Do Aerosol Air Fresheners leave air fresh?

Interesting, an article I read in Organic LifeStyles Magazine, under Household toxins by Raymond Francis. The following are some interesting excerpts:

We accumulate toxins from air, water,and food. Surprisingly, most of our toxic load comes from sources in our own homes. Indoor air pollution poses a serious threat to the health and safety of our families Indoor air is usually five time more polluted than outdoor air.

Common household products contribute some of the most dangerous chemicals. Enter the interesting information about aerosol fresheners. A new study in the Archives of Environmental Health looked at the effect of aerosol air fresheners and found formaldehyde and phenol are components of air fresheners that interfere with the ability to smell by coating nasal passages with an oil film or by releasing a deadening nerve agent.

Aerosol products, from air fresheners to cleaning products and shaving cream, contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can include known carcinogens such a benzene and known neurotoxin such as xylene. Studies have shown that within 26 seconds of exposure to such products, traces of these chemicals can be found in every organ in the body.

Daily use of air fresheners has been shown to cause adults to experience a 10% increase in headaches and 25% increase in depression. Infants living in these homes suffered significantly more earaches and were 32% more likely to suffer from diarrhea. The solution is simple: do not use aerosols, if you must, use them sparingly and with very good ventilation.

I always want you to know I am a glass half full person. My purpose here is to tell you it is time to pay attention to what we are using in our homes and businesses and to safeguard the air we breath. Since toxins seem to be unavoidable, we must take steps to reduce our exposure to toxins, nourish our bodies to fight off toxins and take saunas to detoxify our bodies.

To find out more, read the February March 2009 Issue of Organic Lifestyle magazine

Blue-Green Olympic Games

The topic for the US Green Building Council’s guest speaker this month was Greening the Olympics. Concept creators are calling the Olympics, Blue-Green Games. Blue for clean air and water and Green for parks and nature. If awarded the 2016 Olympic location, Chicago will run the games with 100% renewable energy, use 20% less water, and create carbon offsets to account for spectator and athlete air travel. 75% of the Olympic facilities will go away after the games and all buildings will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)standards.

The desire to go green is growing exponentially!

To learn more about the plan for Chicago 2016, visit www.chicago2016.org.

Change is comming, some will struggle, some will flourish

Remember reading in history books the story of John Henry? It was a story about a hard working laborer who cleared tunnels for laying rail way tracks. Supposedly one day a salesman arrived on site to demonstrate a new steam-powered drill that he claimed could outperform even the strongest man. A race was set up between the man and machine to see which could blast through the mountain the fastest. At first the machine was in the lead, then John Henry caught up and just before the finish line, John Henry took the lead! Yeah, great story only he died right after the race.

I told this story to remind you about how we have historically resisted change and yet change still comes. The story above introduced the Industrial Age. Yes jobs were lost because machines could do some things better than human beings. But remember, that just freed us up to reinvent ourselves and grow. And we have grown. Grown from the Agricultural Age, to the Industrial Age, to the Information Age to the new age that is finally upon us.

I have heard many names for the new age approaching but what ever you call it you can be sure it will be met with resistance from those who will struggle to acceptance for those who will see opportunity in every new day and flourish.

I hope you will be part of the people who flourish. If you would like to read more about the interesting time ahead, you may enjoy reading "A Whole New Mind" By Daniel H. Pink.

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