I gave up my wall-to-wall carpeting because I got tired of cleaning it all the time. Even when we all took our shoes off at the door, the carpet never seemed clean. That led to a lot of vacuuming! And when it needed to be washed, which it did a couple of times a year, it actually made me sick. Many carpet cleansers contain volatile chemicals that cause serious allergic reactions. I got what I thought was the flu once when it was just a very serious reaction to the chemicals in the carpet cleaning solution.

(You can read all about it in “How Carpet Cleaning Almost Killed Me!“)

Once I decided to replace my carpeting with wood, I wanted the most eco friendly wood floor option available. I chose wood rather than tile because tile can get so cold; unless you’re in the tropics, tile is better suited for a bathroom or kitchen than a living room. Here’s something else I learned: wood offers seven times better insulation than ceramic tiles. That could save me money on my energy bill.

I didn’t want cork, either, because I was re-flooring my entire great room: a living room/dining room space that just wouldn’t work if it was all cork. Also, I had teenagers home at the time and I knew how hard they could be on floors.

Besides, I just liked the cozy look of wood flooring.

Now that I’ve gone through the process of re-flooring my space (pictured below), I wanted to share some tips with you if you’re thinking of doing the same thing. They’re brought to you by Lifestyle Flooring UK and Kährs, a European company committed to sustainability and PVC-free flooring. (Here’s another thing I like about Kährs: they have an entirely solvent-free production process to minimize the use and disposal of toxic chemicals during production).

Consider Using Reclaimed or Upcycled Wood Flooring – This is not the cheapest option by any means. But it’s among the most eco friendly. That’s because it uses wood that’s been reclaimed from an old barn, warehouse, house, even horse fence. (There’s a lot of wood reclaiming going on in some of Detroit’s neighborhoods, where a the city’s renaissance is leading to all kinds of usable goods being recovered from abandoned homes and buildings). It doesn’t involve new trees or the production of new wood.

Choose Wood From Forests That Meet FSC Standards – The Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, is an international group that promotes “environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests. responsible forest management.” FSC-certified forests are supposed to protect water quality, prohibit harvesting of rare old-growth forests, prevent loss of natural forest cover and prohibit use of highly hazardous chemicals. For example, FSC prohibits the use of the pesticide atrazine because it has been shown to cause water pollution and birth defects.

Look For Floors That Can Contribute to Your LEED Certification – LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED-rated buildings save energy, water, and resources, generate less waste, and support human health. Having a LEED-certified home increases its market value, too.

Avoid Wood Processed With Toxic Chemicals to Protect Your Indoor Air – Kährs, for example, uses a water-based lacquer system to reduce emissions. Other chemicals to avoid, especially in pressed wood flooring, are volatile glues and formaldehyde. Some flooring planks are made that allow the boards to mechanically lock together, rather than need glue.

Support Manufacturers The Minimize Waste –Kährs sends waste wood, saw dust, bark, and wood chips to a local energy company. It claims that around 6,150 Swedish homes per year heat their homes using recycled wood waste.

By the way, whatever floor you install, make sure to finish it with a zero VOC (volatile organic compound) finish. That way, you’ll avoid nasty fumes that could pollute your indoor air and make your sick. I used a water-based finish on mine and wasn’t sick for a minute!

Non-Toxic Wood Floor Care

Once you do install your floor, it’s easy to take care of in a non-toxic way. I’ve pulled together my five best suggestions for you in this post:

My Top 5 Secrets to Non-Toxic Wood Floor Care

Here’s a Final Recommendation: Recycle Your Carpet!

We found a facility near our home that would take all our carpet and recycle it into new materials. That was great, because most carpeting and padding can be recycled into new products. You can go here to find a place near you that will accept carpeting for recycling.

NOTE: Partnering with sponsors helps us bring you the expert content you need to lead the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own.

