Detoxify Your Body and Your Environment

 

 

Canned tomatoes, shopping receipts and that “new” car or sweet new kitchen smell are all everyday things that can be hazardous to our health. Seemingly harmless activities and products are exposing us to a toxic suite of dangerous chemicals which have a number of known or potential negative health impacts such as skin irritations, allergies, reproductive and endocrine defects and even cancer.

We live in a toxic world, exposed to a vast range of chemicals in our food, products and environments, many of which, the immediate and long-term effects of, are unknown. But by staying informed and by being a conscious, educated consumer, you can protect your own and your families health, and as a bonus help out the environment as well because many of these chemicals can have the same impacts on animals and fishes that they do on us.

Canned goods and thermal paper shopping receipts can contain BPA a potent hormone mimicking agent that disrupts our endocrine system, the new car smell and the greasy film inside the car windscreen is likely from plasticisers also endocrine disruptors, the sweet smell of a new kitchen or cupboard is either formaldehyde, a cancer producing wood binder or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents in wood lacquer that are central nervous system and liver toxins.

So how can you avoid the myriad of chemicals you can be exposed to everyday, when you cannot see them, often cant smell them and they are potentially, well, everywhere?

Here are the top 10 helpful tips to help you detoxify your body and your environment.

1. Buy certified green products. Support manufacturers, companies and supermarkets that produce cleaner and greener products that have been third party certified as preferred products. Such certification is your proof that the products are the healthy, green products they claim to be;
2. Where you cant find certified healthy products, look for products that:

• use natural renewable materials;
• are low VOC emitting
• don’t contain BPA or other endocrine disruptors
• If PVC, are phthalate plasticiser free;
• use low emission (E0 or E00) formaldehyde emission panel boards for kitchens and cupboards;

3. If you want to search for products that have been third party verified or certified as healthy and low environmental impact look for all kinds of products for yourself and your home on Ecospecifier.com.au
4. Check out certified healthy and sustainable product ratings for your DIY home project products on GlobalGreenTag.com;
5. Avoid plastic water bottles. Use reusable bottles like stainless steel and glass;
6. Eat less fish. Did you know that many toxic chemicals are stored in the fatty tissue of carnivorous fish and toxins like mercury from industrial pollution and coal fired electricity bioaccumulate in predatory fish;
7. Buy naturally derived personal care products which don’t contain chemicals such as parabens, ethylene glycol and EDTA;
8. Eat certified organic food and meats;
9. Detox your home.
   1. Minimise the area of carpet;
   2. Use healthy cleaning agents or microfibre;
   3. Minimise the use of insecticide and don’t use ‘insect bombs’ or residual surface sprays;
   4. If you use air fresheners, use only natural plant essence derived oils;
   5. Don’t use chemical disinfectant surface sprays. Usedilute eucalyptus or thymol if you need to disinfect.
10. Detox your body. Anti-oxidants are a great way to protect yourself from some of the effects of the daily chemical load on your body. Make sure your diet and supplements maintain a daily regimen of a broad spectrum of antioxidants like Vitamin C and E.

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: http://www.ecospecifier.com.au

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The Controversial Use of BPA Plastic

“Are endocrine disruptors leaching into your food?”

It is more than likely that you have noticed major retailers advertising “BPA-free products”, particularly on water bottles, baby bottles or plastic food storage containers, but do you know what BPA is and what the potential health effects are?

BPA stands for bisphenol A and is used to make polycarbonate plastics, such as food and drink containers,and epoxy resins, which are used for a range of products including the protective lining for some canned foods and beverages and even some thermal printing papers, such as shop receipts, and epoxy flooring.

One issue is, that BPA has the potential to leach from container linings into the food and drink held within, entering the body when eaten or by skin absorption.

There are mixed reports on the exact side effects of BPA. Overall, most reports indicate that BPA has the potential to negatively impact upon human health. Studies have indicated that BPA can act as an endocrine disruptor, meaning that it mimics the female sex hormone, oestrogen, and can cause fertility and reproduction issues.

The health issues of most concern include impacts on physical, neurological and behavioural development of young and unborn children. The main arguments surrounding BPA is at what levels these health issues occur and recent data has shown novel ultra-low level impact. This means that BPA can have an effect at very low levels and this is of particular concern in infants and children.

In response to these concerns, manufacturers have started providing consumers with BPA-free products, particularly with a wide range of BPA-free baby products.

The Australian Government introduced a voluntary phase-out procedure of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles containing BPA from major retailers.

As for other BPA products, the Australian Government currently does not feel that there is an issue with product safety.

Make Informed Choices – Seek Healthier Product Alternatives

For those who are concerned, particularly mothers or expecting mothers, it is possible to purchase BPA-free products. These can be found in your local major retailer store or located on the Ecospecifier Global website ( www.ecospecifier.com.au ). All products listed by Ecospecifier are certified and can be sourced via the site’s Product Search Engine.

In our next article, we shall be taking a closer look at the range of endocrine disruptors that can appear in products and their health impacts.

