Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

10 Dangerous Household Products You Should Never Use Again

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Editorials & Other Articles Donate to DU
 
marmar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 07:21 AM
Original message
10 Dangerous Household Products You Should Never Use Again
via AlterNet:



10 Dangerous Household Products You Should Never Use Again

By Staff , Sustain Lane. Posted July 9, 2009.

Air fresheners, disinfectants, and cleaners found under your sink are more dangerous than you think.




You would never cross the street without looking both ways, walk alone down a dark alley alone at three a.m., or tell your child to accept rides from strangers. So why let hazardous, toxic, and even carcinogenic chemicals into your home everyday?

The message driven home for millions of Americans each day via TV and internet commercials is this: No need to scrub or scour. With just one squeeze of the spray bottle, you can wipe away dirt, grime, and bacteria.

Alas, there’s that dark alley again. Air fresheners, disinfectants, and cleaners found under your sink are more dangerous than you think. Mix bleach with ammonia, for example, and you’ve got a toxic fume cloud used by the military in WWI. And they weren’t cleaning kitchens.

Here is a list of the ten products you should ban from your home -- forever -- along with suggested alternatives.


1. Non-Stick Cookware

When non-stick pans were first introduced into American households in the 1960s, they were thought to be a godsend. Gone were the days of soaking pans for hours and scouring pots with steel wool. In the forty years since then, however, we’ve learned that the ease of cleaning comes at a steep price: the coating that makes Teflon pans non-stick is polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE for short. When PTFE heats up, it releases toxic gasses that have been linked to cancer, organ failure, reproductive damage, and other harmful health effects.

The problems with PTFE-coated pans seem to occur at high temperatures, so if you must use Teflon, cook foods on medium heat or less. Avoiding non-stick pans altogether is the safest option. If you’re able to do so, try anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or cast iron pans with a little cooking oil. SustainLane reviewers like LeCreuset cast iron pans and more cost-effective ones like Lodge Logic. Using a lower setting on the stove will reduce the chances that your food will burn, which is how it usually gets stuck to pans the first place. If you’re worried about the extra calories cooking oil adds, try baking or steaming your food.

2. Plastic Bottles

By now you’ve heard of dangers of BPA in those ubiquitous neon water bottles. BPA mimics the effects of hormones that harm your endocrine system. While the company at the heart of the controversy has switched to BPA-free plastic, those aren’t the only toxic bottles. Single-use plastic bottles are even worse for leaching chemicals, especially when you add the heat of the sun (think about bottles left in your trunk) or the microwave. Aside from the fact that bottled water sold across state lines is not as regulated as tap water, the bottles themselves are spawning grounds for bacteria and are a source of needless waste. Each year, more than one million barrels of oil are used to manufacture the more than 25 billion single-use plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. Choose a reusable, stainless steel or glass bottle instead. SustainLane users have reviewed several water bottle alternatives. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/141196/10_dangerous_household_products_you_should_never_use_again/




Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
La Lioness Priyanka Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 09:43 AM
Response to Original message
1. aside from the nonstick cookware & raid, i abide by the list
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
glitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:10 PM
Response to Reply #1
13. You may find this interesting:
I had a horrible ant problem when I moved into my new home. Amazing, scary swarms of ants coming out of the wall, not kidding. I freaked, got some poison. No noticeable deterence. Then I was cleaning with Goo-gone orange cleaner where the ants were coming in (through an electrical outlet, can you believe it?) and guess what. They went away and stayed away. Apparently they hate this cleaner. I don't know if other orange cleaners would do the same, but this one was like a miracle product to me. Plus it smells nicer than the poison, and I don't have to worry about my pets.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
La Lioness Priyanka Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:21 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. actually very rarely use the poison. only on roaches (nyc apt)
mostly use boric acid
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
notadmblnd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:30 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. boric acid will also kill mold roots
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
glitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 04:03 PM
Response to Reply #17
21. It would be interesting to see if the orange cleaner detered roaches too. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Johnny Noshoes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 04:56 AM
Response to Reply #21
58. Check this out...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
kimmylavin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 12:32 PM
Response to Reply #13
47. We've got one here, too.
Tons of tiny little ants.

