We often don’t think of our pets when it comes time to do our household chores. Spraying for bugs, cleaning toilets, washing floors, setting mouse traps. Our pets are low to the surfaces and their paws can easily pick up chemicals from the floors and carpets. Cats and dogs are also curious, such as small children. Safe guarding our home shouldn’t just be for children, pets are family members too. Most household products do not even warn you of the chemical dangers they could cause.

Common chemicals found in the home are:

Formaldehyde

Perchloroethylene

Pesticides

Phenol Derivatives

Caustic Products

Scented Cleaners and Aerosol Products

Formaldehyde

Pressed wood products that use glues  contain formaldehyde are common construction materials:

Particle board

Hardwood

Plywood paneling

Medium density fibreboard

These are often used to make furniture and cabinets.

Pungent formaldehyde can be found in these products at home:

Cosmetics and nail polish

Glues and adhesives

Foam insulation materials

Mouthwash

Wallpaper

Wrinkle-resistant drapes, linens, and other fabrics

Perchloroethylene

Found in rug and carpet shampoos

Pesticides

What are Pesticides?

Definition from wikipedia:

Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.^[1] A pesticide is generally a chemical or biological agent (such as a virus, bacterium, antimicrobial or disinfectant) that through its effect deters, incapacitates, kills or otherwise discourages pests.

Most pesticides contain chemicals that can be harmful to people, pets and the environment. Pesticides are regulated in the United States to protect public health and the environment. 

* EPA is responsible for ensuring that all pesticides sold in the United States do not cause unreasonable risks when they are used according to label directions and precautions.

Here are some examples of pesticide products we use in our homes:

Cockroach sprays and baits

Mosquito sprays

Rat poisons

Flea and tick sprays, powders, and pet collars. 

Did you know that these products are considered pesticides?

Cleaners used to disinfect the kitchen floor.

Cleaning products used to remove the mildew on bathroom tiles.

Household plant sprays.

Lawn and garden products to kill insects and weeds.

Some swimming pool chemicals.

Phenol Derivatives

Phenol is a toxic substance used in many cleaners that  kills germs, such as Pine Sol and Lysol. These have been linked to have caused  health problems in cats and rabbits. 

The fumes from phenols can get into the bloodstream through the lungs. Cats especially have a low tolerance for phenols because they can’t remove these types of toxins from the blood very well.

Caustic Products

Toilet bowl cleaners, detergents and bleach are household cleaners that can have caustic reactions in pets. The Alkaline or Acidic properties if ingested can be mild to severe depending on the amount ingested.

Scented Cleaners and Aerosol Products

* Attention Pet Bird Owners  

Birds are susceptible to toxic cleaners, especially parrots. Their lung system is highly efficient, taking in and processing more air through their bodies than mammals. This means that toxic cleaners can cause not just breathing problems for birds, but a quick death. Any products with chemical fumes or artificial fumes such as furniture cleaners, oven cleaners, drain cleaners and air fresheners plug in and can sprays should not be used.

A message from ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (Click for message)

If you suspect a toxic substance has poisoned your animal, induce vomiting immediately with some warm salt water or a little hydrogen peroxide (dosage varies based on size of animal). Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 4ANIHELP (426-4435). They will guide you through the necessary procedures you must take to save your pets life.

” Be Aware Of Potential Hazards To Your Pets”

Convenience and Ease of Cleaning

Glass shower doors are convenient in many ways. They keep water in more effectively than shower curtains. They don’t omit the toxic smells that plastic curtains release. They don’t need to be replaced periodically like curtains and liners. They can easily be cleaned and don’t harbor mold like the curtains do.

Many people do not realize the convenience of having  glass shower doors can be explosive.

What Kind of Glass are They Made of?

The doors are made of special tempered safety glass, required by federal, state, and local building codes and designed to break into small, relatively harmless shards.

