelves, toy manufacturers are required to report to the CPSC if it causes any injuries or deaths, and consumers may submit reports, as well. The government’s current recall mechanism is exclusively “complaint driven,” explains Norton: the CPSC collects reports and may issue a recall of a toy it deems unsafe.

Regardless of what is legally permissible in the US, Norton says, toys made in China or other developing countries carry a higher risk of containing chemicals that are illegal than toys made in the US, Canada, or the European Union (EU), because dangerous chemicals are less well-regulated in these countries.

Lead Paint
Though there is no comprehensive US ban on lead in toys, it is illegal for the paint to contain more than 0.06 percent concentration lead, and with good reason. When ingested, lead can cause nerve damage, learning and behavioral problems, reproductive damage, and irreversible brain damage. It can also increase the risk of cancer.

Legal limits notwithstanding, several high- profile toy recalls over the summer revealed that some toys made in China and sold to families in the US contained illegal and dangerous levels of lead. The levels of lead in some of the toys recalled by the Mattel Corporation were as high as 11 percent, 180 times the legal limit.

Some states have banned lead in children’s products entirely, and a stricter federal standard for both lead levels and testing of imported toys may be forthcoming from Congress, says Norton. Meanwhile, she suggests that parents follow the motto posted in her office: “When in doubt, throw it out.”

“We don’t want parents to be paranoid, or in a panic,” she says, “but this is a year for caution.”

Unfortunately, the test kits for detecting lead in homes can’t be reliably used by parents to test toys, and laboratory tests of toys destroy the toys. If you do have concerns that your child may have been exposed to lead, have your health care provider conduct a blood test. If the test shows elevated levels of lead, the child can take medicine that brings down lead levels to prevent further damage.

How to steer clear: Follow these steps:

• Avoid painted toys made before 1978, because before lead paint was banned in toys, residential structures, and hospitals that year, it was used commonly in paints in the US.
• Imported painted toys carry a higher lead
risk because lead is less well-regulated in many developing countries. Choose toys manufactured
in the US, Canada, or the EU.
• Show caution around any imported toy with flaking paint, in particular.
• The CECLP advises parents to avoid fake painted pearls, including Mardi Gras beads, and cheap children’s jewelry of the type sold in vending machines or given away as party favors. A 2006 study by Ashland University researchers found that 70 percent of the 20 cheap toy jewelry samples they tested contained illegal levels of lead, only three of which have been subsequently recalled.

PVC & Phthalates
Polyvinyl chloride plastic, known as PVC or vinyl and identifiable by a #3 or “V” symbol, is so toxic for people and the planet at every point in its lifecycle that some activists call it by another name: the “poison plastic.”

Of particular concern for children’s health are vinyl toys such as teethers, “rubber duckies,” beach balls, and bath books. These are often made of a flexible vinyl that has been softened using “plasticizer” chemicals called phthalates. (Lead has also been found in some children’s vinyl products, such as bibs.)

Children’s polymer clays such as Fimo and Sculpey also have been found to contain trace amounts of phthalates, as we discussed in a Real Money article about art supplies (May/June 2007). Phthalates can leach out of PVC products, especially when hot food is served in plastic containers and when children put PVC toys like teethers in their mouths. Studies have identified phthalates as a hormone disrupter. Phthalates may also cause liver and kidney lesions, a higher risk of certain cancers, and may exacerbate asthma and allergies in children.

PVC also creates dangerous chemicals throughout its lifecycle: making PVC releases carcinogens such as vinyl chloride and dioxins, and incinerating PVC generates carcinogenic dioxin. Because phthalates harm a person through total exposure from many sources, it’s hard to measure the harm likely to be caused by particular PVC toys. However, many experts, including those at the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World, say it pays to be cautious. The EU, 12 countries, and the state of California have banned or restricted the use of phthalates in children’s products, and some US toy manufacturers have enacted voluntary bans.

How to steer clear: Avoid PVC plastic: Unfortunately, most plastic toys don’t carry clear information about the type of plastic they’re made of, though some PVC toys may carry a #3 or the word “vinyl.” A number of toy companies have pledged to begin phasing PVC out of their toys, but IKEA is the only major retailer that has already completely phased out PVC.

Mike Schade, the PVC Campaign Coordinator for the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ) recommends e-mailing toy companies directly to ask if a particular toy contains vinyl; he’s found that most respond within a day or so. Instead of toys that contain vinyl/PVC, choose toys made of alternative materials, including FSC-certified wood, natural fabric, or plastics #1,2,4, and 5.

Clear Plastics and Bisphenol A
Bisphenol-A (#7) is legally used to make transparent, hard, unbreakable plastic products, such as baby bottles and “sippy” cups, and CD jewel cases. Very small amounts of this chemical have been shown to cause serious reproductive damage in mice, especially when the exposure occurs in utero. Exposure may cause prostate cancer, breast cancer, female infertility, and obesity.

How to steer clear: The Natural Resources Defense Council advises parents to avoid polycarbonate (#7) plastic. When in doubt about items you already own, call the manufacturer and ask. If you notice that a clear plastic bottle or cup has become worn, or that the clear plastic of a toy has become cloudy, that may be evidence of off-gassing bisphenol-A. Throw it out.

Instead, choose baby bottles and spill-proof cups made of glass or polyethylene (#1, #2, #4 recycling symbols) or polypropylene (#5). To find safe bottles and sippy cups by brand name, consult the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s “Smart Plastics Guide."

Clear Plastics and Bisphenol A
When a manufacturer issues a toy recall, they may contact customers who purchased the toy online, or prevent shoppers from purchasing the toys still on store shelves. But it’s up to parents to scan the recall lists and notice if a toy recall applies to something your children play with.

To review toy recalls, visit www.recalls.gov or call the CPSC hotline, 800/638-2772. You can also report unsafe products to the CPSC via the hotline.

When it’s time to buy a new toy, the greenest companies are most often the safest. See our box at right for resources that can help you find toys that are safe for people and the planet.

Ruth Ann Norton at the CECLP admits that she sometimes imagines Barbie, Dora the Explorer, and Thomas the Tank Engine commiserating together somewhere in the aftermath of the massive recalls. “They’ve had a rough year,” she says. “But these are toys that kids love, and they can be made safely. Someday, they will be.”

—Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

Green Toys

What’s a sustainable toy? It’s made under decent labor conditions, made from renewable resources, is completely safe for children to play with, and leaves open lots of creative possibilities for imaginative play. The following socially and environmentally responsible companies, featured in our National Green Pages™, sell sustainable toys:

• Beyond Learning, Inc., 310/826-7409.
• Challenge and Fun, Inc., 888/384-6200.
• EcoPlanet-EcoChoices Green Store, 626/969-3707.
• ImagiPLAY, 800/882-0217.
• Kate’s Caring Gifts, 510/656-4438.
• KidBean.com, 866/253-0009.
• Kvale Good Natured Games, LLC, 866/254-1276.
• Maple Landmark Woodcraft, 800/421-4223.
• North Star Toys, 800/737-0112.
• Peapods Natural Toys & Baby Care, 866/WOOD-TOY.
• Planet Happy, 800/995-0154.
• Reach and Teach, 415/586-1713.
• Safe Sand Co., 415/971-1776.
• Terra Experience, 608/231-1247.
• Xeko, 206/632-3706.

Hampers, trash cans, diaper pails...they’re all designed to store smelly stuff. How do you stop them from smelling up the whole room? The answer is to take one of nature’s most powerful deodorizers and target the very source of the problem; to literally focus what keeps fresh air fresh, and bring it indoors. No sprays, no perfumes - just nature. Fresh Air Focus. A Healthy Resolution Product

Choose sustainably made toys.

 

Enjoy peace of mind from
knowing your children are
playing with the safest
toys possible.

 

Green toymakers go the extra mile to protect their
customers, workers,
communities, and the environment.

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Heal Your Home Center                                                                                          

All-in-One Shower Head Half of our daily chlorine exposure is from showering. As chlorine is absorbed through the skin, it also vaporizes in the shower, is inhaled into the lungs, and transfers directly into the blood stream. Living Water All-In-One Showerheads remove chlorine and other chemical toxins from your water. You’ll notice the results – shiny, smooth hair and soft, healthier-feeling skin. Plus, because it makes water wetter, beauty products work better so you’ll use less shampoo and soap. A Healthy Resolution Product

Three Steps to a Healthy Bathroom

1. Trash Conventional Body Care Products —
 

The Problem: More than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer, and very few products are tested for safety. Some products contain phthalates, which don't appear in the list of a product's ingredients. Instead, they are covered by the general term "fragrance." Other troublesome ingredients include coal tar, which is made from petroleum waste; diethanolamine (DEA); 1,4-Dioxane; and parabens. These toxins may be linked to: endocrine disruptions, skin problems, and cancer.

The Solution: Look for body care products from one of the 600 retailers that have signed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Compact. These companies have pledged to phase out the 450 chemicals banned by the European Union in 2005 because they're strongly suspected of being mutagens, carcinogens, or endocrine disrupters. You can also search the EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to learn about the products on your shelves.