We had some trouble a few years ago with them getting into the pet food.
Someone suggested we sprinkle some cinnamon around the outside of the food containers.
Guess what? No ants!

(Doesn't LOOK spectacular, but the food is kept in a closet, so we can just shut the door.) :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
glitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 01:01 PM
Response to Reply #47
49. I did try cinnamon, and it worked for awhile. Also cloves and nutmeg.
Clove powder works the best of the spices. But I got tired of cleaning it. Finally I put the cat bowl in a pie tin with water around it, like a moat. These ants don't swim, thankfully. So they stopped with the pet food. I didn't want to put orange spray around their food, even if it is supposedly safe. They don't seem to be attracted to the dog food, which is odd.

Did you read about how there is this giant ant colony that has communities in every part of the world now? :scared:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-11-09 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #13
56. The name is "Goo-gone" . . . ????? Really?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pipi_k Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 10:01 AM
Response to Original message
2. Going back to the basics is often cheaper
For instance, non stick pans that don't last forever. And after a few years they aren't so non-stick anymore. I got myself a few cast iron pans and wondered why I bothered with "non-stick" pans all these years.

They're minimal care. Properly seasoned, they are as non-stick as Teflon is, and I can use metal utensils and not worry about scratching or otherwise damaging them, and food looks and tastes better cooked in them. Cleanup is a breeze... while I'm washing the dishes, I put water in the pan and bring to a boil on the stove....using just a pan cleaning brush and no soap, it all washes clean. I dry and rub it with vegetable oil and it's ready for next time. No rubbing and scrubbing at all. And they'll last for years, if not a couple of generations....

Vinegar and water with a bit of dish soap added...used for all types of things.

I've even used shampoo/liquid soap I didn't particularly care for to clean the toilets or hand washables.

I don't like chemicals.


Mr Pip, OTOH, is a chemical fiend. Is this a "man thing"??? In his mind, there's a chemical for everything, and he has no problem with using them liberally. It makes me crazy....

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DKRC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 08:44 PM
Response to Reply #2
31. Absolutely love my cast iron
I have one stainless steel pot for boiling eggs, etc. but cast iron for everything else. Wash, dry, & oil it ~ easy. When the power goes out we bring it out of the kitchen & cook in the fireplace.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lindisfarne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 12:04 PM
Response to Original message
3. Cast iron, when properly cured & cared for, is a very good nonstick option. "If you have the time &
Edited on Thu Jul-09-09 12:11 PM by lindisfarne
want to go the extra mile, you can even mix your own using common household items like vinegar and baking soda."

Honestly, it take no extra time to use vinegar & baking soda. They do 90% of my cleaning that doesn't involve washing dishes.

For ants - put some dish soap on a sponge & wipe them up - the dish soap stops them from breathing. Obviously, you have to remove anything that attracts the ants, too (& they're a bigger challenge in some areas than others).

CFL bulbs: make sure they meet the NEW energy star requirements. These changed about a year ago & there may still be some on the market that don't.

Air fresheners: can also create ozone. Where used, indoor air quality can be as bad as it is in more polluted areas of cities.

Plastic bags: carry 1-2 if you shop on the spur of the moment & don't want the bulk a cloth bag creates. Also, if you don't have one, see if the store has a bag recycling bin (usually near entrance) and take a bag or 2 from there.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pipi_k Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Those pesky plastic shopping bags...
I had a couple hundred of them at one time.

I cut them up into strips and linked them all together and used my crochet hook to make a nifty reusable (and MUCH stronger) plastic shopping bag that's gotten a few compliments.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
proud patriot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 01:52 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. that's a wonderful idea
:think: I love it
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lindisfarne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 02:19 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. I don't think it's a bad idea, but it takes up a lot more room than a single bag. I have plasticbags
Edited on Thu Jul-09-09 02:28 PM by lindisfarne
I've used 20-50 times - and I always have them with me because they take up so little room in my purse. I'm rarely caught without a bag to carry things in - even when I make an unplanned shopping trip.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pipi_k Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 06:07 PM
Response to Reply #9
24. Well it doesn't have to be a shopping bag...
It could also be an overnight bag for a kid...or a knitting/crochet bag...


