Sylvane.com » Indoor Health Matters
Technology is a double-edged sword: Nanotechnology will give us the smallest machines imagineable and sheets of paper as strong as steel – but this new technology will also introduce new health threats in the indoor environment. Read more about nanotechnology and health
Scientists are beginning to look at the environment as a possible cause of psychological conditions like autism. Environmental threats, for example, might include exposure to infectious agents as well as pollutants.
Actors Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey had a young son with autism, and they helped him recover from it, reports CNN.
“We believe autism is an environmental illness,” wrote McCarthy. “Vaccines are not the only environmental trigger, but we do think they play a major role. If we are going to solve this problem and finally start to reverse the rate of autism, we need to consider changing the vaccine schedule, reducing the number of shots given and removing certain ingredients that could be toxic to some children.” Read more about autism and environmental health
Phthalates (pronounced like “thay-lates”) are pervasive chemicals used to make plastics soft and to make fragrances linger – and they’re suspected of interfering with the reproductive development and causing asthma and allergies, according to The Olympian. Read more about phthalates and health
When you have children, environmental health concerns become more apparent. What’s in the air? What’s in the water? What kind of dangerous chemicals are in the cleaning products and personal care products? Read more about child health and the indoor environment
The Orange County Register reports that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to 18 million people, remained silent about uranium contamination in water at the Hayfield Groundwater Storage site. Read more about uranium contamination in water
Imagine owning a magic wand that zaps away invisible germs like viruses, bacteria, mold, and dust mites. Now you really can! The Verilux CleanWave sanitizing light wand uses the power of UV-C light to sterilize a variety of surfaces. Read more about UV-C sanitizers
At just 14 years of age, Otana Jakpor of Riverside, CA has already received a scientific award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after showing that ozone-producing air cleaners actually harm the lungs. Read more about ozone and air cleaners
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found throughout a typical home – in carpet, paints, furniture, and plastics; the problem with these chemicals is that they off-gas into the air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks, and some VOCs cause asthma and cancer. Read more about VOCs and air quality.
In the home, a backpack vacuum, or “backuum,” is not necessary (unless you happen to live in an enormous mansion). However, the backpack vacuum is ideal for industrial vacuum jobs in which you have to clean large areas as quickly as possible. Built for speed and efficiency, the Nilfisk GD10 Backpack vacuum boosts cleaning productivity by up to 30%. Read more about Nilfisk backpack vacuums
Writing an opinion column for Abilene Online, Kathy Bunkey points out that the new asthma inhalers, mandatory beginning in 2009, will be too expensive for some:
The worst part of this is that a lot of the people who need this medication in an emergency situation will no longer be able to afford it. This will specifically affect the disabled, the children whose parents cannot afford this increase, the jobless and the elderly. There is no generic for this new medication. We are being offered Pro Air HPA, Xopenex HPA and Proventil HPA, and the cheapest that I was able to find one of these in Abilene was for around $25. They can retail for as much as over $55 per inhaler. Read more about HFA inhalers
This summer, with heating bills expected to rise 20% from last year, many people will turn to wood heating in an attempt to save money; however, wood burning poses serious health concerns.
The American Lung Association has expressed concern about wood heating, especially for people with asthma and other pulmonary diseases. Read more about wood burning and health
Flame retardant chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are everywhere; they’re in your computer, toaster, mattress, TV, and sofa. The problem with PBDEs is that they don’t stay in their original place. They end up in household dust, soil, and human breast milk. (They’ve even been found in Arctic seal blubber!) And they accumulate inside our bodies. Read more about PBDE flame retardant chemicals
If you live or work near a construction site, your health may be at risk – even if you never enter the “hard hat zone.”
Construction dust pollutes the air surrounding the site, and the increase in diesel traffic to construction sites further deteriorates air quality. Children living near such pollution face an increased risk of asthma. Read more about construction sites and health
BREAKING NEWS – CNN reports that a toxic chemical cloud has formed over Petrolia, PA, after a chemical leak in a local plant.
The toxic cloud affected at least 2,000 residents, many of whom fled their homes to stay with friends and relatives or in shelters. Others decided to stay home and keep their windows and doors closed. Read more about toxic chemical clouds
The DeLonghi TRV0715T Vento heater is, in my opinion, the best oil-filled radiator heater on the market. It’s also our best-selling heater so far this season because of its value price and its ability to heat a room 40% faster than traditional oil-filled radiator heaters. Read more about DeLonghi Vento heaters
