Sunday, January 16, 2011
Toxic Chemicals finding their way into the womb
2:44 PM | 
Posted by
Modern Green Clean |
Five years ago Molly and Zachery Gray were in the midst of a dark, lonely spiral. It began with Molly's first miscarriage.
"It was a really emotional process of being so joyful and so happy and ready to make that step into parenthood and that being pulled away from you," said Molly, 32. "[The pregnancy is] happening and all of a sudden it's gone. It's really hard."
After a second miscarriage the Grays were on a desperate hunt for answers. After Molly got pregnant a third time, she heard about a small study to test the blood of pregnant women for chemicals. She signed up.
The Grays wondered, as many do, if chemicals in the environment could be to blame. The science on this matter cannot yet give them an answer.
A growing number of studies are finding hundreds of toxic chemicals in mothers' and, subsequently, their babies' bodies when they are born. While there is no science yet that demonstrates conclusive cause and effect between this mix of toxic chemicals children are born with and particular health problems, a range of studies are finding associations between elevated levels of chemicals in a baby's body and their development. Not definitive cause and effect, but associations.
Special Report: Toxic America
Despite her best efforts to avoid anything unhealthy while she was pregnant with her son, Molly's blood tested high for mercury, a heavy metal that can cause brain damage to a developing fetus.
"It's really scary and disheartening," said Molly. "Somehow my son was being exposed to mercury and that's a weight to carry because I feel like our jobs as parents is to protect them, to care for them, to nurture them and to keep them out of harm's way."
Scientists at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health in New York City have been following hundreds of pregnant women over the past 12 years to measure chemicals entering the womb during pregnancy.
The women trudge through the city for 48 hours wearing special backpacks, each with a long tube that is slung over the shoulder. The tube, resting inches below the pregnant mom's mouth, sucks air into a special filter, giving an approximate measurement of the air that she is breathing. The backpack is designed to measure ambient toxics spewed by vehicles, pesticides, and chemicals from common household products.
"It surprised me when we analyzed the air samples [from the backpacks] and found 100 percent of them had detectable levels of at least one pesticide and the air pollutants we were interested in," said Dr. Frederica Perera, director of the CCCEH and professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. "Every single one."
The concern does not stop with mothers breathing in toxics. The CCCEH study suggests moms are passing on those toxic chemicals to their babies. So far, the toxics measured in the backpacks match what scientists are finding in the cord blood of the babies once they are born.
It is a finding that begs questions for scientists like Perera about how these chemicals might be influencing the baby - whose ability to fend off toxic chemicals is considerably less than adults - while it develops in utero.
Small studies by other groups are also finding common household chemicals in babies.
"We've measured hundreds and hundreds of toxic chemicals in the blood of babies that are still in the womb," said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. "Flame retardants, the chemicals in consumer products like personal care products, makeup, shampoos. It's a very long list."
The EWG study found an average of 232 chemicals in the cord blood of 10 babies born late last year.
They are chemicals found in a wide array of common household products -- a list that is as long as it is familiar -- shampoos and conditioners, cosmetics, plastics, shower curtains, mattresses, electronics like computers and cell phones, among others.
"For 80 percent of the common chemicals in everyday use in this country we know almost nothing about whether or not they can damage the brains of children, the immune system, the reproductive system, and the other developing organs," said Dr. Phil Landrigan, a pediatrician and director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
"It's really a terrible mess we've gotten ourselves into."
Perera and her colleagues are following the children in their study from in utero, to birth, up to their first several years of life. They recently published a study in the journal Pediatrics demonstrating an association between the chemicals they found in babies' cord blood, and later problems on IQ tests and development.
"Fifteen percent of children [in our study] have at least one developmental problem," said Perera.
The amount of chemicals measured in the cord blood of the babies seems to matter. The higher the concentration, the more the IQ among children seems to dip. The study is also being conducted among pregnant women in Poland and China, and finding similar results.
Molly Gray still struggles with the idea that mercury from her blood may have been passed to her baby. This concern about chemicals is something she can't shake.
"There's plastics, there's mercury, there's pesticides," said Molly Gray, who is also a practicing midwife. "The things that we're cleaning our homes with, the things we're building our houses with. I think the sheer volume of the things we have to worry about is a little overwhelming."
Even when their son Paxton, now 11 months old, was born healthy, the Grays remained vigilant. As Paxton grows and develops, they steer clear of any products with potentially toxic chemicals. Still, they worry about what is out there in the environment that they cannot control.
"Knowing that he got these chemicals from my blood it's really scary," said Molly Gray. "Scary that we don't know what this means. Paxton and all of our future generations are carrying around this burden that we don't know what it means yet. It's the huge sea of unknown."
While studies continue about potential health risks to children from chemicals, experts suggest ways to protect them from potential toxics, ranging from incorporating organic food into their diet, to keeping the home relatively dust-free (many toxic chemicals are conveyed in dust), to avoiding using toxic chemicals found in common household products.
Article Source
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
"It was a really emotional process of being so joyful and so happy and ready to make that step into parenthood and that being pulled away from you," said Molly, 32. "[The pregnancy is] happening and all of a sudden it's gone. It's really hard."
After a second miscarriage the Grays were on a desperate hunt for answers. After Molly got pregnant a third time, she heard about a small study to test the blood of pregnant women for chemicals. She signed up.
The Grays wondered, as many do, if chemicals in the environment could be to blame. The science on this matter cannot yet give them an answer.
A growing number of studies are finding hundreds of toxic chemicals in mothers' and, subsequently, their babies' bodies when they are born. While there is no science yet that demonstrates conclusive cause and effect between this mix of toxic chemicals children are born with and particular health problems, a range of studies are finding associations between elevated levels of chemicals in a baby's body and their development. Not definitive cause and effect, but associations.
Special Report: Toxic America
Despite her best efforts to avoid anything unhealthy while she was pregnant with her son, Molly's blood tested high for mercury, a heavy metal that can cause brain damage to a developing fetus.
"It's really scary and disheartening," said Molly. "Somehow my son was being exposed to mercury and that's a weight to carry because I feel like our jobs as parents is to protect them, to care for them, to nurture them and to keep them out of harm's way."
Scientists at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health in New York City have been following hundreds of pregnant women over the past 12 years to measure chemicals entering the womb during pregnancy.
The women trudge through the city for 48 hours wearing special backpacks, each with a long tube that is slung over the shoulder. The tube, resting inches below the pregnant mom's mouth, sucks air into a special filter, giving an approximate measurement of the air that she is breathing. The backpack is designed to measure ambient toxics spewed by vehicles, pesticides, and chemicals from common household products.
"It surprised me when we analyzed the air samples [from the backpacks] and found 100 percent of them had detectable levels of at least one pesticide and the air pollutants we were interested in," said Dr. Frederica Perera, director of the CCCEH and professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. "Every single one."
The concern does not stop with mothers breathing in toxics. The CCCEH study suggests moms are passing on those toxic chemicals to their babies. So far, the toxics measured in the backpacks match what scientists are finding in the cord blood of the babies once they are born.
It is a finding that begs questions for scientists like Perera about how these chemicals might be influencing the baby - whose ability to fend off toxic chemicals is considerably less than adults - while it develops in utero.
Small studies by other groups are also finding common household chemicals in babies.
"We've measured hundreds and hundreds of toxic chemicals in the blood of babies that are still in the womb," said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. "Flame retardants, the chemicals in consumer products like personal care products, makeup, shampoos. It's a very long list."
The EWG study found an average of 232 chemicals in the cord blood of 10 babies born late last year.
They are chemicals found in a wide array of common household products -- a list that is as long as it is familiar -- shampoos and conditioners, cosmetics, plastics, shower curtains, mattresses, electronics like computers and cell phones, among others.
"For 80 percent of the common chemicals in everyday use in this country we know almost nothing about whether or not they can damage the brains of children, the immune system, the reproductive system, and the other developing organs," said Dr. Phil Landrigan, a pediatrician and director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
"It's really a terrible mess we've gotten ourselves into."
Perera and her colleagues are following the children in their study from in utero, to birth, up to their first several years of life. They recently published a study in the journal Pediatrics demonstrating an association between the chemicals they found in babies' cord blood, and later problems on IQ tests and development.
"Fifteen percent of children [in our study] have at least one developmental problem," said Perera.
The amount of chemicals measured in the cord blood of the babies seems to matter. The higher the concentration, the more the IQ among children seems to dip. The study is also being conducted among pregnant women in Poland and China, and finding similar results.
Molly Gray still struggles with the idea that mercury from her blood may have been passed to her baby. This concern about chemicals is something she can't shake.
"There's plastics, there's mercury, there's pesticides," said Molly Gray, who is also a practicing midwife. "The things that we're cleaning our homes with, the things we're building our houses with. I think the sheer volume of the things we have to worry about is a little overwhelming."
Even when their son Paxton, now 11 months old, was born healthy, the Grays remained vigilant. As Paxton grows and develops, they steer clear of any products with potentially toxic chemicals. Still, they worry about what is out there in the environment that they cannot control.
"Knowing that he got these chemicals from my blood it's really scary," said Molly Gray. "Scary that we don't know what this means. Paxton and all of our future generations are carrying around this burden that we don't know what it means yet. It's the huge sea of unknown."
While studies continue about potential health risks to children from chemicals, experts suggest ways to protect them from potential toxics, ranging from incorporating organic food into their diet, to keeping the home relatively dust-free (many toxic chemicals are conveyed in dust), to avoiding using toxic chemicals found in common household products.
Article Source
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
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Warning: Toxic chemical triclosan can turn your toothpaste into chloroform
For years, I have warned people of the danger of personal care products. If you look at the ingredients manufacturers put in their products -- soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and so on -- you will be horrified.
These ingredients are highly toxic and cause cancer.
They promote leukemia, nervous system disorders and liver problems. Now, some new information has come from Virginia Tech. Researchers that have found that the chemical triclosan, which is found in a lot of antimicrobial soaps and toothpaste products, can react with chlorine in the tap water.
Guess what you get?
(This is the horrifying part.) Chloroform.
This is a toxic chemical that can give you cancer. In the old movies, you might have seen someone give a person chloroform to knock them unconscious. If you breathe enough chloroform, you will die.
If you are brushing your teeth with toothpaste that has triclosan in it, and you are rinsing with tap water that has chlorine in it, you are getting a little chemical reaction right in your mouth. What a wonderful gift from the toothpaste manufacturers. That's not to mention that some of the toothpastes contain fluoride that isn't really fluoride but fluorosilicic acid, which is a toxic waste product that is molecularly similar to fluoride but has a much different effect on the human body -- a toxic effect. When you wash your hands with antibacterial soap that contains triclosan, you are getting the fumes emitted from this chemical reaction.
Your home could be full of toxic chemicals
Most people's homes are toxic waste dumps. They have products that contain triclosan, deodorants that contain aluminum (absorbed right through your skin), shampoos that have toxic fragrance chemicals and hair coloring products that contain cancer-causing chemicals. There are perfumes and colognes that people just slather on like they are taking a bath in them. Their senses get dulled, and soon they can't even smell the stuff anymore.
People also put on clothes that have been washed in detergent loaded with fragrance chemicals. These people run around in these clothes and sweat, which helps the toxicity absorb into the skin and bloodstream where it promotes cancer. There are fake air fresheners and furniture polishes that contain toxic chemicals. These products are all promoted as being helpful when really they are quite deadly.
Toothpaste is supposed to help you clean your teeth, but the number one ingredient in toothpaste is calcium carbonate, which is just ground-up seashells that actually mar the enamel on your teeth, giving bacteria a place to hide out and replicate. Some toothpaste also has formaldehyde in it.
The answer to why you are diseased is that if you are the average American consumer, you are bathing and living in a system of toxic chemicals that you have purchased and brought home. You use dish detergents that contain toxic chemicals and then eat off of the plates that were washed in them.
How crazy are we in this country that we keep on making products that kill people and putting them on the shelves and printing little "25 percent off" coupons?
You are seriously misled if you think you can just wipe out all of the bacteria in your house with antibacterial soap. Do you think you are going to be germ free? Have you checked your doorknobs and your own skin? What about your toothbrush?
I bet there are more colonies of bacteria in your toothbrush than there are people in the entire city in which you live. These antibacterial products are useless. They have no value on the market or in your home. It is all a huge marketing gimmick.
You need immune distress to be healthy
Do you think the microbes on your counter are giving you the flu? That's not what is giving you the flu. You have the flu because you poison your body with all these other toxic products, metabolic disrupters in the food supply and poor nutrition. These poisons create a weak body and weakened immune system, allowing opportunistic bacteria to replicate that wouldn't stand a chance if you had a healthy immune defense in the first place.
