Chemicals

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants. SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid. SLS is also known as "Sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt" and over 150 different names by which it is known. In fact, SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen.

Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolized by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting.

National Institutes of Health "Household Products Directory" of chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%, which the ACT report called "highly irritating and dangerous".

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up". Shampoos are among the most frequently reported products with problems to the FDA. Reports include eye irritation (can cause eye deformities in small children), scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms, split and fuzzy hair, protein denaturing and it is a known carcinogen. The main cause of these problems is sodium lauryl sulfate.

The AJT report states that "Other studies have indicated that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain from skin contact. This poses the question of it being a serious potential health threat to its use in shampoos, cleansers, and tooth pastes."

Ingredient reviews of shampoos sold in health food stores under "natural" brands and labels have turned up many formulas containing SLS. The cost, reputation, or market position of the shampoo apparently has little to do with its contents. Some of the most reputable and exclusive brands contain SLS. Don't be fooled by high prices or marketing hype-you must check the ingredients on each product if you want to avoid the harmful effects of SLS. Keep in mind that many people associate the foaming with "clean" but how much foam you get in your shampoo or toothpaste has nothing to do with its ability to clean well.

Check your shampoos, toothpaste, liquid soaps, body gels, and other skin products for sodium lauryl sulfate. Avoid any further skin contact with products containing this ingredient.

If you have children, make sure they are not using shampoos and toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate. Children under 6 are especially vulnerable to improper eye development. Also check sun block products. We found one that contains SLS and aluminum, a potentially dangerous combination for brain cell deterioration.

Check all your cosmetic products for propylene glycol and get them off your skin. If you have infants, check your baby wipes and baby lotions and find alternative products that are safe for children (some baby wipes are available with aloe instead of propylene glycol).

Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. It was discovered by accident in 1965 when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle Company, was testing an anti-ulcer drug. Found to be sweet as sugar but lower calorie, it was the perfect drug to market as a food.

Primary Exposure
Anything "diet" or low calorie.

Health Conditions

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The food industry claims Aspartame is safe, but most of the studies were done by the food and beverage industry that market the same product. The book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," by James and Phyllis Balch, lists aspartame under the category of "chemical poison".

• Aspartic acid from aspartame has the same deleterious effects on the body as glutamic acid. Taken in its free form (unbound to proteins) it significantly raises the blood plasma level of aspartate and glutamate. The excess aspartate and glutamate in the blood plasma shortly after ingesting aspartame or products with free glutamic acid (glutamate precursor) leads to a high level of those neurotransmitters in certain areas of the brain.
• Phenylalanine (50 percent of aspartame) is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Persons with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine. This leads to dangerously high levels of phenylalanine in the brain (sometimes lethal). It has been shown that ingesting aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates (diet soda), can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine in the brain even in persons who do not have PKU.
• Methanol/wood alcohol (10 percent of aspartame) is a deadly poison. Some people may remember methanol as the poison that has caused some "skid row" alcoholics to end up blind or dead. Methanol is gradually released in the small intestine when the methyl group of aspartame encounter the enzyme chymotrypsin.
• Diketopiperazine (DKP) is a byproduct of aspartame metabolism. DKP has been implicated in the occurrence of brain tumors. Some authors have said that DKP is produced after aspartame ingestion. I am not sure if that is correct. It is definitely true that DKP is formed in liquid aspartame-containing products during prolonged storage.

Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters in the brain by facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron. Too much aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals, which kill the cells. The neural cell damage that can be caused by excessive aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as "excitotoxins." They "excite" or stimulate the neural cells to death.

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. Aspartame causes formaldehyde to build up in your brain, which results in all sorts of potentially serious medical problems. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/ migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes. It may be Zero calories, but it would seem the calorie is the least of your worries when compared to this nasty poison.

This Quantum Remedy also provides antidote properties for stevia, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, sorbitol, xylitol, xylose, lactose, glucose and polyols.

Alternatives

Stevia is widely-used as a no-calorie herbal sweetener. It is easy to find Organic Stevia. Some people do not like the taste, so xylitol is another good option if you desire low calorie. If you are not worried about calories, organic sugar can be found. While there is no health danger per se as you find with artificial sweeteners, the body is not designed to metabolize lots of sugar, so be moderate with its use no matter how organic is it.

Trichloroethylene is used mainly as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts and as an industrial solvent. It is also an ingredient in adhesives, paint removers, typewriter correction fluids and spot removers. Industrial abbreviations include TCE, trichlor, Trike, Tricky and tri. It has been sold under a variety of trade names. Under the trade names Trimar and Trilene, trichloroethylene was used as a volatile anesthetic and as an inhaled obstetrical analgesic in millions of patients.

