DANGER: Formaldehyde...Authorized Personnel Only

A few weeks ago I accompanied Mary to the hospital.  While we were escorted to a designated area, we passed a door with an ominous sign that read…”DANGER.  Formaldehyde.  Irritant and Potential Cancer Hazard.  Authorized Personnel Only”.  You needed to punch in a combination in order to open the door.  Plus, the door automatically closed and locked.  Hard…with an echo.  I thought I was at the CDC, Bio-safety Level-4.

I had to shake my head in amazement.  The hospital recognizes formaldehyde as being a carcinogen and at the same time they require their staff to use Purell practically every 5 minutes.  What do you think is in Purell, besides alcohol?  Formaldehyde.    Remember, your skin is porous, and what you put on your skin is absorbed into your blood stream, where it circulates throughout your body, building up in your tissues and you become “toxic”.  Plus, the makers of Purell recommend you use it only once a day, to be on the safe side.  I don’t use it.  I use Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap, Peppermint. Peppermint is a natural anti-bacterial and disinfectant.

Now, some people who read my articles think I am blowing smoke up a rope.  Well, one man, anyway.  I assure you, I do not make this stuff up out of thin air.  I do my research. And you can do your research as well.  So let’s see how the EPA feels about formaldehyde.  Not good.  The EPA considers Formaldehyde to be a skin, eyes, nose and throat irritant, breathing hazard, neurotoxin and a KNOWN carcinogen.  The National Cancer Institute considers formaldehyde to be a cancer causing agent.  So the caution sign on the hospital door is a little misleading.  Formaldehyde is not a “potential” carcinogen.  It is a KNOWN carcinogen.

And where do we find formaldehyde?  Just about everywhere.  In flooring, carpets, furniture, cabinets, shampoos and skin care products, baby products such as lotions and shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, sun screens, toothpaste, potpourri, fragrances, dryer sheets, laundry detergents, pesticides, herbicides, mulch, clothes, home cleaning products, paints, and the lists goes on.  Did I mention candles and scented air fresheners?  Also, wood-smoke and fuel burning appliances, medicines, paper products and cigarette smoke, especially from E-Cigarettes.

Besides poisoning yourself with formaldehyde by rubbing it on your skin, it can enter your system by breathing it in.  It off gasses and gets into the air and travels.  Now for those of you who refuse to believe me (one man, anyway), I took this information from the EPA website.  Look it up yourself.

It may come as a surprise to some of you, manufacturers are not honest.  They do not care about you.  They care about your money.  They want it.  They are realizing there are more people like me out there who read labels.  So instead of putting formaldehyde on the product list of ingredients, they call it by other names.  DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methenamine, Quaternium15, sodium hydroxyl methylylycinate, 2-bromo-20nitropropane-1,3-diol, Bromopol, Formalin, Methanal, Oxyethyline, 1,3-Dioxetane, Methylaidehyde, Methylene Oxide, Formic Aldehyde, Oxomethane Formalin and Phenol Formaldehyde.

Manufacturers will tell you there is such a small amount of it in the product, what can it hurt?  But it is in practically everything.  At the end of the day, you have absorbed a lot of formaldehyde and over a period of time you are setting yourself up for a problem.  The question should not be what can it hurt?  The question should be why is it in these products if it is known to cause cancer?  Very good question.  Why do you think that is?  Think!  Hard!  Why does our government allow companies to put cancer causing chemicals in the products you use and the food you eat?  Could it be we are being poisoned?  For Profit?

Then, if this is not bad enough, at the end of your days, the undertaker will drain your blood and fill you up with formaldehyde to preserve you so you will “look good”.  And charge you.  You pay for this.  You pay for purchasing the products containing formaldehyde, you pay to go to the doctor when you get sick.  Then you pay the undertaker to give you another blast of the stuff that probably killed you in the first place.  And some people are calling ME crazy.  I don’t think so.  Because you see…..I choose to live healthy chemical free…..

Only My Hairdresser Knows For Sure

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so being a survivor of Domestic Violence I wanted to highlight my hair Purple, in support of Fellow Survivors.  The problem is, due to my Pesticide Poisoning in 1986, I was left with a damaged immune system and with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.  My means of survival was to eliminate chemicals from my environment and this meant no more hair coloring or perms.