Even worse, the use of antimicrobial soaps promotes the spread of superbugs around your house. If you want to be a healthy individual, you have to have a little immune distress. If you don't, your immune system doesn't learn how to defend itself. Your immune system makes a pattern of every invading microbe, and it remembers that pattern forever, so it knows how to beat that invader in the future.
If you try to maintain a sterile environment, then your immune system never gets to learn how to do its job. You need some level of exposure to these germs or mild infectious agents if you want to have an active immune system.
Let's talk about fragrances a little more. Even guys that wouldn't wear perfume go out and buy laundry detergent that has perfume in it. When I go to the grocery store, I can't even go near the aisle with all the detergents or I get a headache. I am very sensitive to this because of my sensory acuity. I can pick up subtle sights, sounds and smells thanks to a healthy nervous system.
The manufacturers of products that have triclosan in them keep saying that it is perfectly safe and that it only affects the nervous systems of various organisms. They also say it's safe because you don't drink it. Sure, we aren't swallowing the stuff, but we sure are touching it and bathing in it.
Do you think the skin is impermeable?
The skin absorbs chemicals, and it can certainly absorb something like triclosan as well. How do you think the nicotine patch works? If nothing was absorbed through the skin, then these patches wouldn't work.
Studies show triclosan is toxic to your health
This Virginia Tech study shows that triclosan is a real health hazard. However, the companies using it are going to say that the study was flawed, and the amount that is used is so minimal that it is well within the safety levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency.
They may claim some other silly nonsense, too, but the truth is this ingredient has no place in or around the human body. Only fools coat their body with products containing triclosan.
Unfortunately, most people are fooled by this chemical, and they don't understand its real dangers. Personally, I don't need to wash my mouth out with something that is going to create chloroform. This is basic common sense. The fact that these products are even being allowed on the shelves defies common sense. Where has the sanity gone in our consumer products industry? It has been replaced by the profit motive.
Triclosan is put into these products for the convenience of the manufacturers. It will stop their product from going bad, and it allows them to make ridiculous claims on the label.
For example, a label may say, "Proven to kill 99.99 percent of bacteria." This sells products, yet it isn't based on any kind of science whatsoever.
If you are new to all this and think everything I just said is crazy, doesn't make any sense or is overly worrisome, then do your research. Don't believe everything I just said -- start doing some reading on triclosan. Start reading about aluminum in deodorants and fragrance in shampoos and perfume, and then you will discover the truth for yourself. You can search Google for information right now. Just search for "triclosan" and see what you find.
If you do the research and are honest with what you find, you will quickly discover that these products are a hazard to your health. They are a threat to you and your family and should be outlawed. They should be reformulated without cancer-causing ingredients. Of course, that would cost Big Business a lot of money. Companies use these ingredients because they are cheap. Where do you think the color comes from in mouthwash? It's from an artificial color chemical. What most manufacturers care about is moving products, and until Congress demands they stop using harmful ingredients, they're going to keep doing so.
I encourage you to find out about more about triclosan and stop using products that contain the chemical. Shop at health food stores. Stop giving your money to manufacturers who are poisoning and exploiting you for profit.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a veteran of the software technology industry, having founded a personalized mass email software product used to deliver email newsletters to subscribers. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
Mike Adams
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
These ingredients are highly toxic and cause cancer.
They promote leukemia, nervous system disorders and liver problems. Now, some new information has come from Virginia Tech. Researchers that have found that the chemical triclosan, which is found in a lot of antimicrobial soaps and toothpaste products, can react with chlorine in the tap water.
Guess what you get?
(This is the horrifying part.) Chloroform.
This is a toxic chemical that can give you cancer. In the old movies, you might have seen someone give a person chloroform to knock them unconscious. If you breathe enough chloroform, you will die.
If you are brushing your teeth with toothpaste that has triclosan in it, and you are rinsing with tap water that has chlorine in it, you are getting a little chemical reaction right in your mouth. What a wonderful gift from the toothpaste manufacturers. That's not to mention that some of the toothpastes contain fluoride that isn't really fluoride but fluorosilicic acid, which is a toxic waste product that is molecularly similar to fluoride but has a much different effect on the human body -- a toxic effect. When you wash your hands with antibacterial soap that contains triclosan, you are getting the fumes emitted from this chemical reaction.
Your home could be full of toxic chemicals
Most people's homes are toxic waste dumps. They have products that contain triclosan, deodorants that contain aluminum (absorbed right through your skin), shampoos that have toxic fragrance chemicals and hair coloring products that contain cancer-causing chemicals. There are perfumes and colognes that people just slather on like they are taking a bath in them. Their senses get dulled, and soon they can't even smell the stuff anymore.
People also put on clothes that have been washed in detergent loaded with fragrance chemicals. These people run around in these clothes and sweat, which helps the toxicity absorb into the skin and bloodstream where it promotes cancer. There are fake air fresheners and furniture polishes that contain toxic chemicals. These products are all promoted as being helpful when really they are quite deadly.
Toothpaste is supposed to help you clean your teeth, but the number one ingredient in toothpaste is calcium carbonate, which is just ground-up seashells that actually mar the enamel on your teeth, giving bacteria a place to hide out and replicate. Some toothpaste also has formaldehyde in it.
The answer to why you are diseased is that if you are the average American consumer, you are bathing and living in a system of toxic chemicals that you have purchased and brought home. You use dish detergents that contain toxic chemicals and then eat off of the plates that were washed in them.
How crazy are we in this country that we keep on making products that kill people and putting them on the shelves and printing little "25 percent off" coupons?
You are seriously misled if you think you can just wipe out all of the bacteria in your house with antibacterial soap. Do you think you are going to be germ free? Have you checked your doorknobs and your own skin? What about your toothbrush?
I bet there are more colonies of bacteria in your toothbrush than there are people in the entire city in which you live. These antibacterial products are useless. They have no value on the market or in your home. It is all a huge marketing gimmick.
You need immune distress to be healthy
Do you think the microbes on your counter are giving you the flu? That's not what is giving you the flu. You have the flu because you poison your body with all these other toxic products, metabolic disrupters in the food supply and poor nutrition. These poisons create a weak body and weakened immune system, allowing opportunistic bacteria to replicate that wouldn't stand a chance if you had a healthy immune defense in the first place.
Even worse, the use of antimicrobial soaps promotes the spread of superbugs around your house. If you want to be a healthy individual, you have to have a little immune distress. If you don't, your immune system doesn't learn how to defend itself. Your immune system makes a pattern of every invading microbe, and it remembers that pattern forever, so it knows how to beat that invader in the future.
If you try to maintain a sterile environment, then your immune system never gets to learn how to do its job. You need some level of exposure to these germs or mild infectious agents if you want to have an active immune system.
Let's talk about fragrances a little more. Even guys that wouldn't wear perfume go out and buy laundry detergent that has perfume in it. When I go to the grocery store, I can't even go near the aisle with all the detergents or I get a headache. I am very sensitive to this because of my sensory acuity. I can pick up subtle sights, sounds and smells thanks to a healthy nervous system.
The manufacturers of products that have triclosan in them keep saying that it is perfectly safe and that it only affects the nervous systems of various organisms. They also say it's safe because you don't drink it. Sure, we aren't swallowing the stuff, but we sure are touching it and bathing in it.
Do you think the skin is impermeable?
The skin absorbs chemicals, and it can certainly absorb something like triclosan as well. How do you think the nicotine patch works? If nothing was absorbed through the skin, then these patches wouldn't work.
Studies show triclosan is toxic to your health
This Virginia Tech study shows that triclosan is a real health hazard. However, the companies using it are going to say that the study was flawed, and the amount that is used is so minimal that it is well within the safety levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency.
They may claim some other silly nonsense, too, but the truth is this ingredient has no place in or around the human body. Only fools coat their body with products containing triclosan.
Unfortunately, most people are fooled by this chemical, and they don't understand its real dangers. Personally, I don't need to wash my mouth out with something that is going to create chloroform. This is basic common sense. The fact that these products are even being allowed on the shelves defies common sense. Where has the sanity gone in our consumer products industry? It has been replaced by the profit motive.
Triclosan is put into these products for the convenience of the manufacturers. It will stop their product from going bad, and it allows them to make ridiculous claims on the label.
For example, a label may say, "Proven to kill 99.99 percent of bacteria." This sells products, yet it isn't based on any kind of science whatsoever.
If you are new to all this and think everything I just said is crazy, doesn't make any sense or is overly worrisome, then do your research. Don't believe everything I just said -- start doing some reading on triclosan. Start reading about aluminum in deodorants and fragrance in shampoos and perfume, and then you will discover the truth for yourself. You can search Google for information right now. Just search for "triclosan" and see what you find.
If you do the research and are honest with what you find, you will quickly discover that these products are a hazard to your health. They are a threat to you and your family and should be outlawed. They should be reformulated without cancer-causing ingredients. Of course, that would cost Big Business a lot of money. Companies use these ingredients because they are cheap. Where do you think the color comes from in mouthwash? It's from an artificial color chemical. What most manufacturers care about is moving products, and until Congress demands they stop using harmful ingredients, they're going to keep doing so.
I encourage you to find out about more about triclosan and stop using products that contain the chemical. Shop at health food stores. Stop giving your money to manufacturers who are poisoning and exploiting you for profit.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a veteran of the software technology industry, having founded a personalized mass email software product used to deliver email newsletters to subscribers. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
Mike Adams
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Dangerous Chemicals in Personal Care Products Compromise Health
Originally published March 7 2005
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Researchers are now finding that the active ingredient in antimicrobial soaps and personal care products causes nerve damage. This really isn't surprising: I've been warning readers about this for years. The ingredient is called MIT (methylisothiazolinone), and it is found in antimicrobial soaps, hand soaps, dish soaps and a surprising number of personal care products.
People buy these personal care products thinking they're protecting themselves from infectious microbes. They think it makes them immune to viruses and bacteria that might be found in their bathrooms or kitchens, and thus they believe in the mythology of using antimicrobial soaps to create a sterile environment in their own homes.
This mythology has been promoted by the manufacturers of these products who, through clever advertising, propagate the distortion that bacteria on the kitchen counter and in the bathroom are responsible for making people sick. But the reality is that we don't live in a sterile environment anyway: the only thing that prevents you from getting sick is a healthy immune system.
We are exposed to bacteria and viruses literally hundreds of thousands of times each day. It is our immune system that takes care of these threats and keeps us safe, not antimicrobial soap.
But many consumers don't understand this. They think that they can make their homes spotless; that they can create a level-4 biohazard clean room in their kitchen by using this antimicrobial soap, and that this will somehow protect them from getting sick. But the reality is that they're giving themselves nervous system disorders while actually promoting the breeding of resistant strains of bacteria. And thanks to the nervous system damage caused by these antimicrobial ingredients, people are probably accelerating Alzheimer's disease by using these products. No doubt, they are impacting the learning ability of their children by poisoning their nervous systems, too.
It turns out that this active ingredient is chemically similar to Agent Orange. That's right, this was the Weapon of Mass Destruction used in Vietnam. And while it's not accurate to say that there's Agent Orange in your antimicrobial soap, there is indeed a chemical compound that's similar in its function, purpose, and molecular structure. Is this something that you want to be coating your dishes with? How insane is that?
Yet it's precisely what millions of Americans are doing each and every day that they use these products. They are literally placing a thin film of nerve agent chemicals on their dishes, and then drinking and eating from those dishes. Here, Johnny, be sure to clean up your plate! We washed 'em in something special: nerve toxins!
There are a great number of dangerous poisons in the average American home. The typical pantry is loaded with toxic chemicals. This is something I've been warning about for years, but most people just laugh it off and say "If these things were dangerous, they wouldn't be legal!" Yet they remain perfectly legal and quite dangerous at the same time.
For example, most people still use dryer sheets in their dryer. These sheets really serve no function other than to spread perfumes all over your clothing. They're perfume sheets. And these perfumes are not essential oils harvested from flowers out in a wild field somewhere, they are synthetic chemicals, manufactured in a chemical plant, and many are highly carcinogenic.
So after washing their clothes to get out all the dirt, people are then coating their clothes with a product that deposits a thin film of toxic chemicals onto their clothes. In other words, the clothes were cleaner before they went through the washer and dryer. And now that they come out of the dryer, they are dangerous to your health, because now they have been soaked in a toxic chemical cocktail. And people put these clothes on every single day, then walk around and produce sweat which moistens the clothes, and that accelerates the diffusion of such chemicals into their bloodstream through their skin. They do this and then they wonder why they are diseased. They think their laundry is clean because it smells like perfume.
