Healthy Home

Your home is your sanctuary. Your own small piece of the world, in which you spend most of your time, recuperating from and preparing for the outside world.

There have been so many developments in recent years, designed to help us run our lives a little more conveniently; and we have invited them into our homes with open arms. The trouble is, many of these items – mobile telephones, wireless everything, plastics, disinfectants – are brand new developments; and so we are unsure of the long-term effects that they may have on our health.

In this article, we will present to you some of the facts that are not generally publicised, so that you can be aware of the potential risks that certain every-day items and technologies may pose to you and your family. We also discuss how you can limit exposure with as little disruption as possible.

A list of natural products that may be of interest to readers is included at the bottom of the article.

Chemicals in the Home

There are about 75,000 chemicals regularly manufactured and imported by UK industries and of the 3,000 high-volume chemicals used, about half have no basic toxicity information available. So in all likelihood, no one knows whether commonly used chemicals all around you – in your food, water, and air – are safe. Ten of the most common environmental toxins are as follows…

1. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls): This industrial chemical has been banned in the UK for decades, yet is a persistent organic pollutant that’s still present in your environment. It has been linked to cancers, and impaired fetal brain development. Farm-raised salmon and other farm-raised fish are a source of PCBs. They are fed meals of ground-up fish that have absorbed PCBs from the environment. For this reason they should be avoided. PCBs were also used in adhesives, paints and plastics until the Seventies.

2. Pesticides: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides and 30 percent of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Pesticide residues have been detected in 50 percent to 95 percent of foods. Exposure to agricultural pesticides increases the risk of lymphoma, a blood cancer associated with the immune system, by as much as 65 per cent. Cancers, Parkinson’s disease, miscarriage, neural and nerve damage, autism, birth defects, and blocked the absorption of food nutrients have been linked with pesticides. Food (fruits, vegetables and commercially raised meats and dairy products) is the major source of pesticides, as well as exposure to bug sprays.

3. Mold and other Fungal Toxins: One in three people have had an allergic reaction to mold. Mycotoxins (fungal toxins) can cause a range of health problems with exposure to only a small amount. Exposure has been linked to cancer, heart disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Risk of exposure generally comes from contaminated buildings, food like peanuts, wheat, corn and alcoholic beverages.

4. Phthalates: These chemicals are used to lengthen the life of fragrances and soften plastics. Although the plastics industry insists that they are safe, in 2005 European Union regulators banned their use in children’s toys. Professor Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council believes chemicals called phthalates are feminising boys and increasing male infertility, birth defects and testicular cancer. Phthalates mimic the female hormone oestrogen. However, phthalates are still widely used. Endocrine system damage (phthalates chemically mimic hormones and are particularly dangerous to children) is another major danger of Phthalate exposure. Pthalates are contained in most cosmetic products and moisturizers; as well as plastic wrap, plastic bottles, plastic food storage containers. All of these can leach phthalates into our food. They are also found in shoes, shower curtains, plastic furniture, vinyl floor coverings and many other household goods.

5. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): VOCs are a major contributing factor to ozone, an air pollutant. According to the EPA, VOCs tend to be even higher (two to five times) in indoor air than outdoor air, likely because they are present in so many household products. Dangers of exposure include cancer, eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, thickening or arteries, and memory impairment. VOCs are generally found in drinking water, carpet, paints, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, dry cleaned clothing, moth repellants, and air fresheners.

6. Dioxins: Chemical compounds formed as a result of combustion processes such as commercial or municipal waste incineration and from burning fuels (like wood, coal or oil). Dangers of Dioxins include cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, chloracne (a severe skin disease with acne-like lesions), skin rashes, skin discoloration, excessive body hair, and mild liver damage. Exposure generally comes from animal fats: over 95 percent of exposure comes from eating commercial animal fats, so seek out grass-fed, naturally raised, organic animal foods instead.

7. Asbestos: This insulating material was widely used from the 1950s to 1970s. Problems arise when the material becomes old and crumbly, releasing fibers into the air. Dangers of exposure include cancer, scarring of the lung tissue, and mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer). Exposure comes from insulation on floors, ceilings, water pipes and healing ducts from the 1950s to 1970s.

8. Toxic Metals: Metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium, which are prevalent in many areas of our environment, can accumulate in soft tissues of the body. Dangers of exposure include cancer, neurological disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, foggy head, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart rhythm, and damage to blood vessels. The major sources are drinking water, fish, vaccines, pesticides, preserved wood, antiperspirant, building materials (lead paint and lead piping), dental amalgams, and chlorine plants.

