10 Shopping Tips for a Healthy Home

Here are some quick tips for shopping trips to keep your home hazard free.

1. Learn  your labels: "Signal words" on products tell you about toxicity. "Danger" means highly toxic, "Warning" is moderately toxic and "Caution" is slightly toxic. But remember that signal words don't tell you the risk of delayed effects or allergic reactions.
2. Look for "unscented" soaps, lotions, cleaners and detergents. Items that contain the ingredient "fragrance" may contain potentially harmful chemicals. Using essential oils to scent your own products is a safer choice.
   
3.  Skip the anti-bacterial soaps:  Studies suggest that triclosan and triclocarban -- the chemicals in antibacterial soap -- may affect reproductive hormones and the nervous system. Babies and children may be especially vulnerable during particular developmental windows. Studies also suggest that plain soap is as effective at killing disease-causing germs.
4. Choose certified products. Organizations like Green Seal and EcoLogo do the legwork for you to be certain that products meet their standards for environmentally preferable ingredients. Beware greenwashing; there are no standards that tell you what  "natural" or "earth-friendly" truly mean. Learn more at greenerchoices.org, a site created by Consumer Reports.
   
5. Choose local, sustainable and certified organic products. Learn more about resources for finding these products.
   
6. Choose natural fiber products for mattresses, drapes and upholstery. In particular, flame retardants (PBDEs) used in furniture foam and back coatings for draperies and upholstery are linked to liver, thyroid and neuro-developmental toxicity. Wool is a good alternative. 
7. Skip the stain-resistant coating:
   
8. Buy "Low-VOC” paints and finishes. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) give house paint that "new paint" smell -- and are linked to health threats. Choosing low-odor low-VOC paint smells better, and keeps your air healthy.
   
9. Avoid bad plastics. Plastic containers labeled #3 (PVC or V), #6 (PS) and #7 (PC) may contain phthalates, Bisphenol-A or other toxic chemicals. Avoid these numbers in food packaging, food containers and toys.
10. Choose least-toxic pest control. Avoid foggers, aerosol sprays and other broad applications; they increase the risk of unintended exposure to very toxic chemicals. Baits and traps are better solutions. Less-toxic active ingredients include boric acid, natural oils and soaps.
    
11. Keep the lead and mercury out. When you are shopping antique or second-hand, be wary of pottery and hand-painted china that may contain lead paint. Also watch out for toys or electronics with button batteries that may contain mercury; these must be disposed of carefully to avoid releasing mercury into the environment.