Trichloroethylene is not thought to occur naturally in the environment. However, it has been found in underground water sources and many surface waters as a result of the manufacture, use, and disposal of the chemical. Primary methods of exposure include:

• Breathing air in and around the home which has been contaminated with trichloroethylene vapors from shower water or household products such as spot removers and typewriter correction fluid.
• Drinking, swimming, or showering in water that has been contaminated with trichloroethylene.
• Contact with soil contaminated with trichloroethylene, such as near a hazardous waste site.
• Contact with the skin or breathing contaminated air while manufacturing trichloroethylene or using it at work to wash paint or grease from skin or equipment.
• It has been used to extract vegetable oils from plant materials such as soy, coconut, and palm.
• Also has been used in coffee decaffeination and the preparation of flavoring extracts from hops and spices.

Breathing small amounts may cause headaches, lung irritation, dizziness, poor coordination, and difficulty concentrating. Breathing large amounts of trichloroethylene may cause impaired heart function, unconsciousness, and death. Breathing it for long periods of time may cause nerve, kidney, and liver damage.

Drinking large amounts of trichloroethylene may cause nausea, liver damage, unconsciousness, impaired heart function, or death. Drinking small amounts of trichloroethylene for long periods may cause liver and kidney damage, impaired immune system function, and impaired fetal development in pregnant women, although the extent of some of these effects is not yet clear.

Skin contact with trichloroethylene for short periods may cause skin rashes.

Toluene (methylbenzene, toluol, phenylmethane) is an aromatic hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent for the manufacturing of paints, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and rubber. Toluene is found in gasoline, acrylic paints, varnishes, lacquers, paint thinners, adhesives, glues, rubber cement, airplane glue, and shoe polish.

Toxicity can occur from unintentional or deliberate inhalation of fumes, ingestion, or transdermal (skin) absorption. Toluene abuse or "glue sniffing" has become widespread, especially among children or adolescents, because it is readily available and inexpensive. Toluene is commonly abused by saturating or soaking a sock or rag with spray paint, placing it over the nose and mouth, and inhaling to get a sensation of euphoria, buzz, or high.

• Toluene health conditions include: Acute intoxication from inhalation is characterized by rapid onset of CNS symptoms including euphoria, hallucinations, delusions, tinnitus, dizziness, confusion, headache, vertigo, seizures, ataxia, stupor, and coma. Chronic conditions include: CNS sequelae include neuropsychosis, cerebral and cerebellar degeneration with ataxia, seizures, choreoathetosis, optic and peripheral neuropathies, decreased cognitive ability, anosmia, optic atrophy, blindness, ototoxicity, and deafness.
• Toluene has direct negative effects on cardiac automaticity and conduction and can sensitize the myocardium to circulating catecholamines. "Sudden sniffing death" secondary to cardiac arrhythmias has been reported. Pulmonary effects include bronchospasm, asphyxia, acute lung injury (ALI), and aspiration pneumonitis.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms from inhalation and ingestion may result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and hematemesis. Hepatotoxicity manifests with ascites, jaundice, hepatomegaly, and liver failure. A rare form of hepatitis—hepatic reticuloendothelial failure (HREF)—has been reported with toluene exposure. With the widespread abuse of volatile substances in young adults today, (hepatitis secondary to toluene toxicity), not just infectious causes, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the younger patient population who present concerning symptoms.
• Reported renal toxicity from toluene exposure includes: renal tubular acidosis (RTA), hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hyperchloremia, azotemia, sterile pyuria, hematuria, and proteinuria.
• Hematologic consequences of exposure may include: lymphocytosis, macrocytosis, eosinophilia, hypochromia, and basophilic stippling, and in severe cases, aplastic anemia.
• Cutaneous contact with skin may range in severity from dermatitis to extensive chemical burns with coagulation necrosis.
• Toluene can affect skeletal muscles directly, resulting in rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinemia. Profound hypokalemia due to RTA can produce severe muscle weakness mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Sunscreens are chemical agents that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin, or that is what you have been led to believe. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer — about five hours.

For decades, irresponsible cosmetic companies and a small group of very vocal, publicity-seeking dermatologists have strongly advocated that chemical sunscreens should be heavily applied before any exposure to sunlight, even on young children. They insisted that such sunscreen use would prevent skin cancer and protect your health. This was despite of the lack of any adequate safety testing of these chemicals.

