Lead In Our Drinking Water?

 I remember as a child being told to run the taps before I drank a glass of water.  As I lived in a property that had been built in the 1920s, the pipes supplying the water were made of lead, and there was growing concern, even then, about lead in our water supply.  Well, as it happens, that proved to be sound advise.  It has since been proved that we can indeed give ourselves lead poisoning from drinking water.

The damage to our health can be devastating,our liver and kidney's can be damaged irrevocably, convulsions, brain damage, and hearing loss are common.  There are still a large number of properties around today that s have old lead pipes.  Most have copper pipes, but it is the lead used in the soldering that can cause water contamination. . You must also consider the network of pipes that supply our water from the actual water plants, how can we be sure that there is not  corrosion some where along the line?

Our bodies simply can not cope with any lead in our blood stream.  Lead from our water must be eliminated at all costs.  You can't see, smell or taste lead.  The first indication of a problem might even go undetected, you might just think you have a bug!  A complete water test is the only way you will find out if you have lead in the system.  There are a lot of remedies you can use if your test proves positive.

Water Water Everywhere But Not A Drop To Drink!

Some of the worst scourges mankind has faced have come about as a result of contaminated water supplies infested with microbes that bring on cholera, dysentery and a whole host of other fatal syndromes.  So bringing water to the public is a very complicated and responsible business.  To kill off  any bacteria and contaminants chlorine is introduced to the water supply, and therein lies our first concern. Too much chlorine and you are susceptible to a whole host of problems.

Too much exposure to chlorine has been found to damage the skin, causing  dry skin, dandruff, acne, premature wrinkling and baldness. Researching this subject I have noticed problems that I have suffered with myself over the years, namely itching and sore eyes.  It dawned on me that this was predominantly after I had showered or bathed. The chlorine in showering water has harsh drying effects on the hair and skin. When showering the heat of the water will cause your pores to open thus allowing the chlorine to enter our bodies. Also the confined space you are in when showering allows the vapors to be inhaled which has been shown to aggravate asthmatics, and can cause problems in the lungs and sinuses.
Inhaling chemicals is a far quicker way of getting poison  into the blood stream than actually drinking the water.  In fact, you have a better chance of the digestive system destroying some of the chlorine before it can cause the damage.

Dreadful isn't it?  We are potentially exposing our children to this danger, after all, bath time is fun time!

 So what must we do?  Well take control by having a complete water test done on your water supply.  This will test for other potential contaminants that I shall review in following posts.  If you do get a high reading then there are filtering systems that will eliminate the problem.

The World Belongs to Us All - It is All Our Responsibility

Many of us talk about the way the world is heading and perhaps many more of us are now beginning to listen. I for one am, and I think this has partially become a realty for me because I see the devastation and destruction when I walk out my front door. Where at one time the pollution and dwindling resources, seemed to be something that only plagued unfortunate countries that seemed far beyond the corner of my world.

Yet now when I think back much of what I have seen there such as the shortage of water, the dwindling power and the foul air is something that I too have been exposed to, albeit on a much lesser degree but there both within and without my home atmosphere.

Yes! It has been there all the time, but gone unnoticed by me and more than likely many of you as well. How could this happen? Simply because we have come to take for granted what the earth has always provided for us, but now because of our lack of appreciation and squandering of so many of life's resources the abundance of them is no longer.

I write this not to sit in judgement of other's but only to share my discovery and "wake up call", that we must become aware of our surroundings and the shape it is in, for after all it is truly our lifeline and is the legacy that we leave for our future generations.

The following is a movie I came across at YouTube. It is dynamic and a movie that every individual that has a care for life at all should take the time to watch. I hope that you will take the time to watch this most amazing and interesting movie about our world.

                                 Click here to see             A story you don't want to miss!

Good Bacteria Or Bad Bacteria?

We need bacteria to survive. Bacteria keeps our planet 'balanced', and our bodies healthy and functioning as they should.  We have probably all heard of the 'good' bacteria present in our stomachs for example. However, with the pressures of everyday pollutants in our atmosphere, we very often upset the equilibrium. 'Bad' bacteria can colonise in clusters causing ill health and can prove fatal.

