30,000 to 50,00 chemicals in our bodies that our grandparents didn't have...

I love TED. I have never watched a TED talk and been disappointed. This morning I started watching Tyrone Hayes and Penelope Jagessar Chaffer's "The toxic baby." It is well worth your time and I even had my 10 and 11 year old daughters watch with me. It's never too early to start teaching kids about being environmentally aware.
According to this TED talk, we will have between 30 and 50 THOUSAND chemicals in our bodies that our grandparents never did. It can't be a coincidence that the incidence of things such as cancer, asthma, heart disease, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders are skyrocketing in the generations since our grandparents.
Do me a favor and watch the video. Then let me know what you think!

In the Bathroom: What is triclosan?

Each day we use chemicals all through our homes. Since we typically associate the bathroom with cleanliness and health, I thought it was appropriate to start there. Not only do we use products to clean the bathroom (toilet cleaner, glass cleaner, bleach, tub and tile cleaner, etc.) but we use products to clean our bodies (shampoo, body wash, soap) and to care for our bodies (lotions, perfumes, makeup, hair products). I think that as a culture we have become obsessed with anti-bacterial products. Anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizer are staples in most public restrooms and have made their way into our homes as well.  So I have to admit that I LOVE the foaming soaps from Bath and Body Works. I have been known to buy at least six bottles at a time, depending on the current sale (because you KNOW that Bath and Body Works always has some kind of sale). Then about a year ago I started really paying attention to this crazy little chemical called triclosan. It's an anti-bacterial that seems to be in everything from hand soap to bed sheets!
From the FDA:
"Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans. But several scientific studies have come out since the last time FDA reviewed this ingredient that merit further review.
Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation. However, data showing effects in animals don’t always predict effects in humans. Other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
In light of these studies, FDA is engaged in an ongoing scientific and regulatory review of this ingredient. FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time."
As a family we decided to quit buying hand soap that contained triclosan. I don't think it's worth the risk and as long as you wash your hands with soap and warm water thoroughly, you actually don't need the anti-bacterial. I kept thinking that I should really write a letter to Bath and Body Works asking them to remove triclosan from their products and was shocked when I received a coupon for their "newly formulated" soaps that are no longer considered anti-bacterial products because they dumped triclosan.
It seems to be a pervasive ingredient that you have to be vigilant about though because my husband discovered it in his body wash (not from Bath and Body Works).

Omaha

Today I'm posting from the Hilton in Omaha, Nebraska. I'm attending the annual Midwest Sociological Society meeting and yesterday I was able to present a paper I wrote! It turned out really well and I am enjoying this city very much. I am amazed at how different it is from Wichita. It's a big city without feeling too impersonal. We have met some really interesting, friendly people! We've had some really yummy food (looking forward to a local Indian restaurant and local ice cream tonight!) and seen the ConAgra building. Now that's a difference... But I digress.
Please take a look at Cleveland Clinic's website. This is a starter that is broken down by room, which is what I plan to do over my next few posts. I'll probably wait to start until I get back from conference, but to get us started, leave a comment with a product or two that you use in a regular basis in your bathroom.

Welcome to My Green Bucket. The purpose of this blog is to learn about the chemicals we all use every day in our own homes and how those chemicals affect us and the environment. I'll also be exploring green household products and their benefits as well.

The Organic Consumers Association website has a great page to get us started. According to their article How Toxic Are Your Household Cleaning Supplies, "Cleaning ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose. Some cause acute, or immediate, hazards such as skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer."

And as for the environment, "After bubbly cleaning liquids disappear down our drains, they are treated along with sewage and other waste water at municipal treatment plants, then discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances during treatment or soon afterward. Others, however, do not, threatening water quality or fish and other wildlife. In a May 2002 study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey found persistent detergent metabolites in 69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants."

Here is what I'd like from everyone who visits this page. Please share your story! Let me know if you have had problems with traditional household chemicals or what is in your green cleaning bucket. I have been a Swiffer user for years. We finally ran out of the wet pads recently and decided to make the switch to a different mop. We picked up a sponge mop and now I'm looking for a homemade green cleaning solution. My two favorite things to use in many household cleaners are vinegar and borax so I'm sure I'll end up using one of those. I'd love to hear suggestions though!