This stuff actually matters
My quest for healthier living started out as a need to have a small impact on a world that seems to be spiraling out of control. I wasn't sure if it would be effective or useful, or if I was just turning my husband's life upside down for no reason. Well, as it turns out, this actually kinda matters, and there's research to support it.
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Cleaning Products & Respiratory Health
A 2018 study followed 6000 people for 20 years. The official American Thoracic Society press release can be found here. The big takeaway? Women who used cleaning products at least once per week were significantly more likely to have decreased lung function. Similar results were not seen in men.
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VOCs
A 2018 study found that "...pesticides, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, cleaning agents, and personal care products...now constitut[e] half of fossil fuel VOC emissions in industrialized cities."
It's been a few years since my last environmental science course, and I needed a review.
Here's how you can reduce/avoid exposure:- VOCs contribute to ozone, which makes smog.
- EPA monitors fuel combustion, industrial processes, and vehicles, but indoor VOCs can be up to 10x higher. This has substantial implications on our health.
- air out your house
- reduce pesticide exposure by buying organic
- choose healthier cleaning products
- avoid dryer sheets/fabric softener. opt for wool balls.
- avoid air fresheners
- choose low/no VOC paint
- avoid particleboard and plywood because they often contain formaldehyde
- if you can afford it, be picky about your mattresses and upholstered furniture
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Our household
We joined a locally-based organic produce delivery service. This way, we are supporting our community and avoiding the "dirty dozen". I also switched our C-F rated household products for healthier options. At the end of the day, I'm actually spending less on cleaning products because a little water and a rag goes a long way, as does a bottle of Dr. Bronner's. Added bonus: these changes have also dramatically reduced our plastic consumption.
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