Norwex Masks Update #1

So initial reports for the efficacy of upcoming Norwex masks were 0.4 microns at 60%. THE NEW EFFICACY RESULTS ARE AMAZING!!! The Norwex masks will be able to filter out 0.1 microns at 80%!!!! That really blows my mind. Again, I will let you know when they are available and I will put up a link so you can order directly off my website and I never see your credit card information.

 

Norwex Masks

Norwex has announced it will be making masks! These masks can filter out 60% of 0.4 micron particles! They will be washable and reuseable! To compare, N95 masks are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. These will be awesome!

Phthalates and Diabetes

I just read an article published on July 13, 2012 about the multitude of personal care products women use and their link to diabetes. The article, Chemicals in Personal Care Products May Increase Risk of Diabetes, lets us know that phthalates interfere with our endocrine system. Typical personal care product culprits cited are: moisturizers, nail polish, soaps, hair sprays, and perfumes.

Again, I am glad to offer you the Norwex Organic Products as an alternative to what is on the store shelves.

Ultra Power Plus vs Tide

Wow, I just came across a petition that makes me thankful for Norwex Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent!

The petition (and link) reads:

Tide: Get Cancer-Causing Chemicals Out of Laundry Detergent

Thankfully Norwex Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent does not contain 1,4-dioxane.

I like the Norwex laundry detergent because it dissolves completely, has no fillers, and only takes a tiny medicine scoop to do a whole load.  Get some on my Norwex Retail Website: Click Here

I just want you to be healthy!

There seems to be a lot of people I know struggling with strep throat in my town lately. I want you to be healthy! I’m just trying to get it out there that the Norwex Antibac Envirocloth will not only pick up the germ responsible for strep off surfaces but it will also kill it in the cloth without turning it into a resistant mutated form.
Let me know if you want to buy a Norwex Envirocloth. Hope you feel better soon.

More nasty chemicals found in independent study

I just read an article about the ingredients found in the Brand Name cleaners we’ve all used at one time or another. The article states that they did some independent tests and found a bunch of bad things in these Brand Name cleaners.

My favorite line of the article is: “Consumers deserve to know what chemicals they are being exposed to, so that they can easily avoid products that may cause allergic reactions or serious long-term health impacts like cancer, birth defects, or pregnancy complications. ”

Check out the article for yourself and see the tables they posted. The article is:

Dirty Secrets Test Results

from the Women’s Voices for the Earth website.

Antibacterial Soap

Triclosan, the ingredient in antibacterial soap  is back in the news. Check out this article by The Globe and Mail –  Ottawa to review safety of key ingredient in anti-bacterial soap.

Triclosan is suspected to interfere with thyroid function.

The good news from the article is that Canada is leading the way with the Chemical Management Plan.

The Story of Cosmetics

From the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Norwex Organic Personal Care

This is why I love Norwex Enviro Products so much. In 2008 Norwex Launched its Organic Line. The Norwex Organic Personal Care Line is ECOCERT certified which means that the products are free from:

• mineral oil and silicon
• emulsifiers such as PEG (polyethylene glycol)
• viscosity controlling agents such as carbomer
• preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, parabens or formaldehyde releasers
• synthetic perfumes
• synthetic dyes
• synthetic solvent such as propylene glycol

My absolute favorite is the Norwex Body Wash which unfortunately was omitted from this year’s catalogue. I also love the Day Cream, Night Cream, and the Face & Neck Gel. Check out all the other Organic Personal Care Products Norwex has to offer.

The Dangers of Cleaning Chemicals

I used to believe that if it was on the shelf for sale, then it was safe – that someone had done the due diligence and tested the product and that there were laws protecting us.

The truth is that our laws in this area are old and that they only test for first-aid type hazards, not long term use type safety. Even if they started to do testing, we’re so far behind that it would take a very long time to catch up. We’ve created over 80,000 man-made chemicals not to mention the yearly parade of “New and Improved”.

I wanted to show a few of the cleaning chemicals that are commonly marketed to us but aren’t as innocent as we thought.

The great information below is quoted directly from the website of The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Cleaners may contain ammonia, a strong irritant which can also cause kidney and liver damage, butyl cellusolve which is neurotoxic and rapidly penetrates skin, and ortho phenylphenol which is a severe eye and skin irritant. Many all-purpose cleaners contain DEA and TEA which can react with nitrites (added as undisclosed preservatives or present as contaminants) to form carcinogenic nitrosomines which readily penetrate the skin.  Many coloured products are made with carcinogenic coal tar colours.  Hormone disrupting parabens may be used as preservatives. Many cleaners also include fragrances and detergents. Alternative brands may contain d-limonene, a sensitizer which can also cause respiratory distress as well as liver, kidney and nervous system damage. D-limonene is a hazardous substance, although it is derived from a natural source.  We do not recommend it for frequent use.

Glass Cleaners

Most glass cleaners are made of ammonia, a strong irritant, and coal tar dyes. Some contain butyl cellusolve, a neurotoxin, alchohol, naphtha, and glycol ethers.  Some contain wax.  Aerosol products create small particles which are more likely to be inhaled or irritate eyes.

Bleach

The main ingredient in chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite (chlorine added to lye.) Chlorine is toxic as a skin irritant, and by inhalation. Sodium hypochlorite can create poisonous chlorine gas if mixed with ammonia (which may be an unlabeled ingredient in some cleaning products) or with vinegar. Workplace safety data sheets warn that sodium hypochlorite may be a neurotoxin and cause liver damage. People with chemical sensitivies report adverse reactions to minute quantities of chlorine. Sodium hypochlorite readily combines with organic matter to form organochlorines which are highly toxic to aquatic life.

Sink, Tub and Tile

Sink, tub and tile cleaners can contain ammonia and dimethyl ethylbenzylamonium choride, both strong irritants, ethylene glycol, a neurotoxin and reproductive toxin which may also cause kidney and liver damage, sodium orth-phenylpenol, a carcinogen and irritant, and trisodium nitrilotriacetate, a carcinogen.  Some brands use highly caustic chemicals like sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and phosphoric acid that can burn eyes and skin.  Breathing vapours can burn lungs.

Conclusion

I didn’t want to make this an incredibly long post but I hope I’ve put enough to get you thinking about what you use to clean your home, office, and schools. I’m happy to be able to offer you solutions that are green, environmentally friendly, natural, alternative and responsible.

Cleaning chemicals and Autism

I recently read an article “Are Chemicals Contributing to Autism rise?” The main points of the article are that (A) cleaning chemicals affect hormones and (B) hormones affect brain development and the immune system and (C) autism is about brain development and autistic children also displays immune problems.

I found it interesting that the group pushing for tighter regulations on chemicals was named Safer Chemicals, Healthier Families. Perhaps they haven’t yet heard that you can clean without chemicals? Well, that’s why I’m here blogging away about safer cleaning with Norwex Enviro Products! “Just add water!”