Creating an Eco-Healthy Home

Babies and children are uniquely vulnerable to the chemicals  in the household as they explore the world with their hands and mouths.

You can reduce the burden of these chemicals on your family's health with simple, cost-effective changes.

Read more below, and then commit to make changes in your home with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

Chemical pesticides designed to kill plants, insects and other critters are also dangerous to human health. Many pesticides for use in homes are associated with cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and nervous system problems.

• Learn more about the danger of pesticides

• Control pests with fewer chemicals

• Reduce exposure in your home

• Advocate for better policies in your community

• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

asthma inhaler

Air quality indoors is often significantly worse than outdoors. Because the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, cleaner air can make a big difference for health today and in the future.  

• Learn more in our Children At Risk report
  
• Ten steps to better home air quality
  
• Find alternatives to air fresheners
• Does your home have good ventilation?
  
• Advocate for better air quality in schools
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

The average home uses about 60 toxic chemicals in household products. You can reduce that number -- and the health threats from exposure -- by choosing safer alternatives to clean your home.  

• Reduce exposure in your home
• Print our green cleaning recipe wallet card
• Print our one-page safe cleaning guide
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

Until the late 1970s, lead was a common additive in house paint, gasoline and plumbing fixtures. Today, we know that even low exposures to lead can cause problems for the nervous system, kidneys, blood, and mental and physical development. Though today's health standards are stronger, lead from decades ago remains in our homes and environment.

• Learn more about lead in our "Price of Pollution" report
• Reduce exposure in your home
  
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

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Mercury

Exposure to mercury can damage the nervous system, causing problems with thinking, memory, mood, motor skills and more. Exposure can come from breaking a mercury-containing household product. But a more toxic form, methylmercury, gets into our food chain through burning coal, manufacturing products and improper disposal of products containing mercury.

• Reduce exposure in your home
• Learn more about mercury in Oregon (Pollution in People)
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

Furnishings & Flooring

When you're ready to buy new home furnishing and carpets, there are choices you can make to avoid bringing toxic chemicals into your home. There are also signs of wear to watch out for in existing products or when you buy second-hand.

• Read about the dangers of PFCs
  
• Reduce exposure to PFCs
• Reduce exposure to formaldehyde
• Reduce exposure from furniture & carpets
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

Art Supplies

The good news about art supplies is that many products are certified by the Art & Creative Materials Institute as non-toxic and safe for use by children. But take caution when choosing glue, paint, clay, glaze, solvents and other supplies; many contain hazards for growing children.

• Choose safer art supplies
• Avoid toxic art supplies (California EPA hazards list)
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

Plastics & Plastic Toys

Science continues to reveal ways that common plastics expose people to the chemicals used in their manufacture. Learn more about how to avoid using plastics in ways that risks exposure.

• Read an overview of plastic & toy issues
• See a pocket guide to choosing safer plastics
• Reduce exposure to phthalates
• Reduce exposure to BPA
• Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge

Playground Equipment

From the 1970's until 2003, wood for outdoor use (on playgrounds, decks, picnic benches) was pressure-treated with a preservative containing toxic arsenic. Arsenic exposure is linked to nerve damage, immune diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, changes in hormone function and cancer. The good news is that covering the wood with paint or sealant can reduce exposure.

• Learn more about  treated wood.

 Commit to changes with our Eco-Healthy Family Pledge