Eco-bonus: Your green body care purchases help stop environmental contamination of our waterways. Buying organic supports sustainable, pesticide-free agriculture.

Premium Hand-Held Shower Head Half of our daily chlorine exposure is from showering. As chlorine is absorbed through the skin, it also vaporizes in the shower, is inhaled into the lungs, and transfers directly into the blood stream. Living Water All-In-One Showerheads remove chlorine and other chemical toxins from your water. You’ll notice the results – shiny, smooth hair and soft, healthier-feeling skin. Plus, because it makes water wetter, beauty products work better so you’ll use less shampoo and soap. A Healthy Resolution Product

Visit our National Green Pages™ category: body care

Check out our Real Money article: The Ugly Side of Cosmetics

2. Avoid Chemical Air Fresheners —

The problem: Air fresheners can contain dangerous ingredients like dichlorobenzene, naphthalene, and formaldehyde. Conventional scented candles aren't much better. Many are made from petroleum-based paraffin wax, which releases carcinogenic soot when burned, and some have lead-core wicks, which release toxic lead into the air when burned. Linked to: respiratory irritation, cancer.

The solution: Avoid candles and air fresheners with synthetic fragrances. Instead, leave out a bowl of baking soda to absorb odors, and switch from paraffin to 100-percent beeswax or soy candles with cotton wicks. To test a candle wick for lead, rub the tiip on a piece of paper. If it leaves a mark, there's a lead core in the wick. This method doesn't work with candles that have been lit already, so when in doubt, throw them out.

Visit our National Green Pages™ categories: aromatherapy and candles

Check out our Real Money article: The Ugly Side of Cosmetics

3. Purge PVC from your Shower Curtain (and elsewhere) —

The problem: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, or the "vinyl" in your vinyl shower curtain, is a plastic that's dangerous to people and the environment at every stage of its lifecycle. DEHP, an additive used to soften many vinyl products, is a phthalate. These toxins are linked to: endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and cancer.

The solution: Avoid PVC products for your bathroom or anywhere in your home. PVC is often recognizable by its distinctive odor (think that "new shower curtain" smell). When shopping for a shower curtain, look for a non-vinyl one. Ikea and Vita Futura both make polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) liners, which are PVC-free. You can also get a hemp curtain from green companies like Rawganique.com and Greenfeet.com. Hemp dries quickly and is resistant to mildew.

Visit our National Green Pages™ categories: hemp, housewares, and toys

Check out our Real Money article: Greener Paths for Plastics

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Heal Your Home Center
Two Steps to a Healthy Bedroom

1. Choose Better Bedclothes —

The problem: Toxic chemcials that resist flames, water, moths, stains, soil, and wrinkles are sometimes added to textiles like bedclothes. Labels such as "permanent-press," "no-iron," "water repellent," and "flame retardant" may indicate fabric treatments that off-gas chemicals like formaldehyde and perfluorochemicals (PFCs). These toxins may be linked to: respiratory and skin irritation, cancer, and developmental damage.

The solution: Choose organic fabric sheets and covers without any chemical finishers. Most bedclothes will not be labeled with information about finishers, so call the manufacturer and ask, or choose bedclothes that advertise as "chemical-free." Also, avoid fabrics with a "new" smell that may indicate chemical treatments.

Eco-bonus: Organically grown cotton is grown without pesticides that can harm workers and the environment (though those particular chemicals won't reach you in conventional cotton products).

Visit our National Green Pages™ category: bedding/futons/mattresses

Check out our Real Money article: The Allergen-Free Bedroom

2. Mind Your Mattress—

The problem: Federal laws require mattresses to be fire resistant, so many manufacturers treat the mattress foam with flame-retardant chemcials. The most dangerous are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which some manufacturers are phasing out voluntarily. Mattresses and pads made of petroleum-based polyester, nylon, and polyurethane foam (including "memory" foam) can off-gas VOCs. The water-repellants and stain-resistant finishes used on many mattresses, and on some plywood or particleboard boxsprings, may offgas formaldehyde. These toxins may be linked to: endocrine disruption, cancer, neurotoxicity.

The solution: Choose mattresses stuffed with natural, nontoxic, and organic materials, and untreated with flame-retardant PDBEs or other chemical finishes. (If this information is not on the tag, call the manufacturer.) Mattresses with a layer of flame-retardant wool may be more affordable than all-organic mattresses. If you can't replace your mattress, minimize off-gassing fumes by covering it with an impermeable encasement intended for allergy sufferers, by vacuuming frequently, by ventilating the room, and by using a HEPA air filter.

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Heal Your Home Center                                       

Eliminate refrigerator odors, keep food fresher longer, and fight mold and bacteria for pennies a day with REFRESH!. Based on technology developed by NASA to prolong the life of plants in space. Easy to install and lasts up to two years. A Healthy Resolution Product

Four Steps to a Healthy Kitchen

1. Avoid Pesticides; Go Organic —

The problem: Many conventional fruits and vegetables carry pesticide residues. Twenty-three of the world's 28 most commonly used pesticides are suspected carcinogens, and several are possible neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors. Consuming conventional dairy products and meat can expose

EcoHCleaner      Improving Your Home. Naturally! There are thousands of products on the market to help you care for your home. But, when you read the fine print, many are harmful to you, your family, and our fragile planet. Caring for the environment is at the very heart of every decision we make at EcoQuest International. Now you can put an end to risky and unnecessary exposure to poisonous chemicals. ecoH is made from natural and organic ingredients, and works as well as, if not better than, regular chemical based cleaners. ecoH is not a detergent, a petroleum solvent, or citrus-based. It’s non-toxic, non-caustic, non-fuming, and 100% biodegradable. ecoH is safe on all kinds of surfaces. Use it for everything from oil and grease stains to cleaning litter boxes. Clean counter tops, cabinets, appliances, walls, vinyl and aluminum siding, air filters, ceiling fans, screens, roofs, toys, glass, windows, crayon marks, and more! It’s also a great vegetable wash! What makes ecoH so different from regular chemical based cleaners and so effective? ecoH is a homogenous blend of colloids and wetting agents that, when combined with water, become super active and break up surface tension. The movement of the molecules in the solution actually lifts, separates, and emulsifies dirt, grease, oils, and stains.

 you to the hormones used on food animals, which may be linked to endocrine disruption. May be linked to: cancer and endocrine disruption.

The solution: Buy organic foods, grown without toxic pesticides, when you can. If you're on a tight budget, avoid conventional fruits and vegetables that carry the highest amounts of pesticide residue: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, spinach, and strawberries. Eating organic also gives your immune system a boost. A study at the University of California-Davis found that organic produce has 19 - 50 percent more cancer-fighting anti-oxidants than conventional produce.

Visit the National Green Pages™ category: food

Check out our Real Money article: Eat Less Meat; Cool the Planet

Check out the "Good Food" issue of the Co-op America Quarterly

2. Be Fussy about Your Fish —

The problem: Some fish can contain mercury and polychlorinated biphernyls (PCBs). Some experts say that FDA and EPA fish consumption limits, established to keep pregnant women and children safe, are too lax. May be linked to: cancer and developmental disorders.

The solution: To find fish low in mercury and PCBs, and to avoid supporting fishing practices that harm the environment, download our "Safe Seafood Wallet Card." Also, look to plant sources of the healthy omega-3s found in fish, including walnuts, flax seeds, and oils.

Eco-Bonus: Buying sustainably caught fish helps discourage environmentally unsound methods, like bottom-trawling and fish farming, which contribute to the decline of our oceans.

Visit the National Green Pages™ category: fish

Check out our Real Money article: Safe, Sustainable Seafood

3. Ban Plastics #3, 6, and 7 —

The problem: Hard-to-recycle plastics often contain toxins that can leach into food and water, especially when heated.

#3: These polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics contain plastic-softening phthalates like DEHP. Some plastic wraps are made from PVC, as well as vegetable oil bottles and some flexible plastic containers.

#6: Also known as polystyrene, styrofoam take-out containers are often made from #6, which is considered a possible human carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

#7: Also known as polycarbonate, clear, hard #7 plastic is often used in sport water botles and baby bottles. This plastic often contains bisphenol-A. (#7 is a catch-all category, so plant-based plastics are labeled #7 as well, but do not contain bisphenol-A.)

The above may be linked to: cancer and endocrine disruption.

The solution: Get rid of #3, #6, and clear, hard #7 plastics, especially those that might be used by children. Single-use beverage bottles are typically made from #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE) plastics, which are generally considered safe for one-time use. However, studies indicate that DEHP may leach from PETE bottles after repeated use. Most plastic food storage containers are #5 and are considered safe.

All plastics can leach in the long term, so it's best to avoid plastic altogether and choose glass or ceramic containers instead. When you do use plastic, avoid microwaiving foods or putting hot food or drinks in them; heat promotes leaching. Instead of plastic water bottles, try a reusable, stainless steel Klean Kanteen bottle, available at REI stores and ReusableBags.com, or a SIGG-brand bottle, made from aluminum, with a water-based lining to prevent leaching, available at Whole Foods stores and NubiusOrganics.com.

