Is your Home Safe?

You may think of your home as a safe haven but how safe is it? You may be surprised to hear some of the dangers that might be in our own homes. Nonstick cookware contains perfluorochemicals (PFC’s) that have been shown to cause cancer, hormone disruption, and hypothyroidism in animals. In humans, there has been a link to a reduced ability to fight infections and low birth weights in babies whose moms exposed them to it during pregnancy.

PFC’s are found in the linings of fast food packaging and most microwave popcorn bags to keep grease from leaking through it. Pop popcorn on the stove or use an air popper. It is also best to take your takeout food out of the container and put it on plates. Don’t preheat an empty pan and keep the burner on medium. Replace scraped, peeling pans or switch to old fashioned cast iron cook ware.

There are pollutants in tap water you should be aware of but it is surprisingly more regulated than bottled water. Check your water with the Environmental Protection Agency and use a filter either on the faucet or an alternate approved system. On that note, there have been debates on how well these filtration systems actually work. We know they taste better but do they really get rid of all those nasty germs and chemicals found in the water. When I was living out West in a major metropolitan area, one of my friends told me there was a report about a one eyed fish found in the city’s drinking water. After that, I made it a point to never drink any other water besides bottled water.

If you have children, you may want to check for lead poisoning found in toys by subscribing to an email alert online. PBDE is a chemical found in household products which slows the rate in which something burns. It likes to stick to dust particles, so be sure to dust often. The problem is that it interferes with a child’s developing nervous system the causes problems with memory and attention. In addition, it contaminates the environment and bodies.