7 Ways to Cancer-Proof Your Home
November 12 2012
Story at-a-glance
-
Seven important steps to removing the most obvious cancer
risks from your home include checking for and removing:
radon, nonstick-coated pots and pans, makeup and personal
care products with toxic ingredients, BPA-lined cans and
plastic containers, cleaning products and air fresheners,
toxic building materials and household cleaners, as well as
common pesticides and weed killers
-
Avoiding canned foods is perhaps your best way to avoid the
hazardous plasticizing chemical bisphenol A, as research has
revealed canned foods can increase your BPA levels by 1,000
percent in a mere five days. Research has also shown
fermented foods can help break down BPA and reduce your
intestinal absorption of it
-
Research has found that breast-cancer risk is twice as high
among women who report the most use of household cleaning
products and air fresheners, compared to those who rarely
use such products. Women who use make-up on a daily basis
can also absorb almost five pounds of potentially toxic
chemicals into their bodies each year
Radon, an odorless, colorless radioactive gas formed from the natural
breakdown of uranium in the earth can enter your home through cracks in
your foundation, well water, building materials and other sources, where
it can contaminate the air you breathe. The EPA estimates that nearly 1
out of every 15 homes has elevated levels. Fortunately, testing your
home for radon is simple, and if levels are elevated there are ways to
reduce them to protect your health. The cost of radon reduction measures
depends on the size and design of your home and the specific methods
needed. Costs range from $800 to $2,500, with an average cost of $1,200.
Radon reduction systems may be able to reduce your home's radon levels
by 99 percent.
By Dr. Mercola
When it comes to cancer, you probably want to do what you can to
avoid it. But how do you do that when it seems like everything
around you poses a cancer risk?
Here are seven important steps to removing the most obvious
cancer risks from your home.
They include checking for and removing: radon, nonstick-coated
pots and pans, makeup and personal care products with toxic
ingredients, BPA-lined cans and bottles, cleaning products and air
fresheners, toxic building materials, furnishings and household
cleaning supplies, as well as common pesticides and weed killers.
1. Check Your Home for Radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is formed from the
natural breakdown of uranium in the earth. Though you can't see it
or smell it, radon can enter your home through cracks in your
foundation, well water, building materials and other sources, where
it can contaminate the air you breathe.
Because radon is radioactive, it's also carcinogenic; radon
exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United
States, second only to smoking.
Any home, whether new or old, with a basement or
without, well-insulated or drafty, can have a radon problem; the EPA
estimates that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes has elevated levels.
Radon is measured in "picocuries per liter of air," or "pCi/L."
Outdoor air generally has radon levels of about 0.4 pCi/L, whereas
the average radon level indoors is estimated to be about 1.3 pCi/L.
While the U.S. Congress has set a long-term goal stating that indoor
radon levels should be no higher than outdoor levels, the EPA
recommends taking action only if your home's levels exceed 4 pCi/L.
This does not necessarily mean that 4 pCi/L is "safe," however,
as there really is NO safe level for radiation. Even the EPA admits
that lower levels can still pose a health risk, and you may want to
take precautions to further reduce the amount of radon in your
indoor space even if it's at or below 4 pCi/L.
Radon Testing and Remediation
Fortunately, testing your home for radon is simple, and if levels
are elevated there are ways to reduce them to protect your health.
There are a number of resources for test kits:
- If you'd like a certified technician to measure the radon
levels in your home or other indoor environment, you can contact
the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists.1
Testing costs from $100 to $300.
- You can also obtain information on certified technicians and
do-it-yourself testing from the EPA.2
State and regional information can be found there.
- The National Radon Program Services at Kansas State
University offers discounted test kits available to purchase
online.3
- Other do-it-yourself test kits for radon run between $20 and
$30 and can be purchased online and at your local hardware
store.
If your home has elevated radon levels, it's important to find a
qualified radon service professional to fix your home immediately.
Some U.S. states maintain lists of contractors that have met certain
qualifications for radon mitigation; your state radon coordinator
will have this information.4
There are also two privately run national radon programs that can
help you find a qualified radon service professional:
- The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)5
- The National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)6
Finally, Kansas State University maintains national radon
hotlines:
- National Radon Hotline: Purchase radon test kits by
phone.
1-800-SOS-RADON (767-7236)
- National Radon Helpline: Get live help for your radon
questions.
