Chemicals in the Home

Do you want your precious pet to stay healthy and live as long as possible? Many factors affect your pet’s health and life span, and one of these is exposure to toxic airborne chemicals in their environment. Get rid of harmful chemicals in your home, and you can lessen the likelihood of chronic health problems affecting your pet, perhaps lengthening your pet’s life span and the amount of time the two of you will spend together.

Indoor air pollution is steadily increasing, and our pets are even more vulnerable to toxic airborne chemicals than we are. Long term chemical exposure can lead to respiratory problems, skin diseases, various other diseases affecting organs such as the liver and kidneys, and even cancer.

We can make our homes more environmentally healthy for our pets by using products that contain fewer toxic chemicals. The following list provides the names of products that may contain airborne chemicals and some healthier alternative products.


CHEMICAL SOURCES

SUBSTITUTES

PaintsUse Low toxic water based paints (low VOC’s), casein
Synthetic CarpetsTry natural materials such as sisal, sea grass, coir, wool (untreated with lindate, etc)
Vinyl FlooringInstall cork, linoleum
VarnishesUse beeswax, linseed oil, unfinished wood
Cleaning ProductsClean with water & vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide
Fabric SoftenerAvoid using (due to amount of chemical emissions)
Plywood, Composition BoardsUse solid wood, Exterior plywood only
Room DeodorizersUse cloves, lavender, scented flowers. Open windows.
GlueUse wood glue instead of solvent – based glue. Ventilate house.
Synthetic PesticidesClean & vacuum regularly. Close off any openings in home. Avoid building materials around foundation that could attract insects.
Laundry DetergentsUse biodegradable, unscented products.


Healthy Food for Pets offers pet friendly non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products.
Click here for more information.


RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Environmental Protection Agency
800/438-4318, www.epa.gov/iaq/

Environmental Health Clearinghouse
800/643-4794

Washington Toxics Coalition
206/652-1545, www.watoxics.org

National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
800/858-7378, http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/index.html

National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides
202/543-5450, www.beyondpesticides.org


Important Disclaimer: The stories and information on this site are not meant to diagnose or prescribe for you. If you or your pet has a medical problem, you should consult your medical doctor or veterinarian. The ideas and information on this site have not been endorsed or approved by the FDA.  In no event shall the owners of this website be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Opinions expressed here are those of individual contributors. This web site does not verify or endorse the claims of contributing writers.

The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product(s) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


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