But, times….they are a changing.  The current trend across America is to GO Organic!  Consumers refuse to purchase cancer causing products and corporate America is giving them what they demand.  The latest trend…Organic Hair Salons, where even I can go to get a makeover. 

I remember during the late 1970’s and 80’s there was a buzz around the salons that hair dyes and perms were causing cancer:  non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast and bladder cancer due to the chemicals ammonia, formaldehyde, sodium laurel sulphates, parabens, peroxide, PPDs (para-phenylenediamines, the chemicals that creates color and is highly carcinogenic), coal tar, lead, toluene and resorcinol.  But what price beauty?  People have a propensity to dismiss what they do not want to believe, until the Curse of Cancer smacks them down.

How does one get cancer from hair dyes?  One obvious way is through the skin when it is applied to the scalp.  The other way is to breath in the fumes that get into the air.  It was soon discovered that the people most at risk were the hairdressers and employees of hair salons, as they were exposing themselves to the hair products and chemical fumes every day.

Needless to say I was left in a bind.  Where do I find chemical free shampoo?  Where can I go to get my hair cut and not have to breath in the chemical laden air which was impossible for me to do without getting an asthma attack?  Luckily for me I came upon Aubrey Organics.  This company offers a line of skin care and shampoo products that are TOTALLY organic.  There are a lot of companies professing to be organic or “all natural”, but they really are not.  One has to do one’s homework.  And I can “testify”, Aubrey Organics uses 100% pure organic ingredients.

The question remained, where do I go to get my hair cut?  In the late 1980’s, I was introduced to “Ricco”, owner of “A Cut Above”, in Cromwell, CT.  Ricco is not only a MASTER at hair styling but he is as health conscious as I am and his salon is equipped with a State of the Art air purification system that he designed himself, to eliminate cancer causing fumes from the air: for the protection of his operators, his clientele and himself.  Ricco’s system is so unique and advanced that engineers of well-known air purification manufacturers have visited his establishment to talk with him and witness his invention.  If you are looking for the Master Hair Cut of your life, without breathing in carcinogenic fumes, Ricco can be reached at 860-632-9204.

My remaining quest was to find a chemical free hair coloring system.  Not a problem anymore.  The new kid in town?...Organic Hair Salons.  There are 2 main reasons why Organic Hair Salons are in demand and doing so well.  Of course, there is the health advantage I have already talked about.  The other reason?  Organic Hair Products keep your hair healthy and beautiful.  Whereas the chemical perms and dyes have a propensity to dry out and damage hair, stripping hair of its natural oils, leaving it dull and brittle.

I wasn’t able to get my hair highlighted for October, but I did manage to paint my nails purple with a water base, nontoxic nail polish.  But I will be visiting Rootz Organic Salon in Collinsville, Connecticut for a consultation.  I now can get my hair frosted and a perm, and still live healthy chemical free…..

Killing Me Softly….With Your Love

 A few weeks ago I was in Vitamin Shoppe purchasing a box of Organic Dandelion Tea.  As I took the box from the shelf, I had to shake my head and laugh.  I am buying Dandelion Tea to cleanse my system from the pesticide residue I am breathing in, due to the pesticides and herbicides used to kill the Dandelions.  Tell me I am not living in “Idiocracy!” 

And for that matter, when did the Dandelion become the enemy?  I remember growing up in the 50’s when everyone had Dandelions on their lawns and we paid no mind.  And we did not feel the need to spread pesticides and herbicides on our lawns like people feel pressured to do today.  In fact, we picked the Dandelions and my grandmother made delicious Italian recipes with them.  And Hocus Pocus….the lawn was free of Dandelions.

But today, we are living in the age of the “Brainwash”.  Consumerism.  Purchase what is not necessary.  Even if it kills you.  I hope you realize the pesticides and herbicides you are buying to put in your yard where your pets and children play, are made from the same components of the weapons of mass destruction that George Bush was looking for in Iraq; the very stuff you pay Scott’s and Tru Green to apply to your lawns.  And then you wonder why God gave your daughter, husband or wife cancer.  Hello?!  God did not give your loved ones cancer.  Monsanto and YOU did.

