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Healthy World Watch November 6th, 2009
Kathryn Meigel
Friday, November 06, 2009
Top Tips
- Concerned about how much chlorine is in your tap water? Mom Goes Green has one simple and free tip to eliminate the worry, leave the water out. Haven’t purchased a water filter yet, here are some options.
- Finally an opportunity to ditch those old holiday lights! Home Depot is hosting an event to bring in your used lights and save on purchasing new energy efficient LED lights. A similar exchange is also offered on power drills.
- Looking into greening your household cleaning routine? The Mindful Momma lists the three most toxic cleaning products that you should replace first.
Recent Research
- Research shows pesticide-free homes can be bug-free, too; 'Good housekeeping' is more effective than insecticides. A single use of such techniques in 13 New York City apartment buildings eliminated substantially more cockroaches and mice than repeated professional applications of pesticides in other buildings, according to a new study by the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Columbia University and the New York City Housing Authority. In addition, asthma-triggering allergens related to cockroaches were between 40 and 70 percent lower in the residences using preventive techniques than those using standard insecticides, according to the study.
- Researchers link asthma risk to folic acid during pregnancy. Babies born to women who have taken folic acid supplements during their pregnancy are up to 30% more likely than other children to develop asthma, researchers have found. However, while intake of folic acid supplements in later pregnancy was potentially problematic, intake of folate – the natural form of folic acid – through consumption of green leafy vegetables, certain nuts and fruits involved no risk. Nor did folic acid intake in early pregnancy.
- Arsenic makes good cells go bad. Exposure to arsenic causes human stem cells to transform into cancer cells, report researchers who studied the cells in a laboratory. People in certain regions of the world are exposed to high levels of arsenic through drinking water tainted by the naturally-occurring element. The results of this new study may explain why arsenic is associated with several human cancers, including prostate cancer in men.
Other News
- Cut back on inside air pollution this winter season. If you’re getting the fireplace ready you will want to make sure the wood your using has had at least six months to dry before burning. Wet wood will not burn thoroughly allowing for more pollutants to be emitted into the air. Solid particles released from wood are the most dangerous causing problems for those with asthma and allergies.
- Idling school buses are cause for concern in air pollution around schools. Health experts warn that diesel exhaust presents serious health concerns - triggering respiratory disease, heart attacks, and asthma. In New York City, where pollution rates are higher, asthma hospitalization rates are nearly twice the national average. In efforts to fix the problem the Environmental Protection Agency has revised school bus standards, reducing retirement age of vehicles and producing more efficient models. Although many states have limited or banned idling of school buses, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Asthma Free School Zone are targeting all vehicles with their anti-idling campaign.
