3 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Family's Exposure to Harmful Chemicals in Your Home

Today I am heading out of Orlando and over to the west coast of Florida to meet with the Deputy Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, Lindsay Dahl. To me, Ms, Dahl is a rockstar and I am actually a tee tiny tad bit nervous to meet her.

Lindsay Dahl
Deputy Director, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

Seriously. Get this, before joining the campaign for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, Lindsay directed policy and media strategy for the Healthy Legacy Coalition of Minnesota. While she held that job she didn't do too much.  She just led the campaign for Minnesota to become the first state to ban bisphenol-A (BPA) and the fourth state to pass the beginnings of a comprehensive safer chemical policy framework.

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We <3 the people of Minnesota and Lindsay!!  Thanks for all of your hard work!!

See what I mean?  This chick knows her stuff and I am fortunate enough to be able to help her out and advocate here in Florida for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families?  It's like is there even a line between work and play when you are living your passion? 

I will tell you all about our meeting next week here on the blog, but before I head out the door, I wanted to let you know that the moms of Green Mom's Carnival are getting together this month over at GroovyGreenLivin.com to offer up tips on how to keep toxic chemicals out of your home.  Be sure to check in on Monday and see what tips they are offering up to keep your family healthy.

I cannot express to you, the amazing depth of passion for living a sustainable lifestyle that my fellow green moms share, each and every single day, with their online audiences.  I feel really fortunate to be able to be part of such a remarkable group of women.

But first before you hop over to the Green Mom's Carnival...

Here are my top 3 ways to reduce your family's exposure to harmful chemicals in your home:

1. Open the Windows - It may seem obvious, but when was the last time you actually did it.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your indoor environment is two to five times more toxic than our outdoor environment.  In some cases, the air measurements indoors have been found to be 100 times more polluted than the air outside.  Sources of indoor air pollution include gases from cooking and heating, mold and mildew and a host of toxins from building materials (some types of cabinetry, flooring, paints and varnishes),  as well as chemicals from pesticides,  candles and traditional household cleaners.  Inadequate ventilation is a primary cause of indoor air pollution (and why it rises in homes during the winter) so open those windows and let in the fresh air as often as you can.
2. Green Your Cleaners - Okay so you have heard it before right?  But seriously, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have concluded that 80% of all cancers can be attributed to environmental rather than genetic factors, including exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, many of which are found in traditional, household cleaning products. 
3. Get Rid of Indoor Air Fresheners - Amazingly enough, even though they cost a small fortune, the use of indoor air fresheners is on the rise.  Unfortunately though, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously."  Plus many air fresheners,  including those advertised as “all natural” or “unscented", contain phthalates which are hazardous chemicals known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. NRDC’s independent testing of 14 common air fresheners, none of which listed phthalates as an ingredient, uncovered these chemicals in 86 percent (12 of 14) of the products tested.

I could go on and on with green living tips.  But I think I will leave you with my three top tips and let you go now and check out the Green Mom's Carnival hosted by Lori starting March 19th for more great, green ideas on how to reduce your family's exposure to harmful chemicals in your home.

Have fun and go green...TTYL.

P.S.- Have you heard about The Green PolkaDot Box! Recently launched with over 12,000 members and backed by the Organic Consumer's Association, you can easily buy NonGMO organics at wholesale pricing online.  It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living!!  You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic.

Sources: Web MD,  EPA, NRDC, WHO, IARC