20Feb 2019 by Angela Cummings
8 Ways to Choose a Shirt with a Nontoxic Design

8 Ways to Choose a Shirt with a Nontoxic Design

Blog, Clothes & Textiles
There are several factors to consider when choosing a nontoxic shirt. Shirt design is one of them. What’s it made of? And is it affecting your health? Want to know which shirt designs could be affecting health and 8 simple ways to choose a shirt with a nontoxic design? Keep reading! What are Shirt Designs Made Of? Shirt designs can be made of a variety of materials. Here are a few of the most popular ones. Vinyl Shirt graphics and pictures can be made of a thin layer of vinyl. Vinyl allows for the design to flex so that the shirt follows your movements, bending when you bend. How to know of your shirt has vinyl: If you run your fingers over the design and feel a texture change (a…
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14Feb 2019 by Angela Cummings

Reference: PFAS and phthalate chemical exposures early in life may hamper kids’ lungs

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: Environmental Health News Reference type: Article Date of study or article: February 6, 2019 Summary: Studies show that children exposed to parabens, phthalates and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) while in the womb and as newborns had reduced lung function when tested at 6 and 12 years of age. Notable quotes: “Children exposed to three different chemical classes — parabens, phthalates and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—before birth and shortly after had reduced lung function at 6 and 12 years old, according to a study released today.” …." we could "help to prevent lung function impairment, which in turn should prevent the development of chronic respiratory disease in adulthood."  Link to reference material: https://www.ehn.org/pfas-and-phthalate-chemical-exposure-early-in-life-may-hamper-kids-lungs-2628082014.html
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14Feb 2019 by Angela Cummings

Reference: More bad phthalate news: Early life exposure linked to decreased motor skills

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: Environmental Health News Reference type: Article Date of study or article: February 11, 2019 Summary: When exposed to phthalates during prenatal years and 3-years old, children can have decreased motor skills. These decreased motor skills are seen when tested at 11 years old –in boys and girls. This is only one of several long-lasting impacts of phthalates on children. Notable quotes: "As lower scores on measures of motor development have been associated with more problems in cognitive, socioemotional functioning and behavior, the findings of this study have implications related to overall child development," the researchers wrote in the study published online in Environmental Research. "This is a crucial public health challenge given the globally ubiquitous nature of phthalates," they added. The chemicals have been linked to multiple health problems, including…
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12Feb 2019 by Angela Cummings
6 Ways to Find Clothes with a Nontoxic Finish

6 Ways to Find Clothes with a Nontoxic Finish

Blog, Clothes & Textiles
Did you know that even organic clothing can have harmful chemical finishes? With more than 8,000 chemicals used in the textile industry, is a wonder: how many chemicals are in your clothes? Incomplete information and clothing tags without all ingredients listed leads to poor buying choices – buying clothing we think is free of harmful chemicals but in actuality is not. We’ll cover the biggest challenges and 6 ways to find clothes with nontoxic finish. What's The Biggest Challenge of Finding Clothes With Nontoxic Finish? Not all finishes are achieved with toxic chemicals. For example, “wrinkle-free” can be achieved by spinning thread differently. This makes it difficult to know if wrinkle free means that clothes have a nontoxic finish or a chemical finish. So, we take it one step further:…
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07Feb 2019 by Angela Cummings

Organic Lifestyle Made Easy: How to Create a Chemical-free Household One Step At A Time

Reference Document (study or article)
RESOURCE LIST Books Borges, Marco. The 22-Day Revolution. New York: Celebra, a division of Penguin Group, 2015. Carr, Kris. Crazy Sexy Diet. Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press, 2011. Gushee, Sophia Ruan. A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. New York: The S File Publishing, LLC, 2015. Reports & Studies Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. “Health Effects of Chemical Exposure.”Accessed February 7, 2017. doi: CS214865-D https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/emes/public/docs/Health%20Effects%20of%20Chemical%20Exposure%20FS.pdf Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. “Chemicals, Cancer, and You.” Accessed December 12, 2015. doi:CS218078A https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/emes/public/docs/Chemicals,%20Cancer,%20and%20You%20FS.pdf Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR). “Module Two, Routes of Exposure.” Training Manual. Accessed January 19, 2018. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/training/toxmanual/pdf/module-2.pdf Breast Cancer Fund. “Disrupted Development: The Dangers…
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07Feb 2019 by Angela Cummings
8 Common Labels for Toxic Finish on Clothing: Does Your Organic Clothing Have It?

