© MIDWEST INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
MIDWEST INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IMPROVEMENTS
LIST OF WEBSITES:
http://mwir-improvements.blogspot.com/p/list-of-websites.html
LIST OF BOOK LISTS:
http://mwir-improvements.blogspot.com/p/book-lists.html
Midwest
Independent Research creates free educational websites on a variety of subjects
in eight categories: Cultural; Economic; Health Care; Health Promotion;
International; Practical; Science; and Social. Our purpose is to provide
college and high school students and adults with educational material and book
lists on important subjects.
Some of the
websites correspond to academic courses such as Anthropology, History, Life
Sciences, Mathematics, and Sociology and others are oriented to current issues
such as Co-ops, Global Warming, Native Trees, Progressives, Race, and Wildlife.
For more complete
information, go to our central website:
http://mwir-improvements.blogspot.com/
LIST OF WEBSITES:
http://mwir-improvements.blogspot.com/p/list-of-websites.html
LIST OF BOOK LISTS:
http://mwir-improvements.blogspot.com/p/book-lists.html
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We spend an estimated 90% of our time indoors. And unfortunately, a large number of chemicals are now found indoors. Carpet cleaners can have powerful solvents that you end up inhaling. Formaldehyde is used as a preservative in personal care products. Three-fourths of US households use pesticides. The total amount used topped 100 million pounds in 2001.Mothballs can be a substantial source of chemical exposure (there are non-pesticidal solutions). Many cosmetics and personal care products have carcinogens. There are approximately 5000 different scents or ingredients in fragrance mixtures; it is common for a fragrance to have at least some amount of some allergen in the mix. You expose your clothing to the dry-cleaning solvent PERC every time you got to the cleaners (and yourself). The level of toxic pollutants inside many houses is often higher than that of the air outside.
One study found an average of 91 industrial chemical compounds in the blood and urine of nine volunteers, a total of 167, 76 of which cause cancer, 94 are toxic to brain and nervous system and 79 cause birth defects or abnormal development. There are now more than four million registered man made chemicals, 70,000 to 80,000 of which are in common use. VOCs -- volatile organic compounds -- are the most ubiquitous indoor air contaminants. VOCs are liquids that evaporate at room temp. Consumer products and building materials are sources of VOCs. More common and toxic VOCs:
Formaldehyde
methylene chloride
perchloroethylene (PERC)
Benzene
Toluene
Xylene
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
In 1987 EPA conducted Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) study, found VOCs were five times higher indoors than outdoors.
During 1970s urea formaldehyde foam insulation was used. Mobile homes, plywood and particle board had high levels of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is still common in certain consumer products…clothing and home fabrics…combustion sources, paints, pressed wood products. Gasoline is a soup of VOCs…gas tanks are not air tight--VOCs escape into the garage and from there into your house, also from lawn mowers etc. When total VOC content > five parts per million, some people experience symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, and general discomfort. Oil-based paint emits more VOCs than water based paint. Varnish, polyurethane, and waxes are also high in VOCs. You should also be careful with the array of adhesives on the market.
Remedies:
The main preventive measure you can take is to not store gasoline or other fuels in basements or attached garages. If you do have an attached garage, keep the door tightly closed and maintain weather-stripping along the door edges to prevent air leaking from the garage into the house. Carpets, furniture and other products containing VOCs should be aired out outside your home prior to installation. Chlorinated drinking water leads to trihalomethanes (THMs) ventilate bathrooms, a whole house water filter is also an option.
The guiding principle for reducing your pesticide exposure is to simply use less. Try to remove: plastics, scented beauty and hygiene products, cleaning products, pesticides, synthetic fibers and fabrics, office supplies with volatile ingredients, household furnishings made from synthetic materials, gas appliances and heaters, building materials made from formaldehyde. The common household cleaners ammonia and bleach are likely the most hazardous products in your home. Never mix ammonia and chlorine. Also, be aware that bleach can mix with regular drain cleaner and form chlorine gas, as well.
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