Newsletter Archive - July 2005

• Why Should I Be Concerned About Chemicals?
• Which Household Chemicals Are Potentially Dangerous?
• How Can I Keep My Family Protected?
• What Are Some Safe Alternatives To Common Chemicals?
  • Kitchen & Bathroom
  • Laundry
  • General Cleaning & Odor Control
• Insider Alerts
• This Month's Product Specials

Katie Weaver & The National Allergy Newsletter Team
http://www.nationalallergy.com/

P.S. If you're new to the newsletter or you'd like to reread any of our newsletters, you can find all of our past issues on our website. In the coming months we'll have more educational articles about the aggravating factors behind allergy, asthma, and sinus problems as well as helpful tips and valuable subscriber-only coupons. To top it off, we're giving away an Austin Air HM-400 Air Purifier, valued at $449.99, to one lucky subscriber every month!

Why Should I Be Concerned About Chemicals?
When exposed to certain chemicals or compounds, many of our chemically sensitive customers experience allergic reactions similar to those that dust-mite allergy sufferers experience. Chemical exposure can aggravate eczema and cause asthma flare-ups for those who are particularly sensitive. In fact, there are millions of chemically sensitive Americans and millions more of us who are concerned about the negative health and environmental impact chemicals can have.

Every house has certain bottles and cans of liquid and powder that have "Caution" or "Danger" labels on them. In fact, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) reports that the average American household generates 15 pounds of household hazardous waste each year. Most people know and understand that direct contact or inhalation of such substances is probably not the best idea. However, recent studies show that prolonged exposure to a variety of common cleaners can cause problems, particularly in children. Researchers from Bristol University, UK, in an article published in the journal Thorax, studied 7,019 families to discover the effect of household chemicals such as bleach, paint stripper, and carpet cleaners on childhood asthma and wheezing. They discovered that families that frequently used household cleaning products had much higher incidences of asthma and wheezing among their children.

The chemicals and substances identified in the research studies include chemicals which many of us have in our homes: disinfectants, bleach, carpet cleaners, window cleaners, dry cleaning fluids, aerosols, turpentine or white spirits, air fresheners, paint strippers, paints and varnishes.

Listing the many multi-syllable chemicals in each of these common household items could become exhaustive and make you wish you had paid more attention in chemistry class. Instead, I will list a few household chemicals that the EPA says to look out for and where they are found:

• Sodium hypochlorite (in chlorine bleach): if mixed with ammonia, releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems.
• Petroleum distillates (in metal polishes): short-term exposure can cause temporary eye clouding; longer exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys, and eyes.
• Ammonia (in glass cleaner): eye irritant, can cause headaches and lung irritation.
• Phenol and cresol (in disinfectants): corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage.
• Nitrobenzene (in furniture and floor polishes): can cause skin discoloration, shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects.
• Formaldehyde (a preservative in many products): suspected human carcinogen; strong irritant to eyes, throat, skin, and lungs.
• Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate in toilet bowl cleaner; either can burn the skin or cause vomiting diarrhea and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if inadvertently splashed in the eyes.
• Residues from fabric softeners, as well as the fragrances commonly used in them, can be irritating to susceptible people.
• Spray starches may include formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol. Furthermore, any aerosolized fine particle, even cornstarch, can be a lung irritant.

I didn't intend to scare you with that laundry list (no pun intended) of potentially harmful household items. Remember that negative implications often occur only in sensitive individuals like asthmatics, or after prolonged exposure as mentioned in the UK study above, or when the potentially harmful substances are mixed with other chemicals. You should always use caution when handling chemicals, so here are some tips to protect yourself around the house:

• Use non-toxic products where possible.
• Read the product label and follow the directions for usage.
• Wear gloves and protective clothing if the product can cause skin irritation.
• Wear goggles if product can harm the eyes.
• Do not wear contact lenses when working with solvents.
• Stop using the product if you become dizzy, sick to your stomach, or develop a headache.
• For proper ventilation, it is best to use chemicals outdoors when possible.
• Do not smoke when using flammable products.
• Never mix household products. Toxic fumes or explosions may result.
• Store compatible products together.
• See your health care provider immediately if you suspect you have been poisoned or injured from exposure to a household chemical.