1-800-55RADON (557-2366)
- National Radon Fix-It Line: For general information on
fixing or reducing the radon level in your home.
(800) 644-6999
The cost of radon reduction measures depends on the size and
design of your home and the specific methods needed. Costs range
from $800 to $2,500, with an average cost of $1,200. Radon reduction
systems may be able to reduce your home's radon levels by 99
percent. There are a variety of ways to reduce radon levels in your
home, including:
- Sealing cracks in floors and walls
- Increasing ventilation through sub-slab depressurization
with pipes and fans
- Removing granite countertops if they are emitting high
levels of radon
- Replacing ionization smoke detectors with the photoelectric
type
2. Replace Non-Stick Cookware and Avoid Stain-Resistant Fabrics
About 70 percent of cookware sold in the United States contains a
non-stick coating that contains PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid)
and other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are used to make
grease-resistant food packaging and stain-resistant clothing as
well. Even though there are many names, if the item in question is
"non-stick" or "stain/grease resistant," it will have some type of
fluoride-impregnated coating that is best avoided.
Remember that non-stick cookware is perfectly safe to have in
your home as long as you decide never to heat the pan. At room
temperature there is virtually no release of fluoride into the air.
But of course the purpose of non-stick cookware is to heat it and
cook food, and that is when you run into problems.
It's well documented that when non-stick pans are heated the
coating begins breaking down, releasing toxins into the air in your
kitchen. When the pan reaches 680 degrees F (which takes about three
to five minutes of heating), at least six toxic gases are released.
At 1,000 degrees F, the coatings on your cookware break down into a
chemical warfare agent known as PFIB.
Research has revealed that these toxins can accumulate in your
blood at an alarming rate and may lead to chronic disease over time.
You can keep your exposure as low as possible by avoiding (or
getting rid of) products that contain PFCs. This includes:
Non-stick cookware (choose either ceramic or glass instead)
|
Microwave popcorn |
Packaging for greasy foods (including paper and cardboard
packaging) |
Stain-proof clothing |
Flame retardants and products that contain them |
Stain-resistant carpeting, and fabric stain protectors |
3. Clean Up Your Beauty Regimen
Women who use make-up on a daily basis can absorb almost five
pounds of chemicals into their bodies each year, so this is not a
matter to take lightly. Putting chemicals on your skin is actually
far worse than ingesting them, because when you eat something the
enzymes in your saliva and stomach help break it down and flush it
out of your body. When you put these chemicals on your skin however,
they're absorbed straight into your blood stream without filtering
of any kind, so the toxic chemicals from toiletries and beauty
products are largely going directly to your internal organs.
There are literally thousands of chemicals used in personal care
products, and only a tiny fraction of them have ever been tested for
safety. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health, nearly 900 of the chemicals used in cosmetics are known
to be toxic. It's impossible to list them all, but some of the most
common culprits to avoid include:
Please note that in order to avoid formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane,
you need to know what to look for as they're typically NOT listed on
the label; at least not in those words.
Common ingredients likely to contaminate products
with formaldehyde include: |
To avoid 1,4-dioxane, watch out for these
ingredients, which create 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct:
|
Quaternium-15 |
PEG-100 stearate |
DMDM hydantoin |
Sodium laureth sulfate |
Imidazolidinyl urea |
Sodium myreth sulfate |
Diazolidinyl urea |
Polyethylene |
|
Ceteareth-20 |
Fortunately, there are more natural cosmetics available today
than in years past. When it comes to personal care products, I like
to use this rule -- If you can't eat it, don't put it on your body.
Ideally, you'll want to look for the USDA's verified Organic seal. I
also highly recommend using the Environmental Working Group's Skin
Deep Cosmetic Safety Database7
where you can look up a wide variety of products and brands to find
out what they're really made of, and whether or not they're safe.
4. Avoid Canned Foods and Plastic Containers
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used component of plastic
containers and food packaging, such as the inner lining of cans,
despite the fact that more than 200 research studies show BPA is
harmful to human health. The use of BPA is so pervasive that
scientists have found that 95 percent of people tested have
dangerous levels of BPA in their bodies.
Avoiding canned foods is perhaps your best way to avoid BPA.
Recent research from the Harvard School of Public Health8
revealed that canned foods and beverages can increase your BPA
levels by a staggering 1,000 percent in a mere five days! The lead
researcher noted that given this new finding, canned goods may be an
even greater contribution to your BPA levels than plastics.
