| Home air purification systems are being | | | | are talking about pure ammonia here). Wear |
| purchased by the millions. Many adults both | | | | protective gloves and chemical-resistant |
| with and without children are realizing that | | | | clothing. The National Institute for |
| the one thing they can control in their home | | | | Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| is the air they breath. Many have done their | | | | recommends wearing gloves made of Butyl, |
| diligent studies or took it on recommendation | | | | Teflon or Viton for up to 8 hours of exposure |
| that the air outside is harmful, but the air | | | | and Nitrile gloves for up to 4 hours of |
| inside(up to 70 times more toxic)can be made | | | | exposure. Keep clothing clean and free of |
| cleaner by purchasing and installing some | | | | oils and grease. Even diluted, does that |
| sort of unit that will help clean the air. | | | | give you cause enough to get rid of |
| | | | everything containing ammonia that YOU |
| And a good choice it was. Several units will | | | | brought in? |
| filter out the dust, the dander from their | | | | |
| pets, and some other particulate that is | | | | In the personal care section, I can tell you |
| unseen. Some units can even filter out some | | | | first hand that the products you use on your |
| of the toxins that float around us while we | | | | head, by and large contain chemicals that |
| are in our home. And they work too. | | | | render bacteria sterile (they used to be able |
| | | | to kill the bacteria by adding formaldehyde |
| But did you know that these airborne toxins, | | | | to the mixture. This was done for many years |
| once on the skin, can actually cause as much | | | | but has since been changed). The ingredients |
| harm to you, your children and your pets, as | | | | in use today do not "kill" any bacteria that |
| it does to inhale them? Most people know | | | | may have gotten into the mix: they make it so |
| this subconsciously, but they neglect to do | | | | the bacteria cannot reproduce while it is |
| anything about it. | | | | sitting on the store shelf. Otherwise, you |
| | | | would be putting a significant amount of |
| Most of the products that you bring into your | | | | bacteria onto your scalp everyday and if you |
| home from the store to use for whatever | | | | had a scratch or cut on your head or neck, |
| purpose contain chemicals that over time can | | | | you would get a serious infection. Unless a |
| and will bring harm to you. Most of us think | | | | company uses a plant extract or herb, a |
| that these products could not be sold to us | | | | chemical like this cannot be healthy. Man |
| if this were true. Unfortunately, there is | | | | made phosphates and man made chemicals |
| no requirements for testing these products | | | | derived from petrochemicals located in your |
| and there is no requirement to even list | | | | soaps, toothpaste, and deodorant also absorb |
| everything they contain on the label (testing | | | | through our skin and can cause immediate |
| is done as we know, with animals, and many | | | | problems and problems over time. |
| companies have found alternative testing | | | | |
| methods. But there are a surprisingly high | | | | Stop and think about where you spend most of |
| number of brand name companies that still do | | | | your time. How about your kids? Chronic |
| animal testing. That is a whole other | | | | conditions are more problematic in women |
| discussion). I was surprised to learn that, | | | | because women do most of the cleaning in the |
| because I live in a country that seems to | | | | home. They are exposed to these chemicals |
| regulate everything else, why not consumer | | | | for more time, and over time. Pregnancies |
| and personal care products as well. | | | | can be complicated and asthma in children can |
| | | | be traced back to the chemicals and chemical |
| There are countless examples you can take a | | | | products we use everyday. |
| look at from the products in your home right | | | | |
| now. I'm sure you have seen them already. | | | | What should you do? You started out by |
| Look at your oven cleaning solution. Does it | | | | purchasing and installing a home air |
| say anywhere on the container "danger", | | | | purifier. That is a start. Now, you really |
| "warning", "poison"? Do the instructions | | | | need to either get more education on the |
| indicate that you should use gloves when | | | | various hazards you continue to bring into |
| applying? How about to have good or adequate | | | | your home and expose you and your family to, |
| ventilation? | | | | or, make the decision to change to products |
| | | | that are much safer to use. They may be hard |
| Look at your floor cleaners, or window | | | | to find, but don't you think that you are |
| cleaners. Did you know that ammonia, which | | | | taking a great risk just to save a couple of |
| is a good cleaning agent, found in window | | | | dollars for a product that is on sale or that |
| cleaners, can cause an irritated nose: maybe | | | | you have used all of your life, therefore it |
| some slight breathing problems? And not to | | | | must be good? |
| mention the injury you could sustain if you | | | | |
| get it in your eyes. Long term, or repeated | | | | Make the change. Start today. You are |
| exposure could have an effect on the lungs, | | | | working hard for everything else in your |
| could cause pneumonia, cataracts, glaucoma, | | | | life, now you need to make your life (your |
| kidney damage, the list goes on. And that's | | | | body) stop having to work so hard to save |
| just ammonia. The recommendation when | | | | you. |
| handling ammonia is to avoid skin contact (we | | | | |