Check out our Real Money article: Greener Paths for Plastics

4. Be Cautious with Your Cookware —

The problem: Non-stick pans with Teflon or Teflon-like coatings contain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which break down into the air at high temperatures. Aluminum can also find its way into your food through cookware. Though exposure to aluminum has not been linked definitively to any adverse effects like Alzheimer's disease, it is thought wise to avoid extra exposure. Linked to: cancer.

The solution: Stainless steel and cast iron are both safe alternatives to non-stick and aluminum pans. Non-stick anodized aluminum pans have a layer of aluminum oxide to prevent aluminum leaching.

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Are Your Candles Toxic?

We show you what's wrong with conventional candles, and point your toward less-toxic alternatives.

Sometimes, one of the simplest pleasures in life is coming home from a stressful day of work, filling the bathtub with warm water, and lighting an aromatherapy candle with a special scent that—as the label claims—will make you feel calm and relaxed. Unfortunately, that seemingly harmless candle could be filling the air in your home with carcinogenic soot and lead emissions.

“Oh, no,” you say, clutching your Calming, Sensual, and Invigorating candles to your chest, “you’ll take these away from me when you pry them from my stressed out, soot-stained hands.” Fortunately, the solution to the candle pollution problem doesn’t have to be that extreme. Alternatives to toxic aromatherapy candles abound—from natural beeswax and vegetable wax candles to candle-free aromatherapy techniques. With very little effort, you can fill your home with soothing scents without filling it with toxins.


What's Wrong With My Candles?
According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 40 percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Most often, the candles with lead wicks are scented candles. Fragrance oils soften the wax, so the manufacturers use lead to make the wicks firmer.

A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air, says the CPSC. Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems.

In addition, you’ll want to look out for aromatherapy candles made of paraffin—a petroleum by product—which release carcinogenic soot when burned. The soot can also cause respiratory problems and will aggravate the conditions of those who already have asthma, lung, or heart problems.

“Burning an aromatherapy candle made of paraffin is similar to preparing a healthy drink of fresh squeezed juice and adding a shot of gasoline,” says Eric Johnson of Candleworks, an Iowa City, Iowa based company that specializes in nontoxic aromatherapy candles.

Besides endangering your health and that of your family, soot from paraffin wax can cause significant damage to the inside of your house, plus your computers, electrical appliances, and ductwork.

“Some families have reported so much soot damage that they have filed insurance claims, only to find such damages aren’t covered in their policies,” says natural living expert Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Home Safe Home.

And if that weren’t enough, aromatherapy candles that are scented with synthetic oils release microscopic particles that can cause cancer and other health problems when inhaled.

Natural Candle Alternatives
The CPSC recently voted to begin creating rules that could ban candles with lead-core wicks by the end of 2001. However, there are no rules or bans in the works for paraffin candles and those scented with synthetic oils. In the meantime, you don’t have to give up candles altogether.

• First of all, ensure that any new candles you purchase don’t have lead in the wicks. Look for a “lead free” label, or perform the “No-Lead Test” below. You can also check the CPSC’s Web site, which provides a list of candle manufacturers that have signed the “no-lead wick pledge."

• Buy 100 percent beeswax candles with cotton wicks, which are free of toxins. Beeswax can cost as much as six times the price of paraffin, so many candle manufacturers blend paraffin with their beeswax to cut costs. Be sure your candles say 100 percent beeswax on the label.

• Buy candles made from 100 percent vegetable-based waxes, which are also nontoxic. For example, Way Out Wax in Morrisville, Vermont, makes their candles with a combination of vegetable wax and hemp oil wax.

• To reduce soot, no matter what kind of wicks are in your candles, trim wicks to 1¼4 inch, and do not burn candles near a draft.

Candle-Free Aromatherapy
If you can’t find just the right nontoxic aromatherapy candle to get rid of tension headaches or rejuvenate your tired body in the morning, you may want to try using pure essential oils. Pure, organic oils can give you the same aromatherapy benefits as scented candles, and you can choose and blend your own scents.

Essential oils, while nontoxic, are very potent. Always know the best way to use the oils you’re working with, as well as any precautions that should be taken with them. Consult a qualified aromatherapist or a good reference book first.

Once you’ve chosen your favorite oils or oil blends, there are several methods you can use to release the scents in your home:

• Use a diffuser. These are simple containers—most often made of glass, marble, or ceramic—which release the scent from essential oils when heated either with electricity or a small tea light candle. Usually, six to ten drops of essential oil in a diffuser is all it takes to scent a room.

• Use a ring burner. These metal rings have a reservoir that holds a few drops of essential oil and will fit around a lightbulb, using the heat to disperse the oil’s scent.

• Take a bath. Add five to ten drops of essential oils to a warm bath. Close the bathroom door and soak for 15 minutes. Remember, essential oils can mark plastic bathtubs, so be sure to clean the tub when you’re finished.

• Make a room spray. Blend ten drops of essential oil in seven tablespoons of water. Shake well before filling the sprayer.

The No-Lead Test

To find out whether a candle has a lead wick, follow these steps:

1) Look for a “lead-free” label when shopping for new candles.

2) For unburnt candles, rub the tip of the wick on a piece of paper. If it leaves a gray mark, like a pencil, the wick contains a lead core. If you’ve already purchased the candle, take it back to the store and tell the manager why you’re demanding a refund.

3) For candles that have already been burned, you should just throw out any that have metal cores as a precaution. Simply look at the tip of the wick and see if it has a metal core. If you still
can’t tell, peel back some of the cotton.

Use only nontoxic candles.

 

Get aromatherapy benefits
without toxins.

 

Keep harmful chemicals, soot, and lead out of your home.

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Heal Your Home Center
Four Steps to a Healthy Home Exterior

1. Avoid Vinyl (PVC) Siding —

The problem: Home siding can be the single largest use of PVC plastic in a home. Vinyl siding often contains DEHP, an additive and a phthalate. The manufacture and incineration of PVC releases dangerous pollution. May be linked to: endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, cancer.

The solution: When it's time to buy new siding for your house, choose one of the many non-vinyl siding alternatives available, from aluminum to polypropylene.

Visit our National Green Pages™ category: building supply

2. Take Care with Exterior Paints —

The problem: Like paints used indoors, exterior paints can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and may contain fungicides or biocides. In exterior paints, VOCs are less likely to be inhaled, reducing the paint's health risks, but these VOCs can still cause smog and damage the ozone layer.

The solution: Pick a zero- or very low-VOC exterior paint. All exterior paints need fungicides to prevent mold, so choose an exterior paint that contains the least-toxic paint fungicide: zinc oxide. Avoid oil-based paints and choose instead an acrylic, latex, or recycled water-based paint. Least-toxic exterior paints include: DuraSoy No-VOC Interior/Exterior paint, American Pride No-VOC Interior/Exterior Primer, and AFM Safecoat Low-VOC Exterior Satin.

Visit our National Green Pages™ category: paints

Check out our Real Money article: Nontoxic Paints and Stains

3. Reduce Your Pesticide Use —

The problem: Too many homeowners needlessly use hazardous chemical on their lawns, and these chemicals can drift into their homes and pollute indoor air. Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked with cancer or carcinogenicity, 15 with neurotoxicity, and 11 with hormone disruption, according to the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns. Many also pollute groundwater, and most are toxic to wildlife. These toxins may be linked to: cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption.

The solution: In many American yards, pesticide use is unnecessary and excessive. Visit Beyond Pesticides for least-toxic solutions to lawn care.

Visit our National Green Pages™ category: landscaping/lawn care

4. Watch Your Wooden Deck and Playsets —

The problem: Until a few years ago, pressure-treated wood for decks and play equipment was routinely covered in chromium copper arsenate (CCA) to kill insects and prevent rot. CCA leaches arsenic that sticks to hands and is absorbed through skin. The wood industry voluntarily agreed to stop selling CCA-treated wood for most residential uses in 2005, but older decks and playground sets may still be coated in poison. These toxins may be linked to: cancer, developmental damage.

The solution: If your wooden deck or play equipment was built before 2005, obtain a test kit from the Environmental Working Group. If there is arsenic present, consider replacing the items, or at least the parts like handrails and steps that people most often touch. Using a table cloth on older wooden picnic tables, applying wood sealant every six months, and regular handwashing after playing outside can limit arsenic exposure. (Clear sealants are most toxic. Look for a wood sealant with the darkest pigmentation.)

Also test soil surrounding older wood decks or play equipment. You may need to replace it with a safer ground cover if the soil contains unsafe levels of arsenic. Avoid storing any tools or toys outdoors near arsenic-treated wood.