The average American household is a toxic chemical dump. People have antimicrobial soaps, dryer sheets with toxic chemicals, and then there are people using all sorts of personal perfumes and fragrance products that are also loaded with cancer-causing chemicals. You've got people putting deodorant in their armpits, and that deodorant contains aluminum which promotes dementia and Alzheimer's disease. And if that's not enough toxicity, you can buy air fresheners that will release a mist of toxic chemicals into the very air that you breathe so that you can inhale carcinogenic chemicals directly into your lungs.
Beyond all that, we have the shampoos which are also loaded with all sorts of toxic chemicals, and we have the cleaning products that contain solvents which directly promote cancer as well as birth defects. And this isn't even to mention the food supply yet, because the food supply in the average American household contains yet more toxic chemicals. But of course, that's for another article altogether.
So what do you do about all of this? Some people say to me "Mike, you sure are paranoid about all these products." Not really, only the ones that cause cancer and other chronic diseases. I'm fine with all the other products. The thing is, you can't find those healthy products at your regular convenience store or grocery store. You have to go to a health food store or a natural grocer, and you have to know the sources for these products.
You have to be smart enough to read ingredient labels and figure out what's in these products. And then you have to educate yourself by reading articles like this so that you know what belongs in your body and what doesn't. It's not that difficult to understand; it isn't rocket science to figure out that the human body is not a toxic waste dump (regardless of what the consumer products companies try to convince you to believe).
The vast majority of these chemicals I'm talking about are considered environmental hazards by the EPA. And yet it's perfectly legal for manufacturers to put them in their products and indirectly allow consumers to put them into their bodies. You could be arrested if you dumped these same chemicals into a stream -- that would be a violation of federal law. And yet, you put them into your body every single day, and that's not only legal, it's actually encouraged by media coverage, advertisements, department stores, and retailers.
It is perfectly possible, by the way, to live a life free of these toxic products. All you have to do is stop buying the toxic products, throw them out, and start buying products that actually protect your health. You could start with your laundry detergent. Go to the health food store, or natural grocer, and get yourself some laundry detergent that isn't made with all these fragrance chemicals.
Switch out all your soap: get rid of all that antimicrobial soap and switch to a product like Dr. Bronner's soap, which is only scented with natural oils like peppermint and almond oil. It's a wonderful soap, and I strongly recommend it. Throw out all those ridiculous brand name shampoos that are loaded with garbage ingredients that actually promote dandruff and hair loss because of all the toxic chemicals they contain. A lot of these products actually cause the very problems they claim to be solving. Throw those out!
And throw out all those perfumes and colognes, please, people, you are polluting the air for everyone else who actually has olfactory senses remaining. Maybe you can't smell yourself because your nose has been dulled from years and years of use of these products, but I tell you what - everybody else can smell you! And we're tired of it. Take those products, throw them away and try to live a day without smelling like an artificial fragrance factory!
And while you're at it, throw out the antimicrobial soap. Er, wait a minute, that might be an EPA violation. Better call a chemical waste processing facility and see if they can take it off your hands in an environmentally responsible way. Just don't be foolish enough to coat your skin with it.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a veteran of the software technology industry, having founded a personalized mass email software product used to deliver email newsletters to subscribers. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Researchers are now finding that the active ingredient in antimicrobial soaps and personal care products causes nerve damage. This really isn't surprising: I've been warning readers about this for years. The ingredient is called MIT (methylisothiazolinone), and it is found in antimicrobial soaps, hand soaps, dish soaps and a surprising number of personal care products.
People buy these personal care products thinking they're protecting themselves from infectious microbes. They think it makes them immune to viruses and bacteria that might be found in their bathrooms or kitchens, and thus they believe in the mythology of using antimicrobial soaps to create a sterile environment in their own homes.
This mythology has been promoted by the manufacturers of these products who, through clever advertising, propagate the distortion that bacteria on the kitchen counter and in the bathroom are responsible for making people sick. But the reality is that we don't live in a sterile environment anyway: the only thing that prevents you from getting sick is a healthy immune system.
We are exposed to bacteria and viruses literally hundreds of thousands of times each day. It is our immune system that takes care of these threats and keeps us safe, not antimicrobial soap.
But many consumers don't understand this. They think that they can make their homes spotless; that they can create a level-4 biohazard clean room in their kitchen by using this antimicrobial soap, and that this will somehow protect them from getting sick. But the reality is that they're giving themselves nervous system disorders while actually promoting the breeding of resistant strains of bacteria. And thanks to the nervous system damage caused by these antimicrobial ingredients, people are probably accelerating Alzheimer's disease by using these products. No doubt, they are impacting the learning ability of their children by poisoning their nervous systems, too.
It turns out that this active ingredient is chemically similar to Agent Orange. That's right, this was the Weapon of Mass Destruction used in Vietnam. And while it's not accurate to say that there's Agent Orange in your antimicrobial soap, there is indeed a chemical compound that's similar in its function, purpose, and molecular structure. Is this something that you want to be coating your dishes with? How insane is that?
Yet it's precisely what millions of Americans are doing each and every day that they use these products. They are literally placing a thin film of nerve agent chemicals on their dishes, and then drinking and eating from those dishes. Here, Johnny, be sure to clean up your plate! We washed 'em in something special: nerve toxins!
There are a great number of dangerous poisons in the average American home. The typical pantry is loaded with toxic chemicals. This is something I've been warning about for years, but most people just laugh it off and say "If these things were dangerous, they wouldn't be legal!" Yet they remain perfectly legal and quite dangerous at the same time.
For example, most people still use dryer sheets in their dryer. These sheets really serve no function other than to spread perfumes all over your clothing. They're perfume sheets. And these perfumes are not essential oils harvested from flowers out in a wild field somewhere, they are synthetic chemicals, manufactured in a chemical plant, and many are highly carcinogenic.
So after washing their clothes to get out all the dirt, people are then coating their clothes with a product that deposits a thin film of toxic chemicals onto their clothes. In other words, the clothes were cleaner before they went through the washer and dryer. And now that they come out of the dryer, they are dangerous to your health, because now they have been soaked in a toxic chemical cocktail. And people put these clothes on every single day, then walk around and produce sweat which moistens the clothes, and that accelerates the diffusion of such chemicals into their bloodstream through their skin. They do this and then they wonder why they are diseased. They think their laundry is clean because it smells like perfume.
The average American household is a toxic chemical dump. People have antimicrobial soaps, dryer sheets with toxic chemicals, and then there are people using all sorts of personal perfumes and fragrance products that are also loaded with cancer-causing chemicals. You've got people putting deodorant in their armpits, and that deodorant contains aluminum which promotes dementia and Alzheimer's disease. And if that's not enough toxicity, you can buy air fresheners that will release a mist of toxic chemicals into the very air that you breathe so that you can inhale carcinogenic chemicals directly into your lungs.
Beyond all that, we have the shampoos which are also loaded with all sorts of toxic chemicals, and we have the cleaning products that contain solvents which directly promote cancer as well as birth defects. And this isn't even to mention the food supply yet, because the food supply in the average American household contains yet more toxic chemicals. But of course, that's for another article altogether.
So what do you do about all of this? Some people say to me "Mike, you sure are paranoid about all these products." Not really, only the ones that cause cancer and other chronic diseases. I'm fine with all the other products. The thing is, you can't find those healthy products at your regular convenience store or grocery store. You have to go to a health food store or a natural grocer, and you have to know the sources for these products.
You have to be smart enough to read ingredient labels and figure out what's in these products. And then you have to educate yourself by reading articles like this so that you know what belongs in your body and what doesn't. It's not that difficult to understand; it isn't rocket science to figure out that the human body is not a toxic waste dump (regardless of what the consumer products companies try to convince you to believe).
The vast majority of these chemicals I'm talking about are considered environmental hazards by the EPA. And yet it's perfectly legal for manufacturers to put them in their products and indirectly allow consumers to put them into their bodies. You could be arrested if you dumped these same chemicals into a stream -- that would be a violation of federal law. And yet, you put them into your body every single day, and that's not only legal, it's actually encouraged by media coverage, advertisements, department stores, and retailers.
It is perfectly possible, by the way, to live a life free of these toxic products. All you have to do is stop buying the toxic products, throw them out, and start buying products that actually protect your health. You could start with your laundry detergent. Go to the health food store, or natural grocer, and get yourself some laundry detergent that isn't made with all these fragrance chemicals.
Switch out all your soap: get rid of all that antimicrobial soap and switch to a product like Dr. Bronner's soap, which is only scented with natural oils like peppermint and almond oil. It's a wonderful soap, and I strongly recommend it. Throw out all those ridiculous brand name shampoos that are loaded with garbage ingredients that actually promote dandruff and hair loss because of all the toxic chemicals they contain. A lot of these products actually cause the very problems they claim to be solving. Throw those out!
And throw out all those perfumes and colognes, please, people, you are polluting the air for everyone else who actually has olfactory senses remaining. Maybe you can't smell yourself because your nose has been dulled from years and years of use of these products, but I tell you what - everybody else can smell you! And we're tired of it. Take those products, throw them away and try to live a day without smelling like an artificial fragrance factory!
And while you're at it, throw out the antimicrobial soap. Er, wait a minute, that might be an EPA violation. Better call a chemical waste processing facility and see if they can take it off your hands in an environmentally responsible way. Just don't be foolish enough to coat your skin with it.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a veteran of the software technology industry, having founded a personalized mass email software product used to deliver email newsletters to subscribers. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Flouride: Friend or Fraud?
Question: What is a major industrial pollutant, lies between lead and arsenic on the toxicity scale, and yet is continually promoted and being good for us?
One group – Health Action Network Society (HANS) – is urging its members to stop using fluoride in any form. The organization, based in British Columbia, researches self-care and preventive health issues. In a recent press release, it made the case for avoiding the substance that the dental industry has long touted as a healthful substance which strengthens tooth enamel.
On the contrary, says HANS, fluoride is not a nutrient; it is a toxic industrial waste – obtained from scrubbing the air emissions from smelters and phosphate fertilizer plants. It is causing severe environmental degradation in Canada and may, notes the group, be contributing to the rapid depletion of salmon stocks.
Cited are international studies which have “clearly revealed that fluoride is linked with arthritis, hip fractures, cancer and other diseases, and even premature skin wrinkling.” It has been banned or discontinued in 21 European countries along with Japan and Hawaii.
Supporting this stand against fluoride are some Canadian medical leaders such as Dr. Richard Foulkes, former special consultant to the Minister of Health for British Columbia. One of the recommendations that he says he mistakenly made to the government was to recommend mandatory fluoridation for B.C. Dr. Foulkes has recently written a feature article in Health Naturally magazine, in which he says, “I placed my trust in individuals from whom I received advice. I assumed they had done their homework, studying all sides of the subject thoroughly. This was not so.”
The group also quotes Robert Carton, Ph.D., a former scientist with the US Environmental Protection Agency, who says, “Fluoridation is the greatest case of scientific fraud of this century, if not of all time.”
Source: http://www.life.ca/nl/38/fluoride.html
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Answer: Fluoride, and it's not being promoted as safe anymore, at least not by consumer groups who collect data on its toxicity.
On the contrary, says HANS, fluoride is not a nutrient; it is a toxic industrial waste – obtained from scrubbing the air emissions from smelters and phosphate fertilizer plants. It is causing severe environmental degradation in Canada and may, notes the group, be contributing to the rapid depletion of salmon stocks.
Cited are international studies which have “clearly revealed that fluoride is linked with arthritis, hip fractures, cancer and other diseases, and even premature skin wrinkling.” It has been banned or discontinued in 21 European countries along with Japan and Hawaii.
Supporting this stand against fluoride are some Canadian medical leaders such as Dr. Richard Foulkes, former special consultant to the Minister of Health for British Columbia. One of the recommendations that he says he mistakenly made to the government was to recommend mandatory fluoridation for B.C. Dr. Foulkes has recently written a feature article in Health Naturally magazine, in which he says, “I placed my trust in individuals from whom I received advice. I assumed they had done their homework, studying all sides of the subject thoroughly. This was not so.”
The group also quotes Robert Carton, Ph.D., a former scientist with the US Environmental Protection Agency, who says, “Fluoridation is the greatest case of scientific fraud of this century, if not of all time.”
Source: http://www.life.ca/nl/38/fluoride.html
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
A Wake-up Call on Cosmetic Preservative Safety
Two recent reports raise disturbing questions about the safety of commonly used cosmetic preservatives. They also make very clear why smart consumers are seeking safe and natural preservative systems.