• Baking soda is a wonderful tool for neutralizing acid, deodorizing, cleaning and polishing, as well as removing stains. Combine it with some dry table salt for a great scouring powder.
• Lemon juice does more than jazz up your ice water! The citric acid it contains can deodorize, clean glass and disinfect cutting boards. Combine with 2 parts olive oil for a safe furniture polish.
• For chemical-free cleaning, I find no handier tool than the Microfiber Miracle Towel. With a small bit of water, the tiny fibers grab dust, dirt and even grease. Don't forget that you get a FREE 3-pack of these towels with orders of $95 or more!
• Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that may inhibit mold and mildew growth, boost the cleaning power of detergent and remove stains. Note: Boron compounds like those in Borax are also known to eliminate household critters, including dust mites! That's why it is the active ingredient in our Dustmite And Flea Control.
• Vinegar is a smelly, but handy cleaning tool. It can dissolve grease, remove soap and wax buildup or clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots. Be sure to dilute your vinegar solution: use about a 1/2 cup vinegar per quart of warm water.
• NAS-12 is a non-toxic, multi-purpose cleaner that works especially well to remove mold and mildew stains. Use it before applying No More Mildew and say goodbye to mold growth for months!
• EnviroRite's Tub and Tile Cleaner contains no chemical additives or harmful chemicals and does tough work on stains and soap scum.

• Sodium chloride, otherwise known as salt, can be combined with lemon juice to make a chemical-free stain remover for clothes and carpets. (Salt is famous for helping with red wine stains).
• EnviroRite Laundry Detergent is 100% biodegradable, free of allergy-inducing agents, and super-concentrated so you use less (just 1/8 cup for regular loads). Gentle Wash for delicates and Laundry Pre-Treat Spray are also available.
• AllerSearch Allergen Wash is a safe, popular product that not only cleans, but also has surfactants to bind to allergens found in your clothes.

• Static Eliminator Re-Usable Dryer Sheets keep you and your dryer safe, giving you the benefits of dryer sheets without the buildup and harmful chemicals.
• A tablespoon of De-Mite Laundry Additive takes care of dust mites in blankets, bedding and clothing with natural ingredients like tea tree oil. This product works great for cold-water washing.

• Cornstarch is great for thickening up a stir-fry, but can also be used to clean windows, polish furniture and starch clothes.
• The GlassWizard removes fingerprints, greasy smudges and other soil from glass and other shiny surfaces so you can avoid using ammonia. For the car, we offer the handy Glass & Dash Kit
• Atmos-Klear is a popular, all-natural odor-eliminator that fights odors at their source instead of masking them with chemicals and artificial fragrances.
• The IQ Air HealthPro Plus is the ultimate air purifier for those concerned about formaldehydes, furniture and carpet off-gassing, and odor control. Not to mention its superior HEPA allergen-filtration.

• Insider Alerts are brief emails that include the latest new product information, special offers, clearance products, links to allergy, asthma and sinus news, and more!
• Insider Alerts will not be lengthy, content-rich articles, will not host any 3rd party advertisements and won't flood your inbox. We'll only send them when there's something new that may interest you.
• Click here to subscribe or send an email with the subject line "Insider Alerts Subscribe" to insideralerts@nationalallergy.com. You will still receive this monthly educational newsletter.

I hope you have found this newsletter helpful. Stay tuned next month for Part 2 of this series where we'll discuss chemical avoidance as it relates to hair and skin care. All the best for a healthy, chemical-free summer!



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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor first about your specific condition, treatment options and other health concerns you may have.

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