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Ten Simple Ways to Clean Green

EcoHCleaner      Improving Your Home. Naturally! There are thousands of products on the market to help you care for your home. But, when you read the fine print, many are harmful to you, your family, and our fragile planet. Caring for the environment is at the very heart of every decision we make at EcoQuest International. Now you can put an end to risky and unnecessary exposure to poisonous chemicals. ecoH is made from natural and organic ingredients, and works as well as, if not better than, regular chemical based cleaners. ecoH is not a detergent, a petroleum solvent, or citrus-based. A Healthy Resolution Product

Make your own nontoxic cleaners, or find eco-friendly products from Co-op America's Green Business Network™ members.

There are many benefits to making your own green cleaners. You may already have most of the ingredients in your cupboards. You’ll save money by not buying an array of expensive products, each targeted to clean only one type of surface in your home. And, in most cases, green cleaners work just as well as their commercial counterparts.

Perhaps the most compelling reason to use green cleaners is to keep potent toxins out of your home. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that many household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and harsh acids. Since indoor VOC levels are often two to five times greater than outdoor levels, humans can experience “eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous systems” from indoor exposure to these chemicals, according to the EPA.

“Some [VOCs] can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans,” the agency says. Most modern chemical cleaners are, quite simply, overkill, notes the nonprofit Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC). “Atomic energy is not necessary to unclog a drain, nor are the Marines necessary to combat ants,” Jan Williams writes in the CHEC’s book Household Detective. “Most of the time, we can use milder, natural chemicals ... to do the same jobs.”

Sure, you say, but who has time to make their own cleaners?

You do—with our help. Just ten basic ingredients that are probably already in your home will tackle most cleaning jobs Your home will sparkle, germs will still run in fear from your sponges and rags, and your indoor air will be better than ever.

The Basic Ten

Stock your cupboards with these ten products, and you can clean just about anything:

1) White vinegar: An antifungal that also kills germs and bacteria.

2) Baking soda: Eliminates odors and works as a gentle scouring powder.

3) Borax: Borax, the common name for the natural mineral compound sodium borate, eliminates odors, removes dirt, and acts as an antifungal and possible disinfectant. Use with care around children and pets, as it can be toxic if swallowed.

4) Hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration): A great nontoxic bleach and stain remover, as well as a proven disinfectant.

5) Club soda (fresh): A stain remover and polisher.

6) Lemon juice: A pleasant-smelling nontoxic bleach, grease-cutter, and stain remover.

7) Liquid castile soap: An all-purpose cleaner, grease-cutter, and disinfectant. “Castile” means the soap is vegetable-based, not animal-fat-based.

8) Corn meal: Great at picking up carpet spills.

9) Olive oil: Makes a wonderful furniture polish.

10) Pure essential oils: Adding all-natural, organic essential oils to your cleaning concoctions can add wonderful scents to your housekeeping endeavors. Some—such as lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea tree oils—also may have antibacterial, antifungal, or insect-repelling properties. To find pure, organic essential oils, visit your local health food store or consult the “Aromatherapy/ Essential Oils” category of our National Green Pages™. Remember to use care with essential oils, as they can cause harmful reactions when ingested or put directly on the skin. Some are considered dangerous for pregnant women (To be safe and simplify things, stick with eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea tree oils for all recipes below if you’re pregnant).

If you want to try an oil we haven’t mentioned in this article, consult a reliable source on its proper usage, such as the aromatherapy education section of Frontier Natural Products Co-op’s Web site.

The Basic Ten at Work

Now that you know what products you need, grab a few clean, empty spray bottles; some rags and sponges; and a bucket of water, and you’re ready to clean your house the green way.

All-purpose cleaners: An all-purpose cleaner is just that—something you can use for just about every surface in your home, from kitchen counters and appliances to bathroom surfaces and walls. Clean House, Clean Planet author Karen Logan offers this recipe for the all-purpose “Alice’s Wonder Spray”: Put 2 Tbsp. white vinegar and 1 tsp. borax into a 16 oz. spray bottle. Fill the rest with very hot water and shake to blend until the borax is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap only after you’ve completed the above steps. If you want to scent your spray, also add 10–15 drops of an essential oil, such as lavender, lemongrass, thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary, rose, or clove. The spray will keep indefinitely. For an even simpler solution, try cleaning with two cups of club soda in a spray bottle.

Hard floor cleaner: Author and Care2.com healthy living editor Annie Bond (a.k.a. Annie Berthold-Bond) recommends this solution for all hard floors (except when directed by the manufacturer to avoid even mild detergents): Combine 1/4 liquid castile soap, up to 1/2 cup white vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 gallons of warm water in a large plastic bucket. Use with a mop or sponge.

Carpet cleaner: To clean and disinfect your carpet, the CHEC recommends blending 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. To remove stains from your carpet, Logan advises mixing 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Glass cleaner: To make your windows shine, you can simply use club soda in a spray bottle. Add 1 tsp. of lemon juice to increase your window cleaner’s degreasing power. Logan recommends using a terry-cloth cotton rag for best results.

Bathroom surface cleaners: You can use the all-purpose cleaners recommended above or, for even simpler bathroom cleaning, use baking soda or borax as a scouring powder. For a softer scrub, Bond says to combine 1/2 cup baking soda with enough liquid soap to achieve a frosting-like consistency. You may want to add 5-10 drops of an essential oil for fragrance. Club soda works wonders on plumbing fixtures.

Toilet cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda or borax, or pour white vinegar into the toilet, and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a good toilet brush. oven cleaner: Cover the oven floor with baking soda, spray with water until very damp, and let set overnight. Spray with water every few hours before you go to bed to keep damp. In the morning, clean out the baking soda, and the stuck-on gunk will be loosened and ready to scrub off.

Mold remover: Bond recommends combining 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar with 1 cup water. Spray on mold and do not rinse. She also recommends treating mold with a spray mixture of 2 tsp. tea tree oil and 2 cups water.

Wood polish: To polish wood furniture, dab olive oil onto a soft cloth and rub.

Germs and Other Concerns

You may be worried about do-it-yourself green cleaners not being able to kill germs effectively. Researchers at Tufts New England Medical Center, on the other hand, worry that we’re killing too many microorganisms, saying that disinfectants found in household cleaners may contribute to drug resistant bacteria. The CHEC says that ordinary soap and water do the job well enough to keep our families safe, barring someone with a seriously compromised immune system.

For most of us, the best way to prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms is to wash our hands frequently. Also, disinfect any sponges you’re using weekly by boiling them in water for three minutes and then microwaving them for a minute or two. Launder dish rags every week.

If you prefer over-the-counter products, look for green cleaners made with natural ingredients. Check your local health food store, or consult the box below for screened green cleaning product companies listed in our National Green Pages™.

Resources

Green cleaning Products:

• Aberdeen Enterprises/BioGreen—321/639-3324.
• American Formulating & Manufacturing (AFM)—800/239-0321.
• Bi-O-Kleen Industries—800/477-0188.
• Citra-Solv, LLC—800/343-6588.
• Descale-It Products Co.—520/294-5676.
• Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soaps—760/743-2211.
• ECO-Source—613/239-4951.
• Ecover—800/449-4925.
• Gaiam—800/869-3603.
• Global Balance Co.—617/527-5639.
• Green Planet Products LLC—678/521-0036.
• GreenBulldog.com—601/212-7580.
• Helyn’s Clean Solutions—860/871-1808.
• LifeKind Products Inc.—800/284-4983.
• Mia Rose Products—800/292-6339.
• Natural Choices Home Safe Products—866/699-2667.
• Naturally Home—888/696-8113.
• Naturally Yours—888/801-7347.
• Orbeco—415/647-0207.
• Rochester Midland Corp.—800/836-162.
• Seaside Naturals LLC—800/870-1697.
• Seventh Generation—802/658-3773.
• Sun & Earth—800/596-7233, x11.
• Treecycle—406/626-0200.
• Vermont Soap Organics—802/388-4302.


Information:

• Annie B. Bond—Her books Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999) and Home Enlightenment (Rodale, 2005) offer plenty of recipes and advice for green
cleaning and living.

• Care2.com—Find recipes and advice for green cleaning and living on this site’s “Healthy Living” channel, edited by Annie B. Bond.

• The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition—310/820-2030. A nonprofit dedicated to educating people about preventable children’s health and developmental problems caused by toxins in their environments.

• Karen Logan’s Clean House, Clean Planet—(Pocket Books, 1997).

• Washington Toxics Coalition—206/632-1545. A nonprofit working to protect public health and the environment by eliminating toxic pollutants.

Make your own green cleaners out of ten common, less-toxic ingredients.

They're simple to make, and you'll save money over buying commercial cleaners.

Keep toxins out of your home and away from your family. Clean with products that are good for the environment and still get rid of dirt and germs.

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The Allergen-Free Bedroom

Mite-Proof Bedding You spend about 90% of your life indoors. You spend about a third of that time in bed. Experts say that between 2 million and 10 million dust mites live in your mattress that another 2 million live in your pillow. A 6-year old pillow can get one-tenth of its weight from mites, dead mites, and mite feces. Dust mites are gross creatures with a taste for dead skin ... yours. Every time you make the bed, or fluff the pillow, an invisible and unhealthy cloud of feces, dead skin, and mite body parts circulates throughout your house. Our soft cotton/polyester fabric mattress and pillow covers zip over your existing mattress and pillow to provide an effective barrier against dust and dust mites. waterproof mold and spore proof machine washable comfortable noiseless and cool A Healthy Resolution Product

Improve air quality in your bedroom by combating dust mites, mold, dander, and more.