The first report—a recent study from the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology—raises disturbing questions about the safety of a group of commonly used cosmetic preservatives known as parabens. Consumers who check labels will see parabens listed on a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products.
Leave-on products such as facial makeup and skin lotions are of greatest concern because of the long exposure time and opportunity for migration via the skin into the bloodstream.
The recently discovered estrogenic effects of certain synthetic chemicals, such as the parabens, and their subsequent effects on the endocrine system of humans and wildlife, is of growing concern—especially in relation to women's risk of breast cancer.
Reproductive abnormalities in young boys exposed to such chemicals either prior to puberty or as fetuses also may increase risk for undescended testicles, testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders.
Meanwhile, Thomas Connor, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental sciences at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, claims in a preliminary report in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis that the preservatives methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone have mutagenic and cancer-causing properties and should be carefully evaluated for safety.
The Paraben Paradox
For many years, parabens were considered among those preservatives with low systemic toxicity, primarily causing allergic reactions.
However, as we have become aware that some synthetic chemicals mimic the female hormone estrogen, our understanding of the toxic effects of both synthetic and natural substances has changed.
Now, researchers from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, have found that alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (namely methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben) are weakly estrogenic.
Although it is reassuring to note that when administered orally the parabens were inactive, subcutaneous administration of butylparaben produced a positive estrogenic response on uterine tissues.
Although approximately 100,000 times less potent than 17 beta-estradiol, greater exposure to the parabens may compensate for their lower potency. The researchers conclude that, "Given their use in a wide range of commercially available topical preparations, it is suggested that the safety in use of these chemicals should be reassessed…" Kathon GC: Emerging Toxic Menace?
Earlier research has shown preservatives known commercially as Kathon GC, and by their scientific names as methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, alone could damage cell processes in ways that might lead to cancer.
However, more recent research by Dr. Connor is the first to show properties of whole products containing these preservatives may also damage cell processes. Shampoos and conditioners often contain these preservatives. They are listed on labels.
Using bacterial tests, Dr. Connor found three products using the preservatives had cancer-causing potential. "If an ingredient causes skin-sensitization and is mutagenic, that means that it may have the potential to cause skin cancer," cautions Dr. Connor.
An industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that Kathon GC may be safely used in rinse-off products at a concentration not to exceed 15 parts per million (ppm) and in "leave-on" products at a concentration not to exceed 7.5 ppm. "Although it may be assumed that the ingredient is safe at these levels as far as mutagenicity is concerned, the fact remains that it is also a sensitizing agent and may affect some individuals even at these levels," says Dr. Connor.
What's more, he adds, "It is probable that a person could use a shampoo, conditioner, styling gel and skin lotion one or more times in a single day, making the total daily dose substantial. Because many of these products are used by children and young adults, the potential for long-time exposure can be considerable." In addition, the ingredient is absorbed through the skin.
Dr. Connor has continued his research and is now analyzing additional data from more complex systems. Thus far, the results show that the higher the dose, the more likelihood of mutagenicity—although the results have not thus far been statistically significant.
Cosmetics and personal care products require preservatives or they will become contaminated with bacteria, and it would be irresponsible for companies not to use preservatives. The choice of preservatives, however, is especially important because this family of ingredients is, like fragrances, one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis—and, we now suspect, could potentially cause longterm health problems. Furthermore, cosmetics are not required to be tested for safety prior to being put into commerce.
Unpublicized Preservative Hazards
There are other hazards associated with preservatives that consumers are rarely told about. Some of the most allergenic and irritating preservatives release small amounts of formaldehyde, which is not only an irritant and skin sensitizer, but is cancer-causing and damaging to the nervous system.
Many cosmetic companies do not use such ingredients because they can make the eyes sting and irritate the skin. But many companies do, and health-conscious consumers should be able to identify these ingredients so they can avoid products containing them.
The following ingredients contain formaldehyde, may release formaldehyde, or may break down into formaldehyde: 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol · diazolidinyl urea · DMDM hydantoin · imidazolidinyl urea · quaternium 15.
Seekers of the most gentle yet effective cosmetics should limit their exposure to these chemicals. On the other hand, one of the arts of manufacturing cosmetics and personal care products is in formulating products to achieve an effective yet gentle balance of ingredients. Some of these chemicals may be used at such low concentrations that they are not allergenic or irritating to most people. They may still incrementally increase the consumer's overall cancer risk.
Safe and Effective Preservatives
The following ingredients—which research shows are both extremely gentle and effective—can also be used as preservatives and seem to cause the least irritation and fewest allergic reactions: grapefruit seed extract · phenoxyethanol · potassium sorbate · sorbic acid · tocopherol (vitamin E) · vitamin A (retinyl) · vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
These are the preservatives that you should prefer whenever possible. In particular grapefruit seed extract appears to be an extremely potent and well-tolerated preservative. Its use in cosmetics was introduced into the United States by Aubrey Organics®.
Among companies that have long refrained from deliberate addition of the parabens, Kathon GC, and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are Aubrey Organics®, Dr. Hauschka and Weleda. Each of these companies, whose products are available at health food stores and natural product supermarkets, offers consumers facial makeups, skin lotions, shampoos, conditioners and other personal care products with extremely safe, yet effective preservative systems.
The studies on the parabens and Kathon GC are preliminary. That means there is probably a great deal that is as yet unknown. For example, the researchers who discovered the estrogenicity of the parabens have further confirmed these effects in a subsequent study. They are now doing skin-painting studies. If these studies also show estrogenic effects, it would mean that the preservatives are toxic precisely in the manner as used by consumers. The most cautious consumers may prefer to avoid these preservatives altogether.
Some companies such as Aubrey Organics® not only have implemented policy guidelines that strictly prohibit the addition of such preservatives to their products, they have also begun screening programs to further insure that their raw materials are free from these preservatives.
NOTE: Kirkland Brand baby wipes (Cosco) does not have Parabens, while Pampers does.
Source: Unknown
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
The first report—a recent study from the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology—raises disturbing questions about the safety of a group of commonly used cosmetic preservatives known as parabens. Consumers who check labels will see parabens listed on a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products.
Leave-on products such as facial makeup and skin lotions are of greatest concern because of the long exposure time and opportunity for migration via the skin into the bloodstream.
The recently discovered estrogenic effects of certain synthetic chemicals, such as the parabens, and their subsequent effects on the endocrine system of humans and wildlife, is of growing concern—especially in relation to women's risk of breast cancer.
Reproductive abnormalities in young boys exposed to such chemicals either prior to puberty or as fetuses also may increase risk for undescended testicles, testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders.
Meanwhile, Thomas Connor, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental sciences at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, claims in a preliminary report in Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis that the preservatives methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone have mutagenic and cancer-causing properties and should be carefully evaluated for safety.
The Paraben Paradox
For many years, parabens were considered among those preservatives with low systemic toxicity, primarily causing allergic reactions.
However, as we have become aware that some synthetic chemicals mimic the female hormone estrogen, our understanding of the toxic effects of both synthetic and natural substances has changed.
Now, researchers from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, have found that alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (namely methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben) are weakly estrogenic.
Although it is reassuring to note that when administered orally the parabens were inactive, subcutaneous administration of butylparaben produced a positive estrogenic response on uterine tissues.
Although approximately 100,000 times less potent than 17 beta-estradiol, greater exposure to the parabens may compensate for their lower potency. The researchers conclude that, "Given their use in a wide range of commercially available topical preparations, it is suggested that the safety in use of these chemicals should be reassessed…" Kathon GC: Emerging Toxic Menace?
Earlier research has shown preservatives known commercially as Kathon GC, and by their scientific names as methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone, alone could damage cell processes in ways that might lead to cancer.
However, more recent research by Dr. Connor is the first to show properties of whole products containing these preservatives may also damage cell processes. Shampoos and conditioners often contain these preservatives. They are listed on labels.
Using bacterial tests, Dr. Connor found three products using the preservatives had cancer-causing potential. "If an ingredient causes skin-sensitization and is mutagenic, that means that it may have the potential to cause skin cancer," cautions Dr. Connor.
An industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that Kathon GC may be safely used in rinse-off products at a concentration not to exceed 15 parts per million (ppm) and in "leave-on" products at a concentration not to exceed 7.5 ppm. "Although it may be assumed that the ingredient is safe at these levels as far as mutagenicity is concerned, the fact remains that it is also a sensitizing agent and may affect some individuals even at these levels," says Dr. Connor.
What's more, he adds, "It is probable that a person could use a shampoo, conditioner, styling gel and skin lotion one or more times in a single day, making the total daily dose substantial. Because many of these products are used by children and young adults, the potential for long-time exposure can be considerable." In addition, the ingredient is absorbed through the skin.
Dr. Connor has continued his research and is now analyzing additional data from more complex systems. Thus far, the results show that the higher the dose, the more likelihood of mutagenicity—although the results have not thus far been statistically significant.
Cosmetics and personal care products require preservatives or they will become contaminated with bacteria, and it would be irresponsible for companies not to use preservatives. The choice of preservatives, however, is especially important because this family of ingredients is, like fragrances, one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis—and, we now suspect, could potentially cause longterm health problems. Furthermore, cosmetics are not required to be tested for safety prior to being put into commerce.
Unpublicized Preservative Hazards
There are other hazards associated with preservatives that consumers are rarely told about. Some of the most allergenic and irritating preservatives release small amounts of formaldehyde, which is not only an irritant and skin sensitizer, but is cancer-causing and damaging to the nervous system.
Many cosmetic companies do not use such ingredients because they can make the eyes sting and irritate the skin. But many companies do, and health-conscious consumers should be able to identify these ingredients so they can avoid products containing them.
The following ingredients contain formaldehyde, may release formaldehyde, or may break down into formaldehyde: 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol · diazolidinyl urea · DMDM hydantoin · imidazolidinyl urea · quaternium 15.
Seekers of the most gentle yet effective cosmetics should limit their exposure to these chemicals. On the other hand, one of the arts of manufacturing cosmetics and personal care products is in formulating products to achieve an effective yet gentle balance of ingredients. Some of these chemicals may be used at such low concentrations that they are not allergenic or irritating to most people. They may still incrementally increase the consumer's overall cancer risk.
Safe and Effective Preservatives
The following ingredients—which research shows are both extremely gentle and effective—can also be used as preservatives and seem to cause the least irritation and fewest allergic reactions: grapefruit seed extract · phenoxyethanol · potassium sorbate · sorbic acid · tocopherol (vitamin E) · vitamin A (retinyl) · vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
These are the preservatives that you should prefer whenever possible. In particular grapefruit seed extract appears to be an extremely potent and well-tolerated preservative. Its use in cosmetics was introduced into the United States by Aubrey Organics®.
Among companies that have long refrained from deliberate addition of the parabens, Kathon GC, and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are Aubrey Organics®, Dr. Hauschka and Weleda. Each of these companies, whose products are available at health food stores and natural product supermarkets, offers consumers facial makeups, skin lotions, shampoos, conditioners and other personal care products with extremely safe, yet effective preservative systems.
The studies on the parabens and Kathon GC are preliminary. That means there is probably a great deal that is as yet unknown. For example, the researchers who discovered the estrogenicity of the parabens have further confirmed these effects in a subsequent study. They are now doing skin-painting studies. If these studies also show estrogenic effects, it would mean that the preservatives are toxic precisely in the manner as used by consumers. The most cautious consumers may prefer to avoid these preservatives altogether.
Some companies such as Aubrey Organics® not only have implemented policy guidelines that strictly prohibit the addition of such preservatives to their products, they have also begun screening programs to further insure that their raw materials are free from these preservatives.
NOTE: Kirkland Brand baby wipes (Cosco) does not have Parabens, while Pampers does.
Source: Unknown
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
How People Use Nano Silver
Water Treatment , Purification and Waste Water Industry“ In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended the allowable levels of silver present in drinking water be set at 100 ppb, and most of the Company’s systems are designed to inject ionic silver well below the limit, at a rate of 60 ppb. Proving efficacy at only 10 ppb is significant in that cost comparisons with traditional disinfectants such as chlorine become more favorable and the initial capital outlay for end users is greatly reduced.”
How People Use It :
Treat pools, fountains, humidifiers, Jacuzzi’s, hot tubs, baths, dishwashers, re-circulating cooling tower water..etc Add to suspected drinking water when traveling or camping.
