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Coping strategies found useful by mesothelioma victims
Mesothelioma is such a disease that affects not only the person diagnosed with the disease, but his or her loved ones, too. The intention to write this article is to offer some resource for patients and their families who are living with this disease. ...
Hope for Mesothelioma Victims.
Mesothelioma Legal Guide When you are facing something as shocking as a Mesothelioma diagnosis, you feel a right to seek answers about why you were not warned of the dangers of asbestos, and you have the right to seek reparations for you and your family. ...
Mesothelioma Types
Mesothelioma TypesExposure to asbestos or asbestos related products can cause a rare type of cancer called Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is separated into two groups, malignant and benign. The three main types of malignant mesotheliomas are epithelioid, ...
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You're no doubt aware of that, considering all the media attention on a cigarette's toxic fumes. What you may not be aware of is the "ingredient list" of everything that remains in your home. There are still dangerous fumes in homes everywhere, and I'm not talking about so and so's habit of breaking wind.
Our homes have their own toxic sludge, even sharing some "ingredients" with cigarettes, like Formaldehyde!
Did you know?
*Wrinkle-free sheets contain formaldehyde. Your mattress probably does too!
*Some bath towels contain toxic chemical residues.
*If a family members workplace has issues with asbestos, lead, or other toxins, said toxins can be carried home!
*That "new car smell" is Vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen.
*Is your house over 30 yrs. old? Until the '70's many paints, floor finishes, and possibly more home renovation supplies still contained lead.
*Do you have a wood deck or swing set in your back yard put in before 2004? Weather resistant lawn items made before a certain 2004 (US) ban contain arsenic.
*Most popular home cleaning products contain Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which are linked to various medical problems including cancer.
Craig Mouldey, the Wood Flooring Guy (www.woodflooringguy.com) says, "there are many products in our homes, including plywood, the core of cabinets, and likely even laminate that uses a urea-formaldehyde adhesive." Your furniture, your carpets, pretty much everything made by man contains VOCs.
The National Academy of Sciences estimates that 15% of the population currently suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Environmental Illness due to the toxic environments we live in. So many home toxins are in fact, like cigarettes, linked to cancers and other debilitating illnesses. The next front in health may be the home front.
Tips for Clearing the Air in Your Home
-Avoid chemical products and cleaners
+Instead use common baking products like vinegar and baking soda or purchase "all-natural" non-chemical cleaners. If you have a closet full of chemicals, call your local government office for information about their disposal. They consider these items hazardous waste!
-Avoid the use of aerosol sprays (Includes hygiene products!)
+Search for alternatives to aerosol cleaners and hygiene products. If you're an air freshener addict you can substitute it with an open box of baking soda in every room. You can use herbs as potpourri. For more substitutions see this page from NY's DEC website. (http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/redrecy/hhw1.htm)
+Keep up on maintenance of furnace, air conditioners, etc. Consider investing in some kind of air filter or cleaner.
+Ventilate high humidity areas such as bathrooms. In fact, ventilate the whole house weather permitting. Recent studies show indoor air pollution is worse than outdoor, even in the big city.
+Have your home tested for radon gas, mold, lead, asbestos and other more common pollutants.
+Use solid wood or at least seal any plywood or particleboard.
+Install hard floors and use very few rugs. Hard floors, which you can wipe clean, won't harbor VOCs residue from cleaners and aerosols like carpets do. Choose stone, tiles or hardwood floors with nontoxic varnishes.
Also, when making purchases for your home be it bed sheets or renovation plans, google for product information and read labels to find out about the products safety. Look for "low-emitting," "pesticide free,"no outgassing" or "no offgassing," and other related key phrases.
You won't be able to keep out all chemicals, but you may be able to reduce the VOCs in your home by making environmentally friendly choices whenever possible. More than ever there are companies devoted to making safer products for your home. By being VOC-conscious you'll also reduce the amount of hazardous waste being dumped into landfills when the time comes to dispose of your less hazardous belongings. As an unrelated but added bonus the time it takes to research products may prevent unnecessary purchases that would just add clutter to your home and put a hole in your pocketbook. Being toxin conscious thus has a myriad of positive effects!
Being a smart and toxin-aware shopper will help you clear the air in your home. You can make the world a little safer for your family and community.
Useful Resources
CHEC http://www.checnet.org/
Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet* http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=117535
*Presently includes contact info. to obtain a free pamphlet containing more household products and their associated risks.
VOCs info. from the EPA http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html
About The Author
Rachel Lower is a freelance writer and web designer, and Editor-in-Chief of Christian-Mommies.com. Visit her at http://www.rachellauer.com/.
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 Personal Injury from Asbestos Exposure Still a Problem in North ... - WebWire
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Asbestos fear in industrial heartland - BBC News
Mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer, kills around 1,800 people every year Mesothelioma, an asbestos-related form of lung cancer, could kill up to 100,000 people over the next 20 years, figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest. One ...
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Asbestos health threat low - Pueblo Chieftain
CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES -- A member of the CBI-K9 Unit searches Friday amid the rubble of A Classic Boutique on Union Avenue, which was destroyed Thursday by an explosion in the Branch Inn next door. CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/MIKE SWEENEY -- C Street at ...
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