9. Chloroform: This colorless liquid has a pleasant, nonirritating odor and a slightly sweet taste, and is used to make other chemicals. It’s also formed when chlorine is added to water. Dangers of exposure include cancer, potential reproductive damage, birth defects, dizziness, fatigue, headache, and liver and kidney damage. Air, drinking water and food can contain chloroform.

10. Chlorine: This highly toxic, yellow-green gas is one of the most heavily used chemical agents. Dangers of exposure include sore throat, coughing, eye and skin irritation, rapid breathing, narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing, blue coloring of the skin, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, pain in the lung region, severe eye and skin burns, lung collapse, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) (a type of asthma). Major sources include household cleaners, drinking water (in small amounts), air when living near an industry that uses chlorine in industrial processes (such as a paper plant), and tap water in your shower/bath. The chlorine in swimming pools can also trigger asthma and lung damage.

Some of the greatest concern surrounds early-life exposure to these kinds of toxins. The Environmental Working Group found that blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, and Teflon chemicals.

Of the 287 chemicals that were detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied.

Children in particular are at risk from these kinds of toxins because they have an immature and porous blood-brain barrier, which allows greater chemical exposures to reach their developing brain. Children also have lower levels of some chemical-binding proteins, according to EWG, which allows more of a chemical to reach their organs, while systems that detoxify and excrete chemicals in adults are not fully developed.

Experts believe rising rates of birth defects, asthma, neuro-developmental disorders and other serious diseases in U.S. children are a result of these early chemical exposures.

It would clearly be very difficult to cut out any potential exposure to these 10 toxins. But if you glance through the major sources, you should be able to identify a few simple ways to check and limit your exposure without major inconvenience.

Food Storage

Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is a building block of several important plastics and plastic additives. It has been suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s. In 2008, after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, some retailers have removed products containing it from their shelves. A 2010 report from the FDA raised further concerns regarding exposure of fetuses, infants, and young children. A study last year found that BPA can lead to heart disease, diabetes and liver problems in adults, and previous research has linked BPA to:

• Structural damage to the brain
• Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning
• Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
• Altered immune function
• Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
• Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual behavior
• Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
• Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Liver damage

Of 115 published animal studies, 81 percent found significant effects from even low-level exposure to BPA. As it stands, BPA is one of the world’s highest production-volume chemicals and has already been detected in the urine of 95 percent of people tested. Every-day products that contain BPA include:

• Plastic water bottles
• Plastic gallon milk bottles
• Plastic microwavable plates, ovenware, and utensils
• Tooth sealants
• Canned foods and drink cans (most have plastic lining in the cans)
• Baby toys, bottles, pacifiers, and cups

It would be advisable to avoid these items wherever possible – particularly when children are exposed to them. Additionally, if you microwave the containers or bottles, or place hot liquids or food into them, BPA is released 55 times more rapidly. Acidic liquids such as juices also increase the rate of leeching. So it is definitely worth avoiding using plastic containers for these things – we certainly advise against heating anything up in plastic (of cling-film); particularly in the microwave!

Bear in mind that even if BPA does get removed from food and beverage containers, this does not mean plastic is safe again. There are other chemicals lurking in plastic that you’re better off avoiding. Here is just a short list of them from The Ecology Center in Berkeley, California:

• Salad dressing and cooking oil bottles: This plastic container is made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which leaches plasticizers (lead, cadmium, mercury, phthalates and the carcinogen, diethyl hexyphosphate) into your food.
• Drink bottles, water bottles, peanut butter jars and cooking oil bottles: Made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), they leach acetaldehyde — a probable human carcinogen, according to the EPA — into your food and drinks.
• Meat trays, foam take-out food containers and cups, foam packing materials: Made from polystyrene (PS), these materials leach styrene, which can damage your nervous system, into your food.

Phthalates, or “plasticisers,” are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible and resilient. They’re also one of the most pervasive of the endocrine disrupters. These chemicals have increasingly become associated with changes in development of the male brain as well as with genital defects, metabolic abnormalities and reduced testosterone in babies and adults. Phthalates are found in, among other things:

• Processed food packaging
• Hoses
• Raincoats
• Shower curtains
• Vinyl flooring and wall coverings
• Lubricant and adhesives
• Detergents
• Beauty products like nail polish, hair spray, shampoo, deodorants, and fragrances
• Toys

How To Avoid Most Chemicals In Your Home…

1. As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.

2. Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, eat wild-caught fish and consider supplementing with Krill Oil.