Explore more about the product ranges that have been certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global

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Join our Social Media Honour Roll – support the switch to green products

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A Common Toxic Chemical That May Be Harming You

Formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable, strong, sweet-smelling chemical that is used in a range of products, from building materials to clothing and cosmetics, it can even be found in paper and new clothes.  The formaldehyde vapours are flammable, explosive and toxic. Formaldehyde is commonly used in adhesives during the manufacturing of resins for composite wood products. Exposure to small amounts of naturally produced formaldehyde is common and is present naturally in timber,  in the air, some foods and products, but at extremely low levels. The most common way of exposure to formaldehyde is through inhalation or skin contact from building materials. The health effects from formaldehyde exposure vary depending upon the level of exposure as well as the person who is in contact with the substance, as some people are more sensitive to the effects of formaldehyde than others. Low levels of exposure resulting from breathing 0.1-0.5ppm of formaldehyde vapour can result in:

• nasal and eye irritation
• neurological effects
• increased risk of asthma
• increased risk of allergy

Moderate levels of exposure can result from breathing 0.6-1.9ppm of formaldehyde vapour and may cause the above health implications as well as:

• eczema
• changes in lung function

High levels of exposure to formaldehyde vapour may result in all of the above health implications in addition to:

• decreased body weight
• gastrointestinal ulcers
• liver damage
• kidney damage
• dermatitis

To help minimise the health risks of formaldehyde exposure there is a widespread formaldehyde emissions rating system. E00 is the lowest rating score and is described as ‘ultra low’, indicating that this level of emissions is the equivalent to, or below that of, natural wood levels. E0 is the following emissions level and is described as ‘very low’, this is followed by E1, a ‘low rating’ but emissions at this level are to be avoided if possible. E2 is the highest level and also applies to unrated products and indicates that emissions at this level should be avoided at all costs. While there is limited research available, there is some indication that prolonged exposure to high levels of formaldehyde can increase an individual’s risk of cancer. For those who wish to minimise any risk of formaldehyde exposure it is recommended that they:

• source E00 (also known as Super E0) or E0 products from a verification or certification organisation, such as Ecospecifier (www.ecospecifier.com.au), which provides access to products that have been tested and rated for their levels of toxicity;
• when purchasing a produce make sure you enquire about the level of formaldehyde  present and that it is rated at E1 or below;
• if possible avoid purchasing composite wood products without formaldehyde rating or any non building product that uses formaldehyde dressing or preservative;
• ensure that there is adequate ventilation inside the family home to help reduce the presence of formaldehyde vapour that might be present in new joinery or carpentry.

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Explore more about the product ranges that have been certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: www.ecospecifier.com.au

Join us in more conversations about green products and sustainability issues on our social media pages:

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The Dangers in Everyday Items That You Might Not Know About

Have you ever contemplated the potential dangers in your house from items you buy or use? Or more specifically have you considered the possible dangers posed to you or your family by commonly used items such as your favourite leather lounge or a nice soft natural fibre blanket? Are you aware that common everyday furniture items such as day beds, lounges, office chairs or even your favourite jeans may contain toxic dye chemicals that can cause cancer?

Everyday products can be associated with a range of issues and associated health impacts, many of which the general public are largely unaware of. These include formaldehydes, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, endocrine disruptors and a wide range of toxins.  Azo dyes are an example of a chemical that may be present in everyday items, yet has toxic properties.

Azo dyes are commonly used within the textiles industry and can be found within textiles used in furniture and clothing. Certain types of azo dyes contain chemicals known as aromatic amines that are hazardous to human health many of these have been banned, but others have not and recently the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) was notified that some of the banned azo dyes were being imported in finished goods.  Out of the 300 listed azo dyes, 20 of these dyes, that are not banned, contain a chemical called benzidine, which is a probable carcinogen and is potentially lethal to humans. If released into the environment benzidine may have significant long term effects on aquatic ecosystems and has been classified as very toxic to aquatic organisms.

The European Union has strict laws and regulations in terms of restricting the use of azo dyes in the textiles and leather industry. These laws prevent products containing azo dyes that release aromatic amines from being imported due to the high risk of cancer when in contact with human skin. The azo dyes that do not release one of the 22 aromatic amines are allowed to be used within products manufactured or imported. Currently the ACCC lacks strict regulations in regards to items imported into Australia, including items such as lounges, day beds, blankets & sheets and chairs.

These types of items hold potential for long term harm to consumers as azo dyes can penetrate through skin contact such as when you sit, or lie on, or in such products. In order to avoid the potential long term health hazards from prolonged contact associated with these dyes it is important to purchase products that have been certified healthy and have been subjected to thorough independent toxicity assessment.

All products certified by Global GreenTag^CertTM and many other certified products listed on the Ecospecifier database do not contain carcinogenic azo dyes and can be considered  safe alternatives to other products currently on the market.

For example, Pelle Leathers is a Global GreenTag^CertTMcertified company that supplies azo dye-free leather and Woven Image supplies Global GreenTag^CertTM certified upholstery textiles suitable for both commercial and residential use. Choosing similar certified products from a reputable and recognised database, such as Ecospecifier, ensures that any health risks to you or your family are minimised.

___________________________________________________________________
Explore more about the product ranges that have been certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: www.ecospecifier.com.au

Join us in more conversations about green products and sustainability issues on our social media pages:

Follow Ecospecifier on Facebook
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Follow Ecospecifier on LinkedIn

Join our Social Media Honour Roll – support the switch to green products

Like, Comment and Share our blogs and posts on your social media pages … and we will send your name out to more than 15,000 subscribers via our monthly Ecospecifier Global Newsletter.

See which stellar individuals, businesses and networks made the latest Honour Roll on Twitter and Facebook HERE We salute you in helping us educate and help more people #MaketheSwitch to #EcoResponsible products.

Drop us a line at the office, we look forward to hearing from you …

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