The bacteria that can cause problems are called pathogenic bacteria.  These bacteria can invade the body and cause illness and disease.  A few examples of the complaints that these bacteria can cause are meningitis, pneumonia along with chest and throat infections.

These bacteria can be carried in the air, on people and animals and can even be introduced to the home via plants and soil.  They can sometimes form colonies and it is at this stage we can pick up the illness.

What can we do to help prevent this from happening?  Well ironically enough,one of the main causes is when we destroy the 'good bacteria' with our harsh chemicals that are in our cleaning products, (remember how we need the good to destroy the bad!) it is a case of getting the balance right, I will cover this problem in later posts.  Suffice to say, you need to recognise if you have the colony  by conducting a bacterial  test.  So, I am not implying that we all live in dirty homes, just that we should be vigilant and be extremely careful of the harsh chemicals we are using.

Can Fiberglass Cause Cancer?

Another air test that i consider to be of paramount importance is the carcinogenic fiber test.

90% of properties in the USA use fiberglass loft insulation. 

Have you ever touched the insulation in your loft and noticed how it irritates your hands and can make them red and itchy?  Well, there is a lot of debate around at the moment regarding this issue.  I am very concerned by this, and intend to take extreme action.  Surely if the material has this much effect when touching it, what must it be doing if you inhale it?

A  study in 1970 on fiberglass inhalation states that "fibrous glass of small diameter is a potent carcinogen" (source 'Consumer Law')

Now I totally agree that we must indeed insulate our homes , but there are safe alternatives.  More and more people are turning to the alternatives.  People are using cotton, newspaper,corn cobs, cork and bricks to name but a few of the innovative ideas.

Asbestos used to be the material of choice, and some older properties still have unacceptable levels of this fiber in the atmosphere to this day, and we all know the dangers of asbestos!

Do yourself and your loved ones a favour and get the levels of your home checked out.

The Misery Of Pet Allergens.

Dander is the by product shed from the body of various animals, very similar to dandruff.  It contains flaky dead skin, hair or feathers.

70% of Americans have a cat or dog.  11% have an allergy to their pet. For cat and dog dander allergies, the symptoms can be chronic.  There is no such thing as a non allergic breed, and there is no correlation between the length of the pets hair and allergic reactions.  It is important to remember though that shed hair can attract other allergens such as mold, bacteria and pollen.

Any caged animals should be kept as clean as possible.  Bird droppings can horde some horrible bacteria along with molds and fungi which can be very detrimental to our health.  The same applies to any pet mice, hamsters or similar that are very often kept as pets.

I was surprised to learn that pet dander can be found, albeit in lesser amounts, in places of work, public spaces and schools.  As dander is a 'sticky' substance it would make sense that it can very easily be transported on peoples clothes and shoes.

If  you suspect that you may be exposed to excessive dander, remember the good quality air test kits will be your first port of call.  This will give you a full break down to your amount of exposure.  You will be pleased to know, especially if you are a animal lover, there is an awful lot of preventative actions you can take.  I intend to cover more of these tips in a later post.  For now though , the absolute best advise would be to bath your pets on a regular basis and to keep living areas scrupulously clean.

Mold Spores

Airborne mold spores can dramatically effect your health.  They are a serious problem, and you probably don't even know of their existence.
Here is a list of ailments that you could develop if you are exposed to the spores:
allergies
asthma
bruising and bleeding
memory loss
hearing loss
dizziness
flu like symptoms
severe breathing problems
bleeding from the lungs

25 million Americans suffer from the effects of  inhaling mold spores and most of them just do not realise that the mold spore is the cause of their complaint.

There are numerous varieties of mold.  They thrive in moisture, oxygen warmth and something to feed on.  They are not always obvious and they can be lurking in the most unlikely of places.  Mold will thrive in our bathrooms, closets and basements.  They are present in our refrigerators, and any where where fresh food is stored.  These are the most obvious of locations, however remember the mold can be prevalent in places that we just cant see. The only safe alternative is to conduct an airborne spore test on your property, and then take the relevant steps to eliminate the mold itself.