Tempered glass is the safest of all types of glass. It’s designed to shatter into small pieces when it breaks which cuts down on the possibility of serious injury. This doesn’t mean tempered glass is completely safe, however, and it can still cut and injure quite seriously. You need to remain aware of the dangers of tempered glass and take adequate safety precautions.

Tempered glass is resistant to a direct  impact, however if your shower door is hit on the edge it can become fractured and it will continue to get worse.

How do you Know if  Your Glass Shower Door is Tempered?

Tempered glass, or safety glass, is formed by sealing two pieces of glass together with a clear resin. Look for the labeling stamped on the glass. Tempered glass is usually properly labeled to satisfy specific building codes.

What can Cause the Glass to Explode?

Most likely the glass had a flaw or the glass was under stress in the frame. 

What Can Happen?

New Warnings About Exploding Glass Door

How can you Insure Your Safety?

Regular Inspection:

• Periodically check the shower door hardware to ensure fasteners remain secure.  Tighten them if needed.
• Ensure moving panels are securely attached to the door system.

• Ensure moving glass panel is not directly contacting the wall or metal during operation. That means checking the panel alignment and making sure the bumpers and seals are in good condition.

   

• Inspect glass regularly for any chips or cracks, paying special attention to glass edges, notches, and around holes in the glass for hardware.  If there is any evidence of a crack, replace the glass panel immediately.

  Elderly and Small Children

  Families with small children, elderly parents or pets might also consider the added risks of glass shower doors.

  “Be Safe”

  
  
  

Can Heat From The Sun Cause Chemical Off Gassing From Rugs And Carpets?

This weeks blog  once again comes from an experience at a client’s home. My client lives in a modern home surrounded by windows. It was a beautiful sunny day. I was walking through a hallway to get to the master bedroom, and I was stopped in my tracks with a strong chemical smell. I called to my client to get her attention. I said,”can you smell that?” “It’s giving me a headache.” She said, “where do you think the smell is coming from?” I said, “I think it is coming from the rug.” What should we do? I said, “get it outside.”

Ultraviolet Radiation

The sun’s energy is made up of three distinct spectral components: ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, and near-infrared radiation.  What distinguishes these from one another is the wavelength ranges that characterize them, commonly measured in nanometers (nm).  A nanometer is very small.  A human hair is over 100,000 nanometers thick.

Ultraviolet radiation is invisible to the human eye and has the shortest wavelengths of the three types mentioned, from 300 to about 380 nm.  Visible light covers the approximate range from 380 to 780 nm, while the near infrared radiation (sometimes called invisible solar heat) has the longest wavelengths, from 780 to 4045 nm.

What is Heat?

Let’s consider what heat is. Heat is the transfer of energy from one location to another.Energy as heat always travels in the same direction: from an object that has more energy as heat to an object that has less energy as heat.In other words, energy as heat will travel from an object with a higher temperature to an object with a lower temperature.

It is called ‘specific heat’.

Area Rug And Carpet Safety

Most materials, natural or synthetic, have some environmental impact, and those used for carpets and rugs are no exception. Whatever you bring into the home has the potential to bring in unwanted chemicals.

Most area rugs combine synthetic face fibers — nylon, polyester, and olefin (polypropylene) – produced mainly from petroleum derivates, with over 100 chemicals added for stain resistance, wear resistance, mothproofing, fungicides, soil repellents, processing aids and adhesives binding the backings and the tufts together. 

Many of these chemicals, as well as fibers themselves, are sources of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOC like formaldehyde, and many others), which are a health hazard, and can off gas for a long time. Offensive off gassing comes from glues and rubbers.

Mix these chemicals with the heat from the sun, will speed up the off gassing, causing a greater health risk. The heat from the sun, shining on a rug or carpet causes an Energy Reaction.

This makes carpets generally greater health risk than rugs, but rugs with significant amount of latex (or other) glues – such are those with double backing – are also a concern.

While you are not likely to know the specifics of the rug/carpet chemical off gassing intensity, nor your sensitivity limits, there is no need to take unnecessary chances. 

