Enhancing lives, one family at a time!
Protect our precious environment. Our environment should last us a lifetime, and it will if we all do what we can! All members of our 'Work at Home United' Team are partners of a dynamic company where we all save time and money, provide a safer environment in our homes, improve our health, and add to our income by doing all of the above. I think it's a pretty awesome deal!
Did you Know?
Phosphates
Phosphates are minerals that act as water softeners. Although they are very effective cleaners, phosphates also act as fertilizers.
When cleaning products go down the drain, phosphates are discharged into rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans. In lakes and rivers especially, phosphates cause a rapid growth of algae, resulting in pollution of the water.
Many states have banned phosphates from household laundry detergents and some other cleaning products. Automatic dishwasher detergents are usually exempt from phosphate restrictions, and most major brands contain phosphates.
Alkyl phenols and their derivatives
Alkyl phenol Ethoxylates are found in some laundry detergents, disinfecting cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, spot removers, hair colors and other hair-care products, and spermicides.
(Source: Washington Toxics Coalition)
Alkyl phenol Ethoxylates are endocrine disruptors.
(Source: WWF Canada)
Alkyl phenols are produced in the environmental breakdown of alkyl phenol ethoxylate surfactants, are slow to bio-degrade and have been shown to disrupt the endocrine systems of fish, birds, and mammals.
(Source: Washington Toxics Coalition)
Volatile Organic Compounds
Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. All of these products can release pollutants while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.
(Source: EPA)
Some of the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that frequently pollute indoor air -- such as toluene, styrene, xylenes, and trichloroethylene -- may be emitted from aerosol products, dry-cleaned clothing, paints, varnishes, glues, art supplies, cleaners, spot removers, floor waxes and polishes and air fresheners.
(Source: Washington Toxics Coalition)
EPA's Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) studies found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas.
(Source: EPA)
Additional TEAM studies indicate that while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.
(Source: EPA)
Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans.
(Source: EPA)
Trichloroethylene is one of the chemicals suspected of causing a cluster of childhood leukemia cases due to drinking water contamination in the town of Woburn, Massachusetts, in the early 1980s. The subsequent lawsuit against the polluting company was the subject of the 1995 book and 1998 film, A Civil Action.
(Source: Children's Health Environment Coalition)
High levels of toluene can put pregnant woman at risk of having babies with neurological problems, retarded growth, and developmental problems. Xylenes may also cause birth defects.
(Source: Washington Toxics Coalition)
Styrene is a suspected endocrine disruptor, a chemical that can interfere, block or mimic hormones in humans or animals.
(Source: Children's Health Environment Coalition)
VOCs such as xylene, ketones, and aldehydes are found in many aerosol products and air fresheners. Researchers found that babies less than six months old in homes where air fresheners are used on most days had 30 percent more ear infections than those exposed less than once a week.
(Source: Washington Toxics Coalition)
Levels of formaldehyde in air as low as 0.1 ppm (0.1 part formaldehyde per million parts of air) can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, stuffy nose, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes and allergic reactions.
(Source: Children's Health Environment Coalition)
Babies frequently exposed to aerosols had a 22 percent increase in diarrhea, and pregnant women frequently exposed to these products had 25 percent more headaches and a 19 percent increase in postnatal depression compared to those less frequently exposed.
Paints, cleaners, and other products with no or very low levels of VOCs and other hazardous ingredients are available.
(Source: Washington Toxics Coalition)
2000 Toxics Release Inventory
Last update: May 24, 2002
What is dioxin?
- Dioxin is highly toxic chemical and accumulates in our environment, our food and bodies. According to the EPA, the average adult already has enough dioxin in their bodies today to cause adverse health effects.
- Dioxin is highly persistent in the environment and is extremely resistant to chemical or physical breakdown.
- Dioxin is a family of 75 chemicals technically known as "chorinated dibenzo dioxins."
Health concerns
- The World Health Organization upgraded dioxin from a "probable" to a "known human carcinogen" in February 1997, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health followed suit in October 2000.
- Exposure to dioxin is linked to diabetes, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, weakened immune systems, infertility and endometriosis.
- On May 23, 2002 the EPA reported in its Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) that 99,814 grams of dioxin were released into the environment in the year 2000. One gram of dioxin is enough to exceed the acceptable daily intake for more than 40 million people for one year, according to the Stop Dioxin Exposure Campaign.
Sources and exposure
- Dioxins are never manufactured deliberately (except for laboratory research) and are unintentionally created in two major ways:
- when materials such as household garbage or toxic waste, including hospital waste, leaded gasoline, plastic, paper and dioxin-contaminated wood are burned;
- by the processes used to manufacture products such as certain pesticides, preservatives, disinfectants, and paper products.
- The latest TRI data reflects only a fraction of the dioxin that is being released into the environment every day, according to the Stop Dioxin Exposure Campaign. TRI data does not include a number of dioxin sources, including the biggest source, waste incinerated by cities, hospitals and rural communities.
- Dioxin pollution is persistent and bioaccumulative -- which essentially means that it eventually ends up in our food and bodies. According to "The American People's Dioxin Report," about 90 to 98 percent of the general population's exposure to dioxins is through contaminated food -- primarily by eating the animal fat in meat, fish, poultry and dairy products.
Some other interesting facts...
- Today more than 4 million Americans work in a home business. The U.S. Department of Labor believes that half of all Americans will be working from home by 2025.
- The US Census Bureau says more than 12 BILLION working hours per year are WASTED by people stuck in traffic on their way to and from work.
- 45% of workers in North America are deeply concerned they or their spouses will lose their jobs before they retire.
- 90% of all personal bankruptcies can be prevented with $300/month in extra income.
- A home business can put $2,000-$5,000 a year back in your bank account thanks to business deductions on your tax return.
- Most senior citizens are living below the poverty line.
What do you think about these sobering facts? Do you care enough about your health and the environment to make some changes? Are you wanting to supplement or replace your current income? With our Team you can not only help the environment and protect your family's health by using 'safer' products, but you can also make some good extra income doing it! Please take a look at my websites, and contact me if you have any questions at all. We are looking for motivated individuals who care about their health and the environment to join our Team, is that you? With your help we can make 2008 a happier, safer, HEALTHIER New Year for all!!! :-)
Blessings,
Judie
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