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Wall Street Journal front-pages chemical dangers
Page One of the July 25 Wall Street Journal carries the story Common Industrial Chemicals In Tiny Doses Raise Health Issue [subscription only]. Household cleaning products are not singled out, but the story does highlight the research -- both academic and industry-sponsored -- into the effects of the thousands of chemicals found in everyday products, or used in their manufacture, including the hormone-mimicking substances detailed in Green Clean:
"For years, scientists have struggled to explain rising rates of some cancers and childhood brain disorders.... One suspect is now drawing intense scrutiny: the prevalence in the environment of certain industrial chemicals at extremely low levels....
"Environmental chemicals don't exist in isolation.... So scientists at the University of London ... tested the hormonal strength of a blend of 11 common chemicals that can mimic estrogen. Alone, each was very weak. But when scientists mixed low doses of all 11 in a solution with natural estrogen ... they found the hormonal strength of natural estrogen was doubled. Such an effect inside the body could disrupt hormonal action."
Posted by GreenClean at 02:29 PM
Safe Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners are among the most dangerous household products. The best way to avoid using caustic drain cleaners is to prevent clogs and buildups in the first place. Scrape dishes well before you put them in the sink, use a trap or screen to keep food scraps out, and don’t pour your cooking grease or oil down the drain. Grease builds up in your pipes and your community’s pipes, eventually blocking them and causing sewer leaks and spills. Instead, allow the grease or oil to cool and collect it in a sealable container, then throw it away or compost it.
Once a week, pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush it out. If the drain does become clogged, use a plunger, or try a simple, safe DIY recipe: Add one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar to a large pot of boiling water (they’ll fizz) and pour down the drain; the combination will dissolve fatty, greasy clogs. Flush with tap water until it clears.
You can also try one of the several nontoxic, enzyme-based drain cleaners on the market, such as Earth Friendly Products' Natural Earth Enzymes Drain Opener.
Posted by GreenClean at 02:07 PM
New EWG Study: Body Burden - The Pollution in Newborns
The Environmental Working Group's latest report, "Body Burden - The Pollution in Newborns," details one of the first tests of chemical pollutants in newborns' blood. "[R]researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood from 10 babies born in August and September of 2004 in U.S. hospitals. Tests revealed a total of 287 chemicals in the group. The umbilical cord blood of these 10 children, collected by Red Cross after the cord was cut, harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage."
Posted by GreenClean at 01:10 PM
Recycling Cell Phones
A recent New York Times story detailed new options for recycling your obsolete cell phone -- and turning it into cash: "RipMobile is one of many companies willing to pay in cash or merchandise for old cellphones. Prices vary depending on the phone's continued utility and the demand for it; some can be worth $100 or more. Popular Motorola and Nokia phones will typically bring $2 to $20; the hottest models, like Motorola's Moto Razr V3, seem to fetch the most. Instead of dollars, RipMobile gives points that can be converted to gift certificates at Circuit City, MSN Music, KarmaLoop (for clothing) and RingToneJukeBox.com (ring tones, games and screen savers for cellphones).... Even if cellphones sent in are not worth reselling, precious metals like gold from their circuit boards can be extracted and reused, said Rob Newton, president of OldCellPhone. And by keeping used phones out of landfills, these potential money-making opportunities can also help the environment."
The recycling and re-use sites the Times mentioned include RipMobile, www.cellforcash.com, www.oldcellphone.com, and www.phonefund.com.
Posted by GreenClean at 05:13 PM
Better Living Through Plants
All plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but some actually remove chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. The most effective air cleaners are Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), Spathiphyllum (peace-lily), Syngonium (arrowhead vine), Hedera (English ivy), Dracaena (cornplant), spider plants, and Scindapsus (devil’s ivy). Daisies and chrysanthemums are good, too. Aim for roughly 15 plants for every 1,500 square feet in your house. Remember that your plants need to breathe, too — dust them gently with a damp cloth. Keep their soil or root area clear — some of the air-cleaning action occurs there. The most comprehensive guide to air-cleaning plants is B.C. Wolverton's How to Grow Fresh Air.
A good source for information about indoor air quality is the EPA’s “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality,” available at www.epa.gov/iaq.
Posted by GreenClean at 11:05 AM