If your new carpet, or rug, is chemically treated and unprotected, it is always good to keep the space well ventilated for up to a few weeks. 

Options

 Look for untreated area rugs, or those made with low-emission substances and materials. 

Look for a carpet or  rug, made from  natural fiber such cotton, wool, jute, hemp, sisal, and more.

Several products such as window tinting, window shades or Low-E windows are moderately effective at blocking ultraviolet radiation. However, even the best of these coatings still transmits 26% of the UV radiation. 

“Think Before Bringing Anything Into Your Home”

This weeks blog we wanted to discuss what are air ducts and if it is necessary to have them cleaned?

The quality of the air we breathe indoors has become an increasingly important environmental concern.

Clean, fresh air is a great concern to many homeowners and building managers as allergy and respiratory problems increase. Today’s tightly insulated energy efficient homes and buildings trap and recycle polluted air. Dirty air ducts also cost you money. Just a .042 inch of dust on heaating or cooling coils reduces the efficiency up to 21%.

Dirt, dust and microorganisms such as bacteria virus, dust mites, mold spores, fungi, yeast and algae collect and breed in air duct systems. These pollutants are force fed into every room whenever the fan comes on, causing allergies and respiratory problems to flare. microbial in nature, they can also create unpleasant odors.

What Are Air Ducts?

Quoting the definition in  Wikipedia:  

Ducts are used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to deliver and remove air. These needed airflows include, for example, supply air, return air, and exhaust air.[1] Ducts also deliver, most commonly as part of the supply air, ventilation air. As such, air ducts are one method of ensuring acceptable indoor air quality as well as thermal comfort.

What is Air Duct Cleaning?

Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing.

 Should You have The Air Ducts Cleaned Out?

The Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) says that it isn’t necessary to have them routinely cleaned but only as needed — such as when mold, pests or excessive debris clutter the system. Informed consumers are aware of EPA studies concluding that poorly maintained ducts can be a breeding ground for disease causing organisms. Duct cleaning, performed properly, will remove dirt, dust, and microorganisms such as bacterial virus, dust mites, mold spores, fungi yeast, and algae from the system.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)  experts argue the need for cleaning depends on a variety of factors, including pets, smoking, recent renovations, local weather conditions and overall home cleanliness.

Beware of Scammers

A growing number of duct cleaning advertisement scams have been recently uncovered. These ads claim whole house duct cleaning or unlimited vents can be cleaned for $49.00, $69.00 or $99.00.

Here is a MSNBC’S video of a scammer

How To Choose A Duct Cleaning Company?

Duct cleaning, if done improperly, can be the worst thing you can do for your air quality.

5 Questions You Should Ask Your Duct Cleaning Contractor

1) Will the contractor inspect your ducts to make sure they are cleanable?

 2) Will the contractor be cleaning the entire system including fans and coils?

 3) Will the contractor provide you with the means to conduct a visual inspection at any time during the cleaning process?

 4) Can the contractor provide references of previous customers with phone numbers?

(Don’t be afraid to follow up)

 5) Is the contractor giving you a guaranteed price before the cleaning? Mold, damaged fiber glass insulation, cleaning/treating coils may become add-on costs.

 Here in Connecticut Duct Diagnostics is a NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) certified, licensed, and insured company. They are experienced in both residential and commercial air duct cleaning, and hold NADCA certifications as an air system cleaning specialist, ventilation system inspector, and ventilation system mold remediation certification. They are OSHA 10 Certified, Energy Star rated, member of The Better Business Bureau of Connecticut and also a member of CHCC ( CONNECTICUT HEATING & COOLING CONTRACTORS)

They are located at 195 Elizabeth Street, Derby, CT 06418

Phone (203) 734-1532

Website: www.ductdiagnostics.com 

Duct Cleaning Could Be The Healthiest Investment You Ever Make!

Dryer sheets…What are they? How do they work? Are they safe? Is there an alternative to replace the chemically tainted sheets?