The post How to Replace Wall-to-Wall Carpeting With An Eco Friendly Wood Floor appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Nature and WildernessAlaska Wilderness League leads the effort to preserve wild lands and waters in Alaska. I’ve served on their board and worked with them on many campaigns to keep oil drilling out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Their work is particularly important right now, as the Trump Administration has set its sights on opening the refuge to drilling, which would destroy habitat for millions of animals, including calving caribou and denning polar bears.

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has successfully helped protect wilderness lands in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. I worked with them to help create the 2.3 million acre Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Now they’re battling to keep that region off limits to development, along with the gorgeous Bears Ears National Monument. If you love the wild, wild West, support SUWA!

Center for Biological Diversity proclaims their mission simply but boldly: Saving life on Earth. Right now, the group is fighting to protect elephants, wolves and bears, and make sure the effective Endangered Species Act is not abolished.

The Jane Goodall Institute works to inspire people to “conserve the natural world we all share,” thereby improving the lives of people, animals and the environment. “Everything is connected–everyone can make a difference.” I should note that Jane Goodall inspired me to become a conservationist when I was just a young girl. She continues to inspire and motivate me!

Climate Change

Moms Clean Air Force is mobilizing one million parents, especially moms, to help stop climate change, advance clean energy, and protect the air we breathe. I’m proud to say I’ve been a member for years, and have written dozens of articles for them on climate science, plastics and toxic chemicals, and more.

By the way, Moms Clean Air Force made my list of “5 Trustworthy Climate Change News Sources You May Not Know About.” What are the others?

Chesapeake Climate Action Network has devoted the last 10 years to fighting global warming, mountaintop removal, coal mining, and fracking while advocating for solar and wind power. They’re doing a great job protecting the nation’s Chesapeake Bay region and one of the most important estuaries in the United States.

Toxic Chemicals

Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families is leading the charge to protect families from toxic chemicals. In a recent major victory, they persuaded seven major retailers to commit to reduce their use of toxic chemicals in products and packaging. Yay!womens

Womens Voices for the Earth researches the impact that toxic chemicals in women’s hygiene and home cleaning products have on women’s health, then mounts campaigns to pressure manufacturers to clean up those products. They’re tackling some of the most toxic chemicals in the everyday products we buy – and helping to get rid of them!

Savvy Women’s Alliance is creating a national network of community chapters for people who want to live non-toxic lives. The group offers regular healthy living tips and many other resources to help you get off the bad stuff and onto the good stuff.

Family Planning

Planned Parenthood is on the list because they provide essential reproductive services and birth control that help limit population growth. Population growth has huge environmental impacts – more people mean greater demand for natural resources which leads to more consumption and waste. Climate change, water scarcity, air pollution are all linked to population growth. Planned Parenthood directly benefits women and Mother Nature both.

Environmental Justice

Dig Deep brings an essential natural resource to thousands of Americans who don’t have it: clean water. As hard as that is to believe, it’s true. Families living across the western US don’t have indoor plumbing or clean water to drink. Dig Deep is changing that by helping these communities dig wells and create low-cost systems that bring safe, hot and cold water into homes, schools and community centers.

I took Dig Deep’s 4 Liters Challenge and lived on 4 liters of water – only 1 gallon- for just one day. Could you do it? Read all about it here. 

Plastic Free

The Plastic Pollution Coalition is on a mission to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, and the environment. It’s mobilized a coalition of 500 member organizations, plus many individuals, that is working to find sustainable solutions to stop plastic pollution and empower you and me to list plastic-free.

Want to consider other organizations for Giving Tuesday? Check out Great Non Profits, a non-profit itself that makes it easy to find organizations doing good work on the issues you care about most.

You can skip to their list of environmental groups by clicking here.

Once you’re on the site, you can also easily find charities working to stop fracking, protect animals, safeguard clean water, and more.

Thanks for giving!

The post Can You Give to Just One of These 12 Eco Charities On Giving Tuesday? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Is it an exaggeration to urge you to
“March for Science to Save Your Life”?

