By Tina Casey •
December 21, 2008
Is there anything more annoying than a pointless errand? You know the one I’m talking about. That’s the one where you have to shlep all the kids into the car and run out to the store, just to get a light bulb or some other item you can’t do without. …or can you? One of the nice surprises about sustainable living is the amount of time (and money) you can save by cutting down on pointless errands. Take a look at these seven common household supplies, and see if you can do without:
By Jennifer Lance •
May 28, 2008
The bad news about toxic children’s products never ceases. Recently, I learned that food packaging, such as used for candy and pizza, contains toxic perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), specifically perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA). As a general rule of thumb, if I can’t pronounce, I don’t want my kids exposed to it! Thankfully, neither does the California legislature.
What are PFCs?
PFCs are man made chemicals used for decades to make products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. They are commonly used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, and food packaging. PFCs are found in packaging for fast-food sandwiches, french fries, pizza, baked goods, beverages, and candy to prevent staining and grease spots. There is evidence that these dangerous chemicals migrate to food from the packaging, especially when heated. According to the Environmental Working Group, PFCs are found in over 98% of American’s blood!