And if that is not bad enough….you have the “do it yourself-ers”. “I’m going to spread my OWN stuff, and spray a little Roundup on those dam weeds, too.”  Well, let me tell you, Monsanto’s Roundup, glyphosate, is being banned in Europe and South America due to the fact that it causes cancer in lab rats and the World Health Organization has announced glyphosate to be a “probable carcinogen”. 

The Swiss Government mandated to ban and remove glyphosate products from store shelves to protect their people and the environment.  Replacing these “killer poisons” with non-toxic alternatives for weed control.  France, Switzerland and Germany all banned glyphosate products…soon to be followed by more countries of the EU.  Over 30,000 health professionals in Argentina are advocating for a ban on glyphosate products, due to the increase of cancer nationwide that is directly related to the use of these poisons in agriculture.  Sri Lanka banned glyphosate products after health professionals discovered it was the main cause for kidney and bladder cancer.  Costa Rica, Columbia and Brazil are considering taking the same action as they are facing serious health and environmental issues from the use of agricultural pesticides. 

Not only are the countries of the European Union banning Monsanto’s Glyphosate products (Roundup) but they are also banning Monsanto’s GMO Foods, as they have not been proven to be safe.  GMO Food has also been found to cause cancer in lab animals, as well as an array of allergies and stomach issues.  GMO Foods are Roundup Ready, meaning the poison Roundup is poured on them and you eat the food.  Not very smart.

You see, the European and South American governments want a healthy society and are legislating bans and restrictions on Monsanto products.  These responsible countries want to adopt a reputation of being “clean and green”.  While our country cares more about their “campaign contributions”.  Now I ask you, do you REALLY think your vote counts? 

”If you don’t like it, MOVE”, you say.  “I can do anything I want in MY yard”, you say.  Whatever happened to “Love Thy Neighbor”?  Well, due to circumstances beyond my control, I can not move….YET!!!  So, do what ever you want in your yard, but keep it IN your yard.  I do not want it coming over to MY yard and getting into MY house and forcing me to breathe it in and get sick.  I consider this to be an assault on my person.  Just like second hand cigarette smoke would be.

The culprit is “Drift”.  When your poisons are sprayed in YOUR yard, it creates what is known as DRIFT.  Whether you are using a liquid or granular poison, there are “fumes” that evaporate from these deadly chemicals and they get into the air and drift throughout the neighborhood…like a pestilence.  These gaseous fumes engulf the neighboring houses and work their way in and accumulate inside. 

Open the windows you say?  What do you think is outside, I say?  This drift hangs in the air and sticks to everything, working it’s way inside of your house for your children and pets to breathe.  And God forbid the wind is blowing or there is a breeze, you have greater drift and penetration. Get the drift?  This drift is like the poisonous gas that killed the Kurds. 

I would like to add, Federal Regulations for the application of pesticides consider it a violation to apply pesticides or herbicides if it is a windy or breezy day.  But what the heck….the “pesticide man” puts it down anyway.  Who cares?!  Also Federal regulations mandate that if you put your own poisons down in your yard, you must put yellow “caution” flags at the foot of your property.  And that is not done either.

If surface drift is not bad enough, the pesticides also seep into the soil.  For a LONG Time.  And to make matters worse, when it rains, the water re-activates the poisons to create fumes that “drift” all over again. 

Now, if you call the “man from Tru Green” and ask if this is true, I bet they will say “no” it is not.  He might say there is such a small amount of poisonous pesticides in their product that it is perfectly safe.  Many scientists have proven many times, that your regular exposure to pesticides and herbicides is called a “soft kill”.  It may not cause you to drop dead on the spot, but give it time.  It will slowly invade your body and over a period of time, you too can say you have cancer, or asthma, or Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, the list goes on.  Don’t believe me?  Just google “illnesses caused by pesticides”…and read all about it.

Is it a coincidence?….or was it done on purpose?…the Dandelions you were brainwashed into thinking are the enemy,  actually contain curative properties for cancer and other illnesses people are giving themselves from the products they purchase and consume.  Well, what can I say?  If you want to give yourself and your family cancer and other diseases that is your business.  But keep it in your yard.  I do not want it drifting into my yard for me to breathe.  I choose to Live Healthy Chemical Free…..