8 Common Labels for Toxic Finish on Clothing: Does Your Organic Clothing Have It?

Blog, Clothes & Textiles
When you buy clothes made of organic clothing, do you assume it’s fully organic? Or do you wonder, “is there a toxic finish on this clothing”? It’s a common mistake: thinking that organic cotton or natural wool (and other organic material) is made purely of nontoxic ingredients. In this article, we’ll explain what is toxic finish, 8 common names for toxic finishes, and the easiest ways to find organic clothing without a toxic finish. What Is a Toxic Finish on Clothing? First, things first. What are finishes? Finishes are applied after the dying process, as one of the last steps in production. It goes: make the material, add dye, and add finish. These finishes, made with synthetics, are typically referred to as “synthetic finishes.” Synthetic finishes Similar to synthetic material,…
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31Jan 2019 by Angela Cummings

Is Dye Toxic (& What 12 Products Have It)?

Blog
You’ve likely heard of food dyes, such as Red 40 or Yellow 5, being toxic. But is dye toxic in other products? Today, more than 7,000 different substances are used to give color to products produced commercially. In this article, we’ll explain what synthetic dyes are, health effects, and 12 places these toxic dyes can be found. What Are Synthetic Dyes? Of the over 7k substances, many are “synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene, benzene, and naphthalene. Hydrocarbons are derived, typically, from coal tar.” What does this mean to the everyday consumer (you and I)? That man-made chemicals, combined with refined crude oil (the stuff that comes from the ground that gasoline is made of), are in our everyday products. Is Dye Toxic To People or Harmful To Our…
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31Jan 2019 by Angela Cummings

Reference: Benzene (chemical)

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry Reference type: Toxic Substance Portal Date of study or article: Accessed January 28, 2019. Last updated March 3, 2011. Summary: Benzene affects the immune and nervous systems (two of our organ systems), plus affects the Hematological system (responsible for blood cells, bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes). It is known to be cancer causing in humans – a statement that the National Toxicology Program (NTP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) agree on. Benzene is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC). It’s a colorless chemical with a sweet odor that is highly flammable. It’s formed from natural processes and human activities. Plus, it’s a natural part of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke. “It ranks…
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30Jan 2019 by Angela Cummings

Reference: The Synthetic Dye Collection

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: Florida State University Reference type: Website page Date of study or article: Accessed January 22, 2019. Last modification: Monday, March 01, 2004. Summary: The synthetic dye industry didn’t develop until the mid-nineteenth century. Prior to that, natural dyes, primarily from plant sources, were mostly used. Today, more than 7,000 different substances are used to give color to products produced commercially. Many of these substances are “….synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene, benzene, and naphthalene.  Hydrocarbons are derived, typically, from coal tar.” Although synthetic dyes were originally developed for the clothing industry, they are now commonly used in paint, printing ink, plastics, rubber and cosmetics. This website mentions a few dying techniques. Notable quotes: “Unlike pigments, dyes are absorbed to a certain extent by the material to which…
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30Jan 2019 by Angela Cummings

Reference: What is the Hematological System & What Chemicals Affect It?

Reference Document (study or article)
Source name: Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry Reference type:  Toxic Substance Portal Date of study or article: Accessed January 28, 2019. Last updated March 3, 2011. Summary: The hematological system is also known as the blood forming system. It involves blood cells and tissues that form them (bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes). The system is responsible for carrying oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the over 100 trillion cells in our bodies. It also removes waste and carbon dioxide from our cells and body. This page includes a list of chemical substances that affects the hematological system. Notable quotes: “The blood cells (erythrocytes, granulocytes, and platelets) and the tissues that form them ((bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes) make up the hematological system.” Link to reference material: ATSDR…
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