Indoor pollution can endanger health.  High cancer & allergy rates are linked to constant exposure to harmful chemicals & gases from household goods & office equipment.  Their conclusions come 3 months after a Govt.-backed inquiry called for a ban on 1000s of untested chemicals in household products.  Computers, carpets, paints & plastics all release toxic chemicals.  Levels of benzene, a major cause of leukaemia, were twice as high indoors.  Some buildings materials contain radon & asbestos.  Dr. Dimitrius Kotzias led the study.

Latest Updates on the hazards of Teflon: PTFE (teflon) suppresses the thyroid, and it has been found in breast tissue of young girls.

Common Chemicals in household products

Fabric softener sheets are a health and fire hazard in your dryer - Anderson Laboratories’ chemical analysis of the airborne emissions of five different kinds of commonly available fabric softeners was reported in the May, 2000 issue of The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Their study revealed that the fabric softeners emitted toluene, styrene, phenol, thymol, xylene, and trimethylbenzene, among other chemicals, many of which cause acute respiratory tract irritation and inflammation.  See Pet Health for more safety information.

To DEET or Not to DEET -

Warning: DEET is a neurotoxin and is un safe for children. It may not be safe for adults and the environment.  Avoid  using repellants containing DEET.

DEET or diethyl-metatoluamide, can cause an array of health problems ranging from dizziness to death.  After application to the skin DEET is absorbed into the bloodstream, and remains up to several months or more depending on one's ability to detoxify.  Side effects may include rashes, skin eruptions, nausea, dermatitis, scarring, muscle cramps, irritability, lethargy, cerebral swelling cardio-respiratory arrest, and fatal encephalopathy.  The American Academy of Pediatrics state that DEET is not considered safe for any child under the age of 5.  Poison Control Centers reported more than 6700 reactions to insect repellants in 1995, with 4300 related to children 6 and under.  A 26 year old man died after using DEET twice according to ABC news.  An 8 year old boy suffered seizures after being sprayed twice with DEET.  DEET is also toxic to children when it is used in the home by others.  Most Public Health agencies including the US CDC encourage the use of DEET.  

More troubling DEET Information

We also suggest Green Ban herbal powder for people and pets.

Safe Mosquito Repellant

• Yarrow tincture -  when outdoors spray skin every hour. You can also make a healing ointment with yarrow flower tops and your oil or fat. Yarrow oil is antibacterial, relieves pain, and helpful in healing all types of wounds. 

• Peppermint is known to repel ants, mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, mice, et al.

• Planting mint near your doorway acts as a repellant.  Placing clay pot planted with mint  close to your door works too.

• Eating bananas  will draw mosquitoes as it increases the amount of carbon dioxide given off when you breathe.  Mosquitoes are attracted by this gas.

To make safe repellant you will need:

• Pure Peppermint Essential Oil

• Distilled Water or carrier oil of your choice

• Glass or PET plastic spritzer bottle

To make a 2+% solution place 2 ounces of distilled water in the spritzer bottle.  Add 25 drops of pure peppermint essential oil to the bottle.  

To make a 5% solution add 50 drops of pure peppermint essential oil to 2 ounces of water.

Shake well and spray into the air, near doors, along the baseboards, or on your skin.

The 2+% solution may be used for pets.  Spray it on your hand and rub it gently on your pet, or take a piece of cotton fabric and tie it on your pet's collar, then apply the repellant to the cotton.