A Mitey Problem!

This is a picture of dust mite under microscope. A single ball of dust can contain as many as 250,000 Dust Mites!

 
 
House dust mites -


cause of most asthma, nasal allergy and some eczema.  It is impossible to eliminate this problem, but you can take steps over a period of time to drastically reduce the amount of dust mites present in your home.  You will be astounded at the difference the effects of reducing even by just 10% will make. 



 
You will need a starting point if you want to do this correctly.  Invest in a good air quality test kit, and find out  the concentration of mites on your premises.  Then to work.  I found the best place to start is your bedrooms.  Cover every thing on your bed, not just the mattress.  Eventually it would be wise to remove all carpets from the rooms, there are so many better alternatives nowadays.

We Are A Product Of The Air We Breathe.

Indoor pollution has become a major problem in the Western World.  You would be forgiven for thinking that the  air you breathe in the sanctuary of your own home would be safe.  Ask yourself this -  have you or member of your family , or indeed one of your pets been suffering with allergies. fatigue, skin problems or just generally being unwell. Well, if you can say yes, then maybe you should consider an organic vapor screen check.

  Sadly our bodies are continually being bombarded with toxins that are being omitted from the most innocuous of sources. Plastic containers, household cleaning products, toiletries, cosmetics, air conditioners and heating systems, plants and even the food we are consuming can all be giving off harmful toxins.  It is the amount that is being generated that should be our main concern.

Our bodies are amazing in so much as they will respond and destroy low level exposure to organic vapors.  However, ignore higher levels that we may be inadvertently allowing ourselves to come into contact with and sooner or later our bodies immune system will collapse. We will leave ourselves open to any one of the major medical complaints that is rife in our world today.

What can we do to lessen this impact?  Easy, find the source, and replace with a safe alternative.  You can purchase an organic vapour test kit and test your home.  In my opinion it will be worth every cent.  This test will measure and identify each chemical.

Formaldehyde The Invisible Odorless Killer

Did you know that excessive formaldehyde exposure can cause increased allergies, sinus problems,  respiratory problems and extreme fatigue.  Worse, long term exposure can cause lung dis function, skin hardening, flaking and swelling, dermatitis, allergic eczema and even cancer. Yes, the International Agency For Research on Cancer, which is part of  The World Health Organisation, have designated formaldehyde as a known cause of several types of cancer.

Formaldehyde is used in hundreds of processes, including paint manufacture, plastic products, paper, textiles, carpets, pesticides, MDF, chipboard, furniture, glues and resins, the list goes on.  As you can imagine almost every one is exposed to formaldehyde either at work, home or in the community.

The main source of formaldehyde vapour is in furniture.  The vapour can be active for many years after manufacture.  Cavity wall insulation, loft insulation is another source. Cosmetics, toiletries and household cleaning products are another example.

Formaldehyde is more potent in the warmer months, as the temperatures rise so do the gas levels.  Obviously humidity will play its part too.

It is extremely important therefore that you test your environment for excessive exposure.  A good quality testing kit should be purchased.  The good news is that when the source is found, preventative measures should be taken as a matter of urgency.  There is always a safe alternative and I shall reveal some key tips in later posts.

Say Hello To A Greener World Everyone!

Well hello there!
This is my first blog and I am super excited about it because a greener earth and the environment have become a real passion of mine. I hope as you read my blogs, and hopefully you will because you will want to keep coming back to read all about the good stuff you are going to find here. I firmly believe that by hearing what I and others have to say about we can do about this planet of ours that it will encourage you to have a healthier life for you and your family.
Something I really want you to check out though when you get a chance is this amazing book. I have written it in order to pass on a lot of information all contained in one area. What is even more important though is that it shows ways to involve the whole family. Just think no more yelling..."turn out the light"!.