It is not.

Anti-science agendas and policies are being forced on the American people by politicians and corporations that intentionally choose to deny the very scientific principles upon which our entire civilization is based.

Rather than work in good faith to protect us, many companies actively oppose laws, regulations and initiatives that would keep us safe from toxic chemicals, protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, and stop the climate change that threatens to send the entire planet into a tail spin.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, the internationally renowned astrophysicist, says in this compelling 4-minute video that when people who deny science rise to power, they concoct a “recipe for a complete dismantling of our democracy.” He is right.

Science has allowed us to build our economy. Stop disease. Grow food. Put a man on the moon. Invent electric cars.

You can read this digital article thanks to computer science. Binge on Netflix. Facetime with your friends and family.

You can buy organic food because soil scientists and the scientists who study pests and plant disease have figured out how to grow our fruits and vegetables without spraying them with cancer-causing chemicals.

You have clothes to wear, furniture to sit on, deodorant to keep you smelling sweet, and coffee to drink, all because some inventor somewhere along the way used science to create them.

Basically, any service you value, any health care you receive, any medical emergency you’ve survived, any work you do, are all possible because science made them possible.

And yet – the Trump Administration is now destroying
the science-based programs and projects that society desperately needs.

It started with one particularly symbolic move: the Administration eliminated the word “science” from the mission statement of its Office of Science and Technology Policy. Whaaa?

But it didn’t stop there. Whole programs that reduce pollution and rein in climate change are coming under attack.

Don’t Miss: Pope Francis Calls for “Revolution” to Stop Climate Change

Writing here in the Los Angeles Times, Denis Hayes, who convened the very first Earth Day in 1970, describes Trump’s insidious plan to defund scientific research and the agencies that are doing the most to protect the planet and human health.

Specifically, the Trump budget would:

• Decimate the ability of the National Institutes of Health to continue to come up with ways to fight the spread of infections diseases like ebola and zika.
• Cut the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research by 50%.
• Eliminate the Sea Grant Program, which helps us protect and sustain coastal ecosystems and restore the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay and other waterways.
• Kneecap the U.S. solar energy industry, even though, says Hayes, in 2016 solar energy was America’s largest source of new electricity-generating capacity and the U.S. solar industry employs 260,000 people, more than three times as many workers as the coal industry.

We cannot let attacks on science – and on the ability of the United States to benefit from scientific advances – go unchallenged.

And we won’t. On April 22, millions of people will March for Science in hundreds of cities all over the world. The March, say the scientists who are organizing it, is

“the first step of a global movement to defend the vital role science plays
in our health, safety, economies, and governments.”

I hope you’ll march, too. You can find your local march right here.

Join the #MarchforScience.

The post March for Science To Save Your Life appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Every year around Mother’s Day, my son and daughter (pictured with me, above) want to know what they can get me. I’m not big on buying a lot of presents, especially given how much stuff I already have. But I always make a point of telling them to skip anything having to do with cosmetics, fragrances, and other “fancy” personal care products. Why? Because I have no idea what they’re made of. That’s especially true after having watched The Human Experiment, a new documentary produced and narrated by Academy Award-winner Sean Penn.

Most chemicals circulating in our environment today have NOT been tested for their long-term impacts on human health. The Human Experiment film shines a very needed spotlight on the devastating impact untested chemicals can have on our health.

I was invited to attend the film’s premiere in Beverly Hills, thanks to Rachel Sarnoff of MommyGreenest.com and a long-time advocate of non-toxic living. Sean Penn introduced the film by noting how important it is for consumers to understand the health threats we face from living day-to-day with the more than 80,000 chemicals that circulate around us.

