detox draft #3-1

8/6/2019 DETOX Draft #3-1

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/detox-draft-3-1 1/12

Chapter 9:Chapter 9:

DETOX DETOX

Slow Death By Rubber DuckSlow Death By Rubber Duck

By:By:Rick Smith and Bruce LourieRick Smith and Bruce Lourie



PhthalatesPhthalates Action Items Action Items

Avoid Personal Avoid Personal--care products with heavycare products with heavyartificial fragrance, especially those withartificial fragrance, especially those with Fragrance or Fragrance or ParfumParfum listed as an listed as aningredient.ingredient.

Take Down that smelly PVC shower curtainTake Down that smelly PVC shower curtainand replace it with one made of recycledand replace it with one made of recycledpolyester or natural fibers.polyester or natural fibers.

Unplug your air fresheners. Many airUnplug your air fresheners. Many airfresheners contain Phthalates.fresheners contain Phthalates.

Baking soda is a natural alternative that can be used toBaking soda is a natural alternative that can be used to

absorb bad odors.absorb bad odors.



PhthalatesPhthalates Action Items Action Items

Healthytoys.org. Researching toysHealthytoys.org. Researching toysalready in your home or looking for newalready in your home or looking for newones online or in a store? You can checkones online or in a store? You can checkout the ingredients in the products youout the ingredients in the products youown or the ones you might buy.own or the ones you might buy.

Organize a nonOrganize a non--toxictoxic--toy party or a get toy party or a get the lead out party for the other parentsthe lead out party for the other parentsat your childs daycare.at your childs daycare.

Reduce your consumption of fatty foods.Reduce your consumption of fatty foods.

Participate in a rubber duck lobby day. Join others in yourParticipate in a rubber duck lobby day. Join others in yourcommunity to let your elected officials know you want community to let your elected officials know you want

legislation that ensure childrens products are nonlegislation that ensure childrens products are non--toxic.toxic.



The NonThe Non--stickiesstickies Action Items Action Items

Dump that old nonDump that old non--stick frying pan.stick frying pan.Especially if its scratchedEspecially if its scratched

Go easy on the grease. Avoid tooGo easy on the grease. Avoid toomuch fast foodmuch fast food that hamburger,that hamburger,pizza or microwaveable popcornpizza or microwaveable popcorn

packaging may be coated withP

FCs.packaging may be coated withP

FCs.

Read the labels and avoid consumerRead the labels and avoid consumerproducts with PFCs.products with PFCs.

The introduction of new replacement chemicals provides a goodThe introduction of new replacement chemicals provides a good

opportunity to remind your politicians that chemicals should be proven safeopportunity to remind your politicians that chemicals should be proven safebefore theyre made commercially available.before theyre made commercially available.

Encourage politicians to introduce legislation to phase out PFCs from foodEncourage politicians to introduce legislation to phase out PFCs from foodwrappers and other consumer products.wrappers and other consumer products.



Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Action Items Action Items

Use naturally fibred productsUse naturally fibred products likelikewool, hemp and cotton. They arewool, hemp and cotton. They arechemical free and naturally firechemical free and naturally fireresistant.resistant.

Buy newer, PBDEBuy newer, PBDE--free furniture orfree furniture orreplace old PBDE upholstery (withreplace old PBDE upholstery (withproper ventilation).proper ventilation).

Dust and vacuum often to keep theDust and vacuum often to keep thedust and PBDEs away.dust and PBDEs away.

Buy electronics that are PBDE free.Buy electronics that are PBDE free.

Find a local organization that will accept and reuse your old computers andFind a local organization that will accept and reuse your old computers andother electronic equipment.other electronic equipment.

Write letters to politicians telling them to enact legislation to protect our homesWrite letters to politicians telling them to enact legislation to protect our homesand communities from PBDEs. There are groups all over North Americanand communities from PBDEs. There are groups all over North American

working to ban PBDEs and to institute eworking to ban PBDEs and to institute e--waste legislation.waste legislation.



