Late last month we heard some bad news about insecticides being linked to autoimmune disorders, and now some far worse news. Insecticide exposure earlier this month resulted in the death of a 10 month old baby and both the baby’s mother, 25-year-old Elizabeth Whitfield, and her 2-year-old son, Kenneth, were hospitalized with severe respiratory distress, also due to insecticide exposure.
Investigators on the case noted that “Whitfield and her children had only lived in the home a short time and she was trying to deal with a serious insect problem.” About half a dozen used insect foggers were found in the home and the contamination was so severe that a hazardous materials team was called out to help get rid of the foggers.
Now hopefully, you’re never in a situation where you use many foggers over a short period of time, but this is an excellent reminder that insecticides are meant to do two thing well; poison and kill. No matter how careful you are with toxic household chemicals, you can’t be safe enough. When you bring deadly chemicals into your home, they leave a trace. Even if you clean. In fact, one report shows that most US kitchen floors have some insecticide residue on them including traces of organochlorine insecticides, such as chlordane, heptachlor and DDT. All of the former mentioned insecticides were withdrawn from the market or banned in the 1970s and 1980s, so time isn’t even on your side.
According to that same report above, about 78 million U.S. households, or 74%, use pesticides in their homes annually. The exposure risks to your family are very real and dangerious. Why use harmful pesticides where your family lives? You don’t have to.
Instead of pesticides, insecticides, and other harmful chemicals you can…
- Use natural bug fighting methods and keep yourself and your kids safe from insecticides.
- Learn 10 ways to get toxins out of your home.
- Avoid unnatural fragrances.
- Use earth and people friendly store bought cleaners or make your own homemade safe cleaners.
- If you do use toxic insecticides use them sparingly, and always vacate your home for a substantial amount of time after use.
[image via stock.xchng]
Post from: Blisstree