An Introduction to Healthy Home Environments

for the Environmentally Sensitive

When yesterday’s “Triumph of Modern Chemistry” turns out instead to be

today’s threat to the global environment,

It’s legitimate to ask what else we don’t know!

Denis Hayes

We live in a toxic soup!

• 88,000 chemicals in common use• 2,000 new produced each year- average 4-6 week

testing prior to going into the marketplace.• Typical carpet sample contains 120 chemicals, many

known neurotoxins• 53 listed by EPA as PBT’s- persistent, bioaccumulative

and toxic• 257 listed in 2007 as hazardous materials• Blood samples done on umbilical cords averaged 287

chemicals found. Passed on from the Mother. Mother’s breast milk passes on xenobiotics to nursing child- exp. mercury, dioxin, formaldehyde

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MSC) or the twenty first century illness

– A condition in which various symptoms reportedly appears after a person has been exposed to any of a wide range of chemicals. The exposure may occur as a major event, such as a chemical spill, or from a long term contact with low level of chemicals. As a result of exposure, these individuals develop a sensitivity and have reactions to chemicals even at levels most people can tolerate

– WebMD.com

– 10-20% of population in World is environmentally sensitive

Total Body Burden or Total Load

• Along with chemical sensitivity, often individuals demonstrate food sensitivities, electromagnetic frequencies (EMF), mold, pollen, and animal allergies/ sensitivity. The body is filling up with exposures and stressors so that one’s daily ability to tolerate exposures may fluctuate depending on how many exposures already have been endured on that day.

• The degree of ill effects depends on dose, duration, manner of exposure, biochemical individuality, genetic predisposition, diet, and stress levels.

MCS symptoms• Can affects any bodily system, including respiratory,

digestive, neurological, musculoskeletal, endocrinological, immunological and others

• Most common symptoms are- tiredness/lethargy, difficulty concentrating, muscles aches, memory problems, long term fatigue, change in heart rhythm, rapid mood change, headache, itchy, sneezes, difficulty breathing and sore throat- With Children, consider learning disabilities, lethargy, mood swings or ADHD like symptoms.

• Common triggers are pesticides, formaldehyde, fresh paint, new carpets, diesel exhaust, perfumes, cooking gas, wood composites, glues, cleaning supplies and air fresheners.

Some physiologically based theories

• Systemic breakdown from long term- multi-generation exposure.

• Limbic kindling- Olfactory- limbic i.e. nose to emotion• Xenobiotic (foreign to body) detoxification pathways

damaged or depleted • Immunological damage- Helper cells fight pathogens or

turn on immune response. To many helper cells cause autoimmune like condition

• Neurogenic inflammation• Long term exposure to solvents/ brain change i.e. Mad

Hatter• Candidiasis/ often seen with mercury poisoning• Trauma precursor- physical or mental

Toxic Metals

Mercury, Nickel, Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Aluminum,Barium, Colbalt, Gold, Silver, Copper, Chromium, Iron, Manganese, Tin, Thallium, Titanium, Platinum, Palladium

• Amalgam filling• Vaccinations/ thimerisol,

flu shots• Pesticides, herbicides,

fungicides• Contaminated water, air

borne- factory, incinerators, car exhaust

• Contact lens solution, nasal sprays- read your labels

• Replaces minerals in body necessary for enzymatic process or structure.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)- Follow your nose!

• An abbreviated list- • Acetone, Benzene,

Ethylene glycol, Formaldehyde, Methylene Chloride, Perchloroethylene, Toluene, Xylene, 1,3 Butadiene, Dioxin (75 chlorinated chemicals)

• Building material-carpets, glues, paints composite woods, solvents, vinyl floors, upholstery, caulks, finishes etc.

• Personal care products

• Cooking, dry cleaning, hobbies, newspapers, nonelectric space heaters, photocopiers, smoking, stored chemicals, propane, natural gas, markers, Teflon, fire retardants

Formaldehyde• A immune system sensitizer which means that chronic

exposure can lead to multiple allergies and sensitivities to substances that are unrelated to Formaldehyde (spreading phenomenon)

• Symptoms onset often flu like illness diagnosed as viral infection which leaves one with general malaise, fatigue and depression, brain fog, loss of memory, respiratory problems, neuropathy, sore throats, mood changes, etc

• Widely found in as wood preservative/ particle board, carpets, sprayed on clothes, new car smell, urea formaldehyde foam, flame retardants sprayed on upholstery, auto exhaust, disinfectants, cosmetics, fumigants, adhesives.

