An interesting article came out in the NY Times about the effects, many still unknown, of chemicals in our lives.
“More than 80,000 new chemicals have been developed since World War II, according to the Children’s Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai. Even of the major chemicals, fewer than 20 percent have been tested for toxicity to children, the center says.”
Certain plastics in our kitchen should be avoided: “It suggests that the “plastics to avoid” are those numbered 3, 6 and 7 (unless they are also marked “BPA-free”).” Just look at the bottom of the container.
And above all, don’t microwave them or put them in the dishwasher since that leaches the chemicals out further.
We have only hit the top of the iceburg in terms of knowing what the storm cloud of chemicals surrounding us in our homes is doing to us.
One stat: “American girls in the year 1800 had their first period, on average, at about age 17. By 1900 that had dropped to 14. Now it is 12.”
They have proved that this is environmental since Asians in Asia suffer a lot less cancer than Asians in the USA. The same applies for other races.
The Brooklyn brownstone luckily has less chemicals than other US houses since a lot of it is made from brick and wood. The normal cabinets in the kitchen are a bid issue since they give off formaldehyde. That is why we came out with the Eco Brooklyn Green Kitchen line of Cabinets. Formaldehyde free and no toxic glues.
Vinyl flooring is another danger. Carpets. And all the glue that was used to hold everything together. For a while we were using glue to glue down flooring in difficult places. Granted it was low VOC. But that does not address the issue of the plastics in the glue. We have since stopped using it unless there is absolutely no other way.