We spend an average of 33 percent of our time (eight hours per day) in our bedrooms. And, experts say the bedroom is often the room with the highest allergen content in the entire house.

If you or a family member have allergies or asthma, you might experience a noticeable difference in your symptoms after removing as many allergens as you can from this one room. Here are our best tips for creating an allergen-free bedroom.

What Lurks Under Your Bed

There are five main types of allergens that lurk in the bedroom:

• Dust mites: These ugly little microscopic creatures feed on sloughed-off skin cells and congregate mainly in bedding, pillows, stuffed animals, curtains, upholstery, carpets, and storage boxes. It’s actually dust mite waste that triggers our allergies, not the mites themselves.

• Mold: Anything damp—from pet bedding to carpets to walls and window moldings—can become a haven for mold.

• Animal dander: If you allow your cat or dog to sleep in your room, allergy-inducing proteins from your furry friend’s skin, saliva, and urine—also called animal dander—may be sticking to any available surface. Animal dander also remains airborne for several hours, so it can float into your bedroom from other areas of the house.

• Pollen: Pollen is often carried indoors on clothing or on pets. It can also float inside from windows or your central air system.

• Cockroaches: The cast-off skins and droppings of these pests are what trigger allergies. Now that you know what allergens could be making you sneeze, it’s time to focus on getting rid of them as much as possible. If you’d like to pinpoint exactly which allergens trigger your symptoms, consider asking your doctor for a referral to an allergist, who can figure out what you’re allergic to through a simple skin test.

Simplify Your Bedroom

Simplifying your life isn’t just good for your pocketbook—it can be good for your health, too. The more storage boxes, books, upholstered furniture, pillows and bedding, and other items in your bedroom, the more places allergens have to hide.

Keep your bedroom as simple as possible. Clear out clutter, and see if you can sell or donate it instead of letting it sit around and collect allergens. Put items you can’t part with in other rooms.

Remove drapes, feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters, and other non washable soft items, if possible.

For children, minimize stuffed animals and other soft toys in the bedroom—they become havens for dust mites. Look for machine washable stuffed toys. Clean those that can’t be washed with a damp cloth, then put in the dryer on a high setting to kill dust mites.

Carpets: A Haven for Allergens

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) recommends replacing carpets with hard flooring, since carpets are notorious for trapping allergens and exacerbating symptoms.

To find environmentally (and allergy-) friendly flooring options, consult our Real Money July 2003 article, “Eco-Flooring Options,” or check the “Flooring” category of our National Green Pages™ for sellers of cork, sustainable hardwood, and bamboo flooring.

If replacing carpeting isn’t an option, vacuum floors at least weekly with a machine that has a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. (Standard or water-filtered vacuums just stir up allergens.) Vacuum furniture and curtains as well.

Several green companies offer nontoxic allergen-reducing sprays, detergents, and cleaners for carpeting, upholstery, and more. (See below.)

Steps to Reduce Allergens

Use the following suggestions to expunge each of the five main types of allergens from your bedroom:

To dispel dust mites:

• Encase mattresses, box springs, comforters, and pillows in airtight, zippered plastic or special allergen-proof fabric covers. These are widely available at national and specialty stores, as well as from the socially and environmentally responsible businesses listed in the resource box on this page.

• Avoid down pillows and comforters, if possible, as they attract dust mites. If you choose to use them, encase them in allergen-proof covers.

• Wash sheets and pillow cases weekly in hot water to kill dust mites—the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) says temperatures lower than 130°F will not kill mites. (You can still save energy by rinsing in cold water, and by washing your other items in cold water.)

• Vacuum weekly with a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Dust weekly with a damp or electro-static cloth to pick up dust, rather than dispel it. Wear a dust mask while cleaning to minimize symptoms.

To combat pet dander:

• If your pet allergies are significantly reducing your quality of life, or have become life-threatening, the only way to truly get rid of dander is to find your pet another loving home with someone who is not allergic to it. The AAAAI says that even keeping your pet outdoors exclusively isn’t a complete solution, since homes with an outdoor pet have been found to have a higher concentration of pet dander inside than homes without a pet.

• If you choose to keep your beloved pet, the best way to minimize allergens is to keep your pet outside in an environment that meets its health and social needs. If your pet isn’t the outdoor sort, at least keep it out of your bedroom at all times.

• Replace bedding and carpeting that has animal dander on it. “It can take weeks or months for fabrics to come clean of allergens, and animal allergens may persist for a year or more,” says the AAAAI.

• Bathe your pet weekly—studies have shown that weekly baths can minimize dander.

• Vacuuming does little to reduce pet dander, since vacuums don’t clean the very bottom levels of the carpet where dander collects. A HEPA vacuum may help somewhat. As with dust mites, the best solution is to install hard flooring, if possible.

To minimize mold:

• To keep mold out of your home, keep dampness out. Repair and seal any leaks, and keep humidity levels below 50 percent (see the next section, “For All Allergens,” for more information).

• If you discover mold, clean it promptly with a solution of water and a non-ammonia soap or detergent. Remove any carpeting or wallpaper contaminated with mold.

• If the soap or detergent doesn’t eliminate the mold, and you can’t remove the contaminated materials, some green companies, such as Sneeze.com, offer nontoxic mold removers. As a last resort, a solution of water and five percent chlorine bleach may kill stubborn mold. Keep in mind, however, that chlorine bleach may react with organic compounds in drinking water to produce carcinogens and other toxins, according to the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition.

• Keep houseplants out of your bedroom.

• If you don’t have pollen allergies, open doors and windows periodically and use fans to increase air movement.

To reduce pollen:

• Bathe before going to bed to wash pollen off your skin and hair. Leave the clothes you wore all day in a hamper outside your bedroom.

• Avoid line-drying your clothes outside, as they will collect pollen. Instead, invest in a folding drying rack and dry your clothes indoors to save energy.

To control cockroaches:

• Block areas where roaches could enter the home, including cracks, windows, and outside doors and drains.

• Keep your home meticulously clean, especially the kitchen. Store food in airtight containers, clean counters and sweep the floor after meals, and put away pet food after your pet eats. Vacuum frequently, and take out trash and recycling daily.

• If you think you need to call an exterminator, first try employing the less-toxic roach control methods such as: "The Pesticator" (an ultrasonic device that is supposed repel mice and roaches, available from www.global-instruments.com), borax for carpets and cracks (use caution around pets and children), products from the "Pest Control" section of our National Green Pages™, and pest-control companies that use less-toxic methods (for a list of questions to ask such companies, click here).

For All Allergens

These steps will help reduce all five allergens:

• Filter your air: Though no studies have proven that indoor air filters help clear out allergens, many people with allergies attest to their effectiveness. The NIAID recommends talking to your allergist about the best type of air filter to use. Having your air ducts cleaned has not been proven effective against allergies, says the AAAAI.

• Bring in plants: Indoor plants are great air filters, so unless you have mold allergies, putting plants in your home can reduce allergens.

• Keep humidity levels low: All five allergens thrive in humidity, so keep humidity levels below 50 percent by repairing leaks and using a dehumidifier. If you live in a very humid climate, you may need to turn on your air conditioner to reduce humidity and, therefore, your symptoms.

• Clean your house: In addition, keeping your home, especially your bedroom, as clean as possible will go a long way toward keeping allergens at bay. Use nontoxic cleaning products, which can be found at your local health food store or in the National Green Pages™, to avoid chemical irritants.

• Avoid toxins: “Those with allergies and asthma should avoid airborne irritants, including tobacco smoke, aerosols, paint, perfumes, cleaning products, or other strong odors or fumes,” says the AAAAI.

Of course, none of the advice we’ve given is intended to replace evaluation of your symptoms by a physician. If you have concerns about your health, please consult your doctor.

Article Summary

Take steps to reduce allergens in your bedroom.

Minimize symptoms by first minimizing allergens in the room you spend a third of your time in. Save money on medical bills and allergy medication.

Use nontoxic methods to reduce allergens and keep your indoor air as healthy as possible.

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The Facts About Water Filters

You may think that one water filter is as good as another, but think again. The filter you buy on impulse may not be keeping your family safe.

Beverage companies have made a fortune on marketing bottled water on the premise that it’s “pure,” from “pristine, natural sources,” and thereby safer than tap water. Bottled water marketing campaigns have been so successful in making people suspicious of their tap water, that sales skyrocketed 700 percent between 1997 and 2005. Skyrocketing as well—the environmental degradation, landfill waste, and human rights abuses associated with bottled water. Plus, studies have shown that it’s no safer than tap water (see below).

There’s a much better option for ensuring that the water you and your family drink is as safe as it can be: a water filter. Putting a water filter in your home is less expensive and far less environmentally damaging than bottled water. And if you choose the right filter, you can minimize or eliminate the contaminants of highest concern in your area. Here’s what you need to know. ...

