That couch you're sitting on could be making you sick

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My comment as posted on Forbes url:Posted by TeresaBinstock | 12/04/07 10:55 AM ESTWhen researchers focus upon a single toxin, they are likely to miss additional mechanisms of injury. Thus when based upon single toxins, the "safe level" concept is misleading. Every study thus far has identified numerous intra-body toxins in humans. Cumulative, additive, synergistic, and hormetic effects merit attention. Furthermore, myriad intra-body toxins work together to deplete nutrients necessary for detoxification and for immunity. Bottom line: the concept "safe levels of single-toxins" is outmoded. Its use allows toxin-induced injuries to continue.- - - -*Hidden Household Toxins*Rebecca Ruiz12.03.07, 6:00 PM EThttp://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health-

toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health .htmlThat couch you're sitting on could be making you sick.That's because there's a good chance it's been coated in polybrominated diphenylethers, or PBDEs <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_6. html>, a class of flame retardant chemicals, which are designed to slow a fire and provide adequate time for escape. They are included in household items from consumer electronics to upholstery to wire insulation to furniture foam. Though researchers have yet to determine what level of exposure in humans might cause negative health effects, animal studies have shown that high levels of exposure interferes with thyroid hormone, which is

essential for healthy brain development.It's not the only toxin likely hiding in your home. These harmful substances-- including mold <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_3. html>, lead <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_4. html>, radon <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health

_slide_9. html> and more complicated industrial chemicals like bisphenol A <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_11. html> and phthalates <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_10. html>--live nearly everywhere, including in our walls, plywood cabinets, videogame consoles, paint, air fresheners, water filter pitchers and couch cushions. In fact, pollutant levels indoors,

where 90% of our time is spent, may be two to five times higher, even 100 times higher, than outdoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.In Pictures: 10 Hidden Household Toxins<http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_2. html>It's impossible to rid one's home of all toxins. Still, vigilant awareness about the common signs of household toxicity, its sources and ways to address it can prevent short- and long-term health problems."There are a whole bunch of products on the market we don't know enough about," says Dr. Ted Schettler, science director for the Science and Environmental

Health Network, "but consumers can get involved."*Common Signs*Household toxins manifest themselves in varied ways. Mold, for example, can lead to upper respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing and asthma as well as itchy eyes, sore throat and skin irritation. Carbon monoxide <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_5. html>, on the other hand, produces no symptoms until it turns fatal. The health impact of lead poisoning for children has been well documented and involves slowed cognition and impaired memory.But figuring out whether an illness is being caused by a household toxin can be a complex task."You don't want to make people believe there's a ghost behind every tree,"

Schettler says of trying to diagnose the possible source of persistent symptoms. Since the symptoms can vary so widely, it's important to consider environmental factors like air quality, smoking habits and allergy-inducing products and animals in the home.One sure sign that a member of the family is suffering from home-grown toxins is if the symptoms clear up when he or she leaves.*Common Sources*Dr. Sarah Janssen, a physician and scientist for the* *National Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, says that she frequently sees patients complaining of symptoms related to toxic levels of mold, lead, formaldehyde <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_8. html> and tobacco

smoke <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_7. html>. The sources of these toxins are often easy to isolate: a leaking roof can cause mold, houses built before 1978 may have lead paint and plywood can off-gas formaldehyde.But while most people know that mold thrives in poorly ventilated and moist environments and indoor smoking worsens the air quality, fewer consumers know that toxic chemicals also lurk in everyday products purchased at the grocery store."People are beginning to realize that just because you can buy it at Target or Wal-Mart, doesn't mean it's safe," Janssen says. "You can't look at the label and know whether or not there are [toxins] in them."A 2007 study conducted by the National Resources Defense Council found that 12 of 14 different brands of household air fresheners contained phthalates, chemicals known to disrupt hormones and cause birth defects in male genitalia in animals. While the air fresheners posed no immediate risk to consumers, persistently high exposure levels can have long-term health risks, according to the NRDC.Janssen says that other common household items like plastic baby bottles and water filter pitchers contain bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen and has been linked in animals to infertility, enlarged prostates, abnormal chromosomes, obesity and insulin

resistance, a precursor to diabetes. Flame retardants <http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_6. html>, which are found in textiles, computer casings, sofa foam and other household items, have been shown to interfere with thyroid hormone, essential for healthy brain development.In The National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, the Centers for Disease Control's biennial study of Americans' exposure levels to 148 chemicals, it found 93% of the 2,400 people studied showed traces of bisphenol A intheir blood and urine and 95% of those studied showed traces of phthalates. The CDC plans to release a similar number for flame retardants in late December. Researchers at the CDC and elsewhere are presently conducting studies to determine at what level these industrial chemicals become dangerous to humans. As of yet, there is no guideline on recommended exposure level.*Taking Action*Creating a toxin-free environment may seem impossible since we're surrounded by so many chemicals, but Dr. Ted Schettler recommends starting with a mental walk-through of your property. Try thinking about how the home fares in terms of ventilation, paint quality, the heating system being used and potential levels of radon in the bedrock. The Web sites of the Centers for Disease Control <http://www.cdc. gov> and the Environmental

Protection Agency <http://www.epa. gov> offer guides for assessing indoor air pollution, lead poisoning prevention and regional radon levels.Also evaluate consumer purchases and consider trading in plastic items for quality wood or stainless steel versions. Contact the manufacturers of appliances, cabinetry and electronics when unsure of their chemical ingredients.An expanding market for organic and toxic-free furniture, clothes and consumer goods has also yielded healthier alternatives. Amie Nguyen, founder of the online retailer Earth Friendly Goods,* *says that one-half of her customers are looking for allergen-free items and the other half are exploring "green living." Clothes are the top-seller, but the site also offers latex mattresses, dining tables and CD holders. Though it's an expensive habit--a queen-size latex mattress sells for $2,049--Nguyen says the health benefits of lowering one's exposure to toxic chemicals at home are more important than cost."It's almost a vicious cycle," she says of learning about the seemingly endless number of toxins that surround us daily. "At some point you wish you could go back to being naïve."In Pictures: 10 Hidden Household Toxins<http://www.forbes. com/2007/ 12/03/health- toxins-household -forbeslife- cx_rr_1203health _slide_2. html>

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