You must be reusing the more sturdy bags. Some of the stores do bag up their stuff in those, and we do have some in the car to reuse at the store...but for crocheting, I use the real thin ones that people often can't even get one whole use from (because the seams rip or a box has ripped a hole in one of them).
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lindisfarne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 07:32 PM
Response to Reply #24
28. No, I use the thin white ones most stores give out - how you pack them is key - no cardboard boxes
with corners poking at the bag. When I need a new one, I usually take one from a friend/relative who's not as conscientious.

I have a couple of heavier (still plastic - about as heavy as a heavy black garbage bag) ones I have probably reused 200 times - these were made of recycled plastic to begin with.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jwirr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 08:24 AM
Response to Reply #5
39. All paper or plastic bags are reused in our home. Bathroom wastebaskets
are lined with them instead of buying special ones, women in household use them to dispose of pads (and when you are elderly that can be daily), and my mother had a crocheted washable plastic bag rug which was our door mat for years. Cast iron is just now coming back with the younger members of the family and they love it.

Years ago when we all said we were going back to the earth (and when we should have) there were several books with recipes for all kinds of items we use in the home. Wish I knew how to find them back now. I used to have them but like all too many of us I gave up on back to the earth because I could not do it all. Now I have learned that little things like substitutes for chemicals and a garden in the back yard can be as much use as dropping out totally.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
kestrel91316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #5
53. 30 years ago my grandmother was crocheting with plastic, but about the
only common plastic bags were bread bags. They are MUCH sturdier than the grocery bags. Her crocheted toilet paper roll covers were a hoot.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Shallah Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 04:37 PM
Response to Reply #3
22. ants
every spring ants begin to invade my home no matter how carefully I clean. Thankfully I read of something much less toxic than sprays. 1/4 powdered sugar mixed with 1 tbsp of borax put in old butter dishes or other container with holes poked into the lid, then placed in the areas they tend to come in.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
beac Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 08:47 PM
Response to Reply #22
32. Thanks for this tip!
I'd heard about borax, but the tips I'd read said to just pour it around the baseboards and I was concerned about the mess and my pets. Your way sounds much easier and neater. :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dmr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 09:15 PM
Response to Reply #32
33. Borax works perfect against fleas, too. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Shallah Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 10:59 PM
Response to Reply #32
36. yw :) Borax is toxic so this is much safer and neater
Just put out of reach of curious pets and little hands. It takes around a week for the ants to die off. According to the article I got the recipe from the idea is to give them enough borax to not kill the worker ant but let it take it back to the queen. If you find dead ants you have too much borax. When the queen dies the nest dies and no more ants until months later and a new group moves in, finds the bait and does themselves in.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
beac Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 09:57 AM
Response to Reply #36
42. I can't tell you how excited I am to know about this method.
I've been sorely tempted to go buy those scary Terro goo traps. Thanks to you, I can kill off the ants and still live by my principles. :bounce:

(This is one of the reasons I love this place. In addition to feeding my political-junkie habit, DU has been the source of so much useful day-to-day-living info.) :fistbump:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MzNov Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-13-09 01:09 AM
Response to Reply #22
65. Another ant deterrent: cinnamon

cinnamon sprinkled around the outside of your house in unobvious spots (since it's so easy to see) repels them. I also use inside the house in some baseboard openings. It doesn't kill them but it works!

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bertman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
4. Another excellent post, marmar. You're on a roll these days.
Recommend.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yellowcanine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 01:23 PM
Response to Original message
6. Title is extremely misleading. No way flourescent bulbs are "safer" than incandescents.
They may be more energy efficient but they are not safer. They contain mercury which can be a problem if broken. I also would not be as high on botanical pesticides as the author. Some are extremely toxic to humans.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lindisfarne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 02:30 PM
Response to Reply #6
10. Yours is an oft-repeated myth. Many sources (easily found on google) show it is false.
For example:
These toxic effects are why any mercury spill should be handled carefully, including one that results from a CFL breaking. Having said this, careful handling does not mean that expensive or complicated clean-up of the spill is needed or that you should be worried about you or your family's health, if a CFL were to break in your home.