Bio-terrorism & Governments fights against Pandemic Flu / SARS or Bird Flu
“Silver is known to be effective against multiple disease-causing pathogenic microorganisms, including anthrax, diphtheria, influenza, whooping cough, and typhoid. In fact, it appears to be nature's most powerful antibiotic. According to experts, no microorganism ever tested has been able to stay alive for more than six minutes when exposed directly to colloidal silver. It is also recognized as one of the most potent antidotes for food poisoning.”
Bird Flu : “Subway and train stations in London and other parts of the UK are considering using a powerful, non-toxic colloidal
silver disinfectant spray to help fend off the spread of the flu virus this winter after Hong Kong subways recently announced its
use of the spray. The MTR company revealed this morning its plan to use nano silver-titanium dioxide coating”
Click Here to Read More
Civilians Protections / Water Treatment - In Case of Natural Disasters ( Earth Quake / Flood / Hurricane ... etc )
Nano Silver can be used in different forms (including injectable in researching for new vaccines ).
City cleaning and disinfecting, including public buildings. Painting the public buildings with water based paint mixed with nano
silver particles for mold free and germs free areas.
City waste water disinfectant.
“Silver has become the latest agent in the fight against airborne toxins, as well other industrial poisons, in the Japanese work
place.”
Mix in postage stamp, envelope, and tape moistening wells, paint and paste pots to prevent bacterial growth, odors, spoiling or
souring.
Soft Drinks Industry
Add when canning, preserving or bottling.
“According to a company that provides technology for the commercial use of silver-based water purification systems, at least some of it is being used by American soft drink bottlers! They claim that more than half of American soft drink bottling companies now use silver to sterilize water. What’ more, the global community is now rapidly moving toward using silver as a safe and effective treatment for drinking water worldwide. Indeed, a recent draft of a new European Union Drinking Water Standard has removed any upper limit for silver in drinking water, following the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, which states: It is unnecessary to recommend any health-based guideline for silver as it is not
hazardous to human heath.”
Cosmetic Industry
Nano anti ageing products. Body care and other cosmetic products.
Add when canning, preserving or bottling.
Bath products / Deodorant / Cosmetics
Detergents & Hygiene Industry
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo / Detergent
Treatment for dry skin, pimples, and itches / Mouthwash
Bath products / Gingivitis / Deodorant / Cosmetics
How People Use It :On toilet seats, bowls, tile floors, sinks, urinals, door knobs.
Excellent for diapers and diaper rash.
Prevent carpets, drapes and wallpaper from mildewing.
Wipe telephone mouthpieces, pipe stems, headphones, hearing aids, eyeglass frames, hairbrushes, combs, loofas.
Use routinely in laundry final rinse water and always before packing away seasonal clothes.
Add to dishwater, cleaning and mopping solutions, etc.
Damp clothes or towels and washcloths will not sour or mildew.
Medical products & Medical Industry
Anti-itch treatment / Eczema, Athlete's Foot treatment/Medicine containers
Germ free products/Antibacterial products / Antibiotics Rhinitis Treatment / Cold medicine
How People Use It :Silver-sprayed burns heal rapidly without scarring
Safely sterilize anything from toothbrushes to surgical instruments.
Use topically on cuts, wounds, abrasions, rashes, sunburn, insect bites, razor nicks and bandages.
Use like peroxide on zits and acne.
Spray in shoes and between toes to stop most skin itch, athletes foot and fungi.
Diminish dandruff, psoriasis, skin rashes, etc.
Add to bath water, gargle, douches, colon irrigation, nasal spray and dental water-pic solutions.
Cuts downtime dramatically from colds, flu, pneumonia, staph, strep, respiratory infections and rhino viruses.
Skin itch, eye irritation or infection (dilute a small amount with an equal amount of distilled water for eye use) and ear infections
(warm slightly first), some moles and warts vanish (put on band aid pad and wear on wart overnight each night until gone).
Use with Q-tips on fingernail, toenail, and ear fungi.
Can impede tooth decay and bad breath.
Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics, Silver never permits strain-resistant pathogens to evolve.
Toothaches, mouth sores, bacterial irritations are diminished.Soak dentures.
Shoe Industry
How People Use It :Kills persistent odors.
Spray inside shoes, watch bands and gloves and under fingernails periodically.
Textile & Clothing Products Industry
Beds and blankets, pillows, linens / clothes, masks, socks, underware
Shoes, Insoles
How People Use It :Rinse invalid's pillowcases, sheets, towels and bedclothes.
Electronics & Communications Industry
It prevents electric charging and cut-off of electron waves in electronic products such as cellular phones, computers,
semiconductor lines, optical filters, fibers, wallpaper, and glass coatings. Nanosilver is also used as a catalyst, sensor, optical
filter, PDP electrode, and LCD Spacer in materials, chemicals, machinery, information and electronic devices.
Plastic and Electronics IndustryRefrigerator, Washer / Antibacterial for toys / Electromagnetic shielding
“Samsung India Electronics, a leader in consumer technology products, today announced the launch of an entire range of
“Silver Nano Health System”; home appliances. Over 55 new models of washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners
will be available with sophisticated silver-technology that minimizes the spread of bacteria in the home.”
How People Use It :Spray air conditioner filters after cleaning.
Swab air ducts and vents to prevent breeding sites for germs.
Spray refrigerator, freezer and food storage bin interiors.
Construction Industry
Cement ProductsAntibacterial cement: Anti-mold, anti-odor / Hospitals, cafeterias, schools, apartments, houses / Public facilities
Paint products ( Mold Free, Antibacterial and Energy Saver)
Antibacterial paint (oil based, water based, epoxy) / Hospitals, cafeterias, schools, apartments, houses / Public facilities
“Antimicrobial coatings shall provide a long lasting protection against microorganisms during the lifetime of the coated product.
Additionally neither humans nor the environment are to be negatively affected by the antimicrobial agent. Therefore, antimicrobial coatings are required, where the antimicrobial effect is restricted to the immediate vicinity of the surface and a minimum elution of the antimicrobial agent into the environment takes place. To address this issue from the testing point of view a novel high throughput testing technology is used that determines the optimal concentration of the antimicrobial agent under realistic conditions at much higher sensitivity as conventional methods. As an example for a successful development the use of metallic NanoSilver / MicroSilver as an antimicrobial agent in coatings will be presented. NanoSilver / MicroSilver particles with a high porosity and a high surface area exhibit excellent antimicrobial efficacy at low dosage.”
How People Use It :Add to water-based paints, wallpaper paste etc.
Food Industry & Food storage products
Versatile wrap / Antibacterial containers, rice storage containers, grains storage
How People Use It :Spray on top of contents of opened jam, jelly, and condiment containers and inside lids before replacing.
Add to juices and milk to prevent spoiling, fermenting, deteriorating, clabbering or curdling.
Add when canning, preserving or bottling.
Packaging Industry & Paper Industry
Antibacterial wallpapers / Antibacterial filters (automobiles, humidifiers, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners
Nano silver is used in producing plastic bottles, paper and cardboard containers.
Consumer Products - Environment friendly medical productsEnvironmental toxic substance cleanser / Prevention of pest in forests
How People Use It :Treat shower stalls, tubs, fonts, animal watering troughs, shavers to avoid trading germs.
Rinse fruit and vegetables before storing or using.
Put in cooking water.
Mix a little in pet water, birdbaths, cut flower vases.
Spray pet bedding and let dry.
Mist kitchen sponges, towels, cutting boards to eliminate E. Coli and salmonella bacteria to prevent food poisoning &
gastrointestinal inflammation.
Spray on garbage to prevent decay odors.
Agricultural Industry
Agrochemical replacement / Hydroponics / Golf course grass, virus elimination
How People Use It :Eliminate unwanted microorganisms in planter soils and hydroponics systems.
Spray plant foliage to stop fungi, molds, rot, and most plant diseases.
Silver is an excellent plant-growth stimulator.
There are literally thousands of other essential uses for this odorless, nearly tasteless and colorless, totally benign, powerful,
non-toxic disinfectant and healing agent.
You'll find that a spray or misting bottle of Nano Silver Dispersion may be the most useful health enhancement tool in your
environment.
Disclaimer: This article on Colloidal Silver has been written and presented strictly for informational and educational purposes only. ... The information
conveyed herein is based on pharmacological and other records both ancient and modern. ... No claims whatsoever as to any specific benefits
accruing from the use of Silver
Article Source: http://www.nanobiosilver.com/howpeopleuse.html
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
How People Use It :
Treat pools, fountains, humidifiers, Jacuzzi’s, hot tubs, baths, dishwashers, re-circulating cooling tower water..etc Add to suspected drinking water when traveling or camping.
Military Industry Civilians Protections And Government Services
Bio-terrorism & Governments fights against Pandemic Flu / SARS or Bird Flu
“Silver is known to be effective against multiple disease-causing pathogenic microorganisms, including anthrax, diphtheria, influenza, whooping cough, and typhoid. In fact, it appears to be nature's most powerful antibiotic. According to experts, no microorganism ever tested has been able to stay alive for more than six minutes when exposed directly to colloidal silver. It is also recognized as one of the most potent antidotes for food poisoning.”
Bird Flu : “Subway and train stations in London and other parts of the UK are considering using a powerful, non-toxic colloidal
silver disinfectant spray to help fend off the spread of the flu virus this winter after Hong Kong subways recently announced its
use of the spray. The MTR company revealed this morning its plan to use nano silver-titanium dioxide coating”
Click Here to Read More
Civilians Protections / Water Treatment - In Case of Natural Disasters ( Earth Quake / Flood / Hurricane ... etc )
Nano Silver can be used in different forms (including injectable in researching for new vaccines ).
City cleaning and disinfecting, including public buildings. Painting the public buildings with water based paint mixed with nano
silver particles for mold free and germs free areas.
City waste water disinfectant.
“Silver has become the latest agent in the fight against airborne toxins, as well other industrial poisons, in the Japanese work
place.”
Mix in postage stamp, envelope, and tape moistening wells, paint and paste pots to prevent bacterial growth, odors, spoiling or
souring.
Soft Drinks Industry
Add when canning, preserving or bottling.
“According to a company that provides technology for the commercial use of silver-based water purification systems, at least some of it is being used by American soft drink bottlers! They claim that more than half of American soft drink bottling companies now use silver to sterilize water. What’ more, the global community is now rapidly moving toward using silver as a safe and effective treatment for drinking water worldwide. Indeed, a recent draft of a new European Union Drinking Water Standard has removed any upper limit for silver in drinking water, following the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, which states: It is unnecessary to recommend any health-based guideline for silver as it is not
hazardous to human heath.”
Cosmetic Industry
Nano anti ageing products. Body care and other cosmetic products.
Add when canning, preserving or bottling.
Bath products / Deodorant / Cosmetics
Detergents & Hygiene Industry
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo / Detergent
Treatment for dry skin, pimples, and itches / Mouthwash
Bath products / Gingivitis / Deodorant / Cosmetics
How People Use It :On toilet seats, bowls, tile floors, sinks, urinals, door knobs.
Excellent for diapers and diaper rash.
Prevent carpets, drapes and wallpaper from mildewing.
Wipe telephone mouthpieces, pipe stems, headphones, hearing aids, eyeglass frames, hairbrushes, combs, loofas.
Use routinely in laundry final rinse water and always before packing away seasonal clothes.
Add to dishwater, cleaning and mopping solutions, etc.
Damp clothes or towels and washcloths will not sour or mildew.
Medical products & Medical Industry
Anti-itch treatment / Eczema, Athlete's Foot treatment/Medicine containers
Germ free products/Antibacterial products / Antibiotics Rhinitis Treatment / Cold medicine
How People Use It :Silver-sprayed burns heal rapidly without scarring
Safely sterilize anything from toothbrushes to surgical instruments.
Use topically on cuts, wounds, abrasions, rashes, sunburn, insect bites, razor nicks and bandages.
Use like peroxide on zits and acne.
Spray in shoes and between toes to stop most skin itch, athletes foot and fungi.
Diminish dandruff, psoriasis, skin rashes, etc.
Add to bath water, gargle, douches, colon irrigation, nasal spray and dental water-pic solutions.
Cuts downtime dramatically from colds, flu, pneumonia, staph, strep, respiratory infections and rhino viruses.
Skin itch, eye irritation or infection (dilute a small amount with an equal amount of distilled water for eye use) and ear infections
(warm slightly first), some moles and warts vanish (put on band aid pad and wear on wart overnight each night until gone).
Use with Q-tips on fingernail, toenail, and ear fungi.
Can impede tooth decay and bad breath.
Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics, Silver never permits strain-resistant pathogens to evolve.