How Safe Is Public Water?
Under the Safe Water Drinking Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting national drinking water standards. The EPA regulates over 80 contaminants—including arsenic, e-coli, cryptosporidia, chlorine, and lead—that may be found in drinking water from public water systems. While the EPA says that 90 percent of US public water systems meet its standards, you may want to use a water filter to further ensure your water’s safety.

A 2003 study by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that due to a combination of pollution and deteriorating equipment and pipes, the public water supplies in 19 of America’s largest cities delivered drinking water that contained contaminant levels exceeding EPA limits (either legal limits or unenforceable suggested limits) and may pose health risks to some residents. So even though it may test fine at its source, public water may still pick up contaminants on the way to your house.

Contaminants that sneaked into city water supplies studied by the NRDC include rocket fuel, arsenic, lead, fecal waste, and chemical by-products created during water treatment.

“Exposure to the contaminants [sometimes found in public and private drinking water] can cause a number of health problems, ranging from nausea and stomach pain to developmental problems and cancer,” notes Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in its booklet, Drinking Water: What Health Care Providers Should Know. PSR estimates that up to 900,000 people get sick and 900 die in the US per year from contaminated public and private drinking water. Despite the problems with public water, it’s still just as safe as bottled water, despite the billions of dollars beverage companies spend to make you think bottled is better. (For more information, see below.)

Step One: Assess Your Tap Water
There isn’t a one-type-fits-all kind of water filter: not every filter type will eliminate every contaminant. You’ll save money and ensure that you’re targeting the contaminants of concern in your area by doing a little research up front.

“Most people purchase the wrong equipment because they skip this very important step, and then they’ve wasted money and resources on a system that isn’t making their water any safer,” says James P. McMahon, owner of Sweetwater, LLC (866/691-4214), which provides consulting and products for people wanting to purify their air or water.

To start, check your water utility’s “Consumer Confidence Report,” which it must mail to you each year before July 1 by law. The report details where your drinking water comes from, what contaminants have been found in it, and how contaminant levels compare to national standards. You can also call your utility and ask for a copy, or visit www.epa.gov/safewater to see if it’s online.

For help reading the report, visit NSF International’s Web site.

While your report can tell you what’s going on with the water in your area, only a test of the water coming out of your tap will tell you what you and your family are drinking for sure. To find a state-certified lab to test your water (which will charge a fee) visit the EPA's Safe water Web site, or call the EPA’s Safe Water Hotline at 800/426-4791.

If your water comes from a private well, it’s not regulated at all by the EPA, so you should have your water tested annually in late spring (when pesticide runoff will be at its worst), and anytime you notice a change in your water.

Step Two: Find the Best Type
Water filters come in a dizzying variety, from plastic pitcher filters and built-in refrigerator filters, to faucet and under-the-sink filters, to whole-house models that combine a variety of media types and treat all of the water in your house. What type you want depends on your needs.

If, after examining your Consumer Confidence Report (or, preferably, your current and several past reports), you find that your water regularly tests better than EPA levels, you may just want a filter that can remove the chemicals your local utility uses to treat the water.

These chemicals may or may not show up on your report. Call and ask your utility if it uses chlorine, a suspected respiratory and neurological toxin, or chloramine, a suspected blood and respiratory toxin. Chlorine combines with organic elements during the water treatment process to produce carcinogenic by-products.

The best type of filter to remove chlorine and its byproducts is a combination carbon/KDF adsorption filter (not to be confused with “absorption”), which range from shower and faucet filters to sink and whole-house filters, like those from Sweetwater and BestFilters.com. A regular carbon filter won’t remove chloramine, so look for a catalytic carbon filter instead (Sweetwater and the Water Exchange, 888/297-4887, offer these).

If you only have one or two contaminants, a smaller unit, such as a countertop or under-the-sink filter, may meet your needs. To find a filter certified to remove the contaminants you’re most concerned about, visit the NSF’s online database.

Finally, if you find your water has serious safety issues, consider a multi-stage filter that can tackle a variety of contaminants. Many combine a variety of filter types (see the box below for an overview). Sweetwater sells multi-stage whole-house or sink filters, for example, that combine KDF and carbon adsorption with ultraviolet light, among other steps—and it also sells customized filters. BestFilters.com and Gaiam (877/989-6321) sell multi-stage sink filters that combine a variety of media types.

Step Three: Look at the Labels
Some experts recommend looking for a filter certified by NSF International, a nonprofit organization that conducts safety testing for the food and water industries. NSF tests and certifies water filters to ensure that they both meet NSF safety standards and are effective at removing contaminants as claimed by the manufacturer. Underwriters Laboratories and the Water Quality Association also offer similar certification, based on NSF standards.

NSF has different certifications, so when you read the label, first make sure it says the filter will remove the contaminants you’re most concerned about. A filter certified by NSF to remove chlorine isn’t going to be helpful if you need it to remove nitrates. Then, look for the NSF seal, Underwriters Laboratories’ “UL Water Quality” mark, or the Water Quality Association Gold Seal for added assurance that your filter will actually do what the box claims.

Better Water for the Future
Filters aren’t perfect—they can be expensive and energy intensive, and the filter cartridges are nearly impossible to recycle. But when you compare throwing away a couple cartridges to the billions of water bottles we toss each year, filters are a preferable option. When it comes to ensuring better water for the future, here are the most important steps:

First, we need to stop drinking bottled water. It’s not any safer than tap, and it wastes a mind-boggling number of resources (see below).

Then, we need to ask companies to take back and recycle their cartridges. Besides using up resources, filter cartridges trap and hold contaminants. If the cartridges are not disposed of in a sealed landfill, those contaminants could end up right back in the environment.

Brita—which sells a popular carbon adsorption pitcher filter, faucet-mounted filters, and cartridges for refrigerator filters—used to accept its used cartridges for recycling in the US. However, a representative for the company says “that program has been discontinued until further notice.” Brita does take back its cartridges in parts of Europe for recycling. Call Brita (800/24-BRITA) and tell the company you want to see it restart its US recycling program. If you buy a filter from another manufacturer, let them know you want them to recycle their used filter cartridges.

Finally, US water treatment and distribution systems date back several decades, and they need repairs and upgrades to make water safer for for human and environmental health. While the EPA won’t attach a dollar amount, Dale Kemery at the agency says more money is needed to make these upgrades. Food and Water Watch is demanding that Congress increase funding to secure our public water system. Visit their Web site to help.

That said, public utilities will be using treatment chemicals well into the future, and our systems may never be perfect. Take responsibility for your family’s health by carefully considering whether you need to take additional steps to make your water the healthiest it can be.

Learn about the different types of water filters, and how to choose the right model for you.

 

The right filter will help you reduce or eliminate contaminants from your water.

 

Feeling secure about your tap water may encourage you to avoid bottled water, which isn't any safer than tap and comes with hefty social and environmental costs.

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Green Hands on Deck

We show you how to use forest-friendly and less-toxic materials to design a deck that's easy on the Earth.

Outdoor decks can be perfect for al fresco meals, neighborly get-togethers, and stargazing. However, depending how they’re constructed and cared for, they can also take a toll on the environment and may even pose risks to those using them. If you’ve got a deck in need of refurbishing, or plans to add one to your home this spring or summer, there are steps you can take to make it as healthy as possible for your family and the Earth.

Materials Matter
Decks need to be constructed of materials that can withstand being exposed to weather, insects, and other threats. Cedar and redwood have been popular choices because they’re strong and naturally rot-resistant, but these trees are often logged from endangered forests. Deck builders who want to minimize their harmful impacts on forests have two choices: recycled-plastic lumber and forest-friendly wood.

Plastic lumber is a low-maintenance deck material, because it doesn’t require sealing, staining, painting, waterproofing, or insect-proofing. The most environmentally friendly plastic lumber is made from post-consumer recycled plastic, and buying it can help keep plastic grocery bags, beverage containers, and other items out of landfills.

The Healthy Building Network (HBN) has produced a “Guide to Plastic Lumber” that offers guidelines for plastic-lumber purchases based on environmental, public-health, and recycling considerations. It suggests selecting plastic lumber that has a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content and is made of high-density and low-density polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), because these are recyclable and made with fewer chemical hazards and impacts than other plastics. HBN recommends avoiding fiberglass-reinforced, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polystyrene plastic lumbers because they are associated with more chemical hazards throughout their life cycles.

If you think natural wood is the best option for your deck, look for a forest-friendly source of strong, rot-resistant wood, such as redwood or tropical hardwood. Wood bearing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo is guaranteed to have come from a forest that’s managed for long-term sustainability. (Such wood may also bear the name of Smartwood or Scientific Certification Systems, which certify wood products meeting FSC standards.) Metafore’s certifiedwood.org Web site has a database you can search for certified-wood retailers in your area. Following pressure from forest advocates, the national chains Home Depot and Lowe’s now carry FSC-certified wood. You can also ask your local lumber supplier if they stock certified wood; if they don’t, let them know you’d like to buy it from them and direct them to the FSC.

