After years of resolving to make my home healthier, I finally did it! I researched which household products you need to replace and here are some of my recommendations for the top offenders:
Pots and Pans: Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also known as “forever chemicals” are a group of man-made chemical compounds that repel water, dirt, oil, and grease and includes teflon. Replace your scratched non-stick pans with ceramic or stainless steel pans. I chose Caraway brand; GreenPan is a good choice too for ceramic pans. Many brands make stainless steel options, but they aren’t non-stick.
Crib Mattresses: There is emerging research that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in synthetic foam mattresses are released from crib mattress and can cause airway irritation in babies. It’s not proven, but there is some evidence or concern that this may be one of the causes of SIDS or “crib deaths.” These chemicals increase in the environment when the mattress gets warmer while the child is sleeping on it. I recommend mattresses without these harmful chemicals. Naturepedic makes great crib mattresses, but they are more expensive. I like the Moonlight Little Dreamer Crib Mattress too.
Sunscreens: The chemicals we put on our skin that act as ultraviolet filters are absorbed into our skin and there is evidence of effects on brain and breast tissues in animal models, though human data is not available yet. For now, mineral-based sunscreens containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are recommended instead because they aren’t absorbed. For everyday, I like EltaMD UV Clear – it has clean ingredients and has vitamin B3. For kids I like the Kiss my Face products.
Cleaners: There are so many chemicals you should avoid that I can’t list them here. The most concerning ingredient in this category, and the chemical that has been studied the most is triclosan. It first appeared in hospital disinfectants and then moved into household cleaners. It is known to interfere with estrogen and thyroid hormone function, and there is strong evidence it increases the likelihood that a human will have an allergy in their airway and more likely to have asthma after exposure to triclosan. Choose household cleaners without triclosan and triclocarban and avoid artificial fragrances. Read ingredients and don’t buy ones that list perfume or “parfum” on the label.
A better choice is to make your own cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and Castile soap. Just search the internet to find recipes for clean homemade cleaning products – there are lots of good options. And you can buy your own spray bottles. You can also limit your exposure by reducing the total number of cleaning products you use, this will reduce the range of chemicals you may be exposed to.
Drinking Water: Check your local water authority (in California check here). Some states, but not all, require testing for the presence of several PFAS and they have to report elevated levels. However, not all states do this. If your local level is high, buy PFAS-free bottled water for drinking and mixing baby formula. I’d recommend buying bottled water that contains fluoride to protect your kids teeth or talk to your dentist or pediatrician about fluoride treatment. You can also get a water filter for your home. Reverse osmosis filters remove these chemicals.
When you are choosing household cleaners and even make-up products and air fresheners, look for labels that say non-toxic, biodegradable, phthalate-free and fragrance free. That’s the best way to avoid these chemicals that we know cause health problems.
The long-term cumulative effects of exposure to PFAS, phthalates, and other endocrine disrupting compounds in consumer products are subtle and may be missed because they are what we call “the fetal basis of adult disease” which means our exposures even as early as when we are in the womb lead to disorders much later in life.
The government has been slow to act to protect us, largely because the regulatory methods in place take a long time, so it’s really up to you as an individual to buy products thoughtfully and to share this information.
