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<DIV>Thanks for posting Deborah</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ask any serious owner of pet birds what they use for cleaners.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Those of us that have parrots in our lives are all too familiar with the
danger of non-stick coating on cookware as well. This extends beyond the
standard small frying pans that are common and into bakeware, as well
as inside your oven (when using the self-cleaning mechanism). </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The old adage about canary in a coal mine is also a good indicator for
toxicity to birds from a frying pan. If exposure to fumes from a heated
non-stick pan can kill a healthy parrot nearby in a few minutes....its a safe
bet its not so good for our lungs either.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tom Badrick</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 9/1/2009 7:09:49 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
Deborah.DeBiasi@deq.virginia.gov writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/28/AR200908<BR>2803191.html<BR><BR>You
Can Avoid Hazardous Chemicals<BR><BR>Tuesday, September 1, 2009
<BR><BR><BR>Everyday products can expose you to potentially hazardous
chemicals,<BR>some of which can accumulate in your body. As revealed in a
published<BR>study, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention<BR>have now detected 212 of those chemicals in the blood or urine
of some<BR>2,500 volunteers. Here are some potential problems associated
with<BR>common household items, as well as Consumer Reports' recommendations
for<BR>less-toxic alternatives. <BR><BR>Air fresheners<BR><BR>They can emit
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as petroleum<BR>distillates and
d-limonene. Both compounds can irritate the skin, and<BR>petroleum distillates
can bother eyes and the respiratory tract.<BR>Additionally, many air
fresheners contain synthetic fragrances that have<BR>compounds called
phthalates. Some phthalates are linked to hormonal<BR>abnormalities, birth
defects and reproductive problems. <BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Try getting rid
of the source of the odor, rather<BR>than masking it with an air freshener,
and leave an open box of baking<BR>soda to absorb any lingering smells. If you
must use an air freshener,<BR>do so only in well-ventilated spaces or consider
natural fragrances,<BR>such as herbs and spices boiled in water or wooden
sticks dipped in<BR>natural oils. <BR><BR>Bathroom and kitchen
cleaners<BR><BR>Drain openers can contain sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid,
which can<BR>harm eyes, lungs and skin. Also, scouring powder can contain
chlorine<BR>bleach; bleach should never be mixed with other cleaners
because<BR>together they can form toxic gases. Further, potassium hydroxide
and<BR>sodium hydroxide, which are found in some oven cleaners, can
irritate<BR>eyes, lungs and skin. <BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Try a plunger,
plumber's auger or snake to unclog<BR>drains. To clean stains on tiles and
glass, make a paste of baking soda<BR>and water. Use the paste with steel wool
or a nylon scrubbing pad to<BR>clean your oven. And you can add salt to the
mixture for extra abrasion<BR>power when tackling tough stains.
<BR><BR>Carpets<BR><BR>New carpets as well as the adhesives used to install
them can emit VOCs.<BR><BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Air out new carpeting by
opening windows and running<BR>a fan for a few days. Moreover, prior to
installing new carpet, ask for<BR>low-VOC, formaldehyde-free adhesives.
<BR><BR>Dry-cleaned clothing<BR><BR>It can release perchloroethylene (perc), a
probable human carcinogen. <BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} First, consider "wet"
cleaning, a dry-cleaning<BR>service that does not use perc. But when you must
dry-clean, hang items<BR>near an open window to air them out. <BR><BR>House
paints and paint removers<BR><BR>Paints can spread VOCs. Also, methylene
chloride, which in lab tests<BR>causes cancer in animals, is found in aerosol
paints and paint removers.<BR><BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Choose low-VOC
paints. Paint in well-ventilated<BR>rooms, and wear a face mask or respirator
if you are particularly<BR>sensitive or have underlying breathing problems
such as asthma. <BR><BR>Pest control<BR><BR>Roach pesticides can contain
organophosphates and carbamates. These<BR>substances are neurotoxins, which
can cause headaches, nausea and<BR>tremors. Rodent killers aren't any better:
They often contain warfarin,<BR>a chemical that can cause internal bleeding.
<BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Try roach traps that use bait made from
slow-acting<BR>poisons or compounds that interfere with a pest's reproductive
system.<BR>These products are extremely targeted, stay in a specific area
and<BR>aren't sprayed, which can cause more inadvertent exposure
than<BR>necessary. For rodents, try such preventive measures as sealing
entry<BR>points where rodents can creep in. If they've already infiltrated,
set<BR>ordinary mousetraps. <BR><BR>Plastic products<BR><BR>New plastic
products, including computer casings made with polyvinyl<BR>chloride, can emit
phthalates. Additionally, they can release<BR>polybrominated diphenyl ethers,
flame-retardant chemicals that are<BR>linked to neurological changes in
animals. <BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} If the smell is strong, ventilate the
area until the<BR>chemical odor dissipates. And on a regular basis, vacuum
around<BR>computers, printers and televisions to remove particles that shed
from<BR>the plastic and stick to dust. <BR><BR>Pressed-wood and upholstered
furniture<BR><BR>Some glues in pressed wood as well as wrinkle-resistant
fabrics can<BR>release formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen that can cause
allergic<BR>reactions and bother the eyes, nose and throat.
<BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Put existing furniture in well-ventilated areas
and,<BR>when shopping for new items, look for formaldehyde-free
furniture,<BR>upholstery and wood products. <BR><BR>Wood
cleaners<BR><BR>Furniture cleaners can give off VOCs, and some polishes
contain naphtha.<BR>Naphtha can induce headaches and nausea, and can cause
problems in the<BR>central nervous system. <BR><BR>ALTERNATIVES {vbar} Wear
gloves and make sure the room is<BR>well-ventilated when using furniture
polishes. In particular, when<BR>cleaning wood floors, consider mixing one cup
of vinegar into a pail of<BR>hot water for a nontoxic cleaning alternative.
<BR><BR>Copyright 2009. Consumers Union of United States Inc.
<BR><BR><BR><BR>Deborah L. DeBiasi <BR>Email:
Deborah.DeBiasi@deq.virginia.gov (NEW!)<BR>WEB site address:
www.deq.virginia.gov <BR>Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
<BR>Office of Water Permit Programs <BR>Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics
Management Program <BR>PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents <BR>Mail:
P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218 (NEW!)
<BR>Location: 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219 <BR>PH:
804-698-4028 <BR>FAX:
804-698-4032 <BR><BR><BR>---<BR>Note: As a courtesy to other listserv
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pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="52e484179d2a917cb56e0a2af7defbaf"><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/></font></DIV></BODY></HTML>