The documentary explains in heartbreaking detail how vulnerable we all are to toxic chemicals that companies are allowed to use until they’re proven dangerous. It tells the stories of three women whose lives have been turned upside down by what they believe are toxic chemical exposures. One young, fit and seemingly healthy woman can’t get pregnant. Finally, after fertility treatments, she conceives twins, but one of the babies is born so weak he cannot survive. Another women talks about the ways she thinks chemical exposures might have contributed to her brother’s autism. Another 30-something woman gets breast cancer – even though she takes good care of herself, eats right, is not overweight, and doesn’t smoke.

A study by the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) shows that American women put, on average, 168 different chemicals on their bodies each day, and many of those chemicals are dangerous.

According to EWG’s study, those chemicals are delivered via the soap, shampoo, body lotion, make-up, deodorant and even toothpaste we use. Most of us don’t give our personal hygiene regimens much thought. We do what we’ve always done: lather, rinse, repeat. And because we can buy the products we use online or at the store, we generally assume that they’re safe to use.

Unfortunately, that burden of proof usually falls on consumers. Most of us can’t afford to pay for the extensive testing required to prove whether the products we buy, and the chemicals in them, are safe.

That’s why two U.S. Senators, calling for toxic chemical reform, are pushing passage of the Personal Care Products Safety Act.

That’s also why BigGreenPurse.com encourages shoppers to shift their spending to the healthiest, safest products available. If you visit TheHumanExperimentmovie.com, make sure you click on Switch to Safer to see the safer products the film’s producers recommend. It will make a difference, not just to you, but to the manufacturers who need to change their ingredients lists. Rachel Sarnoff of MommyGreenest.com, agrees. “In America, consumers seem to be the only group forcing manufacturers to change. It’s only when shoppers demand cleaner alternatives that companies develop non-toxic formulations. And it’s working: The green chemistry market, which was assessed at $800 million in 2011, is projected to reach $2.7 billion this year.”

Yes, it’s ridiculous that you can’t really think about buying your mother (or spouse, or partner, or yourself) a bottle of perfume or some fancy make-up or even an afternoon at the spa without worrying that the chemicals in these “gifts” could make her sick. But right now, if you’re planning to shop for Mother’s Day, you’re probably better off choosing something other than personal care products.

No matter when you shop, shift your spending to products that do not contain some of the worst chemical offenders:

* phthalates

* diazolidinyl urea

* lead acetate

* methylene glycol/formaldehyde

* propyl paraben

* quarternium-15

And make sure you don’t miss The Human Experiment. You can download it on Vimeo here, or look for it at your local movie theater.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Non-Toxic Personal Care

How to Avoid Toxic Chemicals in Make-up When Pregnant

Is There Mercury in Your Mascara? Probably.

The post Mother’s Day Highlights Need for Toxic Chemical Reform appeared first on Big Green Purse.

There are 80,000 chemicals circulating in our environment. Only 5 have been banned, even though mountains of scientific evidence show just how vulnerable we are to most of the chemicals we encounter. Cancer. Learning disabilities. Birth defects. More and more proof exists that there is a link between these illnesses that ruin our lives and the chemicals we’re exposed to on a daily basis.

“The Human Experiment,” a stunning new film executive produced by Oscar-winner Sean Penn, promises to “life the veil on the shocking reality that thousands of untested chemicals are in our everyday products, our homes and inside of us.”

The film tells the personal stories of people who believe their lives have been affected by chemicals they encounter in every day life. The compelling narrative also takes viewers “to the front lines” as activists for a safer, healthier world go head-to-head with the powerful and well-funded chemical industry.

Through this movie, the activists bring to light a corrupt system that’s been hidden from consumers…until now. It also suggests ways each and everyone of us can fight back – with a message that’s near and dear to our Big Green Purse heart. By shifting our spending to the greenest products and services available, we can protect ourselves and our families, and send a powerful message to corporations that if they don’t clean up their act and phase out the use of toxic chemicals, they can count us out as customers.

“The Human Experiment” will available online starting April 17. It is also being shown in select theaters nationwide. You can order your own copy or take in a viewing here.

