Do You Have a Happy Toxic Home?

Shared from Naked Health

March 27, 2012 Public Policy, Safety
By Jen Talley

Do you really know what’s under your kitchen sink, on the garage shelf, or stashed away in the bathroom and laundry room? You use these cleaning products all the time, but you may have never considered what’s actually in them, and the effect it might have on your family’s health. Many contain chemicals associated with eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, and some have been linked to asthma, birth defects, and certain cancers.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports more than 210,000 calls to poison control centers in 2009 about household products. 125,000 of those calls concerned children under the age of five, who likely found toxic chemicals close at hand in their kitchens and bathrooms.
You might be surprised at some of the worst offenders; these cleaning products contain chemicals and ingredients suspected or known to be health hazards, but they are easily found at every grocery store.
Ammonia
All-purpose cleaners often contain ammonia and chlorine bleach. Ammonia can cause severe eye irritation, headaches and lung damage. At higher concentrations, ammonia exposure can leave chemical burns or cause severe damage to eyes and respiratory tract. Bleach can be fatal if swallowed by children or pets, and combining ammonia and chlorine bleach can create  ammonia gas, which can be fatal if inhaled.
Ammonia is also extremely poisonous to fish and other aquatic life, even in small amounts. That means that any ammonia you wash down the drain could potentially contribute to the poisoning of your water supply.
Air Fresheners
Another potentially harmful product that may surprise you: air fresheners. Although the spray-type products are made to  to be released into the air in your home, many contain extremely toxic chemicals that can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma. Some also contain phthalates, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive and endocrine systems, as well as being linked to some cancers and birth defects. Since the U.S. government doesn’t require companies to disclose the ingredients in these type of products, the toxins may not even be listed on the container.
Para-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) is a chemical is found in solid products, like air fresheners, mothballs, and deodorizers for toilets and trashcans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified p-DCB as a possible carcinogen; limited exposure can cause eye irritation and swelling, headaches, and nausea. It’s been shown to cause kidney and liver damage in animals.
Antibacterial Products
Many antibacterial soaps, body washes, and cosmetic products contain triclosan, which has been found to negatively impact hormone regulation in animals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing whether the chemical is safe for human use. While the evidence isn’t conclusive yet, the FDA does not that there is no proof that cleaning products with triclosan provide any benefit over washing with regular soap and water. Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Nail polish
Dibutyl phthalate, common in nail products and some makeup, is known to cause birth defects. It’s frequently detected in human blood and urine, which indicates high exposure among the U.S. population. Granted you’re not drinking your nail polish (at least, we hope not) but does this even sound like something you want in your house? It may also have endocrine-disrupting effects, may cause neurotoxicity, and is harmful to the reproductive system.
Upholstery cleaners
Acrylic acid is found in some surface and upholstery spray cleaners. This chemical compound severely irritating to the skin and respiratory tract, with the potential to produce chemical burns, and potentially harmful to a fetus if inhaled by a pregnant woman. If it got in your eyes it could cause serious injury, even permanent loss of vision.
Remember that companies advertising non-toxic cleaning products are not subject to even the somewhat lax rules food products are regarding their advertising claims. “Fresh,” “pure,” “natural,” and even “non-toxic” have no official definition; these claims aren’t regulated by any federal or state agency. It’s up to the consumer, unfortunately, to police what is under their own kitchen sink.


Time to think Green? and live life longer!

Whats for Easter Dinner Peeps

Do you have pets that are just like your family, we do, and if something happened to them our kids and my husband and I would be devastated. Especially if it was something that might have been preventable. Safety and prevention goes for our animal friends also, they depend on us to be smart and think for them.

