2008-09-06 10:50:18 - You can choose to green wash or to REALLY GO GREEN. Learn what TRUE GREEN means.

You can turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, dry your laundry on a hanger or line, use cloth shopping bags, and recycle everything. But 'Green Living' is so much more!

• Did you know that EPA surveys find that indoor air is 3 to 5 times more chemically polluted than outdoor air?
• Did you know that The

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health analyzed almost 3000 chemicals used in personal care products and almost 900 of those chemicals were found to be toxic? Many caused birth defects!
• Did you know that cancer was rare 50 years ago but today it is the number one cause of death as a disease in children? It's number two in adults.
• Did you know that many chemicals used in personal care products and cleaning products have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, central nervous system disorders, and psychological abnormalities?
• Did you know that these chemicals end up in our water ways and are causing hormonal problems?

These materials are contaminating our home air environment, drinking water, and can cause injuries as well as debilitating disease. Improving and protecting our environment encompasses more than recycling.

What makes a household product hazardous? If they are:
• Ignitable-capable of burning or causing a fire
• Corrosive-capable of eating away materials and destroying living tissue when contact occurs.
• Explosive and/or Reactive-can cause an explosion or release poisonous fumes.
• Toxic-Poisonous, either immediately or over a long period of time.
• Radioactive-can damage and destroy cells and chromosomal material. (known to cause cancer, mutations and fetal harm)

Federal law exempts many consumer products from disclosing all their ingredients under the guise of trade secrets! Manufacturers only have to list a fraction of ingredients on the product label. Sometimes more than 99% of the ingredients are listed as 'other' or 'inactive.' In other words, you don't know what's in the product. There are chemicals in these products that are entering your body through the skin and inhalation. The skin is like a sponge and absorbs everything it comes in contact through the skin and into the blood stream. These toxic chemicals are circulated through out the body.

The bottom line is that living green means cleaning up your home, disposing of hazardous products, choosing products that are free of hazardous chemicals, and recycling everything possible!

Diane Koontz is a mom trying to do everything possible to help people become aware and make the right choices for their families and the environment. 'Going Green' is a must! www.parentawarenesscenter.com