No tan is a good tan

Sun-bathing is actually better for you
than tanning substitutes

First we were told that sun-bathing was bad for our skin, so people starting using tanning salons. Then we were told that tanning beds caused more harmful UV rays than did the sun at high noon, so people turned to tanning lotions.

Now studies tell us to stop that too.

Though there is no evidence that these self-tanning products lead to melanoma, research has shown  that the chemicals absorbed by the skin and inhaled from the spray and fumes can in fact have long-term effects.

Tanning lotions are composed of several types of chemicals including the carcinogen formaldehyde, nitrosamines (also considered cancer-causing) and tartrazine (a synthetic yellow dye that is known to cause skin irritations).

Side effects may include reduced fertility, diabetes, cancer and obesity. Pregnant women also expose their children to these chemicals, which can result in birth defects.

Source: The MedGuru

Sunbathing is the better option

If you’re afraid you’re turning pasty and the prospect of tanning is just too good to pass up, your best bet is to get some real sun. Though extended exposure will still have negative consequences, it is still the safer option.

 How to protect your home from chemical toxins

Though it would be easy to just go home and throw out your tanning lotions, there are many other cosmetics and cleaning products that include some of the ingredients listed above. Some are more difficult to do without than others. 

Take the time to go through the products you use most often, and find greener options to replace them with. It is also a good idea to get an air purifier to clean your home when some of these products are used.

AllerAir's numerical series of air purifiers
(4000, 5000, 6000)

Though many chemicals are diffused outdoors, they tend to hang around indoors. An activated carbon filtered air purifier will adsorb the chemicals, rending your home safer and healthier.

Do you use self-tanning lotions? Will you continue to do so now that you know the side-effects? Tell us what you think!

Show your support for greener and healthier living by becoming a follower of this blog.

For more information on AllerAir’s air purifiers for odor and chemical control, call us toll free at 1-888-852-8247.

Study links infertility in men to chemicals

Many couples are struggling with infertility.

New research shows that high levels of organochlorine chemicals PCBs and a DDT breakdown product can lead to an extra sex chromosome for men and contribute to fertility problems.

Although the chemicals have long been banned due to health concerns, they still persist in the environment and in people. DDT’s breakdown form p,p’-DDE is very stable and can be found in most people, since it accumulates in fatty tissue.

According to the study involving men in Massachusetts, the male participants with higher levels of the chemicals in their blood were also up to 60 percent more likely to have sperm with too many sex chromosomes.

The chemicals may also be to blame for decreased quality of sperm.

An embryo or fetus with an abnormal number of chromosomes is one of the leading causes of miscarriages and birth defects.

Both the mother and the father donate a chromosome in the egg – an X from the mother and an X or Y from the father (when the chromosomes come together at fertilization, it will be XX for the girl and XY for a boy).

The study shows that the abnormal number of sex chromosomes overwhelmingly comes from the fathers and while several reasons may be to blame, researchers have identified environmental exposure as one possible cause.

Besides the chemicals mentioned above, researchers have identified benzene and some pesticides as having similar effects on sperm.

The study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Source: Environmental Health News

Reduce exposure to airborne chemicals with high-quality air purifiers

AllerAir offers portable air purifiers with many pounds of activated carbon and other air filters to help keep the ambient air clean.

The air purifiers can help remove airborne chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold as well as other irritants.

Contact AllerAir today for more information and personalized suggestions.
 

The link between environmental chemicals and infertility

Millions of couples in the U.S. are infertile
or dealing with infertility, statistics show.

Researchers are trying to understand the many reasons why infertility rates are rising in North America and other developed nations.

Every year in the United States, approximately 6 million women deal with infertility and around 2 million married couples are infertile.

The causes include hormonal imbalances, defects of the uterus, misshapen sperm, low sperm count and low sperm motility, for example.

And new research has just added another potential cause to the list: endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment.

Studies have found higher blood levels of pollutants such as bisphenol A (BPA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), which can interfere with a woman’s ability to get pregnant and reduce fertility.

Chemicals mimic hormones

More than 1,200 chemicals belong to the category of endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mimic or block hormones, including estrogen, the primary female sex hormone involved in pregnancy.

The researchers warn that even low levels of chemicals such as PCBs affect the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

PCBs and HCB are long-lived pollutants that take decades to break down. That is why even though they have been banned for 25 years or more, exposure in the general U.S. population is still widespread.

Most people are exposed through food, since the chemicals are often found in hard plastic beverage containers, food can linings and traces of pesticides.

To reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, experts advise to:

• Avoid canned foods
• Not use disposable water bottles
• Buy BPA-free plastics
• Avoid animal and fish fats that are high in PCBs

Source: Environmental Health News

Use an air purifier to remove airborne chemicals

Remove chemicals, odors
and other toxins with the
5000 Exec air purifier.

The ambient air in most indoor environments contains dust particles and allergens, but also chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxins that are often off-gassing from construction materials, paints, electronic equipment, furniture, cleaning agents and scented products like air fresheners and candles.

An air purifier with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA can remove the widest range of these contaminants and keep the air cleaner and healthier.

Check out AllerAir’s 5000 Exec for powerful, portable air filtration where you need it, or contact us to determine which unit is best suited for your needs.

Doctor speaks out on how chemicals are affecting women’s health

We are exposed to thousands of
chemicals every day.

A barrage of recent studies and regulatory action seems to confirm what many people have suspected for a long time: Continued exposure to chemicals, no matter at what levels, can affect our health and well-being.

Warnings and concerns about chemicals such as formaldehyde in hair products and common household products, VOCs in construction materials and cleaning products, phthalates in plastics and solvents, parabens in personal care products, BPA (bisphenol A) in plastic linings and food containers, flame retardants in furniture and textiles, pesticides and many other toxins are just a few of the chemicals we are exposed to every single day.

Chemicals building up over time

In a recent report by WEWS News, Dr. Marianne Marchese, who practices naturopathic medicine, said that some of the most serious conditions affecting women, including breast cancer and infertility, can be linked to toxins we breathe, ingest, and put on our skin.

Even if daily exposure is low, the danger lies in the fact that chemical toxins can build up in the body over time, she says.

Women may be more affected because many of these chemicals mimic hormones in a women’s body and are very estrogenic.

Dr. Marchese, who wrote the book “8 Weeks to Women’s Wellness,” suggests limiting exposure to chemicals as much as possible, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables that can help the body get rid of the chemical buildup and keeping up to date with the latest research and suggestions.

Reduce exposure, improve IAQ

In terms of indoor air quality, the best ways to reduce chemical exposure include using natural cleaning and personal care products, cleaning regularly, avoiding scented and synthetic products with added fragrance, keeping the home well-ventilated and at a comfortable humidity level.

AllerAir's 5000 Exec:
Air purifier for the home or office.

But since it is not possible to avoid chemicals entirely, you may want to continuously improve your indoor air quality with a high-quality air purifier.

“A good quality air purifier with both a HEPA and carbon filter will reduce airborne dust, pollen, pollution and chemical fumes,” says Stephanie Bristow, an AllerAir Air Quality Expert. “It helps to remove or prevent odors and makes a big difference in the air quality at home.”

AllerAir Industries specializes in powerful air purifiers for the home and office, offering the largest activated carbon filters in the industry and the most customizable options.

Contact AllerAir for more information: 1-888-852-8247.