10 Harmful Chemicals to Avoid

It feels like everywhere around you there is something that causes cancer, whether it's food, cleaning products, environmental toxins, clothes, furniture and the list can go on. This can be really overwhelming for people, especially those with children.

Parents Magazine published an article in 2013 about the results of specific chemicals that should be avoided. Many of those chemicals are "known or suspected" to be linked to cancer, early puberty, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, autism, and other serious health issues.

There seems to be so much to avoid that lists such as these are a great way to get started without feeling overwhelmed. The goal is to reduce the usage of any products that contain harmful chemicals.

Here is a summary of the list, with some additions, provided by the published article done by Parents Magazine:

1. Arsenic 

Linked to: Skin, bladder, kidney and lung cancers

Found in: 

• Apple and grape juice
• Rice products (which are contaminated through pesticides in groundwater) 
• Pressure-treated wood made or manufactured before 2003

What you can do: 

• Consume juices in small amounts
• Limit amount of rice consumed and try to switch to 100% organic and, if possible, whole wheat products
• Avoid older pressure-treated wood, which may be found in sandboxes, playgrounds, wing sets, decks. If your child gets a splinter, it can actually be absorbed into the skin.

Remember, the skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs everything placed on it. For children, it absorbs at a much higher rate relative to their body size, so it's best to limit the exposure to these harmful chemicals as much as possible.

2. Formaldehyde 

Linked to: Skin irritants, allergies, respiratory symptoms, headache, fatigue, and nausea

Found in: 

• Embalming fluid
• Household products
• Makeup
• Skin care products
• Baby wipes
• Hair products
• Pressured wood medium density fiberboard
• Furniture
• Glue and adhesives 

What you can do: 

• Ventilate any furniture outdoors or in an open garage if you purchase wood made of pressboard or MDF that has been treated with this chemical.
• Avoid beauty and household products that have these ingredients: 
• Quaternium 15
• Bronopol (also written as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol)
• Diazolidinyl urea
• DMDM hydantoin
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

3. Mercury 

Linked to: Impaired neurological development and high levels of ADHD 

Found in: 

• Air pollution
• Industrial waste
• Fish (shellfish and larger fish that eat shellfish)
• Older thermometers 

What you can do: 

• Eliminate the consumption of large fish such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish from diet, especially if you're trying to conceive, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about the air pollution, but if you live in a major city with a lot of pollution, try to make a weekly visit to a park surrounded by trees and clean air and inhale. 
• Fight for clean air through the Clean Air Act. 

4.  Bisphenol A (BPA) and 5. Phthalates 

Linked to: endocrine disruptors, hormone disruptors (they mimic natural hormones and can affect reproductive development and health), early puberty, low testosterone for males and male reproductive problems. 

Found in: 

• Plastics
• Lining of food and beverage cans
• Bottled formulas
• Shopping receipts 
• Vinyl plastics (raincoats, backpacks, shower curtains, blow-up toys)
• Perfumes, lotions and soaps 

What you can do: 

• Don't support or purchase any body products with "Fragrance" listed as an ingredient. They legally DO NOT have to tell you how many toxins are used in that word used to mask an array of chemicals including this one. 
• This may come as a shock to you ladies, but it's in 99% of your products that are not organic. Use EWG to see what ingredients are found in the daily products you use. Purchase organic skin care products for your whole family.
• Look for "PVC-free" raincoats and backpacks
• Try to have cashiers drop the receipt in the bag to refrain from touching the chemical.
• Avoid purchasing food and beverage cans, plastics and bottled formulas unless they are marked "BPA-free"
• Do not microwave foods in plastic containers because they release this toil chemical and others into the food
• Purchase "BPA-free" cups

6. Flame Retardants

Linked to: damaged reproductive systems (specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs]), affected motor skills, learning, memory and hearing. 

Found in: 

• Upholstered furniture (couches, pillows, mattresses, carpet padding)
• Because the chemical is not bonded to foam, they can be released in the dust of the furniture as it ages (very scary!)
• Electronics before 2014
• Foam products manufactured before 2005

What you can do: 

• Don't let babies put electronics, especially those mobile phones, in their mouths
• Replace furniture and pillows if foam is old and beyond repair
• Use a vacuum with HEPA filter and/or run HEPA air filters in rooms
• Throw out older items such as car seats and mattress pads where the foam is not covered in a protective fabric

7. Fluoride

Linked to: cancer, discolored teeth, loss in tooth enamel, brittle bones, and neurotoxicity. 

Found in: 

• Water supply
• Toothpaste and mouthwash
• Soil

What you can do: 

• Switch to a toothpaste and mouthwash that does not contain fluoride. I personally use Now XyliWhite Toothpaste and love it! I have for over 4 years. 
• Call your state department of environmental protection or municipal water supplier to see the level of fluoride in your waters. We do this every time we move to find out immediately.
• Invest in purchasing a water filtration that does reverse osmosis. Use the EWG water filter buying guide before doing this. 