• Used also as an intermediate in synthesis of other chemicals.

Other possible exposures

• Mold, dust mites, ambient air pollution, soil contamination, water contamination, animal dander, decomposition of building materials, pollens, second hand smoke, PCB’s ( banned in 1976- found globally) pesticides/herbicides, EMF( Electro Magnetic Frequency)

• Found in Shopping malls, Schools, Homes, Highways, Factories, Airplanes, Trains, Cars, Grocery stores, Restaurants i.e. Urban and Agrarian ecologies

Children have increased susceptibility• More vulnerable as they are growing and developing,

higher rate of cell production, less developed metabolisms, higher rate of exposure/ body mass.

• Due to chemical load at birth many children have compromised digestive and immune systems

• Delayed onset or early onset puberty from Plastics/endocrine disrupters.17% of kids in U.S. developmental disabilities

• One of factors in ADHD, Autism, behavior disorders, low birth rate, cancer increase 1-2% yearly, asthma, heart problems

• Cell phone radiation 2” into brain• Autism is now consider epidemic> outside influences • Immunization- Thimerosol/merthiolate/ mercury-

preservative for injectable vaccines • Toxic schools, toxic homes, increased risk in congested

areas

Over Whelmed

Here comes the real workBREATHE

Become a detective into your own life!

For example- Is this You?

• Do you become ill from odors in malls, restaurants, churches, schools, hospitals etc.

• Do you become ill after putting gas in your car or heavy traffic, or driving on new asphalt.

• Do you can’t read certain book with shiny smell paper or fresh ink.

• Do you crave certain odors or aromas or detest certain odors.

• At first, is there is a marked increased sense of smell, which later on can result in a loss of smell.

• Do you become mentally foggy, nose stuffy or itchy in a new or remodeled building especially with new carpet and particle board cabinetry.

How do you feel before and after exposure?

10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours

• Note how you feel, behave and think• Appearance, how do you look• Check writing or drawing changes• Check breathe rate- faster or slower• Check pulse rate

• Use this check list to begin to pinpoint specific causes of a reaction- Backtrack if necessary

Time to Clean up the Home

How to Start? The process of elimination- or Onion analogy

• What are you bringing into your home?• Cleaning Supplies• Detergents• New clothes• Children’s toys• Electronic gear ( lubricants, EMF’s)• Pesticides• Kitchenware• Cosmetics• Fragrances

Healthier choices READ THE LABEL

If you can’t pronounce the chemical, it’s not good for you• Look for the label - No fragrance/ hyper allergenic for cleaning

solutions, and body products.• Debra Lyons Dadd’s- white vinegar, salt, borax, liquid castile soap.• Wash clothes immediately after purchasing- use natural fabrics.• No aluminum cookware, no heat in plastics, no heat in stainless steel

bottles. Don’t leave water bottles out in heat. If it smells like plastic, you can absorb it.

• Beware of mold and use bleach (face mask and gloves) to get rid of. If large patch will require more extensive mitigation.

• Be aware of new upholstery and flame retardants. Ask what alternatives are available.

• *******Begin to read label on all purchases*******• Wash any new appliance or electronics to remove residual oils left

from manufacturing.• Use natural cosmetics see list on www.safecosmetics.org• Do your homework- Beware of green washing.• Check out one of the natural food stores, and experiment with

products.

Our Daily bread• Eliminate added chemicals from your diet- food

dyes, preservatives, synthetic foods, trans-fatty acids.

• Shop the outside wall of the grocery store• GMO’S- Be wary of genetically modified foods• Food Sensitivities- Elimination diet to pinpoint• Use Organic Foods when possible• Fresh foods, CSA’s (Community Supported

Agriculture), Farmer’s market, Home gardens• Vitamin C and Omega 3,6,9- vital 2• www.foodnews.org

A Deeper Level- Harder to fix• Carpets-Average 120 chemicals in carpet plus adhesives. Carpet

squares/Recycled Plastic? Best to use non synthetic throw rugs.• Composite Woods- Adhesives and finishes are toxic. Use hardwood

from responsibly harvested forests, recycled furniture, some new composites are non toxic. Research!

