Courtesy of Healthy Child Healthy World
READ MORE ABOUT:
Christopher is a proud new dad of Luke Hudson, who is 9 months old. Lucky for Luke, when he arrived, his nursery wasn't off-gassing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and his toys and bottles we're leeching bisphenolA (BPA) or phthalates. His dad already screened out whatever wasn't clean and green.
That's because Christopher runs the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World, (formerly CHEC: the Children's Health and Environmental Coalition). Healthy Child Healthy World works to educate parents and caregivers about the risks to children associated with some very common products and packages. In this exclusive to Planet Green interview, I asked him the best ways to get our green on and clean up our indoor air, because most Americans spend 90 percent of our time indoors.
Here are Christopher's top 4 tips for creating better indoor air quality:
- Let your home breathe. Many homes built in the last 20 or so years are amazingly well-sealed, trapping air pollutants and moisture indoors. This is in addition to the many chemical vapors that get stuck inside and pose respiratory risks—perfumes, air fresheners, carpet, etc. So open windows for at least five minutes a day (the more, the better), even if only a crack in the winter, to circulate air and let indoor pollutants out. On hot, humid days, however, close windows and use air conditioners to ventilate. (The benefit to individual health surely outweighs the environmental detriment, in my opinion.)
- Bone up on "fragrance" labels. For scented products like cleansers and air fresheners, pick ones that contain natural or no artificial fragrances. But it can be tricky to tell what's really unscented. "Fragrance-free" and "no fragrance added" generally mean what they say, while "unscented" may simply mean that some synthetic chemicals were included to cover up the (bad) smell of other chemicals, yielding a more neutral scent.
- Green your air. Houseplants not only release blood-enriching oxygen, but some of them cleanse your indoor air of chemicals. A study conducted for NASA identified several houseplants that reduce the concentration of common contaminants in the air. Plus, most can flourish in low sunlight and they're easy to maintain.
- Deodorize the old-fashioned way. Some ingredients absorb and cut odors: That's how grandma no doubt kept her house cleanly scented. For a fresher whiff in the kitchen, leave fresh coffee grounds out on the kitchen counter; in the trash can or fridge, try baking soda; and in the garbage disposal, a lemon slice. Pretty simple.
Wanna know more? check out Christopher's book Healthy Child, Healthy World http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/healthy-child-healthy-world.html, which features advice from some of the wisest scientists and docs around, including the wonderful Dr. Harvey Karp.
Lynda Fassa is the founder of Green Babies, one of the oldest organic-cotton clothing companies in the United States. She is also the author of Green Babies & Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby (2008, Penguin) and is currently writing Green Kids, Sage Families, to be published by Penguin in late 2008.
-
- {}