Interestingly, research has shown that you can help protect
yourself from the adverse effects of inevitable BPA exposure by
eating traditionally fermented foods, such as raw grass-fed organic
kefir,
fermented veggies, or taking a high-quality probiotic
supplement. These foods contain "friendly bacteria," some of which
have the ability to break down BPA, as well as reduce your
intestinal absorption of it.9
Naturally, avoiding sources of BPA is your best bet. Here are 10
tips to help reduce your exposure to BPA around the house:
Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby |
Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee mugs
rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups |
Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them
with glass varieties |
Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything
covered in it) |
Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic ones
|
If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of
the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the
dishwasher, and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as
these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your
food |
Store your food and beverages in glass containers |
Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse
osmosis filter instead |
IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food in a
plastic container |
Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or
your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it
does not contain BPA |
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your
food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with
the recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4
do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory
chemicals that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead).
5. Clean Out Your Cleaning Products
Research has found that breast-cancer risk is twice as high among
women who report the most use of
cleaning products and air fresheners, compared to those who
rarely use such products. While it is very difficult to prove that a
person's exposure to household cleaners over the course of 10, 20 or
30 years is what caused their cancer diagnosis, it is well known
that commonly used household chemicals do, in fact, cause cancer,
along with other serious health effects like reproductive and
developmental problems in developing children.
Mold and mildew cleaners and air fresheners have shown the
greatest correlation with breast cancer. Some of the chemicals of
greatest concern that you'll want to avoid include:
Synthetic musks |
Phthalates |
1,4-diclorobenzene |
Terpenes |
Benzene |
Styrene |
Phenol |
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) |
Formaldehyde |
Petroleum solvents |
Butyl cellosolve |
Triclosan (antibacterial) |
My top list of
cancer prevention strategies has always included reducing your
exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical
cleaners, and synthetic air fresheners. Fortunately, this is a
relatively easy task to accomplish.
For those times when you need to do a bit of cleansing, one of
the best non-toxic disinfectants is plain
soap and water. You can use this for washing your hands, your
body and for other household cleaning. Another all-purpose cleaner
that works great for kitchen counters, cutting boards and bathrooms
is
3% hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. You can also keep your home
very fresh and clean by making your own natural cleaning products
using items you probably already have around your home. Some more
tips for making simple and effective all-natural cleansers:
- Use baking soda mixed with apple cider vinegar to clean
drains and bathtubs, or sprinkle baking soda along with a few
drops of lavender oil or tea tree oil (which have antibacterial
qualities) as a simple scrub for your bathroom or kitchen.
- Vinegar can be used to clean almost anything in your home.
Try it mixed with liquid castile soap, essential oils and water
to clean floors, windows, bathrooms and kitchens. It can even be
used as a natural fabric softener.
- Hydrogen peroxide is safer to use than chlorine bleach for
disinfecting and whitening.
- Vodka is a disinfectant that can remove red wine stains,
kill wasps and bees and refresh upholstery (put it into a mister
and simply spray on the fabric).
For a great video on how to use these ingredients and other tips
for cleaning your home without hazardous chemicals, please review
the article
How to Keep Your Home Clean Naturally. If you really want to use
a commercial product, look for one that uses a natural base. To find
out about the ingredients in common household products, there's a
searchable database you might find helpful from Environment, Health
and Safety Online (EHSO)10.
6. "Green" Your Building Materials and Furnishings
The
building materials used in your home can be a major source of
toxic exposures of multiple kinds, from formaldehyde emissions from
pressed wood products, to VOC's from carpets and paints, just to
name a few. Your furnishings can also harbor toxic chemicals.
While paints have gotten a lot less toxic over the past 25 years,
most paints still emit harmful vapors, such as VOC's, formaldehyde
and benzene. These types of fumes can be released daily for about 30
days after application. Low levels can continue to leak into the air
for as long as a year afterward, so you'll want to make sure you
ventilate the area repeatedly. Another danger is lead-based paint,
which can be found in many homes built before 1978. Once the paint
begins to peel away, it releases harmful lead particles that can be
inhaled. In 1991, the U.S. government declared lead to be the
greatest environmental threat to children.
Fortunately, it's getting easier to find high-quality non-toxic
paints, also known as "low-VOC" or "no-VOC" paint. Both large paint
companies and smaller alternative brands now offer selections of
such paints. For a list of distributors and manufacturers, check out
healthyhomeplans.com11.