Over the past decade, many scientists studying cancer have come to virtually the opposite conclusion; that is, the use of sunscreen chemicals may be increasing the incidence of cancer and that sunlight exposure may actually decrease human cancer rates and improve your health.

It now appears that many heavily-used chemical sunscreens may actually increase cancers by virtue of their free radical generating properties. And more insidiously, many commonly used sunscreen chemicals have strong estrogenic actions that may cause serious problems in sexual development and adult sexual function, and may further increase cancer risks.

Many companies make "organic" sunscreens that contain synthetic chemicals. But that's not the worst of it. According to our research, sunscreens give users a false sense of security in that while they effectively prevent sunburn, they do little or nothing to prevent accelerated aging of the skin caused by excessive sunlight.

There is no such thing as a safe sun screen other than fresh coconut pulp rubbed onto the skin. One of the best strategies to protect yourself from the sun is actually not a sunscreen at all, it's wearing clothing or getting into the shade. How is that for a home remedy? A sun burn is the body's way of telling you that you are damaging your body to continue staying in the sun. Get out of the sun! Putting harmful chemical agents on your skin may prevent the burn, but it is adding to the cancer potential.

You definitely do want to get some safe sunlight exposure every day, which has also been shown to help protect against as many as 16 different types of cancer, including; breast, colon, endometrial, esophageal, ovarian, bladder, gallbladder, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, and renal cancers, as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cotton clothing provides about SPF 15, in other words, you will get about 15-times your skin's normal protection from the sun wherever you cover your body with clothing. Just remember that even with protective clothing on your body, it's still important to monitor your skin for the telltale signs of burning.

Food preservation is the procedure of treating and handling food to prevent or greatly slow spoilage by micro-organisms, improve appearance of the food or extend its shelf life. A preservative is any ingredient added (additive) that you would not find in/on that food in nature. There is a reason that nature produces foods with a limited shelf life. The fabulous invention of man to preserve foods makes them look much more appealing, but it is once again at the risk of causing harm to the body.

Some of the most common are:

• Benzoates (such as sodium benzoate, benzoic acid) used in the preservation of many beverages, jams, pickled products, salads, cheeses, meats and margarines.
• Nitrites (such as sodium nitrite) used mainly in packaged meats. They also create a pink, fresh hue to cured meat.
• Sulphites (such as sulphur dioxide) used as a preservative in dried fruits, wines (particularly red wines), fruit juices and in many other food products.
• Sorbates (such as sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate) used in breads, cheeses, bakery products etc.

Some food and color additives have induced allergic reactions, while others have been linked to cancer, asthma, and birth defects. The FDA requires that all ingredients be listed on a food's label, but additives are often listed without specificity, as "spices" or "flavorings," making it impossible for consumers to determine what, exactly, they are eating.

On the other hand, there are numerous additives that must be listed explicitly on packaging because they can cause health problems. These include sulfites, for example, which are used to prevent discoloration. The FDA estimates that sulfites cause allergic reactions in one percent of the general population, and five percent of people who suffer from asthma. Sulfite allergies can develop at any point in a person's life and can result in acute, potentially fatal respiratory distress.

Recent research also points to health risks from eating nitrites, used mainly in packaged meats and also used to create a pink, color to cured meat such as sausages, bacon and hot dogs. But nitrites react with amino acids to form cancer-causing nitrosamine. A 2006 study found that people who regularly eat cured meats have a 71 percent greater chance of contracting lung disease than those who never eat cured meats.

Fruit juices, marketed heavily to parents of young children, nearly always contain additives, including preservatives, artificial sweeteners and colors. A study published in The Lancet in November of 2008 looked at the effects of fruit juice additives on children's behavior, finding that, "Artificial colors or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population. In most cases, the increase was nearly 50 percent greater than that observed in children who consumed fruit juice without additives." It is quite simple, if you can't find the item in nature, don't use it!

Of course, everyone realizes petroleum products are used in the gasoline that fuels our vehicles. But did you know petroleum-based components are in medicines, food, and even in the clothes we wear? One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest (over half) is used to make things like paint, cosmetics, plastic, vitamin capsules, lip gloss, lotion and 6,000 other things. We are exposed to products that have some petroleum derivative every day.

From the health perspective, petroleum has infiltrated our lives on so many levels that you would have to go back to the cowboys and Indian days to avoid it! Ok, so the creation of petroleum makes tons of toxic C02 gas that is slowly destroying our atmosphere and plant life, and all the plastics we throw away will be there for decades and decades as they are practically nondegradable. This leaches into waterways and harms humans and wildlife, is that really so bad?