Toothaches, mouth sores, bacterial irritations are diminished.Soak dentures.
Shoe Industry
How People Use It :Kills persistent odors.
Spray inside shoes, watch bands and gloves and under fingernails periodically.
Textile & Clothing Products Industry
Beds and blankets, pillows, linens / clothes, masks, socks, underware
Shoes, Insoles
How People Use It :Rinse invalid's pillowcases, sheets, towels and bedclothes.
Electronics & Communications Industry
It prevents electric charging and cut-off of electron waves in electronic products such as cellular phones, computers,
semiconductor lines, optical filters, fibers, wallpaper, and glass coatings. Nanosilver is also used as a catalyst, sensor, optical
filter, PDP electrode, and LCD Spacer in materials, chemicals, machinery, information and electronic devices.
Plastic and Electronics IndustryRefrigerator, Washer / Antibacterial for toys / Electromagnetic shielding
“Samsung India Electronics, a leader in consumer technology products, today announced the launch of an entire range of
“Silver Nano Health System”; home appliances. Over 55 new models of washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners
will be available with sophisticated silver-technology that minimizes the spread of bacteria in the home.”
How People Use It :Spray air conditioner filters after cleaning.
Swab air ducts and vents to prevent breeding sites for germs.
Spray refrigerator, freezer and food storage bin interiors.
Construction Industry
Cement ProductsAntibacterial cement: Anti-mold, anti-odor / Hospitals, cafeterias, schools, apartments, houses / Public facilities
Paint products ( Mold Free, Antibacterial and Energy Saver)
Antibacterial paint (oil based, water based, epoxy) / Hospitals, cafeterias, schools, apartments, houses / Public facilities
“Antimicrobial coatings shall provide a long lasting protection against microorganisms during the lifetime of the coated product.
Additionally neither humans nor the environment are to be negatively affected by the antimicrobial agent. Therefore, antimicrobial coatings are required, where the antimicrobial effect is restricted to the immediate vicinity of the surface and a minimum elution of the antimicrobial agent into the environment takes place. To address this issue from the testing point of view a novel high throughput testing technology is used that determines the optimal concentration of the antimicrobial agent under realistic conditions at much higher sensitivity as conventional methods. As an example for a successful development the use of metallic NanoSilver / MicroSilver as an antimicrobial agent in coatings will be presented. NanoSilver / MicroSilver particles with a high porosity and a high surface area exhibit excellent antimicrobial efficacy at low dosage.”
How People Use It :Add to water-based paints, wallpaper paste etc.
Food Industry & Food storage products
Versatile wrap / Antibacterial containers, rice storage containers, grains storage
How People Use It :Spray on top of contents of opened jam, jelly, and condiment containers and inside lids before replacing.
Add to juices and milk to prevent spoiling, fermenting, deteriorating, clabbering or curdling.
Add when canning, preserving or bottling.
Packaging Industry & Paper Industry
Antibacterial wallpapers / Antibacterial filters (automobiles, humidifiers, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners
Nano silver is used in producing plastic bottles, paper and cardboard containers.
Consumer Products - Environment friendly medical productsEnvironmental toxic substance cleanser / Prevention of pest in forests
How People Use It :Treat shower stalls, tubs, fonts, animal watering troughs, shavers to avoid trading germs.
Rinse fruit and vegetables before storing or using.
Put in cooking water.
Mix a little in pet water, birdbaths, cut flower vases.
Spray pet bedding and let dry.
Mist kitchen sponges, towels, cutting boards to eliminate E. Coli and salmonella bacteria to prevent food poisoning &
gastrointestinal inflammation.
Spray on garbage to prevent decay odors.
Agricultural Industry
Agrochemical replacement / Hydroponics / Golf course grass, virus elimination
How People Use It :Eliminate unwanted microorganisms in planter soils and hydroponics systems.
Spray plant foliage to stop fungi, molds, rot, and most plant diseases.
Silver is an excellent plant-growth stimulator.
There are literally thousands of other essential uses for this odorless, nearly tasteless and colorless, totally benign, powerful,
non-toxic disinfectant and healing agent.
You'll find that a spray or misting bottle of Nano Silver Dispersion may be the most useful health enhancement tool in your
environment.
Disclaimer: This article on Colloidal Silver has been written and presented strictly for informational and educational purposes only. ... The information
conveyed herein is based on pharmacological and other records both ancient and modern. ... No claims whatsoever as to any specific benefits
accruing from the use of Silver
Article Source: http://www.nanobiosilver.com/howpeopleuse.html
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Silver Nanoparticles - How They Are Providing Antibacterial Properties In Consumer Goods
Background
Manufacturing entire objects from pure silver is prohibitively expensive for consumer items but research has found that impregnating other materials with silver nanoparticles is a practical way to exploit the germ fighting properties of silver.
How Silver Nanoparticles Work
The extremely small size of nanoparticles means they exhibit enhanced or different properties when compared with the bulk material. The extremely small size of nanoparticles results in the particles having a large surface area relative to their volume. In the case of silver nanoparticles this allows them to easily interact with other particles and increases their antibacterial efficiency. This effect can be so great that one gram of silver nanoparticles is all that is required to give anticaverial properties to hundred of square metres of substrate material.
In order to understand how silver nanoparicles kill pathogens, an understanding of how bacteria, viruses and fungus live and grow is required.
Bacteria
All bacteria use an enzyme as a form of 'chemical lung' in order to metabolise oxygen. Silver ions cripple the enzyme and stop the take up of oxygen. This effectively suffocates any bacteria, killing it within 6 minutes and leaving surrounding tissue or material unaffected.
Viruses
Viruses grow by taking over another living cell and reprogramming the nucleus to replicate the virus rather than the healthy cell. As part of this process, the cell reverts to a more primitive form that relies upon a primitive form of oxygen metabolizing enzymes as a chemical lung. Again the silver ions stop oxygen being brought into the virus-producing cell and it dies by suffocation.
Fungus
A fungus is composed of a series of single cells. Each cell survives by means of a 'chemical lung' much like that seen in bacteria. Just like bacteria, the presence of silver ions disables the chemical lung and the fungus dies.
Drug Resistant Pathogens
Antibiotic drugs can be used to kill the pathogens attacked by silver nanoparticles but bacteria and viruses are becoming increasingly resistant to drug therapies. Silver nanoparticles kill all types of fungal infections, bacteria and viruses, including antibiotic resistant strains. No drug based antibiotic is effective on all types of bacteria. Additionally, research to date has shown that bacteria have been unable to develop any immunity to silver.
Environmental Considerations
Elemental silver occurs naturally . It is considered non-toxic, non-allergenic, is not cumulative and is not known to harm either wildlife or the environment.
Products made with silver nanoparticles have been approved by a range of accredited bodies, including the U.S. FDA, U.S. EPA, SIAA of Japan, Korea's Testing and Research Institute for Chemical Industry and FITI Testing & Research Institute.
Antibacterial Applications
Major Consumer goods manufacturers like LG and Samsung already produce household items that utilise the antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticles. These products include nano-silver lined refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines.
Other current applications for silver nanoparticle impregnated materials include:
- Toys
- Baby pacifiers
- Clothing
- Food storage containers
- Face masks
- HEPA filters
- Laundry detergent
Other potential applications for silver nanoparticles include:
- Diagnostic biomedical optical imaging
- Biological implants (like heart valves)
- Dressings and bandages
Source: http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1695
For more information on this source please visit AZoNano
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Why Silver Kills Germs & Heals Wounds
People have known for centuries that silver kills germs, but only recently have scientists discovered how the white metal does its work.
One question that has eluded scientists is why silver is harmful to bacteria but doesn’t hurt humans. Albert T. McManus former Chief of Microbiology, USA Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, says that silver interrupts a bacteria cell’s ability to form chemical bonds essential to its survival.
These bonds are integral to the cell’s physical structure, so bacteria in the presence of silver essentially falls apart. Cells in humans and other animals have thick walls and are not disturbed by silver.
This feature of silver may be the answer to the overuse of antibiotics which is causing strains of microbes resistant to drugs. Studies conducted over decades at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York, show that even at less than one part per billion in pure water, silver disrupts bacteria cells permanently.
Antibiotics, on the other hand, like penicillin, are bacteriostatic — they temporarily stop the growth of bacteria. This action is faster than that of silver, but when the drugs cease their attachment to the bacteria, the bacteria reactivates and becomes resistant to the drug.
Using powerful electron microscopes, scientists at Tsinguha University in Beijing, China, can actually see silver react with bacteria. Using a common E. coli bacterium -- often the culprit in food poisoning -- researchers can watch silver destroy the cell wall and alter the nucleus, or center of the cell.
Consultancy DisplaySearch estimates that worldwide sales of 2002 flat panel TV displays will reach 1.82 million units, possibly doubling in 2003 as more consumers replace their older TV sets.
Manufacturers are mum on the amount of silver used in flat panel displays, but estimates peg this at an average of one gram per unit, which could consume 113,000 ounces in 2003. Electrical and electronic applications consumed 132.5 million ounces of silver in 2001.
Eliminating bacteria is only part of silver’s action. Silver also heals wounds, which is why it is being used on gauze bandages and hospital dressings. According to studies conducted by R.O. Becker, M.D., Upstate Medical Center, University of Syracuse, Syracuse, New York, silver ions turn mature cells into stem (starter) cells which foster the rate of reconstruction of lost and damaged cells. He observed that especially when driven by a small electric current, wounds touched by silver ions produced large numbers of stem cells. No other known technique is capable of producing this effect.
This procedure has been in practical clinical use over two decades and has achieved restorations ranging from replacement of finger tips, including the original fingerprint, to severe hand-palm wounds restored to its original condition, including nerves.
Silver News - Fourth Quarter 2003 Samuel Etris, Senior Technical Consultant to The Silver Institute
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
 |  Bacteria after contacting silver |
These bonds are integral to the cell’s physical structure, so bacteria in the presence of silver essentially falls apart. Cells in humans and other animals have thick walls and are not disturbed by silver.
This feature of silver may be the answer to the overuse of antibiotics which is causing strains of microbes resistant to drugs. Studies conducted over decades at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York, show that even at less than one part per billion in pure water, silver disrupts bacteria cells permanently.
Antibiotics, on the other hand, like penicillin, are bacteriostatic — they temporarily stop the growth of bacteria. This action is faster than that of silver, but when the drugs cease their attachment to the bacteria, the bacteria reactivates and becomes resistant to the drug.
Using powerful electron microscopes, scientists at Tsinguha University in Beijing, China, can actually see silver react with bacteria. Using a common E. coli bacterium -- often the culprit in food poisoning -- researchers can watch silver destroy the cell wall and alter the nucleus, or center of the cell.
Consultancy DisplaySearch estimates that worldwide sales of 2002 flat panel TV displays will reach 1.82 million units, possibly doubling in 2003 as more consumers replace their older TV sets.
Manufacturers are mum on the amount of silver used in flat panel displays, but estimates peg this at an average of one gram per unit, which could consume 113,000 ounces in 2003. Electrical and electronic applications consumed 132.5 million ounces of silver in 2001.
Eliminating bacteria is only part of silver’s action. Silver also heals wounds, which is why it is being used on gauze bandages and hospital dressings. According to studies conducted by R.O. Becker, M.D., Upstate Medical Center, University of Syracuse, Syracuse, New York, silver ions turn mature cells into stem (starter) cells which foster the rate of reconstruction of lost and damaged cells. He observed that especially when driven by a small electric current, wounds touched by silver ions produced large numbers of stem cells. No other known technique is capable of producing this effect.
This procedure has been in practical clinical use over two decades and has achieved restorations ranging from replacement of finger tips, including the original fingerprint, to severe hand-palm wounds restored to its original condition, including nerves.
Silver News - Fourth Quarter 2003 Samuel Etris, Senior Technical Consultant to The Silver Institute
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Silver in Your Washing Machine?
To find Kim Hyung Gyoon's office in Samsung's R. and D. complex, just follow the baskets of dirty clothes. No, Kim is not running the company laundromat. As chief of Samsung's Washing & Cleaning Technology Group, he's the man behind a new washing machine that deposits tiny silver particles — about 1/10,000 the thickness of a human hair — onto clothes to make them bacteria- and odor-free without the need for hot water.
The device represents the first mass-produced application of this type of nanotechnology — the science of very small structures — to home appliances. "In summer of 2002, I asked everyone in the office to take off their socks," says Kim, 48, a short, talkative man with large glaring eyes. "I took one sock from each person and placed it in a regular washing machine; the others were washed in a machine with the Ag+ Nano System. The next day, I asked everyone to check the odor of their socks after a day's wear. One began to stink, and the other was odorless."