MercuryMercury Action Items Action Items

Eat fewer big fish and more smaller fish. AvoidEat fewer big fish and more smaller fish. Avoidlarger predatory fish.larger predatory fish.

Return used or discarded mercuryReturn used or discarded mercury--containingcontainingproducts to the store where you brought them orproducts to the store where you brought them orto your local household hazardous waste depot.to your local household hazardous waste depot.

Do not throw the, in the garbage and never dumpDo not throw the, in the garbage and never dumpmercury in the toilet or down the sink. Oncemercury in the toilet or down the sink. Oncemercury goes into the garbage it will ultimatelymercury goes into the garbage it will ultimatelymake its way back into the environment. If youmake its way back into the environment. If youdump it down the drain it will go straight into yourdump it down the drain it will go straight into yourlocal watershed.local watershed.

If you are not sure if there is mercury in the product or do not know where it was purchased,If you are not sure if there is mercury in the product or do not know where it was purchased,contact the manufacturer directly. When in doubt consult your local governments hazardouscontact the manufacturer directly. When in doubt consult your local governments hazardouswaste service. It is best to turn it over to them for safe disposal.waste service. It is best to turn it over to them for safe disposal.

Check out the US Natural Resources Defense Council tuna calculator to see the extent inCheck out the US Natural Resources Defense Council tuna calculator to see the extent inwhich the fish youre consuming are cranking up your mercury levels. Also take a look at thewhich the fish youre consuming are cranking up your mercury levels. Also take a look at theSeaChoice database and the US Environmental Defense Fund seafood selector.SeaChoice database and the US Environmental Defense Fund seafood selector.



MercuryMercury Action Items Action Items

Not all canned tuna is created equal.Not all canned tuna is created equal.White albacore tuna should always beWhite albacore tuna should always beavoided, as it has the highest level of avoided, as it has the highest level of mercury of any canned tuna. If youve got mercury of any canned tuna. If youve got tuna craving, try canned light (skipjack)tuna craving, try canned light (skipjack)tuna instead.tuna instead.

Go wild,. Wild fishGo wild,. Wild fish especially salmonespecially salmon areareoften ecooften eco--sponsible options. Keep a seasponsible options. Keep a seafood guide handy so you have all thefood guide handy so you have all theinformation at your fingertips when youinformation at your fingertips when youvisit a fishmonger or the seafood sectionvisit a fishmonger or the seafood sectionof your grocery store.of your grocery store.

Ask your grocery store/fish market to post government advisories about safe fish. Ask your grocery store/fish market to post government advisories about safe fish.

Mercury emissions control. Support legislators who are pushing for emissionsMercury emissions control. Support legislators who are pushing for emissionsreduction from products and industrial processes.reduction from products and industrial processes.



TriclosanTriclosan Action Items Action Items

Avoid products labeled Avoid products labeled antibacterial antibacterial that contain triclosan, and be wary of that contain triclosan, and be wary of brand names such as Microban, Biofresh, Irgasan DP 300, Sterbrand names such as Microban, Biofresh, Irgasan DP 300, Ster--Zac, orZac, orCloxifermolum. Triclosan is sometimes labeled by its chemical name 5Cloxifermolum. Triclosan is sometimes labeled by its chemical name 5--chlorochloro 22--(2,4(2,4--dichlorophenoxy) phenol.dichlorophenoxy) phenol.

Wash your hands theWash your hands the old old--fashionedfashioned way, with a good 30way, with a good 30--second lather of second lather of soap and water.soap and water.

Check out the Safer cosmetics Campaign, the Skin Deep Cosmetic databaseCheck out the Safer cosmetics Campaign, the Skin Deep Cosmetic databaseand the Compact for Safe Cosmetics to find out whats in your cosmeticand the Compact for Safe Cosmetics to find out whats in your cosmeticproducts.products.