It’s definitely a “Don’t Miss!”

(Many thanks to Rachel Sarnoff at MommyGreenest for giving me the heads-up on this!)

The post Important New Film “The Human Experiment” Exposes Health Risks From Chemicals appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Dollar stores may be appealing because they’re so cheap. But according to a new report, they also sell many products made from components contaminated with toxic chemicals. Those products include toys, jewelry, school supplies, cosmetics and even kids’ pajamas.

Research done by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, a national coalition of more than 100 health, community and environmental justice organizations, found that over 81% of household items tested contained at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern.

That means that of 164 items tested, 133 of them could pose a health and safety hazard to the consumers who use them. The items tested came from 99 Cents Only stores, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar, the four largest dollar store chains in the U.S.

Toxic Dollar Stores Not Obvious

Big Green Purse has long advocated that consumers shift their spending to the greenest products available. The problem in these toxic dollar stores is that there is no way for consumers to know which products are “green” and which contain toxic compounds. So many products in the stores are contaminated that is is almost impossible for people to shop selectively. For example, even if a product might be relatively free of a dangerous chemical, it could be packaged in vinyl plastic or another material that is undesirable. Plus, dollar stores are often the only option for people on limited budgets, especially those living in rural communities.

The chemicals of concern tested for this report include:

√ phthalates, linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, cancer, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other health issues;

√ polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl), which creates hazards throughout its life cycle and has been linked to asthma and lung effects; and

√ toxic metals such as lead, which harms brain development, leading to learning disabilities, lower IQ, and other serious health impacts, especially in children.

The report also found that:

• 49% of products tested contained two or more hazardous chemicals above levels of concern;

• 38% of the products tested contained the toxic plastic PVC;

• 32% of a subset of vinyl plastic products tested for phthalates contained levels of regulated phthalates above the Consumer Product Safety Commission limit for children’s products.

Here is a sample of the test results conducted at all four major dollar store chains:

“Children are at greatest risk from exposure to toxic chemicals,” say the report’s authors, “because they eat, drink, and breathe more per pound of body weight than adults, their bodies do not process many toxic chemicals in the same way that adult bodies do, and children’s bodies are changing and developing rapidly.”

Babies, infants, and toddlers are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures during the first 1,000 days of life outside the womb. In addition to chemical exposures from personal care products and inhalation or ingestion, small children may also mouth or chew on toys or on other products. Many children crawl on, sit or sleep on, play with, or put into their mouths items that are not specifically toys or childcare products (and so may not be regulated for exposure to children).

The report’s authors note that rates of chronic diseases and health conditions linked to chemical exposures have risen sharply across the United States over the past several decades, especially for children. Some of the most striking increases are:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children increased by 50% from 1997–2010, and autism spectrum disorders increased by 1,000%;

• Leukemia in children increased by 55% between 1975 and 2005, and primary brain cancer in children increased by 39%;

• The prevalence of asthma in children has more than doubled (100% increase) since 1980;

• Major birth defects are now the leading cause of infant death; the rate of some birth defects are increasing, e.g. hypospadias (birth defect of the urethra in males) has doubled;

• Incidence of breast cancer in adults has increased by 40%;

• Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 25% more women in 2002 than in 1982; from 1982 to 1995, the incidence of reported difficulty almost doubled in younger women, ages 18–25.13.

The President’s Cancer Panel concluded in its 2010 report that “the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated.”

“The U.S chemical safety system that should ensure that chemicals used in commerce are safe is badly broken. In thirty-nine years since the passage of the federal law that should require chemicals used in consumer products to be safe (the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA), only
about 200 chemicals out of 80,000 registered for commercial use have been fully screened for health and safety, and only 5 chemicals have ever been restricted.