3. Eat fresh foods, with a good proportion of raw, steering clear of processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you automatically avoid artificial food additives of many varieties, including dangerous artificial sweeteners, food coloring and MSG.

4. Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap and canned foods (which are often lined with BPA-containing liners). Certainly do not heat foods up anywhere near plastic.

5. Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your taps. Be aware if any of your plumbing is lead.

6. Only use natural cleaning products in your home. Bleach, window cleaner, furniture polish, air fresheners and carpet cleaners are all linked to asthma and wheezing, according to researchers at Bristol University. Their study of 14,000 children found those exposed to these everyday products increased the risk of persistent wheezing by the age of seven by 40 per cent. They also had slightly lower than normal lung function. Avoid products that come in a spray, as more of the product becomes airborne and is breathed in.

7. Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has a great safety guide (www.consmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide) to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals.

8. Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.

9. Replace your Teflon pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware.

10. When redoing your home, look for “green,” toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.

11. Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric.

12. Use a good quality water filter.

Electro-Magnetic Frequencies

“If mobile phones were a type of food, they simply would not be licensed.” This was not stated by an anti-technology activist, but written by British physicist Dr. Gerald Hyland and printed in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet.

Fears that mobile telephones could be this generation’s Cigarette are upheld by studies showing a 40 percent brain tumor increase across the board in Europe and the U.K. over the last 20 years. In fact, brain cancer has now surpassed leukemia as the number one cancer killer in children. Mobile telephones are one (major) source of EMF.

Surrounding you every day is a huge variety of natural electromagnetic radiation from the earth and the sun that your body needs in order to survive. These sources have some unique characteristics in that if they are coherent (repetitive) they are either spatially coherent (always the same shape and size) or temporally coherent (always the same frequency), but never both. As such, are body happily absorbs what it needs and ignores the rest. However, man-made signals are both spatially and temporally coherent, and to these sources are body has an adverse reaction.

In our modern world, the rapid development and broad usage of electric and electronic equipment has created a new kind of environmental pollution: “electromagnetic pollution” or “electrosmog.” Unfortunately, the extent of this pollution stands in stark contrast to our limited knowledge base of radiation biology and all of its consequences. Even at low levels this starts to add up and poses a risk for human health, which should not be underestimated. The understanding that low-level electric, magnetic and other electromagnetic fields, such as those emanating from electric home wiring systems and common appliances, have biological effects is an established scientific fact. The only question that remains is how great and how harmful those health effects are, especially in the long run.

Two Types of EMF

The first is Power Frequency. Electric and magnetic fields are most commonly found in the vicinity of wiring – either running inside a wall or mounted on its surface, and especially around two-wire extension cords. It is worse when near high voltage transmission lines, but household appliances and wiring can also create problems.

High Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation is the kind of field that comes from radio, TV, emergency services communications, microwaves, radar, and mobile telephones. The energy level is billions of times stronger than the natural high frequency energies from the cosmos that existed during our biological development. Today, these energies are pervasive and can be measured everywhere on the earth. The wireless age is increasing the density of such energies at an unprecedented rate.

Could EMF Be Dangerous?

The first major indication that cell phones might be a health hazard came out of a massive, $25-million research project funded by the Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA). To the industry’s dismay, the results of the study came to the opposite conclusion from the one they were hoping for.
The study’s results included findings of:

• A nearly 300 percent increase in the incidence of genetic damage when human blood cells were exposed to radiation in the cellular frequency band
• A significant increase in cell phone users’ risk of brain tumors at the brain’s outer edge, on whichever side the cell phone was held most often
• A 60 percent greater chance of acoustic neuromas, a tumor affecting the nerve that controls hearing, among people who had used cell phones for six years or more
• A higher rate of brain cancer deaths among handheld mobile phone users than among car phone users (car phones are mounted on the dashboard rather than held next to your head and the antenna was typically outside of the car)

In addition to the widespread concern about brain cancer, scientists have found that digital radio waves transmitted by cell phones and other wireless devices can:

• Harm your blood cells and cause cellular changes
• Damage your DNA
• Possibly accelerate and contribute to onset of autism, and there are theories that it may be a trigger for Alzheimer’s disease because of the cellular decalcification effect
• Damage your eyes
• Cause sleep disruptions, fatigue and headaches
• Change the exchange of nutrients and toxins across the cell membrane