So you say what kind of things can my pets get sick or die from:

This great info comes from the Petside website

The following seven holiday products are the most common Easter dangers:
Eggs - Dyed and Plastic
Shiny plastic eggs may look like toys to your pets. If they chew and swallow the plastic, it can cause intestinal problems that may require surgery. Fresh, hard boiled eggs are not dangerous, but eggs spoil quickly. If days later your pet finds and eats an egg that was undiscovered during the Easter hunt, it can make them very sick. Tip: Keep track of the number of eggs hidden and make sure all are accounted for at the end of the hunt.
Easter Grass
Cats are especially attracted to these shiny shreds, and just like tinsel, ingesting this "grass" may be lethal. Pets can not digest it, leading to the threads getting stuck in and damaging their intestines. Tip: A better choice? Try using paper, or even real grass!
Chocolate
Most adults already know how dangerous chocolate is for pets, but it is important children know as well. Make sure to tell your kids that sharing with the family pet could make them very sick. Still, supervision is key. Tip: With chocolate bunnies in every basket, and chocolate eggs hidden around the house, it may be best if your pets are in kept in an "Easter free zone" during the festivities.
Easter Lilies
These flowers and beautiful and festive, but should be avoided at all costs if you share your home with pets. Easter lilies are one of the most poisonous plants for pets, especially to cats. Vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite are symptoms of lily poisoning. Cats who take a bite of the flower can die from kidney failure in less than two days if left untreated. Tip: Try faux lilies for the same look without the risk.
Candy
Chocolate isn't the only tasty treat dangerous for your pet. Too much sugar can also cause digestive upset. Additionally, the foil wrapping around candies can cause internal damage. The sharp pieces may tear your pet's esophagus or intestines. Tip: Be sure to keep a close eye on your pet and clean up all wrappings immediately.
Easter Toys
Those teeny tiny baby chick toys and bendy bunnies may be good basket stuffers for your kids, but to your pets they look like a good snack. Small toys are a choking hazard and should be kept away from cats and dogs. Be sure baskets are kept off the ground, or that pets are kept in another room while baskets are being unwrapped. Tip: Make sure all toys and parts are too big for your pet to fit in their mouth.
Baby animals
Baby chicks, bunnies and ducks may seem like the perfect Easter basket addition, but think twice! Not only do these cute babies grow up into large, adult animals requiring full-time care, but they often carry Salmonella. This harmful bacteria can be transmitted to your children and other pets. Tip: Stuffed bunnies and chicks make a much better choice as Easter pets!
For more information on keeping your pet safe, check out our full list of Poisonous Household Products and Petside's original video: Household Dangers

Please take care and think about those fur-babies at home! Consider adopting a rescue animal also to save a life.

Hoppy Easter today!!

Child Safety Tips: 10 Things You Can Do In 10 Minutes Or Less To Make Your Home Safer

These child safety tips can all make your home safer in 10 minutes or less.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, parents, I hope you’re wearing running shoes because you’re about to get a child safety themed workout.
I’ve compiled a minute by minute workout schedule that will turn you into a lean, mean, child injury prevention machine. You should be able to do execute each of these child safety tips in 10 minutes or less…
On your mark.  Get set.  Go!

1. Child Chemical Safety

Let’s start out in the kitchen.  Look around to make sure all household chemicals are not accessible to children.
You might not realize it, but to children, these chemicals look similar to their favorite fruit drinks, so your child might not understand that blue window cleaner isn’t blue-raspberry Kool-aid. To prevent a case of mistaken identity, put hazardous materials on higher shelves, not close to your food, of course.
If you can’t store your cleaning products anywhere else but near floor level, lock your cupboard doors tight with a child proof lock.

2. Child Climbing Safety

While you’re still in the kitchen, start looking for opportunities your child might have to climb to unsafe heights. Reposition any climbable pieces of furniture to deter children from using them as ladders to your kitchen counter.
Your kids probably love sweets so keep those goodies in a locked pantry or in a locked shelf lower than counter height.  That way your kids don’t have to climb anything to find out they don’t have access to their tasty temptations.