When passed into law, TSCA approved more than 60,000 chemicals that were in existence prior to 1976. The law allows chemical manufacturers to keep the ingredients in some chemicals secret—nearly 20 percent of the 80,000 chemicals are secret, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TSCA has failed to provide basic health and safety screening of most chemicals or protect public health from even the most hazardous chemicals, leaving consumers, manufacturers, and retailers to fend for themselves.

The Campaign for Healthier Solutions is urging that:

Discount Retailers adopt comprehensive chemical management policies to identify, disclose, and remove hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and from all products in their stores.

Local, State, and Federal Governments ensure that discount retailers comply with all relevant laws and regulations; and adopt public policies that require manufacturers and retailers to disclose hazardous chemicals in products and remove them when safer alternatives are available.

Families and Communities let Dollar store chains know that they want safer products, and join local and national efforts advocating for nontoxic products.

Big Green Purse recommends that, as an alternative to dollar stores, consumers purchase products from retailers like Wal-Mart and Target, which are making a stronger effort to stock and sell safer products. Even better, swap with neighbors and friends or buy gently used to reduce consumption overall.

You can read the full report from the Campaign for Healthier Solutions here.

The post Toxic Dollar Stores Are No Bargain appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Why Worry About Pesticides in Produce?

If you’d rather not eat pesticides in produce, take a look at this Shopper’s Guide prepared by Environmental Working Group (EWG). The Dirty Dozen part of the guide lists the 12 (plus 2) fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticide residue. The Clean Fifteen lists the produce that is least contaminated.

Apples that are grown conventionally, meaning the trees and blossoms and early fruit may be sprayed with toxic chemicals, have the highest amount of pesticide residue, with peaches and nectarines following close by. The analysis  was done by EWG scientists on samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to EWG, USDA tests found a total of 165 different pesticides on thousands of fruit and vegetable samples examined in 2013.

The Dirty Dozen list makes clear that, if you are going to shift your spending to organic food to protect yourself and your family as well as the planet, start with the fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated. The good news is that, in addition to the Clean Fifteen, there is a lot of organic produce to choose from.  

If you’re worried you can’t afford to buy organic, follow our guide to affordable organic eating here.

The post Pesticides in Produce? It Starts With Apples. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

5 Healthy Reasons to Choose a Green Mattress

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, there are at least five good reasons why choosing one that’s green makes sense.

#1 – Conventional Mattresses May Contain Toxic Glues and Chemicals – Conventional or synthetic mattresses are usually made from components that contain toxic chemicals that could affect you or your family to varying degrees.

Three of the most common are:

• VOCs – Petroleum-based polyester, nylon and polyurethane foam all emit VOCs, carbon-based compounds that can increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly chemically sensitive (as I am). Short-term exposure may irritate the eyes, nose or throat, cause headaches or nausea, and make people dizzy. Long-term exposure could cause cancer, liver or kidney damage, as well as problems with the central nervous system. Mattresses emit the most VOCs when they’re brand new, but they will continue to “off gas” for some time thereafter. If your mattress is 10 or 15 years old, it’s probably not emitting many VOCs at this point. But if you’re buying new, take VOCs into account.

• PBDE flame retardants. Mattresses made with synthetic foams, batting, or fabrics must be treated with flame-retarding chemicals to meet the federal open-flame flammability test. These “polybrominated diphenyl ethers” are “toxic to both humans and the environment,” says the U.S. EPA. While their use has been phased out by U.S. mattress manufacturers, mattresses made in foreign countries still may contain PBDEs. And the alternatives some U.S. companies are using may not be much safer than what they replaced.

• Organophosphate flame retardants. Flame-retardant chemicals in mattresses that contain any amount of polyurethane foam are called organophosphate chemicals. Unlike VOCs, these chemicals do not become gases. You won’t be able to smell them, and their concentration may increase over time, rather than decrease. The levels emitted are usually low. But since you’re spending so much time on your bed, and inhaling deeply when you sleep, it’s definitely an important consideration.