8. Pesticides 

Linked to: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia in children and negative neurobehavioral development. 

Found in: 

• Sprays to treat and kill inspects and weeds produce, outdoor lawns and gardens. 
• Soil as a result of spraying
• Groundwater supply as a result of spraying
• Baby food and drinks

What you can do: 

• Don't let children play in areas where pesticides have just been sprayed
• Buy organic fruits and veggies!
• Always wash fruits and veggies with a soft brush and water or peel and trim before eating. 

9. Lead 

Linked to: nervous system damage, stunted growth, kidney damage, and delayed development 

Found in: 

• Homes built before 1978 that have not been in good repair (lead was found in wood and used in paint) 
• Imported toys,
• Jewelry 
• Candy 

What you can do: 

• If you live in a home built before 1978, be sure all the paint is in good condition as it contains lead and can be inhaled by young ones. Frequently mop and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth.
• If you live in an older home, make sure to get a lead-safe certified contractor to do repairs
• Avoid painted or metal toys older than 1978
• Avoid purchasing imported toys and children's jewelry, especially from China
• Do not buy candy made in Mexico

10. Perchlorate  

Linked to: high doses interferes with iodine absorption into the thyroid gland, which interferes with hormone production needed for growth and development.

Found in: 

• Naturally occurring it is found in arid states in the southwestern U.S.
• Industrial chemical contaminant used in rocket fuel, fireworks, explosives and flares
• Bleach
• Some fertilizers
• Groundwater
• Drinking water and irrigation all over the country

What you can do: 

• Call your state department of environmental protection or municipal water supplier to see the level of perchlorate in your waters. 
• Check with your doctor about taking an iodine supplement to boost thyroid function and offset any contaminants. 

Two great articles

This week I was sent to great articles that are good easy reads. I love numbered or bullet-pointed articles because they let me read quickly and get a good overview of the text in general. These however, you may want to read in detail.

Deodorant 411

On a side note, I've personally made my own deodorant and have the recipe on this blog; however, it does take a lot of work and cleanup.

The other option is the new deodorant that just came out from Ava Anderson Non-Toxic that has the same ingredients as the one I've made and really works.

The ingredients are:
Organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic shea butter, organic cocoa butter, aluminum free baking soda, organic arrowroot powder, organic tea tree essential oil, organic peppermint essential oil

Tap Water = Allergies and Asthma???

Image Source: BU Today

Water, one of the most important elements in life and something we cannot live without. You would think all water is clean...or at least should be. The problem lies in the fact that we have pretty much polluted our lakes, streams, oceans, rivers and every other source of water.

With this contamination comes the need to "clean" it. How do we think everything needs to get cleaned? Through high intensity chemical compounds that kill bacteria and quite a bit more along the way, including good bacteria in our own bodies.

Whole Foods sells GMOs

While this is no surprise to me, it seems that many shoppers of Whole Foods and other natural health foods stores are unaware and extremely trusting of anything in the store because its been marketed as "healthy" and "natural".

They fail to realize how much of the store is actually made up of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods and products.

GMOs = Silent Killers

If rats get tumors and cancer when they eat the same GMO induced food we eat as a society, what is it doing to us? 

Let's start at the basics. What is GMO? GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms which is being used to create food, even though it has been proven through scientific research and tests that they are unfit for human consumption.

The uprise is that Monsanto (the enemy of our food and health and hence nicknamed MonSatan) has not only gone against family farms to put them out of business, but they are in cahoots with the government to

7 Side Effects of Soda

This is nothing new to my blog but if you want a quick refresher on the ingredients to stay away from, check out a previous post on Bad Ingredients.

Stay Healthy!

Parabens...steer clear!

Parabens are chemicals widely used as a preservative by cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies in everyday products used by most individuals in the United States. Mostly found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, makeup and perfumes, their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with the low cost are two reasons they are so commonly found in these products. 

Some of the many common products containing parabens

However, this unfortunate chemical group is not banned from products. They are toxic and low concentrations have been found in breast cancer tumors. Another major concern is the fact that parabens mimic estrogen, which may be a factor in the increasing prevalence of early puberty in girls.

Is your cleaner clean?

Let me begin by saying I've been removing any toxic cleaners, detergents, facial and cosmetic products (which is why I sell Ava Anderson Non-Toxic) from my home. Working part-time at a health food store, I found a new product we started carrying that caught my attention. It stated it was "non-toxic", "all-natural" and safe for everyone in the family.

But something bothered me.

It didn't list ingredients...it simply said "Coconut derived ingredients and natural oils". You know what that means to me? NOTHING!!! Coconut is how they derive some of the most toxic and cancerous ingredients. Just because it comes from a natural source DOES NOT mean it's still natural after they distill, heat and overprocess in order to make it what they want. They usually, then, mix it with overly toxic ingredients and say it's "natural" after they've altered the molecules of the "natural" source. Yes, it upsets me.

Even though it bothered me, I still purchased it because I figured it's can't be that bad.