This is because CFLs contain relatively small amounts of mercury -- EPA estimates this amount to be 4-5 milligrams (mg) in a typical CFL. A spill of this amount of mercury is not likely to present any excess risk to you or your family.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/ask_treehugger_14.php
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yellowcanine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 09:23 PM
Response to Reply #10
34. My point was CFLs are not safer - hence the title of the piece is misleading.
The title of the piece had to do with hazards in the home but several of their examples had to do with efficiency or environmental degradation rather than actual danger implied by the title. Had they said "Non-green products to avoid" or something to that effect I would have had less quarrel with the article.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
wolfgangmo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #6
16. They also emit a heavy load of EMF's that are harmful to human tissue.
And have been linked as a contributing cause in some neurological problems.

Here's a link if you want to know more. www.stetzerelectric.com - check out the research page.

LED is the way to go. Clean light, almost no EMF's and WAY more efficient than CFB's We use incandescents as a bridge measure while we buy LED's 1 at a time.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #16
48. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Mopar151 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 01:41 PM
Response to Original message
7. Dangerously simplistic
Driven largely by paranoia, rather than science.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
noiretextatique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 02:44 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. what's "dangerous" about the article?
:eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
wolfgangmo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #11
18. Define Dangerous
Edited on Thu Jul-09-09 03:24 PM by wolfgangmo
Dangerous. A few examples. Snake handling. Riding in a car while Ray Charles drives. Yelling "Bush was the anti-Christ" at at tea-bagging party. Showering in a prison.

Not dangerous. Deciding not to use certain household goods or products in order to maximize your personal well being or feeling of safety.

Where do you see this article on this scale?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
noiretextatique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 01:06 PM
Response to Reply #18
50. not dangerous
at all :hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Psephos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-13-09 10:02 PM
Response to Reply #11
68. Example: use of cast iron cookware can contribute to chronic iron poisoning
That's because the natural acids in foods leach elemental iron from the cooking surface, and you ingest that iron when you eat.

Many people without iron anemia take iron supplements in the old-fashioned belief that it's somehow good for you. It's not. The body has no good way to rid itself of excess iron, and must instead store it. This storage capacity is not large, and when exceeded, slowly leads to hemochromatosis (iron poisoning). Brain damage, liver damage, and other deadly conditions can result.

Those who already have iron intake above their physiological need can exacerbate the problem by using iron cookware.

I don't know this site well, but it provides some decent info:

http://www.ironoverload.org/


Now, having said all that, my point was not to scare people about iron cookware - I use it myself. Instead, my point was to show how the OP article was manipulative, selective, and not scientifically respectable because of its reliance on emotional triggers rather than disinterested data. It's agenda journalism, designed to prey on people's fears exactly the way corporations prey on our fears about bad breath, sweaty armpits, gray hair, or whatever else, in order to sell mouthwash, deodorant, hair dye, etc.

It doesn't matter who's doing the manipulating; it's wrong. Unless regular folk develop critical skills necessary to be able to evaluate claims, apply a sense of scale and proportion, and trust their own two eyeballs more than an article with an agenda, manipulation will continue wholesale. Outsourcing one's thinking is Russian Roulette.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
girl gone mad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:26 PM
Response to Reply #7
19. And yet, you fail to present even one counterargument..
to support your claim.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
chimpyisstillsatan Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 08:56 PM
Response to Reply #19
62. Some arguments are so ridiculous they don't deserve a counterargument.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
handmade34 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 06:40 PM
Response to Reply #7
26. ...don't understand ?
"paranoia, rather than science"