#2 – Conventional Mattresses May Pollute Indoor Air – The synthetic chemicals found in conventional mattresses easily “off gas” into the atmosphere.  Even if you’re not sleeping on a new mattress yourself, you could feel the effects once it’s in your home because you could potentially be inhaling the gasses emitted by your conventional mattress.

#3 – Conventional Mattresses May Get Moldy – All mattresses are prone to mold, since bodies sweat during the night and that sweat can penetrate the mattress. It’s a good idea to use a mattress protector, no matter what kind of mattress you have. Amerisleep says that the “breathability of our foam/cover helps manage moisture by keeping you cool.”

#4 – Conventional Mattresses Could Provide a Breeding Ground for Dust Mites – In the mattresses Amerisleep manufactures, says the company, the dense structure of the foam it uses makes it dust mite “resistant,” meaning that it’s more difficult for dust mites to nest and feed. By the way, beware companies that make claims that their mattresses are “dust mite free.” That is probably not possible.

#5 – Manufacturing and Delivery Make a Difference, too – When buying a mattress, think about it’s entire “life cycle,” in other words, how it was manufactured, what it is manufactured from, and even how it is delivered to a store or directly to you. For example, Amerisleep says it “uses a patented process for creating its foam called VPF (Variable Pressure Foaming). This helps the company avoid using chemicals like CFC/HCFC (which deplete the earth’s ozone layer), methylene chloride, and carbon dioxide,” which contributes to climate change. The company factory recycles essentially 100% of its internal waste. It also packages up the mattress in a roll rather than deliver it flat, which reduces its shipping fuel consumption, an average of 80%.

What To Look For Instead

There are no federal regulations or standards that a company needs to meet in order to claim its mattress is “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “natural.” Your best bet is to look for companies like Amerisleep that back up their green claims with the following information:

• Specific details on what the mattress is actually made of. Plant-based foam, untreated wool, organic cotton and natural latex derived from rubber trees are greener options than synthetic foams.

• Independent certification of its product claims. It’s always reassuring when a company backs up its green claims by showing that it’s met independent and meaningful environmental and health standards. That’s the difference between ‘green’ and ‘greenwashing.’

• Manufacturing location. Look for mattresses manufactured in the U.S. or Europe, where standards regulating use of toxic chemicals in mattresses may be more stringent than those manufactured in Asia or Latin America.

Note: Sponsored posts enable us to provide expert content at no cost to you. Thank you.

The post 5 Healthy Reasons to Choose a Green Mattress appeared first on Big Green Purse.

There are several different types of breast cancer. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America explains them clearly here. There are also many possible causes of breast cancer:

* Heredity plays a role in about 15% of women who get breast cancer. In other words, if your mother, sister, or aunt had breast cancer, you’re slightly more at risk for getting it, too.

* Long-term heavy smoking is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. You may believe that smoking only causes lung cancer. But it’s affects breast cancer as well.

* Toxic chemicals and endocrine disruptors in the environment are increasingly being linked to breast cancer and a variety of other health problems.  Endocrine disruptors are synthetic chemical compounds that mimic female hormones. They’re found in some plastics, feed that’s given to cows, and certain cosmetics and personal care products. Pesticides and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) could pose a breast cancer risk, too, says the American Cancer Society. (Here’s how you can avoid endocrine disruptors day-to-day.)

* Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can contract this disease as well, but it is 100 times more common among women than men, since women have more of the hormones that promote breast cancer cell growth.

Early detection starts with you. That’s why self-exams are so important. Pick a regular day each month so it becomes a habit to give yourself a breast check-up. Here are three ways to give yourself a breast self-exam that both BreastCancer.org and the National Breast Cancer Foundation recommend:

Lying Down:

* Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head.

* Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions, covering the entire breast area and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure.

* Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Remember: If you notice anything at all that strikes you as unusual, set up an appointment with your health care provider. She will probably ask you to come in for a clinical exam, and possibly a mammogram. If you do have breast cancer, you will have found it sooner rather than later.