Also limit or eliminate exposure by carefully selecting non-toxic
carpeting, such as those made of wool, or opt for non-toxic flooring
like solid wood or bamboo instead. One of the primary hazards when
it comes to furnishings is flame retardants: polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDEs). These are commonly found in:
- Mattresses
- Upholstery, drapes and curtains
- Television and computer casings and circuit boards
Studies have linked PBDEs to learning and memory problems,
lowered sperm counts and poor thyroid functioning in rats and mice.
Other animal studies have indicated that PBDEs could be carcinogenic
in humans, although that has not yet been confirmed.
Your mattress may be of particular concern, as many contain not
only PBDE's, but also toxic antimony, boric acid, and formaldehyde.
Shopping for a safe mattress can be tricky, as manufacturers are not
required to label or disclose which chemicals their mattresses
contain. However, some manufacturers now offer toxin-free
mattresses, such as those made of 100% wool, which is naturally fire
resistant. There are also mattresses that use a Kevlar, bullet-proof
type of material in lieu of chemicals for fire-proofing. These are
available in most major mattress stores, and will help you to avoid
some of the toxicity.
7. Eat Organic and Tend Your Garden Without Harmful Chemicals
Many pesticides and herbicides are potentially carcinogenic, and
you may be exposed to them either via the foods you buy, or in your
own garden.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60 percent
of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides, and 30 percent of
insecticides to be carcinogenic, and most are also damaging to your
nervous system as well. Some of the pesticides/herbicides classified
as probable or possible human carcinogens by the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) include:
Chlordane |
Heptachlor |
Tetrachlorvinphos |
Carbaryl |
Propoxur |
Lindane |
Dichlorvos |
Phosmet |
Permethrin |
The answer, of course, is to opt for organically-grown produce
and organically-raised, pastured animal products, and using organic
or non-toxic gardening methods around your own home.
It's well known that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables
are often tainted with unacceptable levels of
pesticide residues, but you're also exposed when you eat animal
products. Animals raised in confined animal feeding operations
(CAFO's) eat feed full of pesticides, and these toxins accumulate in
their flesh and fat over the course of their lifetimes. When you eat
factory-farmed meat, you then ingest these accumulated pesticides.
As for fresh produce, certain fruits and vegetables tend to be
far more contaminated than others, simply because they're more
susceptible to various infestations and therefore sprayed more
heavily. Some foods are also more "absorbent," with thin, tender
skins.
Such foods would be high on your list for buying organic. The
Environmental Working Group (EWG) produces an annual shopper's guide
to pesticides in produce12
that you can download. It lists the produce with the highest and
lowest levels of pesticide residue, which can help save you money if
you can't afford to buy everything organic.
Fermented foods can be helpful here as well, as some of the
beneficial bacteria produced in fermented foods have been found to
help
detoxify organophosphorus insecticide. A 2009 study13
showed that during the fermentation of kimchi, the insecticide
degraded rapidly until day 3, and had degraded completely by day 9.
Four lactic acid bacteria were identified as being responsible for
the effect.
Finally, do not use synthetic pesticides in your home or garden,
or in the form of insect repellant, lice shampoo, pet sprays or
otherwise. There are safe and effective natural alternatives for
virtually every pest problem you come across.
For instance, boric acid powder is a very effective deterrent to
roaches and ants. Sprinkle some in the inner corners of your
cabinets and in the corners under your cabinets. Pests will carry it
back to their nests on their feet and kill the remainder of the
infestation. Boric acid is non-toxic for animals and only kills the
insects. Or, for a homemade garden spray that will discourage most
pests, use some mashed garlic paste combined with a little cayenne
pepper or horseradish. Add a small amount to a gallon jug of water
and let it sit for a day or two, shaking it occasionally. Just spray
a small amount onto a few leaves first to make sure it's not so
strong that it will burn them.
For more details on these types of natural solutions to pests of
all kinds, I recommend the book Dead Snails Leave No Trails
by Nancarrow and Taylor, or visit the website
BeyondPesticides.org14.
They have a section on do-it-yourself natural solutions to a wide
range of pest problems along with a resource to find pest management
companies that use non-toxic products.
This content may be copied in full, with
copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific
permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other
use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
© Copyright 1997-2012 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
|