Simple Steps to Reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors now

 Many of the harmful chemicals that we are concerned about can accumulate in the air, or as dust, in your house. Simply opening your windows on a breezy day can get those unwanted residues out of your house.  

Chemical residues can easily buildup on your floor or counters. Getting rid of these residues can quickly reduce your exposure. We recommend mopping your floor with a wet mop and wiping down your counters with a cleaning solution. This tip is especially important if you have kids, as the air that they breathe is much closer to the floor, and therefore will have a higher concentration of contaminants.

   Any time you microwave a plastic container with food in it, some amount of that plastic will leach into your food. Dish washing any plastics may scratch the plastic, which makes the plastic more prone to leeching. Even if the plastic is rated as microwave safe, that rating just means that the container will not melt or become disfigured; any and all plastic will leech in the microwave.     

 Your shoes act as a chemical sponge. When you walk through your house with your shoes, you're releasing all the chemicals. Simply leaving your shoes next to the door can stop those chemicals from proliferating all over.  

 There's a reason this project is called Fake Fragrance Free. They're bad for you! We recommend that you use plant-based fragrances and products, as they contain no phthalates.  

 If a certain plastic item is rated to be used only once, then do just that. This will also reduce the possibility of bacterial contamination.  

 Some recyclable plastics will have a 3 in the middle of the recycling label. This 3 indicates that the plastic contains phthalates.  

 Organic products are not sprayed with pesticides, therefore making them a much safer option. This is especially important for leafy green vegetables, as pesticides are sprayed directly onto them. No amount of washing vegetables sprayed with pesticides can remove them 100%.  

 While there is some debate in the scientific community about the impact of GMO's, it seems that they are fine for your health in general. That being said, the rate of pesticide use is higher for GMO products than non-GMO products. Consequentially, we advise you to buy non-GMO products when possible.  

 The following foods are more susceptible to absorbing any applied pesticides. You should really to try to buy these foods organic rather than conventional if possible:                                                  

1. Apples         7. Pears   
2. Cherries       8. Potatoes
3. Celery          9. Nectarines
4. Spinach       10. Peaches 
5. Grapes         11. Tomatoes
6. Strawberries 12. Peppers

 Don't worry: you don't need to throw out all of your furniture. Any flame retardants are applied on the upholstery itself, not the cloth that your are exposed to. But, it's better to be safe than sorry; try to buy materials that don't contain flame retardants. Any upholstery with the label TB117-2013 is not required to be sprayed flame retardants. If you want to know if your furniture has flame retardants, simply contact the vendor that sold it.

 Wool clothing does not contain flame retardants. In addition, tight fitting clothing does not require flame retardants; the idea is that tight fitting clothing will not dangle over an open flame and catch fire. 

 If you have a hole or rip in your furniture, cover it with a piece of cloth or just replace it entirely. These rips can expose you to flame retardants.  

 Iodine has been shown to combat the effects of flame retardants in the body, as iodine is quite important for the thyroid to function properly. Some foods that are high in iodine are seafood, dairy products, cranberries, and strawberries.  

 Most re-usable hard plastic water bottles contain BPA. Even if a hard plastic water bottle says that it does not contain BPA, it may have another similar bisphenol, such as BPS, that is similarly harmful. To be safe, just use a metal water bottle.  

 Try to avoid all contact with thermal receipts, as they contain large amounts of BPA that can transfer through your skin. If contact is inevitable, touch the non-printed side. To test if a receipt is thermal, a small scratch given by a coin will reveal a dark mark on thermal reciepts.  

 Those aluminum cans that your favorite soda, soup, or beer come in have BPA on them. If possible, buy glass bottles, or buy fresh foods instead. Look for food that is packaged in Tetra Paks, which don't use cans to package food.  

 Plastic items that have the recycling number 7 contains BPA. Avoid these items.  

Even though lead paint was banned in 1978, many older houses still contain lead paint. The telltale sign of lead paint is that it chips or cracks over time. These chips and cracks enter the air as dust, which can then be inhaled. We very strongly recommend that you replace any lead paint in your home. For more detailed steps on how you can remove the lead paint, visit the EPA's website on lead. Even if your house does not contain lead paint, it wouldn't hurt to have your house inspected by an EPA certified inspector.

The use of lead in consumer products is strictly prohibited in the US. However, there have been cases of lead contaminated products coming in from less regulated countries, such as China and Mexico. To be safe, you should check your children's toys for any lead. To do so, you can use these lead testing swabs. 

Pottery that is imported from less regulated countries may contain lead. You should pay extra attention to ceramics or pottery that is handmade, antique, damaged, or purchased from a street vendor. You should really try to avoid putting acidic liquids in pieces of pottery that may contain lead, as the acidity can dissolve small amounts of the glaze, which would cause the lead to leech into the liquid. Again, you can use these lead testing swabs to check for lead. 

The following products may also contain lead:

• Imported candles - the wick may contain lead
• Imported candies and spices - handling and drying process may have contaminated these products with lead
• Certain health remedies and cosmetics - azarcon and greta (used for upset stomachs) as well as kohl (a cosmetic, also known as kajal, al-Kahal, surma, tiro, tozali, kwalli). There have also been several cases of imported lipstick having lead in them.