• Insulation- Foam- Adhesives- Solvents- Decking- What is it made of? Use non toxic alternatives.

• Paints- Use non Voc or low VOC. More intense the color higher VOC’s• Poly-vinyl- Siding, molding, doors, flooring, windows- replace when you

can• All of these products take on average 5+ years to off gas

• MSDS- Material Safety Data Sheet- Provides info. on chemical substances in a product, handling precautions, known health effects

Black mold mycelium/ spores in wood- consider mitigation

Water FiltersWHY NOT TAP?

• Get a sample of your water checked • Chlorine / Fluoride- water treatment plants• Hormone, antibiotic and pesticide- lack of

filtration• Bottled- plastic vs. glass• Reverse osmosis• Ultraviolet• Distilled Water- lack of trace minerals

Air purifiers

• Good for ambient air pollution, not long term solution for off gasing.

• Def. Off Gasing- How long it takes a product to release VOC. Heat increases.

• Can a building be toooo tight?• HEPA filters• Charcoal Filters• Ozone Generators• ECOquest- air filter/ ozone generator

EMFwww.electromagnetichealth.org

EMF sensitivityCell phones- Increase in brain tumors2” penetration into brain. Those handy but damaging

PDA’s. Use ear plug speakers. NO Bluetooth! Cell phone towers are multiplying rapidly- long term effects unknown

DSL, CPU’s keep at distance from body 5’Wireless electronics - long term use? Keep away from

areas of rapid cell growth in body. No electronics in bedroom-Use a battery operated clockNo electric blankets- bed warmers

The really deep workLiving and Loving, Day by Day

• Detoxify- under medical supervision• Develop a Safe Room where you can rejuvenate• Meditation/ Breath work• Stress reduction techniques• Yoga• Get outside daily- bike, hike, walk, play• Find a Creative outlet/ Passion/ Enjoy life• Build a support network, within and expanded out from the

family.• Nutrition counseling• Environmental health consultant • Family counseling to assist with daily challenges• Explain yourself to others in your life. Teachers, work

associates, and partners, let them know the reasons why you are demanding a healthier ecology. Be contagious!

Remodel or Build from ground up

“Green Building”Can be Costly… Prioritize!!!

www.buildingbiology.net Bau- Biologiewww.usgbc.org US Green Building www.ibe.colostate.edu Institute for the Built

Environmentwww.rmi.org Rocky Mountain Institutewww.bgbg.org Boulder Green Guildwww.greenheartinstitute.org Green Heart Institutewww.redirectguide.com Redirect Guide

Favorite Books

Prescriptions for a Health House by Baker-Laporte, Elliott, Banta

Home, Safe, Home by Debra Lynn Dadd

Allergy Relief and Prevention by Taylor, Krohn MD, Larson

Is this your Child’s World by Doris Rapp MD

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity by Pamela Gibson PHD

Green from the Ground Up by Johnson and Gibson

Radical Medicine by Dr. Louisa L. Williams

Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey M. Smith

Artists Beware by Michael McCann PHD

Detoxify or Die by Sherry A. Rogers MD

Toxic Exposures/ Contested Illnesses by Phil Brown

The Secret History of the War on Cancer by Devra Davis

Web Sites• www.Householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov• www.Safecosmetics.org• www.cosmeticdatabase.com• www.Healthytoys.org• www.Debraslist.com Debra Lynn Dadd• www.aaemonline.org- American Academy of Environmental

Medicine• www.Radicalmedicine.com Dr Louisa L. Williams• www.drrapp.com Dr. Doris Rapp• www.neuraltherapy.com Dr. Dietrich Klinghart• www.ewg.org Environmental working group• www.Epa.gov Environmental Protection Agency• www.Environmentalhealthnews.org • www.chej.org Center for Health, Environment and Justice• www.iceh.org Center for Children’ Environmental Health• www.foodnews.org

For more Information

• www.healthyecologies.com- Karen’s Blog

• www.arcadiadesignstudio.com- . Creatively Hand crafted, Custom Furniture

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