Well, after the first time I used it, I had to open all the windows. It was a stronger smell than ammonia! In fact it smelled stronger than Windex but similar. I thought I would give it another try (it didn't even clean well and cost me $12.99). The next time I used it, my husband came into the bathroom where I had just finished using it and he couldn't believe the smell.

Then, he did a little research to see what the "REAL" ingredients were (I was embarrassed I didn't do this myself). What he found was more than a little disturbing. This is an excerpt:

Their active ingredient that they called butylcelosolv is Czech for 2-Butoxyethanol acetate, also known as Butyl Cellosolve. According to the Skin Deep Database, which rates it a 6 (moderate hazard), butoxyethanol has ties to cancer, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and more. (source) It’s used in hundreds of cleaning products, even as an oil spill dispersant, and “provides cleaning power and the characteristic odor of Windex and other glass cleaners. It is the main ingredient of many home, commercial and industrial cleaning solutions.” (source) It may not be a major environmental contaminant, but it certainly doesn’t sound safe!

Here’s a must-read from the Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project:

2-Butoxy Ethanol is one of the most toxic of the glycol ethers.

You should use products containing butoxyethanol with extreme care. It is a poison that can easily absorb through your skin to harm you. When working with it, always wear gloves and goggles and be sure the you have enough ventilation.

The product I'm talking about is Charlie's Soap. They claim so much on their bottle and fail in every respect. I was beyond disappointed, I was upset!

I didn't use gloves because it said it was safe for the hands...etc.

Lies! Don't believe everything you read...read ingredients! In detergents or cleaners, they don't always have them. While Seventh Generation isn't always the cleanest, they ALWAYS label the ingredients. Clearly they feel they have nothing to hide.

For more info on Charlie's Soap, check out this blog: click here.

Story of Cosmetics

Here's a great video in 8 mintues that gives a quick recap of what and how our cosmetic industry works:

Choose wisely...choose Ava Anderson Non-Toxic, I did =) www.SimplyJenelle.com

When phthalates are exposed to children in womb...

This article continues to prove my point on the dangerous toxins in health and beauty products sold to millions in the U.S. Parents, please read this article and see what can happen when we "trust" these large corporations to make safe and healthy decisions for us on the ingredients and products we use daily:

Children more likely to have attention, behavioral problems when exposed to phthalates in womb, New York study says — Environmental Health News

This is why I use and continue to sell and promote Ava Anderson Non-Toxic beauty line. It's non-toxic ingredients are great for the skin and actually provide nourishment through antioxidents. You can get more information at www.SimplyJenelle.com.

Ask me! =)

BPA-Free? Not Exactly

Hard to trust the government, especially when it comes to our health and our families health. Here's just another study that has surfaced. It's not meant to scare you, but rather inform and hopefully make you begin to dig a little more and do your own homework....I have.

Check out this article:

BPA-Free? Not Exactly. Healthy Child Healthy World

As a result of trying to reduce the amount of toxins my body absorbs (to avoid completely is impossible), I began using and selling Ava Anderson Non-Toxic beauty products. I've said it several times, your skin is the largest organ in the body! Everything you put on your skin is absorbed immediately into your bloodstream.

For more information on Ava Anderson Non-Toxic beauty line visit: www.SimplyJenelle.com =)

Johnson & Johnson Sued for Toxic Ingredients!

And THIS is why it's important to watch what you put on your skin and your children!

I wanted to share that Johnson & Johnson (and Walmart) were sued by a consumer group last year, for having Methylene Chloride in their baby shampoo. This is one of the 9 banned ingredients in this country (which in and of itself is a joke that we only ban 9 while Europe bans over 1,300!). The case was tossed out by the judge, becasue the methylene chloride is there as an "unintended ingredeint" - or contaminant (This is where I insert my comments: WHAT??!?!?!). Crazy but true.

"The complaint — filed in July by Missouri residents Erika Levinson and Maria Watkins — claims that Johnson &Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Wal-Mart's Equate Tearless Baby Wash include three "toxic and potentially cancer-causing chemicals": methylene chloride, formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.

In addition to cancer, repeated exposure to the chemicals can also cause skin irritation, asthma and hypersensitivity in children, the plaintiffs claim. The lawsuit cites tests run by an independent laboratory that found varying degrees of the chemicals in the defendants’ baby products. However the suit does not contain any allegations of injury-in-fact, instead claiming economic injury in counts of breach of implied warranty, unfair and deceptive trade practices and unjust enrichment, according to the opinion.

Johnson & Johnson and Wal-Mart had argued that the two women lacked standing to sue because they did not allege either an actual injury or that the products did not clean their children's hair as advertised."

And that was the end of that. Unbelievable! Do we have to prove 20 years from now, using their toxic products that now 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will get cancer in thier lifetime? Guess what? There's no proof of any of it once the disease infiltrates the body. It can be blamed on an array of variables. I know one thing for sure: those toxic ingredients won't touch my body or those of my loved ones. Just one additional reason I choose to use and sell Ava Anderson Non-Toxic Products.
 
See more here.