Discovery:

It is believed a scientist by the name of Conrad J. Gaiser developed the concept in the  late 1960′s.He and his wife Audrey lived on the top floors of a four-story duplex. The laundry room was located on the ground floor. Every  time Audrey did laundry she had to run down the stairs to catch the final rinse cycle to add the fabric softener.

Liquid fabric softeners, which are commonly cationic, can’t be mixed with detergents, which are anionic, because the mixture forms a precipitate.

Fabric softeners work by coating surface of the cloth fibers with a thin layer of chemicals; these chemicals have lubricant properties and are electrically conductive, thus making the fibers feel smoother and preventing buildup of static electricity Other functions are improvements of iron glide during ironing, increased resistance to stains, and reduction of wrinkling and pilling.

Cationic softeners bind by electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged groups on the surface of the fibers and neutralize their charge; the long aliphatic chains are then oriented towards the outside of the fiber, imparting lubricity.Vinegar works on some materials in a similar way, as the hydrogen ions bind to the anionic groups on the fibers.

 How Do They Work:

Conrad for a number of years worked in the soap and laundry industry. He wanted to make his wife’s life easier. He started treating small sheets of material, probably from Audrey’s sewing kit with fabric softener.  When the sheets were put into the dryer with laundry the heat and moisture warmed up the softener and spread it across the clothing.  Later washing machine manufacturers added an automatic fabric softener dispenser. It is discovered that dryer sheets have many other uses such as warding off insects.

In 1969, Conrad received a U.S. patent for this invention,”Tumble Puffs” and shortly thereafter he sold the rights to Procter & Gamble, which then marketed the product as Bounce dryer sheets.

Are They Safe:

  A research conducted  in 2010 at the University Of Washington headed by Anne C. Steinemann analyzed 25 popular fragranced consumer products. One of these categories where Laundry products

( detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets.)  The research showed  that each product emitted at least one chemical that is listed as toxic or hazardous under federal laws. Some of the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are classified as carcinogens with no possible safe exposure level, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The VOC’s emitted were not listed on the products tested.

Anne states that this is legal because no laws in the U.S. require disclosure of all chemicals in consumer products, or of any chemicals in a mixture called “fragrance.”

Anne compiled more in depth research in 2011 on scented laundry products emitting hazardous chemicals through dryer vents.

“This is an interesting source of pollution because emissions from dryer vents are essentially unregulated and unmonitored,” said lead author Anne Steinemann, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering and of public affairs. “If they’re coming out of a smokestack or tail pipe, they’re regulated, but if they’re coming out of a dryer vent, they’re not.”

“We focus a lot of attention on how to reduce emissions of pollutants from automobiles,” Steinemann said. “And here’s one source of pollutants that could be reduced.”  Steinemann recommends using laundry products without any fragrance or scent. 

Alternative To Dryer Sheets:

Felted dryer balls are a fantastic natural, eco-friendly alternative to liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets.Rebecca says,” I no longer  buy dryer sheets.” They work by separating the clothes as they circulate in the dryer, softening clothes, reducing static cling, absorbing moisture and significantly reducing drying time. Reducing drying time means saving $$ on your electric bill!

Dryer balls are perfect for cloth diapers – using fabric softener or dryer sheets with cloth diapers will cause the diapers to repel moisture and leak.

You can use dryer balls for months!! Throw them all in at once-the more the better!

2-4 for small loads

5-7 for large loads.

They are colorfast and will not bleed into your clothing.

I have been using mine for months!

Dryer balls will pill (much like a sweater will) but even if they don’t look as pretty as when you first get them they will continue to do their job just fine

Why wait, by making the change you will be impacting the environment and improving your air quality.

“We must be the change we want to see in the world.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Definition

An air freshener is a product designed to mask or remove unpleasant room ordors. These products typically deliver fragrance and other odor counteractants into the air. 

