If you read my previous blog about detoxification you are aware of the daily exposure to thousands of chemicals through our air, food, and water. Sources of environmental exposures include pesticides, insect repellents, flame retardants, plasticizers, solvents, household cleaners and various industrial preservatives. As many as 80,000 commercial and industrial chemicals are in use in the United States with approximately 6.5 billion pounds of chemicals released into the air each year. The most important thing you can do to prevent chronic illness and achieve optimal wellness if to decrease your chronic exposure to synthetic chemicals. This article is going to highlight some key ways to decrease exposure for you and your family.

GENERAL TIPS TO DECREASE EXPOSURE:

  • Take shoes off at the door and vacuum with a Hepa filter. Daily occurrences such as walking on the street and filling up gas exposes us to unburned gasoline from our cars, buses, styrene particles from car tire disintegration, flame retardant, poly-fluorinated chemicals, plastics and particles get tracked into and around the home. Many toxins have been identified in house dust, which has been recognized as a principle source of exposure to lead, benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, phthalates (plastics), volatile organic compounds, poly-fluorinated chemicals, flame retardant.
  • Store food in bisphenol A (BPA)-free, phthalate-free containers or glass containers
  • Purchase, refrigerate, and microwave foods and beverages in glass containers when possible.
  • Avoid reheating foods in plastic containers.
  • Avoid plastic water bottles when appropriate.
  • Choose plastics #1, #5, #4 they have been shown to be least toxic.
  • Cook and serve food and hot beverages in/on stainless steel, glass, or ceramic.
  • Minimize Dry Cleaning. Air out dry-cleaned clothes in the garage before bringing them into the house.
  • Vent well while cooking with gas stoves by turning your kitchen fan on High setting.
  • Choose canned goods from these companies: Eden Organics, Vital Choice, Oregon’s Choice, Wild Planet, Eco Choice, Trader Joe’s label, Native Forest and Native Factor.

AIR FILTERS:

MinusA2: Most advanced model with a total of 5 filters, including customized filter
option (Germ Defense, Pet Allergy, Odor Remover, Toxin Absorber). Covers most effectively a room size of 350-408 square feet. It can cover a larger room (700-815 square feet) with less efficiency.
BioGS 2.0: Has a total of 3 filters and ideal for smaller rooms 275-313 square feet but can
cover 550-625 square feet with less efficiency. Both the MinusA2 and BioGS 2.0 are great models. If you wish to cover a larger area or have heavier pollutants to trap, I suggest the MinusA2. For general air quality improvement or smaller rooms, I suggest the BioGS 2.0.
All of rabbit air purifiers come with a BioGS HEPA filter that not only traps allergens, but reduces them and a Charcoal-Based Activated Carbon filter.

WATER FILTERS:

It is important not only to get a water filter for drinking water, but also for your showers and kitchen facets.  Drinking water contains a common volatile organic compound (VOC) chloroform. VOCs evaporate easily while showering in hot water making chloroform a common VOC exposure.

FOOD INFORMATION:

For list of the dirty dozen and clean fifteen go to the environmental working group website. Look for organic produce when possible. Organic produce is grown without pesticides and contains less residues. Make sure to wash fruits and vegetables to further minimize pesticides and residues. Peeling skins can further decrease exposure.

HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES IN THE HOME:

Clean the house and car with simple ingredients such as soap, water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and borax. For more information regarding household cleaners go the following website.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE:

Environmental Working Group is a team of scientists, engineers, policy experts and lawyers that review policy, scientific studies, and government data to inform about health and the environment. This site has information from your sunscreen and makeup to food and water.