3. Child Hot Water Safety

Still with me? If so, you’re doing great!  But now it’s time for a bit of a run.
Head to your basement or wherever your hot water heater is located.  Read the temperature setting. If your hot water heater is set to anything above 120-125 degrees fahrenheit or above medium, it’s too hot.
According to the National Ag Safety Database, it only takes takes two seconds for a child to receive third degree burns from water at 150 degrees, five seconds if the water is at 140 degrees and 30 seconds at 130 degrees.
Turning the water heater down to a proper setting should be easy to do, but if you can’t figure it out, call a trusted friend or plumber.

4. Child Sharp Object Safety

While you’re in the basement, grab an empty bottle of laundry detergent, tear the labels off and write “SHARPS” or “DANGER” on both sides.
You now have your own container for proper disposal of sharp objects.
Whatever it may be, sewing needles, thumb tacks, nails, if you don’t have a place for it, put it in the sharps container.  This is a method medical professionals use to dispose of hazardous sharp objects, so it’s child safety expert and doctor approved.
Store the sharps container in a secure, child safe location and get ready to move!

5. Child Electrical Safety

It’s time for an electrical outlet check.
Head back up the stairs and through your house to each individual outlet to make sure they all have child proof covers.
Children are more likely to tamper with your electrical outlets than you might think.  The National Electrical Manufacturers Association estimates that an average of seven children per day are treated in emergency rooms for injuries due to electrical outlet contact.
Child safety covers prevent unnecessary child injury by keeping kids from sticking their fingers and metallic objects in electrical outlets. Until your children are old enough to know better, keep all the outlets in your home covered.

6. Child Suffocation Safety

Did you see any plastic bags lying out in the open during your last lap around the house?  If you did and you didn’t pick them up, well, looks like it’s another lap for you.
Kids who like to play make believe can see colorful, plastic grocery bags as masks that can turn them into astronauts and monsters, but these bags can easily suffocate your child.
Gather all your plastic bags together and store them in a safe, secure place like the now locked cabinet you keep your household chemicals in.

7. Child Shelf Safety

If you are one of those reading types who hasn’t replaced their paperbacks and hardcovers with e-books, there are probably bookshelves around your house.
Although your children may be learning to read, they see bookshelves more as ladders than “knowledge storage devices.”  The CPSC estimates that in 2006, more than 16,000 children five years old and younger were treated in emergency rooms due to furniture and appliance tipovers.
Secure bookshelves, and all other shelving units in your home, to walls so there is no chance of them falling over when your child decides he’s the next Indiana Jones.

8. Child Padding Safety

Alright, now do another lap around your house, this time looking for sharp corners and edges on furniture and walls.
More than likely, there are more edges and corners that could use padding than you can do in under ten minutes, but make a note of their locations.
There are a number of different manufacturers who specialize in making child safe edging for furniture and walls.  If you don’t want to pay $15 a foot, though, use foam pipe edging and clear tape.  It works just as well at a fraction of the cost.

9. Child Window Safety

Windows always spell trouble for children.
Windows with blinds usually mean low hanging cords that kids like to play with.  These cords are choking hazards so secure them at a higher altitude by coiling them up with a rubber band or piece of string.
Push all chairs and other pieces of climbable furniture away from windows so that children have less access to them.
And if you like keeping your windows open and haven’t invested in some child safe window guards, you need to install them soon.

10. Child Refrigerator Safety

It’s the home stretch!  Get to your refrigerator.
If you have small magnets on the fridge, either take them off or move them higher and out of reach.  Your child can easily pluck the magnets off the fridge and put them in their mouths.
Also, open your refrigerator door and determine if the seal is strong enough to keep a child from opening it.  If it’s not, add a latch system to the door for extra security.

11. Relax

I ended the workout in front of your refrigerator on purpose.  Open it up and grab something cold to drink or stick your head in the freezer to cool off.
You’re looking buff and now your home is now child safety expert approved.
Have anything you’d like to add?  Leave a comment and let me know.
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Ken Levinson is a Chicago-based child injury attorney and child safety advocate. If your child has been injured or worse, please call Ken Levinson at Joseph, Lichtenstein and Levinson at 312-346-9270 or e-mail ken@thesafestline.com. Although based in Chicago, Ken works on child injury cases across the country.