Salvaged wood from trees felled during storms can also be a forest-friendly option, although you may have to search to find the quantity and type of wood suitable for a deck.

Some “composite” deck materials made of a blend of wood and recycled plastic are available, and these look more like natural wood than plastic lumber does. The wood used may be reclaimed or scrap wood, reducing its impact on forests. However, HBN recommends avoiding these composites because, being a blend of wood and plastic, they can’t be recycled once their useful lives have ended. Composite supporters counter that because the lumber is made of recycled or reclaimed materials and is long-lasting, it’s still a good environmental choice.

The Arsenic Angle
In 2001, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and HBN released a report entitled “Poisoned Playgrounds” that drew attention to the problem of pressure-treated wood, which was widely used in playgrounds, decks, and outdoor furniture. To kill insects and prevent rot, this wood was treated with chromium copper arsenate (CCA)—or, in plainer terms, arsenic, a known carcinogen. EWG estimated that a 40-pound child playing daily on CCA-treated wood could be exposed to five times the arsenic allowed under EPA drinking water standards. The group cites studies showing that arsenic sticks to children’s hands when they play on treated wood, and is absorbed through the skin and ingested when they put their hands in their mouths.

EWG and HBN petitioned the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban arsenic-treated wood in playground equipment and review its safety for use in other consumer items; at the same time, Clean Water Action coordinated a consumer campaign asking Home Depot and Lowes to stop selling arsenic-treated wood. The CPSC and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studied the issue, and in 2002, the EPA announced a voluntary agreement with the wood-treatment industry to cease sales of CCA-treated wood for most residential uses by the end of 2004.

If you have a wooden deck that was built before 2005, you can get a test kit from EWG or HBN to see if it contains arsenic. If it does, the organizations advise replacing it, or at least replacing the parts such as steps and handrails that are heavily used and thus have more potential for exposing users to arsenic. EWG also offers several recommendations for minimizing arsenic exposure from CCA-treated wood, including:

• Seal the wood at least every six months with standard penetrating deck treatments.
• Wash your hands and your children’s hands after every exposure to arsenic-treated wood.
• Keep children and pets away from soil beneath and immediately surrounding an arsenic-treated deck, and don’t store tools or toys underneath it.
• Don’t pressure wash or sand arsenic-treated wood—both will release arsenic-contaminated particles. Use soap and water instead. (If your deck has become too rough, keep children from playing there, because arsenic-treated-wood splinters can be dangerous.)
• Don’t use commercial “deck washing” solutions. These can convert chemicals on the wood to a more toxic form.

If you decide to remove a CCA-treated wood deck, contact your local waste disposal authority and find out how to deal with it properly—it will generates toxic fumes and ash if incinerated, and the CCA can leach from unlined landfills. Also, test the soil near the deck to see if it’s contaminated; EWG has test kits available.

Finishing Safely
If you have a wooden deck—or deck furniture made of wood—you’ll probably want to treat it with a wood finish, such as stain or varnish, for protection against the elements. (Many home-owners do this every year or two.) It’s best to avoid finishes that contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause health problems from dizziness to lung and kidney damage and are infamous for polluting both indoor and outdoor air. The nonprofit Green Seal has published a “Choose Green Report” on wood finishes, which notes that finishes can also contain other problematic substances—including phthlates, fungicides, and the aromatic solvents toluene and xylene—that could harm human health.

Green Seal reports that most US companies are formulating finishes that comply with California’s regulations on VOC content, which set maximums of 350 grams/liter of VOCs in varnish and 250 grams/liter in stains. Their “Choose Green Report” lists several wood finishes that exceed these VOC standards and also do not contain carcinogens, aromatic solvents, phthalates, heavy metals, reproductive toxins, or ozone-depleting chemicals. When shopping for stains, look for ingredient lists free of these substances, and seek out low- or no-VOC finishes, such as those listed in the box below.

Advice on the community-based Web site GreenHomeGuide recommends water-based sealers for their low environmental and health impacts, ease of handling and cleanup, and durability. It suggests avoiding water-based sealers that contain glycol ethers, which are toxic and sometimes used as solvents in these sealers—though if you find them unavoidable, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol are less-toxic types.

The site also features a Clear Coatings Directory reviewed by green-building professionals. Once you’re done sealing or staining your deck or your outdoor furniture, be sure to dispose of leftover sealant or stain responsibly. Store it safely for touch-ups, donate it to a local school or community group that can use it, or call your local waste authority to determine the proper disposal method. Then sit back and enjoy your deck.

—Liz Borkowski

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Resources

For green materials and home-improvement products, check the “Construction Materials,” “Flooring,” “Lumber,” and “Paints” categories of our National Green Pages™. A print copy is available free with Co-op America membership.

Sources of deck Lumber (Plastic, Salvaged, or FSC-certified)
• Andersons Alternatives—707/937-3466.
• Eco Smart—888/329-2705.
• Harwood Products—707/984-6181.
• The Plastic Lumber Company—330/762-8989.
• Saranac Hollow Woodworking—518/293-8424.
• TerraMai—800/220-9062.
• Trestlewood—801/443-4002.
For a more extensive list of suppliers, see HBN’s “Guide to Plastic Lumber.”

Sources of Less-Toxic Stains and Sealants
• American Formulating & Manufacturing—800/239-0321.
• Auro USA—888/674-2344.
• ECO Solution—540/929-4499.
• Environmental Construction Outfitters of New York—800/238-5008.
• Environmental Home Center—800/281-9785.
• Green Building Supply—800/405-0222.
• Natural Abode—888/307-7234.
• Natural Home—800/373-4548.
• Nature Neutral—800/656-1961.
• Planetary Solutions—303/442-6228.
• Pure Home Center—508/429-5255.
• Timber Pro UV Wood Finishes—888/888-6095.
• Weather-Bos Stains & Finishes—800/664-3978.

If you’re adding a deck to your home, build it sustainably.


 

Eco-friendly deck materials
are as attractive and long-lasting as their conventional counterparts.

 

Using forest-friendly and less-toxic products means
you’ll save resources and you won’t add toxins to your home environment.

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The Ugly Side of Cosmetics

Make-up and body care products have been linked to allergic reactions, birth defects, and even cancer. Here's what you need to know.

Suzanne Anich of Minneapolis, MN, has a morning routine similar to that of many women. She shampoos and conditions her hair with products that contain “natural ingredients,” according to the labels. She brushes her teeth, then washes her face with an upscale facial wash with the word “purity” emblazoned across the jar. Then, she applies an anti-aging moisturizer and what she calls a “low-maintenance” selection of makeup.

Suzanne was surprised to find out that nearly all of the personal care products she uses on her face and body contain ingredients suspected of causing cancer; potential neuro-, liver-, and immunotoxins; and suspected hormone disruptors that could cause birth defects in any children she might bear in the future.

“I’m shocked that the US government allows these products to be put on store shelves,” Suzanne says. “I’ll be throwing out most of my make-up and starting over. It’s too bad, because the stuff I used seemed to work well—too bad the people who make them don’t seem to care about their customers’ well-being.”

Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to find products that won’t endanger your health—and companies that do care about their customers’ well-being. Here’s what you need to know about the personal care products you may be using and what your alternatives are.

Regulated or Not?

Like Suzanne, many consumers may be surprised to learn that the US federal government doesn’t require health studies or pre-market testing on personal care products. Manufacturers are free to put just about anything they want into cosmetics—a far-reaching category used by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include everything from make-up and deodorant to lotions and mouthwashes.

Instead, the safety (or not) of the ingredients in these products is looked into almost exclusively by a manufacturer-controlled safety committee called the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel. Consequently, “89 percent of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, nor any other publicly accountable institution,” says the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG). “The absence of government oversight for this $35 billion industry leads to companies routinely marketing products with ingredients that are poorly studied, not studied at all, or worse, known to pose potentially serious health risks.”

For example, EWG found ingredients certified by the US government as “known or probable carcinogens” in one of every 120 cosmetic products on the market, including shampoos, lotions, make up foundations, and lip balm. What this adds up to, says the group, is that “one of every 13 women
and one of every 23 men are exposed to ingredients that are known or probable human carcinogens every day through their use of personal care products.”

Also of particular concern are the inclusion of phthalates—a group of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects that are used in many cosmetic products, from nail polish to deodorant. Phthalates are not listed as ingredients on product labels; they can only be detected through laboratory analysis. In April of this year, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC)—a coalition of environmental, social justice, and consumer groups—learned that the FDA has completed a study on the safety of phthalates in cosmetics but is refusing to release its findings. According to preliminary information uncovered by the CSC, two-thirds of health and beauty products analyzed by the FDA late last year contained phthalates. Two of the most toxic phthalates, DBP and DEHP, have been banned from cosmetics products sold in the European Union (EU) but remain unregulated in the US. In response to the FDA’s refusal to publicly release this information, Friends of the Earth, a founding member of the CSC, has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the study.