Until now, the mainstream scientific assumption has been that electromagnetic radiation could only pose a health hazard as a result of thermal heating. However, this may not necessarily be the case. According to Professor Rony Seger of the Weizmann Institute, “The real significance of our findings is that cells are not inert to non-thermal mobile phone radiation… The changes we observed were clearly not caused by heating.” This team of scientists found that mobile phone signals induced the production of natural chemicals that stimulate cell division and growth – central to the growth of tumors – even at very low power levels

In 2007, the Bioinitiative Working Group released a 650-page report citing more than 2,000 studies (many very recent) that detail the toxic effects of EMFs from all sources. Chronic exposure to even low-level radiation (like that from cell phones), can cause a variety of cancers, impair immunity, and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, heart disease, and many other ailments. Additionally, every single study of brain tumors that looks at 10 or more years of use shows an increased risk of brain cancer. A recent study from Sweden suggests that if you started using a cell phone as a teen, you have a 5 times greater risk of brain cancer than those who started as an adult.

Another recent study showed that exposure to very-low-frequency voltage signals (1-100kHz), or “dirty electricity,” can greatly increase your risk of melanoma, thyroid cancer, and uterine cancer. These signals are largely by-products of electronics, such as modern energy-efficient appliances, televisions, stereos and other entertainment devices.

Power companies have successfully beaten back attempts to modify exposure standards. The cell phone industry, which has funded at least 87% of the research on the subject, has effectively resisted regulation.

How To Limit Your Exposure To EMF

The good news is that the field strength, and therefore health impact, decreases with distance. Taking these few simple steps could help you protect your health:

1. Clear your sleeping area. Often, people unknowingly try to rest their heads near highly radiating walls. This all too common scenario can be caused by a single source or a combination of the following: an electric water heater, freezer or stereo system right behind the wall of the bedroom; an electric main panel in the same room or on the other side of the wall; unshielded wiring inside the walls; two-conductor wiring for three-way switches; bundles of extension cords underneath the bed; and/or wiring errors. At the least, switch off all the plug sockets near your bedroom. Some choose to switch off the mains supply at the fuse box.

2. Unplug wireless systems in your home when not in use. This includes wireless internet and cordless telephones. The signal of these phones is particularly powerful. If you must use a portable home phone, use the older kind that operates at 900 MHz. They are no safer during calls, but at least many of them do not broadcast constantly even when no call is being made. Either way, do not keep them in your bedroom!

3. Change your mobile telephone habits. Keep it switched off whenever possible. Try to avoid leaving it on and around your person (for example, in your pocket) because the radiation is most powerful within 6 inches of the antenna. Wearing a cell phone on your hip – either on your belt or in a pocket – has been linked to decreased bone density in the pelvic region (all the other vital organs located in your pelvic region – your liver, kidney, bladder, colon and reproductive organs – are also susceptible to radiation damage). And, of course, avoid speaking for extended periods on your mobile telephone. Use the speakerphone as much as possible, or a shielded wire hands-free kit. Finally, restrict your children’s use of mobile telephones.

4. Avoid living near broadcast and cell towers

5. Stand clear of the front of your operating microwave oven, if you must use one! (We do not recommend the use of a microwave. At the least, it damages the nutrients in your food. They are convenient; but if you do not own one, you find you need to use it much less!)

Conclusion

As stated in the introduction to this article, our objective here is not to scare you, but to provide you with information that isn’t provided when you invite certain products and technologies into your home. Armed with this information, you can make informed judgments as to what steps you would like to take to protect yourself and your family.

There are many fantastic resources out there to help you if you choose to take further steps to limit exposure to these risk-factors. There are many books and websites out there filled with information on making the most of natural, time-tested methods and products. We recommend looking further into this, as you will feel the difference in so many ways. And, of course, our experienced naturopathic practitioners are here to help. You can reach us on 01730 233 414.

Products For A Healthy Home

Click here to read about natural, non-foaming herbal toothpaste

Click here to read about our natural crystal deodorant

Click here to see our recommended range of organic, natural skincare products

We highly recommend alkalising the diet. It’s a simple step to take, and provides serious health benefits. One thing you can very easily do is ensure that you are drinking alkaline water.Click here to see our recommended alkalising water filter – an essential addition to a healthy home