I think science has spoken very loudly in recent years as to the dangers of our input and impact on the environment
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mopar151 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 08:33 AM
Response to Reply #26
40. I understand OK
Which is why anecdotal evidence and alarmisim bother me. I would advise anyone with a concern to actually read MSDS sheets on the chemicals they use. Learn what the HIMS codes are (very simple). NEVER permit an unlabeled/mislabeled container in your home or workplace.
Just because something is "natural" does'nt make it any less dangerous - lye is a natural cleaner, and it'll eat rust off cast iron if it is mixed strongly enough!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
snappyturtle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 11:43 AM
Response to Reply #26
46. Here's a website that explains the array of plastics and which
Edited on Fri Jul-10-09 11:44 AM by snappyturtle
are safer to use and those that should be avoided. My ex sold Monsanto plasticizers in the 70's....I really think we need to re-think how we use plastic products.

Been saving glass jars and using them for left overs. They work great, are re-useable and clean (sanitize) in the dishwasher. This has really helped me cut use of plastic food containers.

edit: opps! forgot link: http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/plastic-containers
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
chimpyisstillsatan Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 08:56 PM
Response to Reply #26
63. and yet you retreat to pseudoscience? nt
Edited on Sun Jul-12-09 08:57 PM by chimpyisstillsatan
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Qutzupalotl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:02 PM
Response to Original message
12. This was on the greatest page a moment ago.
With 5 recs. I click on it, and it's down to three.

I guess we'll have to make a concerted effort now to recommend threads that criticize corporate interests, because they're here trying to vote them down.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
glitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:12 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. You got that right. Interesting isn't it? nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
emilyg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 03:12 PM
Response to Original message
15. Thank you. Kick
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
paulsby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 05:44 PM
Response to Original message
23. they left out dihydrogen monoxide!
it's far MORE dangerous, and a very common household product. nearly every household has some dihydrogen monoxide in it. in fact, the vast majority have instant access to very large quantities of it, often via public distribution systems.

dihydrogen monoxide kills more kids than firearms. by a very wide margin. it is in the top 3 causes of death.

too much of it can cause a fatal electrolyte imbalance and death, also.

it's also present in nearly all food sources, but most dihydrogen monoxide deaths result from "pure" dihydrogen monoxide.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
progressoid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 06:17 PM
Response to Reply #23
25. Holy crap,
I think I had some of that in my iced tea today! :scared:

What will I do? Maybe a colon cleanse will help. :shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
azul Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 08:27 PM
Response to Reply #23
29. You may mean carbon monoxide stupefaction from burning
down the house?



"dihydrogen monoxide hoax involves listing negative effects of water under an unfamiliar name"
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
paulsby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #29
30. no, i mean dihydrogen monoxide
as in WATER. far more kids die from dihydrogen monoxide, than from guns, etc. it's among the top 3 causes of death. it's a household chemical.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
chimpyisstillsatan Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 09:00 PM
Response to Reply #23
64. don't forget the palmitic acids. Your fridge my be FULL of them. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
handmade34 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 06:42 PM
Response to Original message
27. thank you for the post and rec
I distribute cloth shopping bags and encourage consistant use of them
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
troubledamerican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 10:21 PM
Response to Original message
35. Add common (paraffin) candles
Horrible for the environment, horrible for human health

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraffin
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
patriotvoice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-13-09 07:39 AM
Response to Reply #35
67. Why? Because paraffin is comedogenic?
Otherwise, paraffin (and its many alkane cousins), is an exceedingly useful compound. I just can't reckon your argument against paraffin.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Irishonly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-09-09 11:51 PM
Response to Original message
37. A few years ago I went back to basics
My husband was unemployed and I was fighting with social security. We went back to basics and never went back. Besides health issues, IMHO my house is cleaner and fresher. My cast iron skillets belonged to my grandmother and work better than any nonstick pan. We use a filter on our water and haven't bought plastic water bottles for a long time. We are both disabled now and still are pinching pennies
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jeff47 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 07:46 AM
Response to Original message
38. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
As in only having a little knowledge.