Another class of chemicals that’s gotten some press recently is parabens, short for “para hydroxybenzoate.” These preservatives are widely used in cosmetics, particularly nail polish. Recent studies have implicated parabens as being associated with breast cancer, though more testing is needed.

Though there isn’t always definitive evidence that a given chemical can cause adverse health affects, the fact that so few have been studied for safety is of significant concern. Plus, there’s the effect over time of all these chemicals we’re applying to our bodies to consider. The average person’s morning routine puts him/her into contact with over 100 chemicals before breakfast, according to Aubrey Hampton and Susan Hussey, founder and vice-president of marketing, respectively, of Aubrey Organics. The cumulative effect of all of the chemicals in these products can add up over time, and no one truly knows what the results are.

Signs of Hope

There are signs of hope that the cosmetics industry could be poised for a major overhaul, however:

Major Companies Phase Out Phthalates: Under pressure from the CSC, top cosmetics companies L’Oréal, Revlon, and Unilever recently said they have voluntarily removed phthalates DBP and DEHP from products sold in the US. Avon, Procter & Gamble, and Estée Lauder agreed to remove phthalates from their products in 2004.

FDA Gets Tough: By law, companies are required to post a warning label on products that have not been assessed for safety. In the past, most companies haven’t adhered to this law. But last February, the FDA issued an unprecedented warning to the cosmetics industry stating that it will be taking steps to enforce the label law. “Such an enforcement action could ultimately require companies to issue consumer warnings for the more than 99 percent of personal care products on the market that have not been publicly assessed for safety,” says the EWG.

The EU Gets Tougher: This past September, an amendment to the EU’s Cosmetics Directive took hold, which requires companies doing business in Europe to eliminate chemicals in their cosmetics that are known or strongly suspected of being carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins. Of the thousands of questionable chemicals in these products, the directive targets about 450. (Compare that to the nine chemicals the FDA has banned or restricted in personal care products.)

California Follows the EU’s Lead: Hoping to emulate the EU’s efforts, California state senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) has introduced the California Safe Cosmetic Act of 2005. This bill would require manufacturers peddling cosmetic products in California to provide the state Department of Health Services with a list of their products and to identify products that contain chemicals identified as carcinogens or reproductive toxins. And another recent bill (AB 908), introduced by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), would ban phthalates DBP and DEHP from cosmetics sold in the state.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Thc CSC is calling on all cosmetics companies to phase the chemicals banned from the EU out of products sold in the US. Visit www.safecosmetics.org to help the CSC call on companies to be responsible. “Consumers have real power they’re not
exercising,” Janet Nudelman of the CSC told Dragonfly Media. “We need to let cosmetics companies know we’re not going to buy their products unless they make a strong commitment to safety.”

What to Look For

Here’s how to find the safest personal care products for you and your family:

Be Suspicious of Labels: Though words like “natural” or “hypoallergenic” look reassuring, on some products, they’re basically meaningless. The FDA has no control over these labels. Products labeled “natural,” for example, may contain some natural ingredients, but they may also include synthetic dyes and fragrances. “Hypoallergenic” merely means that the most common irritants are left out, but other potentially problematic chemicals may still be in the mix. “Fragrance-free” means a product has no perceptible odor—synthetic ingredients may still be added to mask odors.

Scrutinize Ingredients: The EWG recently launched its Skin Deep online database, making it easier than ever to check the safety of over 7,500 personal care products, from OPI nail polish to Aveda shampoo to Johnson’s Baby Oil. Visit www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep. If your product of choice isn’t yet listed on Skin Deep, you can enter suspicious-looking ingredients into Environmental Defense’s chemical database, Scorecard.org. Scorecard lets you know about known and suspected health effects caused by hundreds of chemicals, along with the sources (often government agencies) that have questioned each chemical.

Go Organic: Cosmetics that contain certified organic ingredients generally contain mainly
natural ingredients, including those that have been grown without the use of toxic pesticides. Unfortunately, organic doesn’t necessarily mean problem-free. Even organic companies need to keep their products from rotting away on store shelves, in warehouses, and in your medicine cabinet. Some may turn to synthetic chemicals to keep their products fresh and useful. Be sure to check the ingredients list on your favorite organic products.

The Compact for Safe Cosmetics: To date, 87 companies have signed the CSC’s “Compact for Safe Cosmetics,” pledging to phase the 450 chemicals banned by the EU out of all of their products. The vast majority of them are organic and natural products companies—including members of Co-op America’s Business Network, who are screened for their commitment to going the extra mile to protect their workers, consumers, communities, and the environment. In addition, cosmetics giants L’Oréal and Revlon say their cosmetics now comply with European law, though they haven’t signed the compact. You can find a list of the companies who have signed at www.safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm.

The very best option is to find a cosmetics company that has signed the CSC’s compact and uses certified organic and natural ingredients. Those companies are listed in the box on this page, and many have products that are readily available at natural products and food stores,
as well as online or by mail order.

One such company is EcoColors, which sells “almost all-natural” commercial and home hair dye kits made with organic ingredients. “When I became pregnant with my son in 1990, I was a hairdresser doing five colors a day in the salon and teaching hair color at night,” says Lisa Saul, president of EcoColors. “I started getting rashes on my wrists and having sinus issues, and I thought, ‘If these chemicals are doing this to me, what are they doing to my child?’”

That question led her to found her company, and it also takes her to the lab on a regular basis, where she works on pinpointing problematic hair dye ingredients and making her company’s products as safe as possible.

“I’ve known so many people who’ve gotten hurt by the chemicals in different products,” she says. “So I’m committed to making sure hairdressers and my customers are using things that are healthy for them.”

—Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

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"Best Option" Cosmetics Companies

The following companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and either use organic ingredients or are members of Co-op America’s Green Business Network™. For a complete list of compact signers, visit www.safecosmetics.org

H=Hair Care, S=Skin Care, M=Make-up, B=Baby Products

Companies With Organic Products

• S, Akamuti — +0845-458-9242, www.akamuti.co.uk
• H S, Aubrey Organics — 800/237-4270, www.aubreyorganics.com/coop
• H S, Avalon Natural Products — www.avalonnaturalproducts.com
• H S M, Canary Cosmetics — www.canarycosmetics.com
• S, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps — 760/743-2211, www.drbronner.com
• S, Dropwise Essentials — 866/418-1682, www.dropwise.com
• S B, Earth Mama Angel Baby — 503/638-0487, www.earthmamaangelbaby.com
• H S M, EccoBella Botanicals — 877/696-2200, www.eccobella.com
• S, Eco-Beauty Organics — 208/267-9819, www.eco-beauty.com
• H, EcoColors — 877/852-4515, www.ecocolors.net
• S M, Evan's Garden/Organic Beauty Inc. — 727/449-0900, www.evansgarden.com
• S, Farmaesthetics — 800/711-9194, www.farmaesthetics.com
• S, Ferlow Botannicals — 604/322-4080, www.ferlowbotanicals.com
• S M, Honeybee Gardens, Inc. — 610/396-9225, www.honeybeegardens.com
• H S, Inky Loves Nature — www.inkylovesnature.com
• S, Juice Beauty — 888/90-JUICE, www.juicebeauty.com
• S, Marie-Veronique Skin THerapy — www.m-vskintherapy.com
• H S, Max Green Alchemy Ltd. — 415/863-4155, www.maxgreenalchemy.com
• S, Moonshine Soap Co. — www.moonshinesoap.com
• S, Naturopathica Holistic Health — 800/592-7995 www.naturopathica.com
• S B, Plant Life, Inc. — 888/708-PURE, www.plantlife.net
• H S M B, Saffron Rouge, Inc. — 866/FACE-CARE, www.saffronrouge.com
• S, Sensua Organics — 800/983-1993, www.sensuaorganics.com
• S M, Sevi Cosmetics — 410/766-5151, www.sevikay.com
• H S, SMB Essentials/Lotus Moon Skin Care — 888/762-2667, www.lotusmoon.biz
• S, Spirit of Beauty — 425/453-0244, www.nutritionskincare.com
• H S, Spiritus Terrae — 877/PURITY2, www.naturepurity.com
• S, Sue's Slaves — www.suesalves.com
• S, Suki's Naturals — 888/858-SUKI, www.sukisnaturals.com
• M, Suncoat Products — 519/820-5468, www.suncoatproducts.com
• H S B, TerrEssentials — 301/371-7333, www.terressentials.com
• S, Spirit of Beauty — 425/453-0244, www.nutritionskincare.com

Natural Products Companies That Are Also CABN Members

• S, A Wild Texas Soap Bar — 512/272-4058, www.awildtexassoapbar.com
• S, Indigo-Daisy-Shack — 702/807-6402, www.indigo-daisy-shack.com
• S, Osea Skin Care — 888/367-6732, www.oseaskin.com

Choose personal care products from responsible companies.

Since most ingredients aren't independently tested for safety, potential and known toxins abound in conventional cosmetic products.

Keep yourself and your family from being exposed to carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and other toxins. Support the greenest companies that go the extra mile to keep customers, workers, and the planet safe .

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