Kim says he came up with the idea five years ago while on a business trip to Japan, where he learned of a brand of socks that retained their freshness even after many days of unwashed wear and tear. Tiny strands of silver with disinfectant qualities were woven into the fabric. When he got back to Seoul, Kim applied the principle to washing machines.
Here's how it works: a grapefruit-sized device near the tub uses electrical currents to nano-shave two silver plates the size of chewing-gum sticks. The resulting silver particles are sprayed into the tub during the wash cycle. According to the [an error occurred while processing this directive] Korea Testing & Research Institute for the Chemical Industry, Samsung's device kills 99.9% of bacteria and fungi. Kim says garments stay germ-free for up to a month after being laundered. The Ag+ Nano device went on sale in March 2003 (just ahead of other silver nanotech appliances from competitors LG and Daewoo) and costs around $1,150; the revolutionary technology is also being used in Samsung's refrigerators and air conditioners.
No wonder: consumers seem to like a little silver in their spin cycles. Since Samsung's nano-armed products were first launched, they have brought in an estimated $779 million in revenue. Overall, nanotech has been one of science's fastest-growing fields in recent years, with potential applications in fields as diverse as energy production and toothpaste manufacture. The nanotech market is projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2015.
Nanotechnology has its detractors, though. Lee Jo Won, director of Tera-level Nanodevices, a Seoul-based state-run R. and D. organization, believes "there is always danger with new technologies. We've done testing in laboratories with rats, and certain nano-sized particles ended up imbedded in rats' lungs after consistent exposure. However, with silver, I don't foresee problems, as it's a disinfectant."
Because this is such a hotly competitive field — Daewoo has introduced air conditioners that spray vitamin C into the environment — Kim isn't about to divulge what other nanotech projects he's working on. But one thing's for sure — from now on, even his dirtiest clothes will have a silver lining.
Mingi Hyun - Seoul
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
The device represents the first mass-produced application of this type of nanotechnology — the science of very small structures — to home appliances. "In summer of 2002, I asked everyone in the office to take off their socks," says Kim, 48, a short, talkative man with large glaring eyes. "I took one sock from each person and placed it in a regular washing machine; the others were washed in a machine with the Ag+ Nano System. The next day, I asked everyone to check the odor of their socks after a day's wear. One began to stink, and the other was odorless."
Kim says he came up with the idea five years ago while on a business trip to Japan, where he learned of a brand of socks that retained their freshness even after many days of unwashed wear and tear. Tiny strands of silver with disinfectant qualities were woven into the fabric. When he got back to Seoul, Kim applied the principle to washing machines.
Here's how it works: a grapefruit-sized device near the tub uses electrical currents to nano-shave two silver plates the size of chewing-gum sticks. The resulting silver particles are sprayed into the tub during the wash cycle. According to the [an error occurred while processing this directive] Korea Testing & Research Institute for the Chemical Industry, Samsung's device kills 99.9% of bacteria and fungi. Kim says garments stay germ-free for up to a month after being laundered. The Ag+ Nano device went on sale in March 2003 (just ahead of other silver nanotech appliances from competitors LG and Daewoo) and costs around $1,150; the revolutionary technology is also being used in Samsung's refrigerators and air conditioners.
No wonder: consumers seem to like a little silver in their spin cycles. Since Samsung's nano-armed products were first launched, they have brought in an estimated $779 million in revenue. Overall, nanotech has been one of science's fastest-growing fields in recent years, with potential applications in fields as diverse as energy production and toothpaste manufacture. The nanotech market is projected to be worth $1 trillion by 2015.
Nanotechnology has its detractors, though. Lee Jo Won, director of Tera-level Nanodevices, a Seoul-based state-run R. and D. organization, believes "there is always danger with new technologies. We've done testing in laboratories with rats, and certain nano-sized particles ended up imbedded in rats' lungs after consistent exposure. However, with silver, I don't foresee problems, as it's a disinfectant."
Because this is such a hotly competitive field — Daewoo has introduced air conditioners that spray vitamin C into the environment — Kim isn't about to divulge what other nanotech projects he's working on. But one thing's for sure — from now on, even his dirtiest clothes will have a silver lining.
Mingi Hyun - Seoul
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Micro-Fiber Cloth and Mop Microbiological Use Study
ACT Natural Micro-Fiber Cloth and Mop Microbiological Use Study (December 1998)
(these are the cloths we used to market before making our own, which actually have even more microfibre than the ones studied here)
The purpose of the study was “to develop and perform a test method which would demonstrate the efficacy of the ACT Natural Cloths and Mops in removing microbiological contaminants from various surface types.”
The question has never been “do these products clean the dirt that we can see” – all one needs to do is try them to be convinced that they work. But the question has been, how well do they clean the dirt (contamination) that we do not see?
Therefore, throughout this testing two different microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Escherichia coll ATCC 8739) were used along with normal household dirt particles taken from a vacuum bag.
In addition to testing the efficacy of the cloths/mops to clean hard (non-porous) surfaces, the laboratory also conducted tests on cloth saturation, cross contamination, and methods used to clean dirty (contaminated) cloths. All tests were conducted in triplicate and data depicted in this fact sheet reflects the average of all three tests.
Executive Summary
The Executive summary from the technical laboratory report provides a summation of several key areas from the testing and it is provided in its entirety below;
“The Act Natural Cloths removed an average of 99.94% of all microorganisms throughout the test period. Only the conventional Cloth in conjunction with a disinfectant (which had to remain on the test surface for 30 seconds) performed better.
Using the Act Natural cloth with water provides clean surfaces without the use of harsh chemicals. The effectiveness of these cloths was not reduced even after 10 surfaces in succession as demonstrated by the absorption test data.”
The Act Natural Mops were significantly more effective in removing bacteria than the conventional Mops. In the first series of test with the mops, the conventional mops were “new” ; they had not been used and were dry. After use, we boiled the mops, rung them out, then left them at room temperature.
These mops developed a significant bioburden (bacterial population) under these “normal use” conditions. This is demonstrated by the second set of test data (for the ceramic surface), where there were more bacteria on the test surface after cleaning than before. Therefore, the repeat use of a conventional mop, even with a disinfectant, actually adds bacteria to the surface being cleaned.”
The test also demonstrated that after a contaminated (dirty) area had been cleaned with the ACT – tex Multi-purpose cloth, the contamination was held inside the fiber of the cloth and was not transferred to another surface. Lastly, laboratory testing showed that washing the cloths in a standard washing machine on the hottest cycle was as effective in removing bacteria from the cloth as was boiling.
Compiled results on the Act – tex Multi-Purpose Cloth:
Cloth testing Smooth Formica Surface
Cloth testing Smooth Formica Surface
Table 1
| Type of Cleaning Material | Cleaning Agent | Percent Effective (%) |
| ACT-tex Multi-purpose cloth (New) | Tap Water | 99.951% |
| ACT-tex Multi-purpose cloth (Used) | Tap Water | 99.950% |
| Conventional Dish Cloth (New) | 409R as Disinfectant | 99.9994% |
| Conventional Dish Cloth | Lysol Pine Action Cleaner | 99.7778% |
| Conventional Dish Cloth | Bleach Water (60 ppm) | 99.000% |
Cloth Testing Textured Formica Surface
Table 2
| ACT-tex Multi-purpose cloth (New) | Tap Water | 99.9721% |
| ACT-tex Multi-purpose cloth (Used) | Tap Water | 99.9646% |
| Conventional Dish Cloth | Lysol Pine Action Cleaner | 90.3571% |
| Conventional Dish Cloth | 409R as disinfectant | 99.9977% |
| Conventional Dish Cloth (New) | Bleach Water (60 ppm) | 98.7073% |
Analysis of results (Table 1): These results demonstrate the ACT-tex Multi-Purpose Cloth is extremely effective. Only 409R used as a disinfectant did better. Remember that the surface was saturated with a full concentration of 409R and allowed to stand for 30 seconds.
Of particular note is the comparison of the ACT-tex Multi-Purpose Cloth with the bleach water solution which is recognized as a standard for cleanliness. Even though the percentages are very close, a mathematical analysis of these percentages shows that the bleach water left much more contamination on the surfaces as compared to the ACT-tex Multi-Purpose Cloth (20 times the amount of contamination on the smooth surface and 46 times on the textured surface).
Analysis of results (Table 2): These results demonstrate that the ACT-tex Damp mop is more effective than a conventional mop. The most significant aspect of the mop testing is what happens to the conventional mop after being used for the first time.
The conventional mops used on the ceramic tile surface had been used only once on the previous test. These mops were “0%” effective on the second test even using a disinfectant. A conventional mop may make the floor surface ”look” cleaner, however, the “cleaned” surface retains very high levels of bacterial contamination (microorganisms).
*ACT-tex Multi-Purpose cloths could clean up to 40 sq. ft. of Formica counter with 99.7% effectiveness. Remember the recognized standard was bleach water between 98.9 & 99.9%.
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Feiringklinikken Clinic Hospital Study (Summary)
Feiringklinikken Clinic Hospital Study- March 2004 (Summary)
PurposeThe purpose of this project was to conduct a study on the long-term development of microbiological particles when you clean with microfiber the surfaces and areas that are in daily use in a hospital.
The study is done using daily regular sanitary and cleaning routines, using only microfiber cleaning products and water on floors and other surfaces at Feiringklinikken in Eidsvoll, Norway.
The measurements started on the 16th of September 2003 and was ended on the 20th or January 2004. The first 3 weeks of the project was used as a pilot study.
What is the Feiring Clinic?
The clinic is specializing in consulting, treating and rehabilitation of adult heart patients. With a capacity of 1100 open-heart surgeries per year, it conducts about 25 % of all open-heart surgeries in Norway. The total number of infections as a result of surgery at the hospital is only 50 % of the nations standard of 5.4 %
Today, there are 245 employees at the clinic, and of these, 140 are medical staff. The clinic was opened in 1989, by the Association for Heart and Lung Disease in Norway (LHL)
The project was kicked off with a general information session and training of the cleaning staff at the hospital. It was emphasized that the goal of the project was not to benchmark each individual employee, but rather to determine the long-term effect of using microfiber combined with water as the single method of cleaning and sanitation at the hospital.
Staff used products from a stock of dry microfiber cloths that was dampened and wringed using clean tap water. Each cloth is replaced once it is visibly dirty.
The Norwex mop is used to clean all floors. All other areas were cleaned with the microfiber cloths from Norwex.
All products were laundered at 90oC and then dried in a dryer, with no fabric softener.
CONCLUSIONS
The cleaning department has used microfiber cloths since 1993, and started using microfiber mops in 1998. There is a minimal use of chemicals in the daily cleaning routines, and the department is consciously trying to adhere to “Clean Without Chemicals” concept.
The Feiring Clinic has a very high cleaning standard based on commonly known adhered-to daily and periodical cleaning standards.
The use of microfiber cleaning products combined with only water was used to clean the cafeteria kitchen. The test data shows a good and satisfactory hygiene level that is just as good as traditional cleaning methods and products. The clinic has experienced that microfiber cleaning products are excellently suited for cleaning a cafeteria kitchen.
The use of microfiber cloths and mops in the operating room has a higher hygienical level. The results after cleaning is done are absolutely acceptable, even on the floor where there are very different conditions present in the operating room. In the operating room, conditions for ultra clean surgery (sterile) are met consistently and in every condition tested.
The final conclusion, both in the kitchen and in the surgery ward, is that the microfiber cleaning products and the cleaning routines is of excellent quality and continued reliability. This is comforting for the patients as well as for the staff at the clinic.
** Full test information and study can be viewed at request. All swab test and agar plates were examined independently at labs for aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms with a 99% removal on all smooth surfaces tested. The effectiveness of these cloths was not reduced even after 10 surfaces in succession as demonstrated by the absorption test data.
(For a copy of the full study, please contact me)
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Japan Antibacterial Testing - 2003
Norwex Japan Co. Ltd. Date of Issue: May 16, 2003
Japan Spinners Inspecting Foundation
Kinki Head Office
1-18-15 Ue-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0005, Japan
Tel: 06-6762-5887
Fax: 06-6762-8588
Date of sample receipt: April 30, 2003 Test No. 604738
Article: cloth
Subject: Test for microorganism eradication
Tested Culture: Staphylococcus aureus NBRC 12732
Escherichia coli NBRC 3972
Test Method:
Culture solution regulated at 2.5 to 10 x 10 cells/ml is dropped on a film (6 x 6 cm square) by 0.4ml using 1/500NB. The culture solution on the film is wiped off by the cloth sample. Then detection on the film surface is performed immediately to measure viable cell count by mixed dilution plate medium culture method. Besides, measurement on another film is also conducted after dropping culture solution in order to exemplify viable cell count before wiping off. The rate of eradication is calculated according to the formula below.
