B00AFU6252 EBOK (50 page)

When you eat seafood, be sure to choose kinds low in mercury (see
this page
).

BE AWARE THAT THIS STUFF:
Bathroom corners, dank basements, and fridges or under kitchen sinks.

COULD CONTAIN THIS TOXIN . . .
Mold,
the microscopic spores that can build up in damp, humid environments

WHY IT’S SKETCHY?
A mold infestation can trigger asthma and allergies, or, in more concentrated doses, dizziness and flulike symptoms.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Keep moisture under control with good ventilation. Any mold growth that covers an area larger than 10 square feet, or has spread inside the ducts of your central air system, should be handled by a professional, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Scrub the mold off of hard surfaces with a mixture of detergent and hot water, then fix the source of the water damage. (Throw out infested porous materials like carpets or ceiling tiles.)

Visit www.epa.gov/mold for more information on handling mold in your home.

BE AWARE THAT THIS STUFF:
Laundry detergent

COULD CONTAIN THIS TOXIN . . .
Optical brighteners,
certain types of dyes that absorb UV light to make your whites whiter and your clothes brighter (by removing yellow tones)

WHY IT’S SKETCHY?
Optical brighteners bind irreversibly to the skin and may cause rashes and allergic reactions; they may also be hormone disruptors, and we just don’t know whether they’re safe to use over long periods of time.

One bummer: They’re definitely toxic to fish.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Choose cleaner nontoxic laundry products (see
Chapter 5
).

BE AWARE THAT THIS STUFF:
Any water-based personal care product or cosmetic like shampoo, conditioner, cleanser, shower gel, lotion, you name it

COULD CONTAIN THIS TOXIN . . .
Parabens,
a group of preservatives

WHY IT’S SKETCHY?
We can absorb parabens through our skin, blood, and digestive system, and they’ve even been found inside breast tumors and, thus, linked to cancer.

They may also be toxic to our reproductive, immune, and nervous systems and can cause skin rashes.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Check labels and choose cleaner personal care products (see
Chapters 2
and
3
).

BE AWARE THAT THIS STUFF:
Newly dry-cleaned clothes

COULD CONTAIN THIS TOXIN . . .
Perchloroethylene (PERC),
a colorless, nonflammable liquid that’s used as the major ingredient in most dry-cleaning formulas.

WHY IT’S SKETCHY?
PERC off-gasses when it’s exposed to air, which means we can breathe it in. Short-term exposure can cause dizziness, fatigue, sweating, and headaches. Long-term exposure may cause liver and kidney damage, memory loss, and cancer.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Handwash or use the gentle cycle on your washing machine instead of dry-cleaning whenever possible. (It’s cheaper, too!)

When you do dry-clean, ask them to take your clothes out of the bag before you bring them home.

Let newly dry-cleaned clothes air out on your porch or in the garage for a day before you hang them in your closet.

BE AWARE THAT THIS STUFF:
Foundations, lipsticks, lip balms, mascara, many other color cosmetics

COULD CONTAIN THIS TOXIN . . .
Petrochemicals
including
mineral oil, petroleum jelly, propylene glycol,
and
paraffin,
all of which are used as moisturizers

(Avoid any products with
petroleum
or
liquid paraffin
on the label.)

WHY IT’S SKETCHY?
Using a lot of petroleum-filled products can make you break out because they work by blocking your pores.

Long-term, we don’t totally understand what petrochemicals in personal care products might do to your health, but petroleum distillates may cause cancer—and anyway, this stuff is used in paint, antifreeze, and—hello—gasoline.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

Look for water-based moisturizers and cosmetics made with plant oils like jojoba, shea, and coconut.