The Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) was passed 36 years ago yet very few of the 80,000 chemicals produced and used in our country have been thoroughly safety tested. Whats more, only a handful of chemicals have been regulated even though scientific evidence links some to serious illnesses including asthma, cancer, reproductive issues in both men and women, developmental disorders in children and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. For example, formaldehyde and formaldehyde derivatives are known to trigger asthma attacks and may cause cancer but are still found in dome dishwashing liquids, cosmetics, fabrics and fabric softeners. These chemicals are also used to treat wood materials used in building homes, cabinets, and furniture.
Boiling Water-Pour boiling water in your sink to kill and rinse away raw food bacteria or flush boiling water down the drain or toilet bowl to kill germs. it's cheap, safe, and effective.
Vinegar-Mix vinegar with warm water to clean mirrors and windows, cut grease on your stovetop, and keep mold and mildew from building up in your shower. Note: vinegar should not be used on marble surfaces.
Baking Soda- We grew up using baking soda to clean our teeth, whiten laundry and absorb odor in smelly shoes and refrigerators. it still works! it's simple, safe and works great for scouring toilet bowls-and when used with a damp cloth, it gently cleans kitchen counter tosp and appliances.
Remove your shoes. Shoes do more than track dirt and mud into your homes. they bring in oil and chemicals. Take them off before you enter your home.
Forego "Fresh" Scents. Chemical additives that make laundry detergents, fabric softeners and air fresheners smell like "fresh linen" or "spring rain" can irritate your airways and worsen asthma symptoms. they can also cause eczema, a red, irritating skin rash that can be difficult to get rid of.
Wash before wearing. Chemical dyes and fabric finishes that give new clothes an linen their crisp color and fresh-pressed look may cause skin irritation like eczema.
Goggle the ingredients. Search Internet sites such as householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov, epa.gov, or livestrong.com to learn more about the safety of ingredients in your favorite products. If the manufacturer states that "all chemicals used in this product are permissible by law," remember how lax current laws are in regulating toxic chemicals.
Regardless of how long it takes to put more stringent measures in place to safe guard the health of American families, you can make your voice heard by your vote and you'll be heard at the cash register by purchasing safer products. Learn more about efforts to improve chemical safety by visiting saferchemicals.org.
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