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No one likes lackluster lumber. It sits there all wooden like a vice president. We want waxed walnut, preserved pine and majestic maple. But how can we have polished planks without using varnishes that tarnish our planet? On a recent installment of Renovation Nation, we have been told that varnishes cause health problems.
This information is absolutely true. Household varnishes often contain benzene, toluene, xylene and ethylene glycol ethers among other things. The side effects and illnesses caused by these chemicals read like a barrage of horror stories: Nerve damage, respiratory problems, headaches, coma, vomiting, kidney failure, reproductive problems, memory loss and death. This isn't even a complete list.
Not only can these chemicals hurt us through direct contact, they can get into the groundwater supply and eventually contaminate our Kool-Aid. The soil can also be damaged by these chemicals. We all enjoy owning comely cupboards and cabinets, but it doesn't seem like it is worth the consequences.
Fear not, goodly renovators. There are varnishes on the market that are environmentally responsible. A lot of these varnishes do not use petroleum products. They use natural ingredients like clays, plants and wood oils. They can shine up your clogs, coffee tables and decorative kayaks without harming Mother Nature or your health.
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