The problems of plastics include extreme pollution from production, toxic chemical exposure during use, hazards from fires, and their contribution to the world's growing solid waste crisis. One category of chemicals used in plastic production, especially PVC and vinyl, is called organochlorines, which are resistant to breakdown and will remain in the environment for decades to come. Scientific studies reveal that these chemicals are linked to severe and wide-spread health problems, including infertility, immune system damage, impaired childhood development, hormone disruption, cancer and many other harmful effects.

Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum are Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. They slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. They are a suspected cause of cancer and disrupt hormonal activity. By the way, when there's an oil spill in the ocean, don't they rush to clean it up? Why put that stuff on your skin?

There are too many items and studies about petroleum related products to mention on this page. If this remedy was suggested to you, or you feel that you need to detoxify Petroleum, Phthalates and the many other carcinogens that go with petroleum, it would be helpful if you ensure your personal care items are petroleum free. This includes lip gloss, lotion, shampoo, soap and stop using plastic containers to cook in, store in or drink out of (that includes Styrofoam). Hopefully you do not work in an area that exposes you to foams, insulation, plastic or other petroleum derivatives. Recommendations:

• Use water-based latex paints.
• Look for products based on bee's wax or soy-based waxes.
• Use glass, ceramic, metal, and cloth containers instead of plastic.
• Buy drinks that come in glass containers.

These cancer-causing agents can be sealed into fruit and vegetables by the wax that is used to make produce look shiny. Don't buy shiny produce! Since these pesticides become airborne, even organic produce may carry toxins blown over by the wind from nearby conventional farms. It is best to wash all produce before consuming it. This is especially important when feeding children, as they are more susceptible to the long-term effects of pesticide exposure. Wash them until they squeak! However, washing produce will only remove surface pesticide residue.

Pesticides can also be absorbed from the ground water where plants are grown, which will saturate the produce with pesticides internally so washing only removes the external. But it makes sense to remove as much of the pesticide burden as you can. If you are not going to buy organic produce, it may be wise to peel and discard the peel of the vegetable or fruit to avoid the many toxic chemicals.

In addition to their direct neurotoxic effects, many pesticides also inhibit cellular glucose metabolism. Inefficient glucose metabolism demands that the pancreas produce more insulin. Increased insulin means more fat cells. Get the picture? We all know we should eat our fruits and vegetables, but the chemicals used to keep those veggies looking fresh on the shelf may play a causal role in insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity.

Pesticides and fungicides also uncouple the metabolic process of oxidative phosphorylation, a key process by which normal cells produce energy using glucose and oxygen. In effect, cells die from suffocation. Feeding a child pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables is, from a cellular viewpoint, like holding a pillow over the child's face! Did I mention how important organic produce is?

Don't Buy Shiny Produce! Apples, cucumbers, bell peppers and others are often treated with a glossy wax that seals in pesticides/fungicides making it much more difficult to remove toxic residues. Produce should not have a smooth glassy texture. Nature doesn't make it that way, man's ingenious poisons do.

Avoid Produce from Abroad. South America and Mexico have fewer restrictions on pesticide use. Produce from other countries can be much more contaminated than that grown in the US, not that our standards are really adequate.

Be Careful with Peanuts. Peanuts grow fungus very easily, and most commercial distributors spray huge amounts of fungicide to control the problem. Avoid peanuts and peanut products not organically grown.

We do not supply a general 'Pesticide' antidote, but have broken that category down into Fungicides, Herbicides and Insecticides. You are welcome to use all three of them if you are not sure which fits your needs best.

Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) belongs to a broad family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs were domestically manufactured from 1929 until their manufacture was banned in 1979. They have a range of toxicity and vary in consistency from thin, light-colored liquids to yellow or black waxy solids. Due to their non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point, and electrical insulating properties, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications. These include: electrical, heat transfer, and hydraulic equipment; plasticizers in paints, plastics, and rubber products; in pigments, dyes, and carbonless copy paper; and many other industrial applications.

Fish consumption appears to be the major pathway of exposure. PCBs do not easily break down and can bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of fish and mammals. A significant trend of increasing body burden is associated with increased fish consumption.

People who live near hazardous waste sites may be exposed to PCBs by consuming PCB contaminated sport fish and game animals, by breathing PCBs in air, or by drinking PCB contaminated well water. PCBs generally biomagnify along the food-chain, which leads to greater PCB concentrations in organisms that are higher up in the food chain.

