#36- living plastic -free (and sadly its not me) August 8, 2008

From a friend, I found out there’s an impressive,incredible woman out there in the big wide world who is living plastic-free. She can be found at plasticfree.blogspot.com.

In summary she made a pledge two years ago to eliminate all plastic from her life…..no purchases, no gifts, no saran wrap, baggies, magazines (lined with waxy plastic), produce bags, even shampoo and conditioner containers (not sure how she is pulling that one off…..) She is making serious headway and influencing many others to live plastic-free. It struck me as I perused her blog, that as much as I care about the plastic situation, I’m really not living anywhere near plastic-free. There is always more we can do and I think when we all do something it really adds up. So in honor of the plastic- free lady (i think she calls herself Envirowoman) I will be permanently giving up saran wrap in our house and instead using the tupperware I already own, bowls with lids, pots with lids and any other alternative I can come up with.

We have spent some impressive time this summer picking up plastic on the beaches and trails. The kids have become great helpers collecting bottle caps,balloons, water bottles, pacifiers, old shovels, cups, etc…. off teh beaches and at least saving some items from entering the plastic stew. I keep reminding myself, first step is to reduce, second step re-use, third step recycle. Each day we are involved in all three steps and I have to believe that is making a difference.

#35–shower curtain reminder August 8, 2008

Sent to me, a reminder of the dangers of the not-so-innocent shower curtain:

Toxic threat in your shower? Environmental group’s testing shows vinyl curtains emit volatile, dangerous chemicals

By JULIE A. VARUGHESE, Special to the Times Union First published: Friday, June 13, 2008

ALBANY — If you use a vinyl shower curtain, you may want to wear a gas mask in the shower, according to an environmental group that found the material releases toxic chemicals that are linked to respiratory illnesses and other ailments.What consumers are buying is not just a “water barrier,” said Barbara Warren, executive director of the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, a statewide environmental group. “Instead, what you’re bringing home is a toxic cloud.” <!– –> Advertisement The Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment & Justice released test results Thursday that show curtains made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) emit more than 100 volatile organic compounds. Some of these chemicals — which can cause headaches and other problems — could be detected by special equipment up to 28 days after unfolding the curtains. The curtains were purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart. The total level of chemicals was 16 times greater than what is allowed by the U.S. Green Building Council’s guidelines for indoor air quality. The concentration of chemicals in a curtain purchased at Wal-Mart was so high, testing had to stop to protect lab equipment. Some curtains also contained heavy metals such as lead, which causes neurological problems, and phthalates, which have been linked to endocrine system disruption. As a result, the nonprofit organization is pushing for federal and state regulations to ban its sale. Some retailers have already agreed to phase out sales, said Anne Rabe, BE SAFE campaign coordinator for the group. But that won’t happen immediately. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released similar test results in 2002, Warren said, and those emissions were in violation of the Clean Air Act. Other shower curtains are made of organic cotton, polyester or polyethylene vinyl acetate. They are more expensive than the PVC products. Julie Varughese, an environmental journalism fellow from the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode Island, can be reached at 454-5587 or by e-mail at jvarughese@timesunion.com.