Blog: Organizing For Special Needs
Living In a Chemical World

In the past 4 decades a woman's risk of getting breast cancer or thyroid problems have greatly increased. We are surrounded by items which are the marvel of modern science.

The items we live with are no longer wool rugs, horsehair mattresses, and simple wooden houses and floors. We walk on synthetic carpets, drink out of plastic cups, and sleep on mattresses that contain fire retardants, which are readily found in women's breast milk. We rub perfumed lotions on our babies and ourselves, unaware that they contain products which can mimic the hormones our own bodies produce. We try to keep a clean house by spraying surfaces with the strongest chemicals, when just soap and water and a little elbow grease will do the trick.

Many of us are overwhelmed by the new information coming out.

 "Oh well, everything causes cancer, there's nothing I can do about it."
 
We are not powerless, and being aware doesn't mean living in fear, it means being educated and able to make choices which can improve our lives, and the lives of our children.

No one wants to live in a bubble, so what can we do?

BE OPEN TO EDUCATION

      I was married to a man who liked his cologne. I would get the classic headache, sore throat and burning eyes which is a common response to chemicals. Early on I would say, "Please, could you wear a bit less cologne? It really bothers me." He took a defensive position and said, "No one else has ever complained."  

Be aware that most people are not in an intimate enough position to let you know if you are poisoning the air around you while trying to increase your allure. Know that the people who are suffering can't ignore the problem, and would like to interact with every human without a chemical drape separating them from others.

The European Union only allows additives in it's body care products which have been
PROVEN safe (our skin absorbs what we put on it).

In the United States we allow any additive unless it has been PROVEN harmful.
This is very hard to do when each product can have dozens of ingredients. The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes over 4,000,000 ( four million) chemical compounds.

Just type  multiple chemical sensitivities into your  browser and you will find tons of information. We are learning that chemical sensitivity can start with a big exposure such as wartime or disaster (Agent Orange, Gulf War Veterans, Twin Towers collapse), or by a lifetime of long term chronic exposure which happens to all of us in some form.

My mom had two beloved Shnausers who would sleep all day in the sun room while she was at work. The sun room is where all of the pesticides to kill the spiders were kept. As I walked through to the pool I was acutely aware of the odor, and would try not to breath too much. The oldest dog developed a seizure disorder, and no one thought about environment being a factor- but if you look up the neurological affects of pesticides, seizures are pretty high on the list. The smaller our bodies, the bigger the impact of chemicals.

LEARN WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING ON YOUR BODY

All of those good deals on bath baskets, and cosmetics, may not be worth it when you look at the impact. For someone who has been sensitized to chemicals, opening up your bathroom cupboard can be an overwhelming experience.
Go to the Skin Deep website to look up your body products. You can type Skin Deep into your browser, or go to www.cosmeticdatabase.com.  It is a well done site, which teaches about all of the additives, and rates your cosmetics for their safety or risk to your health based on ingredients.
What an eye opener!

Read about how many companies are signing The Compact for Global Production of Safe Health and Beauty Products, pledging to eliminate unhealthy additives in their body care products
(Aveda refused, saying they had higher standards...but several of their products can be found in the "high concern" category). The term natural is used very loosely, and most companies know it sells, so be aware of marketing that is not 100% true.

Come back next week for practical ways to improve your environment.

Lisa Alishio, COTA/L

Clarity Home Consulting

Live Well in Your Home

posted on: 1/30/2008 12:30:00 PM by Lisa Alishio
category: Special Populations

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Organizing For Special Needs

by Lisa Alishio

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About Lisa:

Lisa Alishio, COTA/L, is a professional organizer with a background in pediatric and adult occupational therapy. Her intention is to help people of all ages and abilities to "Live Well in their Home".

Lisa's Website:

clarityhomeconsulting.com