In Front of a Mirror:

* Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides.

* Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples.

* Now, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Don’t be concerned that your left and right breasts don’t exactly match; few women’s breasts do. Look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes on each breast individually.

Again, if you feel or see anything that seems unusual, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

In the Shower:

* As the picture above shows, using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern. Move from the outside to the center.

* Check the entire breast and armpit area. Feel for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot.

* Check both breasts around the same time each month so you become familiar with your breast tissue and will be able to recognize anything out of the ordinary.

If you notice any changes, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider immediately.

I spend a lot of time here at Big Green Purse trying to raise awareness about ways to prevent cancer by reducing our exposure to toxic chemicals and pollution. But that’s only half the battle when it comes to breast cancer.

Stay well. Check your breasts!

RELATED POSTS

Report Links Breast Cancer to Environmental Factors

Shift Your Spending to Prevent Breast Cancer

Environmental Risks to Women’s Health

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STOP.

The icky white, foam-like material used in both coffee cups and carry-out boxes is made from styrene, a chemical fingered by the National Institutes of Health because it could cause cancer. How?

Studies conducted in laboratories suggest that exposure to styrene damages white blood cells, increasing the risk of contracting leukemia or lymphoma. Additional research suggests that exposure to styrene may raise the likelihood of pancreatic cancer or cancer of the esophagus among workers who either manufacture styrene or products that contain styrene.

Styrene foam is bad news for the planet, too. It takes a good 500 years to degrade. And in the meantime, it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces made of toxic oil-based polymers that pollute soil and water and may be consumed by birds, fish and other animals. Because it is so light, styrene foam is easily blown about, creating unsightly litter. Plus, styrene foam that has been used for drinks or food is not recyclable. Some packaging shops may accept foam packing peanuts for re-use, but no one is going to take a used coffee-stained foam cup.

Here’s How You Can Avoid Styrene Foam

1) Use your own reusable water bottle or coffee mug. Pretty much every truck stop, fast-food joint, and roadside stand I’ve ever been at has been happy to put my tea or coffee in my own mug rather than in one of their foam cups.
Be prepared when you travel by air. Most airlines still serve hot beverages in foam cups. Make sure you pack your reusable mug in your carry-on bag and pull it out when you take your seat so you can easily hand it to the flight attendant when food service gets underway.

2) Skip vending machines that dispense hot coffee, tea, chocolate or soup in a foam cup. The same goes for vending machines and carry-out restaurants that serve hot soup in a foam cup.

3) If you’re throwing a party, use reusables, or even paper products, rather than foam. You can get heavy-duty paper cups for hot drinks and paper plates instead of foam. What I’ve done over the years is invest in reusable cups, plates, cutlery and napkins. I can now accommodate up to 40 people if necessary without having to buy a single foam or throwaway cup.

4) BYOC – If you want to take left-overs home from a restaurant, bring your own containers with tight-fitting lids. Alternatively, ask your server to wrap your leftovers in aluminum foil rather than foam.

5) Avoid instant food like ramen noodles and some soups that come in a foam bowl that you’re supposed to microwave to heat up. The last thing you want to do is eat food that could be contaminated by toxins that leak out of styrene when it’s microwaved.

6) Think ahead. The reason why we consume so much food out of foam containers is that we’re not in the habit of bringing our own safer alternatives. You have gotten used to taking your own shopping bags to the grocery store, right? Make it routine to bring your own cup, mug, or reusable doggie bag.

And just say NO to styrene.

WANT TO GET ONE NOW?

We’ve found a few reusable, stainless steel mugs that are lightweight but well-insulated to keep hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold. We’ve listed them in our Amazon store for your convenience.

One I particularly like is this stainless steel cup that even comes with its own stainless steel straw.

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The post 6 Ways to Avoid Styrene Foam, Skip Cancer appeared first on Big Green Purse.