By Lucille Chi •
June 1, 2008
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Over a month ago we discussed the amazing effects of healing houseplants and the wonderful ways they absorb toxins while in return send healthy oxygen into our living spaces. 
Well, this month we’re back on the topic with this brilliant healing houseplant diagram I discovered via SuperCute that I am pleased to bring to you! The chart explains some of the best of the bunch when bringing nature indoors to cleanse and heal. The illustration focuses on plants that absorb trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene, which are three commonly found toxins.
What is with these chemicals that create bad air? Most importantly how do we rid our sacred spaces of them? Well,
By MC Milker •
April 17, 2008
Last week I wrote about a study that revealed interesting clues that may help us to understand why synthetic estrogens, including Bisphenol-A (BPA), found in many widely-used plastics, have a detrimental effect on a developing fetus.
BPA has been in the news recently; a New York Times article discusses Canada’s proposed ban, and parents have become more and more aware of the adverse effects of using baby bottles, pacifiers and soft rubber toys with their babies. But, the danger of synthetic estrogen can effect us all. So what can you do to avoid this toxin and provide a safe home for your family.?
Dr. Joesph Mercola, a well known osteopathic physician, author and natural health advocate has a few recommendations:
While eco-friendly fabrics are showing up in more and more designer collections and stores, we often don’t hear enough about the dyeing and finishing processes that accompany them. Conventional dyeing methods often involve toxic chemicals, harmful to the wearer and the environment.
I recently hosted an event at Pivot where Chicago designer Annie Novotny of Frei Designs demonstrated how she naturally dyes some of her garments and accessories with pomegranate juice. First, select a 100% pure juice (no sugars or additives). Pour the juice in a large bowl and add some vinegar and water. The vinegar helps to set the color and also adds brown into the hue.
Editor’s note: As a user of the Diva Cup for the past two years, I’m excited to share this guest post by Juliana Tran, a student in Professor Simran Sethi’s “Media and the Environment” course at the University of Kansas. It was originally published to the course blog on March 11, 2008.
Every month it comes and goes, effecting women (and those around them) in their personal health, hormonally, emotionally and on a broader scale, in their environment.
Yes, I am talking about menstruation.
Menstruation is an issue that does pertain to both men and women. There is not an issue of menstruation itself, something that I feel should be celebrated, and not something taboo, uncomfortable, and feared. Unfortunately, there is an issue with the toxicity and disposability of the way women “take care of this problem”.
So, how is it relevant to men? If you have a women in your life, mother, sister, daughter, significant other, show them you care about their personal health by telling them about the consequences of using disposable products!
Did you know that there are 80,000 synthetic chemicals registered for use in the United States? As a green parent, the mama bear in me comes out and I feel the need to protect my children from the effects of such chemicals. In the past, I have relied on the website Healthy Child Healthy World for information. Now there is a book by this leading children’s environmental nonprofit that is clearly the definitive source on “creating a cleaner, greener, safer home.”
Healthy Child Healthy World is written by Christopher Gavigan and features a star studded line up of contributors, including Sheryl Crow, Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hanks, Laura Dern, etc. The book is divided into ten chapters, from “Doing the Bump: Preparing for Baby” to “It’s All Good: How to Grow Your Impact.” Filled with easy steps and simple solutions, Healthy Child Healthy World helps parents rid their homes of chemicals that may cause or contribute to the rise of chronic diseases and illness, such as autism and ADD/ADHD.
By Jason Phillip •
March 5, 2008
Last week I wrote about how the Chicago nonprofit Safer Pest Control Project has been working to protect people from the harmful effects of toxic pesticides. In talking with the organization’s Executive Director, Rachel Rosenberg, I learned about how common it is for people to be exposed to chemical pesticides in public places without being aware, and how dangerous this can be for children.
But even more insidious than the harm posed by toxins used to rid our homes and workplaces of unwanted critters is the problem of chemical pesticides used to control outdoor pests. In fact, the use of chemicals to kill animals and plants in our yards is a lot more widespread than you may have guessed. Consider these statistics cited by the Safer Pest Control Project:
- 78 million households in the U.S. use home and garden pesticides.
- $700 million are spent annually on pesticides for U.S. lawns.
- 67 million pounds of synthetic pesticides are used on U.S. lawns each year.
- Three times as much pesticide is used on lawn per acre than on agricultural crops.
By Jason Phillip •
February 27, 2008
If you’ve ever faced a pest infestation in your home, you know how quickly you want the critters gone–whatever the cost. Whether it’s roaches, termites, or rodents invading your space, it’s natural to want to strike back. You want the toughest weapon you can find to beat back the onslaught of little beasties before they multiply and take over completely.
But before you go out and buy that can of Raid and take aim at the crawling menace, pause to ask yourself: Do you really want to coat your home in toxins that you can’t see and that may persist on surfaces for weeks? Are you willing to put your children and pets at even greater risk than what you yourself face from these poisonous chemicals? Are you sure the solution isn’t more dangerous than the problem?
Educating the public about the dangers of chemical pesticides and promoting safe, effective alternatives for dealing with pests is the mission of Chicago-based nonprofit Safer Pest Control Project. Since 1994 this organization — which began as a coalition of four environmental groups–has worked to reduce the risks to human health wherever pesticides are commonly used, including in schools, childcare centers, residential buildings, yards and parks and in agriculture.
In the vegan cooking classes I teach and the outreach I do, I am often asked how to incorporate "organic" food into our diets without breaking the bank. Since I rarely have a simple answer, I usually start off by saying what I think is a really important thing to keep
Keep in mind that the typical consumer is NOT paying the true cost of food. The meat, dairy, and egg industries, in
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In my first exploration of the issue of by-catch in commercial fishing, I looked at the devastating effects of fishing not simply for the "target" species, but on those animals who are unlucky enough to be caught in the lines, traps, hooks, and nets not meant for them. In this second part, I further explore this issue and take a look at how the dolphins, sea turtles, and seals - animals for whom
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Clean as Clean Should Be: Yes, this is the household bottleIt is difficult to find an all-purpose cleaner these days that doesn’t fill your kitchen with the fresh scent of artificial toxins. Whether the cleaning agents are safe or not, oftentimes the most harmful chemicals in cleaning products are the fragrances.
Currently, there are no regulations on the fragrance industry resulting in a lot of unnecessary airborne
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