Rate of eradcation (%)
| Name of Sample: | Staphylococcus aureus | Escherichia coli |
| Cloth | 99.9% or more | 99.9% or more |
Date of sample receipt: September 3, 2003
Subject: Test for microorganism eradication
Tested Culture: Staphylococcus aureus NBRC 12732
Escherichia coli NBRC 3972
Test Method:
The above test was completed again in the same manner. However this test was conducted after the cloth sample had been washed 300 times based on the washing resistance
Rate of eradication (%)
| Name of Sample: | Staphylococcus aureus | Escherichia coli |
| Cloth | 99.9% or more | 99.9% or more |
This test confirms that the Norwex Microfiber cloth removes 99.9% of bacteria from a surface.
It also confirmed that even after washing the cloth 300 times it was still able to pick up 99.9%
of bacteria from the surface.
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Canadian Nanotech Wound Dressing Saves Lives
News Release
Canadian Nanotech Wound Dressing Saves Lives
Alberta Scientist Wins Top Innovation Award
The nanocrystalline silver coated dressings are used in clinical practice in over 40 countries around the world to prevent life threatening infections and promote wound healing.
Acticoat™ is the world's first commercial therapeutic application of nanotechnology. Since 1997, the nanotech dressings have become the treatment of choice in settings such as burn units, diabetic foot clinics, chronic wound clinics and nursing homes. Dr. Mayer Tenenhaus, who treats about 300 burn patients a year at the University of California at San Diego Medical Center, says that Acticoat™ is "the biggest breakthrough in wound care in the last 40 years."
The sustained release of silver from Acticoat™ dressings mean that they can be left in place for days, thus saving the patient the pain and trauma of frequent dressing changes. The unique coatings also have potent anti-inflammatory activity. The dressings have saved limbs and lives, allowed pediatric burn patients to safely recover at home, and healed decades-old debilitating wounds in weeks.
Burrell is the lead inventor on over 290 patents and patents pending related to Acticoat™ technology. He began developing the innovation in the 1990s in his role as a research director with Westaim Biomedical Corp. A microbiologist by training, he also grew to become a renowned expert in burn and chronic wound healing. Today Burrell is the Canada Research Chair in Nanostructured Biomaterials and a professor with both the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
Acticoat™ dressings and related products are manufactured by NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals Corp. in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta and marketed internationally by UK-based Smith and Nephew Plc. NUCRYST, a spinoff of the Westaim Corp., supports the local economy with over 100 high tech manufacturing jobs.
The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation
This year the Foundation will award $145,000 to leading Canadian innovators plus $20,000 to Young Canadians chosen at the 2009 Canada-Wide Science Fair.
The Foundation was established in 1980 to promote and support Canadian innovators. This is the 6th year that the Principal Award has been sponsored by EnCana Corporation, one of Canada's leading oil and gas companies. Since 1982, the Foundation has presented over $4 million in prize money. The 2009 awards will be presented at an awards gala on Friday, September 18 in Vancouver, BC.
A Media Backgrounder about the innovator and his work is now available on the Foundation's website, with video available after September 18, 2009: www.manningawards.ca
For more information on the Foundation, contact Bruce Fenwick, Executive Director: 403-645-8288 or bruce.fenwick@encana.com
Article Source: www.manningawards.ca
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Is Your House Making You Sick? Indoor Chemicals and the Depression Link
Depression is the most common psychological disorder in the US.
Those who suffer from depression usually have physical and psychological symptoms, like insomnia and fatigue. Scientists agree that depression is linked to heredity, illness, certain medications, and pregnancy.
Most patients experience at least some success with anti-depressant medication. However, more and more health professionals are acknowledging environmental and chemical triggers for depressive illness.
In 1992, the EPA conducted a study in which the urine of 7,000 Americans was tested for toxic chemicals. Chemicals like pentachlorophenol, a wood preservative, were found in 71 percent of individuals tested. According to the EPA, exposure to toluene, the most common indoor chemical, may occur simply from breathing indoor air. Toluene toxicity in both humans and animals has been widely observed, and symptoms include chronic fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, and nausea.
Environmental and household chemicals have been linked to numerous illnesses, including; chronic fatigue, skin reactions, depression, low moods, allergic reactions, chronic infection, sinusitis, headaches, and sleeplessness. Strong chemicals are released from new homes, household paint, household cleaners, mold, new carpeting, termites, perfumes, and a slew of other common household items.
If the underlying cause of the depression is chemical exposure (or allergy-related), prescription medication will only offer temporary relief. The ideal would be to eliminate all environmental and health-related depression triggers, and see if depressive symptoms improve or disappear completely.
Check the following environmental triggers and see if you can eliminate them from your life! Note: if you are currently taking medication for depression, NEVER discontinue medication without consulting your doctor. Quitting medication “cold turkey” is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted unless under direct advice of a physician.
MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) is a controversial diagnosis, and an active debate exists about its classification as an illness.
MCS is described as an adverse reaction to low levels of common chemicals. MCS can also be caused by a major toxic event, such as a chemical spill. Some doctors refuse to accept MCS as a viable diagnosis for various reasons.
However, chemical sensitivities do exist, and many individuals experience serious reactions from using common household cleaners, such as; bleach, ammonia, detergent, and fabric softeners.
According to the Ohio State University Extension, sensitive individuals should try to limit their chemical exposure as much as possible.
If you have recently:
Some common chemicals present in household items are:
A combination of these symptoms is common. If you feel that you might have depressive symptoms related to low-grade chemical exposure, there are many easy steps you can take which may help alleviate your symptoms.
Here are 10 easy steps to help reduce chemicals in your home.
Try eliminating as many of these chemicals as you can, and see if you feel a reduction of symptoms. If you would like to help detoxify your body, you can try; mild exercise (walking outside), mild steam room and sauna use, an allergy diet (simple all-natural foods, check with your doctor). You may feel better within just a few weeks.
Sources: National Institutes of Health, US Department of Labor, Ohio State University Extension, Chemical Hazards Handbook, Environmental Protection
Christine P Silva, BA, CRTP, lives in California with her husband, two children, and three spoiled cats. She earned her undergraduate degree from San Jose State University, and her advanced accounting certificate and California tax registration from Cosumnes River College. She is the founder of the Sacramento Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinic, a free service offering tax assistance to low income and Spanish-speaking taxpayers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Silva
Christine Silva
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Those who suffer from depression usually have physical and psychological symptoms, like insomnia and fatigue. Scientists agree that depression is linked to heredity, illness, certain medications, and pregnancy.
Most patients experience at least some success with anti-depressant medication. However, more and more health professionals are acknowledging environmental and chemical triggers for depressive illness.
In 1992, the EPA conducted a study in which the urine of 7,000 Americans was tested for toxic chemicals. Chemicals like pentachlorophenol, a wood preservative, were found in 71 percent of individuals tested. According to the EPA, exposure to toluene, the most common indoor chemical, may occur simply from breathing indoor air. Toluene toxicity in both humans and animals has been widely observed, and symptoms include chronic fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, and nausea.
Environmental and household chemicals have been linked to numerous illnesses, including; chronic fatigue, skin reactions, depression, low moods, allergic reactions, chronic infection, sinusitis, headaches, and sleeplessness. Strong chemicals are released from new homes, household paint, household cleaners, mold, new carpeting, termites, perfumes, and a slew of other common household items.
If the underlying cause of the depression is chemical exposure (or allergy-related), prescription medication will only offer temporary relief. The ideal would be to eliminate all environmental and health-related depression triggers, and see if depressive symptoms improve or disappear completely.
Check the following environmental triggers and see if you can eliminate them from your life! Note: if you are currently taking medication for depression, NEVER discontinue medication without consulting your doctor. Quitting medication “cold turkey” is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted unless under direct advice of a physician.
MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) is a controversial diagnosis, and an active debate exists about its classification as an illness.
MCS is described as an adverse reaction to low levels of common chemicals. MCS can also be caused by a major toxic event, such as a chemical spill. Some doctors refuse to accept MCS as a viable diagnosis for various reasons.
However, chemical sensitivities do exist, and many individuals experience serious reactions from using common household cleaners, such as; bleach, ammonia, detergent, and fabric softeners.
According to the Ohio State University Extension, sensitive individuals should try to limit their chemical exposure as much as possible.
If you have recently:
- Moved to a new home
- Discovered mold in your home
- Started a new job (especially one with chemical exposure, such as a factory worker or painter)
- Installed new carpeting
- Sprayed for termites
- Sprayed your lawn for bugs or weeds
Some common chemicals present in household items are:
- Formaldehyde (carpet, particle board, insulation, adhesives)
- Pesticides (bug sprays, lawn chemicals, and many household cleaners)
- Solvents (household cleansers, paint, acetone)
- Latex (paints, gloves, caulking) Aerosols and chemical scents (air fresheners, perfumes, fabric softeners, detergents)
A combination of these symptoms is common. If you feel that you might have depressive symptoms related to low-grade chemical exposure, there are many easy steps you can take which may help alleviate your symptoms.
Here are 10 easy steps to help reduce chemicals in your home.
- Stop using all air fresheners, perfumes, and scented detergents and fabric softeners
- Switch to natural unscented soaps, unscented detergent and unscented (or “allergy”) fabric softeners
- Purchase a good room air filter, and filter-free vacuum
- Open all windows daily, and let air circulate inside your home—and try to go outside and enjoy some fresh air!
- If you have central heating/air, use the best filters you can afford—many of the better filters trap mold and dust mites, a leading cause of allergies
- Use all-natural cleaners, cosmetics, and creams
- Switch to natural fabrics, (cotton, wool, linen, silk, ramie and hemp) and discontinue all dry cleaning
- Always wash new clothing before wearing, especially dyed clothing. In the case of blue dyes, wash twice (blue dyes are more toxic for some individuals)
- If possible, remove carpeting and replace with wood or laminate flooring. If you need to paint, wear a mask, and open all windows. After painting, try to leave the house for at least a day
- Discontinue use of all petroleum based products, especially in cosmetics, creams, or other topical treatments
Try eliminating as many of these chemicals as you can, and see if you feel a reduction of symptoms. If you would like to help detoxify your body, you can try; mild exercise (walking outside), mild steam room and sauna use, an allergy diet (simple all-natural foods, check with your doctor). You may feel better within just a few weeks.
Sources: National Institutes of Health, US Department of Labor, Ohio State University Extension, Chemical Hazards Handbook, Environmental Protection
Christine P Silva, BA, CRTP, lives in California with her husband, two children, and three spoiled cats. She earned her undergraduate degree from San Jose State University, and her advanced accounting certificate and California tax registration from Cosumnes River College. She is the founder of the Sacramento Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinic, a free service offering tax assistance to low income and Spanish-speaking taxpayers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Silva
Christine Silva
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Top 10 Hazardous Household Cleaners
AIR FRESHENERS:
Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats,convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma and even death.
AMMONIA:
It is a very volatile chemical, it is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
BLEACH:
It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested.
WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY.
CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO:
Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS:
Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated.# 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.
DRAIN CLEANER:
Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.
FURNITURE POLISH:
Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.
MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS:
Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
OVEN CLEANER:
Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS:
may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS:
Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS:
Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
Warning terms used are significant:
DANGER - Harmful or fatal if swallowed A taste to a teaspoonful taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
WARNING - Harmful if swallowed A teaspoonful to an ounce taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
CAUTION - Harmful if swallowed An ounce to over a pint taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
http://consumerlawpage.com/article/household-chemicals.shtml
Richard Alexander
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats,convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma and even death.
AMMONIA:
It is a very volatile chemical, it is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
BLEACH:
It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested.
WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY.
CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO:
Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS:
Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated.# 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.
DRAIN CLEANER:
Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.
FURNITURE POLISH:
Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.
MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS:
Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
OVEN CLEANER:
Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS:
may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS:
Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS:
Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
Warning terms used are significant:
DANGER - Harmful or fatal if swallowed A taste to a teaspoonful taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
WARNING - Harmful if swallowed A teaspoonful to an ounce taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
CAUTION - Harmful if swallowed An ounce to over a pint taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
http://consumerlawpage.com/article/household-chemicals.shtml
Richard Alexander
Modern Green Clean - Your source for Norwex online! http://www.ModernGreenClean.com
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