Although PCBs are no longer made in the United States, people can still be exposed to them. Many older transformers and capacitors may still contain PCBs, and this equipment can be used for 30 years or more. Old fluorescent lighting fixtures and old electrical devices and appliances, such as television sets and refrigerators, may contain PCBs if they were made before PCB use was stopped. When these electric devices get hot during operation, small amounts of PCBs may get into the air and raise the level of PCBs in indoor air. Because devices that contain PCBs can leak with age, they could also be a source of skin exposure to PCBs.

Workplace exposure to PCBs can occur during the repair and maintenance of PCB transformers, accidents, fires, or spills involving PCB transformers and older computers and instruments, and disposal of PCB materials. In addition to older electrical instruments and fluorescent lights that contain PCB-filled capacitors, caulking materials, elastic sealants, and heat insulation have also been known to contain PCBs. Contact with PCBs at hazardous waste sites can happen when workers breathe air and touch soil containing PCBs. Exposure in the contaminated workplace occurs mostly by breathing air containing PCBs and by touching substances that contain PCBs.

Thousands of medical PCB studies have shown that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause a wide variety of health effects, often at very low exposure levels. The average American already carries enough PCB in his or her body to meet or exceed the minimum threshold for beginning health problems due to PCBs. Not all of the 209 kinds of PCB have the same effects. Some have properties like dioxin (one of the world's most toxic man-made compounds), some PCBs act like hormones, and other PCBs are nerve poisons. PCBs alter major systems in the body (immune, hormone, nervous, and enzyme systems); and affect a wide variety of body organs and functions.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardant chemicals added to products so they won't catch fire or burn so easily if they are exposed to flame or high heat. PBDEs have been used for over 30 years in products such as mattresses, upholstered furniture, foam carpet pads, draperies, television sets, computers, stereos and other electronics, cable insulation, adhesives, and textile coating.

PBDEs can migrate out of flame retardant products and accumulate in indoor air, house dust, and eventually the environment. PBDEs do not break down quickly in the environment and can accumulate in the food chain. They have been found in air, soils, sediments, fish, marine mammals, birds and other wildlife, beef, chicken, dairy products, and people's bodies. In people, some PBDEs can stay in the fat and other tissues of the body for long periods. Some of the highest levels of PBDEs have been found in the United States.

The concentrations of PBDEs in human blood, breast milk, and body fat indicate that most people are exposed to PBDEs. You may be exposed to PBDEs through household dust, consumer products, and from residues in food. People who work in enclosed spaces where PBDE-containing products are manufactured, repaired, or recycled may have a higher level of exposure.

Animal studies have shown that PBDE exposure during pregnancy and after birth caused problems with brain development in offspring. These studies observed problems with learning, memory, and behavior in mice and rats. Animal studies also found that PBDEs can alter thyroid and other hormone levels.

Studies conducted in New York and the Netherlands have measured PBDEs in the bodies of pregnant mothers or in the umbilical cord blood at birth and then followed the children as they matured. Higher PBDEs levels in mothers have been associated with lower measures of intelligence, attention, and fine motor skills in their children. Higher PBDEs in mothers were also associated with difficulty getting pregnant and lower thyroid hormones during pregnancy. Relatively recent reports have indicated that exposure to low concentrations of these chemicals may result in irreparable damage to the nervous and reproductive systems. Based on animal studies, the possible health effects of decaBDE in humans involve the liver, thyroid, reproductive/developmental effects, and neurological effects.

• Cleaning - PBDEs in indoor dust is one of the primary sources of people's exposure. Reduce your exposure to indoor dust. Use a damp cloth to dust indoor living and working areas. Avoid stirring the dust into the air. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Open windows and doors while you clean. Wash hands after dusting and cleaning.
• Foam products - New foam items that you purchase today are unlikely to contain PBDEs. However, mattresses, mattress pads, couches, easy chairs, foam pillows, carpet padding, and other foam products purchased before 2005 likely contain PBDEs. Replace older foam products that have ripped covers or foam that is misshapen or breaking down. If you can't replace the item, try to keep the covers intact. When removing old carpet foam, keep the work area sealed from other areas of the house, avoid breathing in the dust, and use a HEPA-filter vacuum for cleanup.
• Electronics - Deca-BDE has been used in electronics for years but is now being replaced in most electronics. When purchasing electronics, request products that contain no Deca-BDE or other bromine-containing fire retardants.
• Foods - PBDEs can concentrate in the fat of poultry, red meat, fish and other fatty meats. Always purchase the lean meats and cut off excess fat. People argue that it adds flavor, but is it worth eating the very item that clogs the arteries and supplies a toxic chemical? Be extra cautious when grilling. The fat that falls from the meats burns and makes flames and fumes that have extra lethal doses of PBDE.