History

Fragrance compounds have been used since antiquity to freshen air and mask odors, For example, the ancient Egyptians were known to use musks and other natural materials to scent their tombs. Over the last 2,000 years a variety of compounds, including numerous spices and floral extracts, have been used for their ability to impart a pleasant aroma. However, it was not until 1948 that the first modern air freshener was introduced. This product, using technology developed by the military to dispense insecticides, was a pressurized spray containing about 1% perfume, 24% alcohol or other solvents, and 75% chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellant. This was able to deliver a fine mist of fragrance that remained suspended in the air for a long period of time.

Today as the popularity of these scented air fresheners are on the rise, allergists are hearing more complaints about reactions to these toxic scented products.

Dr. Stanley Fineman is the president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACCAI). ” I’ve seen patients who say, ‘I go into somebody’s house who has one of these air fresheners and I just can’t stay there. I have increasing nasal symptoms, sneezing and coughing.’ There is no allergy skin test for air fresheners, but people can definitely have a physiologic response to it.”

“About 20 percent of the population and 34 percent of people with asthma report health problems from air fresheners. We know air freshener fragrance can trigger allergy symptoms, aggravate existing allergies and worsen asthma.”

Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) commonly found in air fresheners include: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, esters and alcohols. Fineman says a study of plug-in deodorizers found more than 20 different VOC’s with more than one third of those classified as toxic or hazardous.

Respiratory issues

Fineman says consumers should be particularly concerned if someone in the household has respiratory issues. He says studies show that even VOC exposure levels below currently accepted standards increase risks in asthma children.

High concentrations of VOC’s can trigger eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, and even memory impairment.

Despite all this, the home fragrance industry is expected to see continued growth, reaching $8.3 billion in global sales by 2015, so, why the fondness for air fresheners?

The new trend is manufacturers are marketing products to be aromatherapy which implies health and mood boosting benefits although there are no scientific studies to support these claims.

Dr. Stanley Fineman wasn’t the first to warn us about  these dangerous chemicals in air fresheners. A study in 2010 led by the University of Washington discovered that 2 commonly used scented products (like laundry detergent and air fresheners) emit and average of 17 chemicals each. Of the 133 different chemicals detected nearly a quarter are classified as toxic or hazardous under at least one federal law.

Only one emitted compound was listed on a product label, and only two were publicly disclosed anywhere. Even so-called “Green” products were not “safe.”

Gretchen Schaefer, vice president  of communications for the Consumer Specialty Products Association, an industry group, said that VOCs aren’t necessarily harmful.

“Anything that emits a scent — flowers or the scent of pine if you walk through a forest or your Christmas tree- is emitting a VOC,” she said.

In the United States, air fresheners are subject to the Toxic Substance Control Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, which requires that manufacturers inform consumers of risks and ingredients that could contribute to that risk. But some expects say the requirements aren’t stringent enough.

“The Federal hazardous Substance Act requires that the manufacturer put the proper-use information on the label,”Schaefer said.”These products are safe if you use them according to the label instructions.”

More information

The U.S. Department of Labor has more multiple chemical sensitivities.

Considerations

If you are still adamant about purchasing plug -in air fresheners use caution. Read the labels to ensure the product does not contain harmful chemicals. Ventilate the room as much as possible. Be extra sensitive to the amount of air fresheners you are using around small children.

Alternatives

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) suggests that you first try to reduce bad home odors by attacking the source, rather than masking the problem. Identify and remove bad odors. Keep windows open as much as possible. If troubling odors persist, invest in an air purifier with activated carbon filtration. 

Healthy Air Fresheners

Air fresheners need not be synthetic to produce an appealing and pleasant scent. Try adding orange, lemon or lavender essential oils to cotton balls and place throughout the house. You can also simmer spices like cinnamon and cloves in a small saucepan on the stove. These tips will leave your home smelling fresh and give you peace of mind that no harmful pollutants are being ingested.

“Bring The Freshness Of Nature Inside”