Loading ...Believe it or not, I actually passed organic chemistry in university. That, and I’m half decent at pronouncing crazy chems like Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
But, I can’t say I’m at all on top of knowing which types of plastic are okay to drink water from (is it #7 or #2?), and which symptoms are linked with which substance (does BPA cause neural damage or are VOCs guilty of disrupting hormones, or is it the other way round?). Never mind remembering which toxins are in our carpets, curtains, and yes, mattresses.
Luckily, more consumers are realizing that just because you can buy something in the store, doesn’t mean it won’t give you and your family cancer, organ damage, or migraines. The problem is, it is so dang hard to identify the culprits let alone unearth the alternatives.
Alas, one Canadian charity has come to our defence with a smorgasbord of studies, news reports, and guides to help us all detoxify our homes, lives, and bodies. In particular, Environmental Defense’s Healthy Home Checklist Guide (172 K pdf) walks you through each room in your home identifying not only the sources of nasty toxins, but also their healthier alternatives.
And if you’re not a chemist with a photographic memory, you can fall back on the guide’s trusty glossary. It’s a really swell resource. And, I’m not just saying that because I love checklists.
As for me, I plan to print off the pdf, stick it to my fridge, and work through a toxics purge in my abode. I may even take the site’s Chemical Reduction Pledge.
It’s a hefty feat, but well worth the effort to protect my hubby, myself, me pups, and our future kids. Happy detox!
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