TriclosanTriclosan Action Items Action Items

Check the Lesstoxicguide.ca and read labels to avoid hazardous households cleaners.Check the Lesstoxicguide.ca and read labels to avoid hazardous households cleaners.

Reach for baking soda, borax or other natural household cleaners to clean theReach for baking soda, borax or other natural household cleaners to clean thebathroom or kitchen.bathroom or kitchen.

Avoid products containing nanosilver and be wary of other nanoparticles, such as Avoid products containing nanosilver and be wary of other nanoparticles, such asnanozinc (which is found in many sunscreens). Demand that these chemicalsnanozinc (which is found in many sunscreens). Demand that these chemicalsundergo safety testing prior to being used in products.undergo safety testing prior to being used in products.

Press yourPress yourelected officials elected officials

to legislate for betterto legislate for bettercontrol of triclosancontrol of triclosan

and nanotechnology.and nanotechnology.



PesticidesPesticides Action Items Action Items

Use an environmentally friendly lawnUse an environmentally friendly lawn--carecarecompany.company.

Go natural with chemicalGo natural with chemical--free lawns.free lawns.

Replace your lawn with a native plant garden.Replace your lawn with a native plant garden.

Support local efforts to ban cosmetic use of Support local efforts to ban cosmetic use of pesticides and email your local elected officials,pesticides and email your local elected officials,requesting support. Push for pesticiderequesting support. Push for pesticide--freefreeparks and schoolyards.parks and schoolyards.

Put a pesticidePut a pesticide--free sign on your lawn or in yourfree sign on your lawn or in yourgarden.garden.

Eat local and/or organic. Avoid pesticides andEat local and/or organic. Avoid pesticides andchemical additives in your food.chemical additives in your food.

Clip the EWGs Dirty Dozen list and put it in your wallet, so you can avid foods that likelyClip the EWGs Dirty Dozen list and put it in your wallet, so you can avid foods that likelycontain more pesticides that others. (Seecontain more pesticides that others. (See http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.phphttp://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php.).)

Shop at local farmers market and ask the vendor about pesticide use.Shop at local farmers market and ask the vendor about pesticide use.

Wash produce well to help remove pesticide residues.Wash produce well to help remove pesticide residues.



Bisphenol ABisphenol A Action Items Action Items

When puzzling over the small recycling numbers on the bottom of plastic containers,When puzzling over the small recycling numbers on the bottom of plastic containers,remember this mantra: 4,5,1 and 2; all the rest are bad for you.remember this mantra: 4,5,1 and 2; all the rest are bad for you.

Hang the handy Plastics Guide on your fridge.Hang the handy Plastics Guide on your fridge.

Toss, or better yet, find an alternative use for those plastic baby bottles and useToss, or better yet, find an alternative use for those plastic baby bottles and useglass ones instead.glass ones instead.

Download a copy of the Zrecs shoppers guide to infant formula and baby bottles. OrDownload a copy of the Zrecs shoppers guide to infant formula and baby bottles. Orlook for sources of BP Alook for sources of BP A--free baby bottles at free baby bottles at http://www.toxicnation.ca/node/161http://www.toxicnation.ca/node/161..



Bisphenol ABisphenol A Action Items Action Items

Organize your childs daycare to go BP A free. Encourage the daycare to sign on at Organize your childs daycare to go BP A free. Encourage the daycare to sign on at the Toxic Nation website (the Toxic Nation website (www.toxicnation.cawww.toxicnation.ca).).

Eat fresh or frozen food stored in glass bottles instead of canned foods.Eat fresh or frozen food stored in glass bottles instead of canned foods.

Avoid putting plastic containers in the microwave. Avoid putting plastic containers in the microwave.

Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags for shopping.Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags for shopping.

Contact you local representative to encourage your city to ban disposable plasticContact you local representative to encourage your city to ban disposable plasticwater bottles.water bottles.

detox draft #3-1

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