Is your carpet toxic?

Carpet can serve great purposes like keeping your room warm or making it pretty and colorful. “Over 60% of homes in the USA have carpeting” (Natural Living). Children love carpet. Infants crawl on them and people seem to have a thing for that ‘new-carpet smell’. Little do we know, we are being poisoned by the chemicals, allergens and toxic dust in our carpets.

Did you know that your carpet can hold 8 times it’s weight in toxin filled dirt? 

– Natural Living

According to an article in Natural Living, older carpets are so toxic that your chances of being exposed to hazardous chemicals are 10-50 times higher in a carpeted room than outdoors. If the carpet is plush or shag, your risk increases substantially. Not only do they contain the chemicals banned from more recent production, they also have had years to accumulate pounds of dust mites, dirt, pesticides and other toxins brought in on shoes, feet and pet’s paws.

The article goes on to say that new carpets contain ‘volatile organic compounds’ VOC’s. These include toluene, benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene, acetone and many other chemicals, some of which have already made the EPA’s list of Extremely Hazardous Substances. P-Dichlorobenzene, a known carcinogen is in new carpets, and there are also chemicals that have shown to produce fetal abnormalities in animals. Hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness are just some of the effects that these chemicals cause in humans. Let’s all say it, “That’s bad for you.” So learn how to reduce your exposure to toxic carpets!

Arsenic in rice? NO!!!!

I love rice! I love it covered with gravy or a stew, fried, steamed, whatever! There’s so many options for rice and its guaranteed to fill you up. Rice makes up the main food source for almost half of the world’s population. It also has various health benefits. No doubt that this is an extremely important crop. It is devastating to know that while I am enjoying fluffy rice, I may be at risk for cancer.

According to an article in Fooducate.com, Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the soil.  However, inorganic arsenic is found in the soils that were contaminated by arsenic based pesticides and fertilizers, industrial districts or mining areas, municipal waste, or contaminated water. Not all rice is contaminated, however, “76% of all rice grown in the US comes from areas where inorganic arsenic is an issue.” – Fooducate.com

According to the EPA, “the ingestion of inorganic arsenic can lead to cancer of the  skin, bladder, liver, and lung.  There are no studies of low levels long term arsenic exposure in food; however studies relating to low level arsenic exposure  in water have shown increased likelihood of diabetes type II and poor neuro-psychological functioning.” Three letters: B.A.D.

What can you do ?

First, learn how you can reduce your Arsenic intake from eating rice.  Second, sign the petition asking the FDA to regulate arsenic in rice and spread the word to your family and friends! DO NOT wait!