Ways of Keeping Your Child From Getting Asthma
A recent study on childhood asthma (via Blogging Baby) indicates that “childhood asthma has increased dramatically in the last 25 years.”
More importantly, researchers found:
….an association between the levels of phthalates present in a home’s dust and the incidence of asthma. Households with higher phthalate levels were more likely to contain children suffering from the disease. And a trend analysis showed that the greater the concentration of phthalates, the more severe the case was likely to be.
According to the above mentioned study, home’s dust is closely related to the disease. How can we keep these toxins away from our children as well as adults living in our home? Seventh Generation has many practical tips, best of all, that are not big jobs for everyone:
- Don’t buy any product that contains n-butyl benzyl phthalate or di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate.
- Use only 100 percent natural cosmetics and personal care products.
- Use a HEPA vacuum on floors and surfaces.
- Vacuum or wash curtains and drapes frequently.
- When dusting, don’t use a feather duster or other similar tool.Instead, use a slightly damp cloth and change it often.
- Don’t use conventional commercial spray cleaners or furniture waxes when dusting.
- Keep all your home’s walkways and entrances free of dirt, soils, and other things that can get tracked into the house and converted to dust.
- Make liberal use of welcome mats around doors to remove particles attached to shoes before those shoes enter your home.
- Consider asking guests and family members to remove their shoes whenever they enter your home, especially in urban areas.
- Cut down on your clutter. Clutter not only attracts dust, it makes it harder to clean effectively.