1. polytetrafluoroethylene is the chemical name for Teflon. But it sounds much more sinister, so they're sure to use it. Teflon does indeed break down at high temperatures. So make sure you don't turn your stovetop up to about 2000 degrees. You'll know you're in trouble when the pan turns red-hot.

2. BPA: actually, nobody's quite figured out what effects this has on people. Some folks are making claims, but they seem to ignore the "correlation is not causation" problem. Ex: One of the commonly cited dangers is fatter people have more BPA in 'em. So the alarmists claim it causes people to get fat. But one can not make such an assumption. It might be fat soluble, which would lead to fat people holding more of it because they have more fat.

3. Conventional cleaning supplies. Um....yes drinking this is not a good idea. Who, exactly was thinking of that? Also, doesn't "Strong oxidizing agent" just sound deliciously evil? Btw, at concentrations you can get in the grocery store, bleach isn't a very strong oxidizer.

4. See #3. Apparently it's a terrible thing that a killing agent can indeed kill. (There are alternatives to insecticides that work extremely well in some situations, but sometimes there's no alternative to the 'strong stuff'.)

5. The threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria from improper use of antibiotics is indeed important. However, there's lots and lots of bacteria that are already resistant to Triclosan. That's why they use it in antibacterial soap: it's not useful for anything else. People should avoid antibacterial soap simply because they're wasting their money. Soap itself is antibacterial.

6. A better suggestion: Don't overfertalize. You're less likely to do so if you use a liquid fertilizer. Organic fertilizers can also cause problems in nearby lakes and streams if overused.

7. CFLs: They're great in light fixtures that stay on for a long period of time. However, they should not be used in light fixtures that are only on for brief periods of time. First of all, they take a lot more power to start up, and they'll be starting up a lot. Second, turning a CFL on and off quickly slaughters bulb life. (In a lab setting where the CFL is turned on and off on 5 minute intervals, the bulb lasted 1/2 the life of an incandescent getting the same treatment). Basically, if the light's not usually on for 10 minutes, use an incandescent.

8. "phthalates" are also known as "stuff that smells". You're exposed to tons of it in a natural environment. Ever smell a banana? Phthalates (There's plenty of other chemicals with evil sounding names that also smell, btw). The advice about using simmering spices is good but mostly from a cost standpoint. And as long as we ignore the CO2 you're giving off by leaving a pot simmering all day long.

9. "A common flame retardant that was used in mattresses -- polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) -- is known to accumulate in blood, breast milk and fatty tissues." Tip: Don't eat your mattress.

10. "In the United States, only two percent of plastic bags are recycled". So recycle yours. If you stop using plastic bags, it won't increase the quantity of bags that are recycled. The fact that other people are being irresponsible doesn't mean the product should be avoided when used responsibly. This would be like saying one shouldn't drink alcohol because other people are alcoholics. Not drinking doesn't suddenly cure them.
(Re-usable bags are indeed a superior option, but their argument against plastic bags is stupid).
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mrs. Overall Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 10:15 AM
Response to Reply #38
43. Nice spin. I suppose you were one of the people who "unrec'ed" this thread.
Rah Rah, chemicals are great!! Rub them all over your body--they're fine as long as you don't eat them! Har! Har!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arikara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 11:06 AM
Response to Reply #38
44. You do know that
toxins can be absorbed through the air and through the skin. They don't necessarily have to be ingested in order to be toxic.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
snappyturtle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #38
45. Do you work for Monsanto? Dupont? Just asking. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
chimpyisstillsatan Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 08:54 PM
Response to Reply #45
61. when did you stop beating your spouse?
nice debate tactic. Anyone with an opposing viewpoint must be involved in a conspiracy to poison us all?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
chimpyisstillsatan Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 08:44 PM
Response to Reply #38
60. Right on, dude
glad to see not everyone here is a rube.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dysfunctional press Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 09:07 AM
Response to Original message
41. non-stick cookware is the only one i do without.
and that's how it's going to stay.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
noiretextatique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 02:50 PM
Response to Original message
51. cancer survivor here
one of the first things i did after my diagnosis was to detox my house. i put on water filters, got rid of all plastic food containers, and all teflon pans. i also rid myself of all cleaning products, except bon ami. i use vinegar and baking soda now.
i buy my drinking water at a local store for $.39/gallon. i also got rid of most of my cosmetics and switched to homemade soaps and lotions.
also, dawn dishwashing liquid cleans just about everything, and it will unclog drains too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
kimmerspixelated Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-10-09 05:01 PM
Response to Original message
52. DINGDINGDING!
Excellent, MARMAR! Everyone should follow this advice!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
orleans Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-11-09 12:55 AM
Response to Original message
54. shit! too late to recommend!
Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours

anyway--great thread, great link.

i'm saving this little piece and bookmarking.

"There are several companies that sell natural and organic weed- and pest-control products. Buhach makes a natural insecticide from ground chrysanthemum flowers that controls ants, flies, fleas, lice, gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, and deer ticks, among other pests. Boric acid is an effective, natural solution for cockroaches as well; sprinkle it around baseboards, cracks and other places likely to harbor roaches. You can use this boric acid recipe to control ants. For weeds, check out E.B. Stone Weed-N-Grass or try spot-spraying with household vinegar.

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/141196/10_dangerous_household_products_you_should_never_use_again?page=2
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-11-09 03:34 PM
Response to Original message
55. Right . . . I threw away some old S/S Revere ware . . . !!!
and, big problem getting away from plastic bottles --

I've still got a Brita in my frig which I think I should junk --

Everyone once in a while -- especially when they use that SALT in winter for snow --

our water is really foul.

And, if you've noticed, EVERYTHING -- even Paul Newman salad dressing is being moved into

plastic bottles!!!

Now I just a sprinkling of olive oil and squeeze a fresh lime or lemon onto a salad.



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
tooeyeten Donating Member (441 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-11-09 10:31 PM
Response to Original message
57. Those air fresheners are dangerous
and never use things like Febreeze around animals or children, never.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
chimpyisstillsatan Donating Member (252 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-12-09 08:40 PM
Response to Original message
59. Sensationalistic, anyone?
Edited on Sun Jul-12-09 08:41 PM by chimpyisstillsatan
You may have WWI poison gas in your home! Yeah, if you're a complete dumbass.

PTFE gives off poisons! Yeah, when you heat it to about 800 degrees. Which brings us to the toxic flame retardants. The ones that haven't been sold since 2005...

BPA mimics hormones... blah, blah, blah.

Fer Chrissake, get a grip. These are the same people who 15 yers ago said to THROW AWAY your aluminum pots because they caused Alzheimer's disease. Driving to work is the most dangerous thing any of us do, but there are no overpriced, pseudoscience-driven "natural" products to sell in telling people to wear their seatbelts and put down those cigarrettes, are there?

Don't drink your pesticides, eat more fruits and vegetables (wash them first), get good sleep, lose weight, and STOP BEING SUCH PUSSIES! There. That's all you need to know.

My work here is done.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mopar151 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-13-09 06:05 AM
Response to Reply #59
66. Thank you!
Instead of wigging out over what may cause you to say "icky-poo", try paying attention to the shit that will kill you graveyard fucking dead. Hang up the damm cell phone and drive - the life you save could be mine! Read the labels, PAY ATTENTION!








Graveyard f'ng dead language curtosey Marsh Racing Tires tire mounting instructions.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Psephos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-15-09 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #59
69. that post earned you a spot on my buddy list
Edited on Wed Jul-15-09 02:54 PM by Psephos
not everyone would consider that an "honor" lol

anyway, great post :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Manifestor_of_Light Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-15-09 03:14 PM
Response to Original message
70. There are much better alternatives to air fresheners.
Electric plug in air fresheners have been implicated in house fires.

I use essential oils in a pot with a candle under it.

Also, the Lampe Berger is a useful item. They burn 90% alcohol and disinfect the air; you can put essential oils in the alcohol.


www.lampeberger.com

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Tue Apr 30th 2024, 05:58 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Editorials & Other Articles Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC