Jasmine Friedman
HCOM 511 – Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
Final Draft Feature Article:
The Non-Toxic Kitchen:
Protecting Your Family from Household Pollutants
Audience: Consumers, Families
Word Count: 1020
Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level: 9.5
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
Test Your Knowledge!
1. Which is cleaner: indoor air or outdoor
air?
2. How many toxins are found in the
average glass of water?
a. 80
b. 150
c. 300
d. 500
3. What type of cookware is safest?
a. Nonstick
b. Stainless steel
c. Aluminum
d. Copper
4. Is it safe to reheat food in plastic
storage containers?
5. What are three of the most chemically
contaminated fruits and vegetables?
Answers:
1. Outdoor air is cleaner! Indoor air is up to three
times as polluted as outdoor air, AND most
people spend up to 90% of their time indoors!
2. C – 300. The U.S. government has tested 80
of these toxins for safety. The rest remain
uncertain.
3. B – Stainless steel. Copper and nonstick pans
release chemicals into the air and your food.
Aluminum may be safer, but it has not been
tested thoroughly to be sure.
4. Unfortunately, no. Heating plastic causes the
chemicals to break down and leach into the
food. Don’t put plastics in the microwave or
dishwasher, and don’t put hot foods in
It may sound unbelievable,
but even the cleanest home may be a
poisonous place for your family. Indoor
toxins are no joke – chemicals in our
environment have been linked to cancer,
early puberty1, allergies, nervous system2
and reproductive problems3, and more.
Of
the
80,000
chemicals
found
in
consumer products on the U.S. market,
only 200 have been adequately tested for
causing
cancer4.
frightening
chemicals
is
have
What’s
that
more
been
especially
than
detected
300
in
umbilical-cord blood5.
them.
5. The Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty
Dozen”: celery, peaches, strawberries, apples,
blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach,
cherries, kale/collard greens, potatoes, and
imported grapes.
Luckily, there are simple steps you can
take to help rid your home of toxins.
1
Reference 2A, p. 263.
Reference 9A, p. 1.
3
Reference 8C, p. 13.
4
Reference 4C, p. 793.
5
Reference 4A, p. 792.
2
2
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
The Non-Toxic Kitchen
Even the most sparkling kitchen may have pollutants lurking in it. That’s
because cookware, cleaners, storage containers, drinking water, and nonorganic foods often contain toxins. We’ll tackle each of these, highlighting
easy actions you can take to make your kitchen healthier.
Cookware: When nonstick cookware heats up, the surface coating breaks
apart and releases toxic particles and gases. These chemicals have been
linked to cancer. They have also been linked to deaths of pet birds, an effect
called, “the canary in the kitchen,” that can signal danger to the humans living
in the house6.
Simple Solution: Switch to cast iron, stainless steel, glass, or ceramic
pots and pans. If you do use nonstick pans, don’t heat them very high,
and don’t use metal utensils, which can scratch the surface. If you notice
any scratches, throw the pan away.
Cleaning Supplies: Toxins can be found in dishwashing soap, drain, oven,
floor, and window cleaners. Some of these chemicals can cause eye, nose, and
6
Reference 5A, p. 1.
3
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, damage to liver,
reproductive, and central nervous system, or cancer78.
Simple Solution: Make your own cleaners using white vinegar, baking
soda, lemon, and hydrogen peroxide. Or, buy environmentally-friendly
cleaners. When you’re shopping, avoid products labeled with “signal
words” like Danger/Poison, Corrosive, Severely Irritating, Highly
Flammable, Highly Combustible, or Strong Sensitizer. Look for products
that are labeled Low-VOC, Readily Biodegradable, Bio-based (such as
citrus- or pine-based products), and Solvent-free. These can be found at
your natural foods store, hardware store, drugstore, and discount
department stores.
Storage: Plastic containers and baggies sure
are handy. But is all that plastic good for you?
Studies are finding that chemicals in plastics
leach into food, especially when they are
heated9. The chemicals in plastics are linked
to
respiratory
problems,
reproductive
issues10, and cancer.
7
Reference 8B, p. 7.
Reference 1A, p. 2.
9
Reference 2C, p. 266, and 2D, p. 271.
10
Reference 2C, p. 266.
8
4
Definitions
Chemical – a substance used in or produced
by the processes of chemistry
Chemistry – a branch of science dealing
with the structure, composition, properties,
and reactive characteristics of substances,
especially at the atomic and molecular levels
Toxin – any chemical or mixture that may
be harmful to the environment and to
human health if inhaled, swallowed, or
absorbed through the skin.
Pollutant – any substance, such as certain
chemicals or waste products, that renders the
air, soil, water, or other natural resource
harmful or unsuitable for a specific purpose.
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
Simple Solution: Invest in glass or stainless steel storage containers.
Nowadays, these containers come in every shape and size, and can be
found at housewares, hardware, discount department stores, and yard
sales. While it may cost more at first, glass and metal will last much
longer than plastic. Or, simply wash and reuse glass jars from sauces
and other foods. Also, use wax paper or butcher paper to wrap, store,
and freeze food.
Water: Testing by water utilities has found over 300 toxins in our tap water
that we’d be better off without. Water may become contaminated from11:

Naturally-occurring chemicals and minerals, such as arsenic;

Corroding water pipes;

Viruses, bacteria, and parasites;

Local land-use practices, such as pesticide use;

Industrial pollution that leaches into groundwater or is released on the
surface; and

Sewer overflow and failing septic systems.12
Lead, chloroform13, and mercury are just some of the contaminants found in
water. Lead affects nearly all systems of the body. At high levels, it can cause
convulsions, coma, and death. At low levels, lead can harm the nervous
11
Reference 7A, p. 1.
Reference 11A, p. 2.
13
Reference 13A, B, C, p.1.
12
5
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
system, kidney, and blood cells.14 Chloroform has been linked to cancer15,
reproductive system problems, developmental problems, and disruption of
the hormone function. Mercury is a neurotoxin – it disturbs brain and nervous
system function – and is especially harmful to pregnant women and small
children. It can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, deafness, and
blindness16.
Simple Solution: Keeping your water clean is, luckily, pretty easy.
Water filters are easy to find and use, and even the simplest carbon
filter can remove some of the toxins.
Food: Still not sure about organics? Well, consider that conventional farming
uses chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers on produce, and gives
animals antibiotics, growth hormones, and medicines. Organic produce, on
the other hand, is much lower in nitrates, pesticides, and some heavy
metals17. It also contains more vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus18.
Organic meat (including poultry) is also more likely to come from humane
farms.
Simple Solution: If the higher price of organics puts you off, start slowly
and phase it in, one vegetable at a time. For both organic and
14
Reference 9A, p. 1.
Reference 13E, p. 3.
16
Reference 10A, p. 1.
17
Reference 3B, p. 6, and 3D, p. 6.
18
Reference 3A, p. 5, 3C, p. 6, and 3E, p. 10.
15
6
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
conventional produce, be sure to wash thoroughly under running
water19. If you do buy conventional produce, buy in season and buy
domestic. Produce from the U.S. has less pesticide residue on it.
It may seem overwhelming to make all of these changes. But every step you
take in the right direction helps lower the toxins in your home. Before you
know it, your kitchen will be the cleanest on the block!
For more information, visit…
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), www.cdc.gov
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), www.epa.gov
The EPA’s Drinking Water Information Site for Consumers, http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/
The Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), www.niehs.nih.gov
The Natural Resources Defense Council, www.nrdc.org
Nontoxic cleaning recipes: http://www.ehow.com/how_4790152_non-toxic-cleaningsupplies.html
Organic Food Information, www.organic.org
19
Reference 2E, p. 271.
7
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
References
1. The American Lung Association, Cleaning Supplies and Household
Chemicals.
Retrieved
online
April
6,
2011
from
http://www.lungusa.org/healthy-air/home/resources/cleaningsupplies.html.
2. Cesario, S. K. and Hughes, L. A. (2007), Precocious puberty: A
comprehensive review of literature. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, &
Neonatal Nursing, 36: 263–274. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2007.00145.x
3. Crinnion, W. J. (2010). Organic foods contain higher levels of certain
nutrients, lower levels of pesticides, and may provide health benefits
for the consumer. Alternative Medicine Review, 15: 4-12.
4. Christiani, D. C. (2011). Combating Environmental Causes of Cancer.
New England Journal of Medicine, 364: 791-793.
5. The Environmental Working Group, Canaries in the Kitchen: Teflon
Toxinosis.
Retrieved
March
9,
2011
from
http://
www.ewg.org/reports/toxicteflon
6. The Environmental Working Group, EWG’s 2010 Shopper’s Guide to
Pesticides. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from http://www.foodnews.org/
7. The Environmental Working Group, Over 300 Pollutants in U.S. Tap
Water. Retrieved online March 10, 2011 from http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/home
8
Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
8. Gorman, Alexandra. (2007). Household Hazards: Potential Hazards of
Home Cleaning Products. Report by Women’s Voices for the Earth.
9. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National
Institutes
of
Health,
Lead.
Retrieved
March
9,
2011
from
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/lead/index.cfm
10. Natural Resources Defense Council, Mercury Contamination in Fish.
Retrieved
March
8,
2011,
from
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/effects.asp
11. Natural Resources Defense Council, Study Finds Safety of Drinking
Water in U.S. Cities at Risk. Retrieved March 8, 2011 from
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/uscities.asp
12. Rowe, B., Toccalino, P., Moran, M., Zogorski, J., and Price, C. (2007).
Occurrence and Potential Human-Health Relevance of Volatile Organic
Compounds in Drinking Water from Domestic Wells in the United
States. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115:11, 1539-1546.
13. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chloroform. Retrieved March 9,
2011 from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/kids/hometour/index.htm
14. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Technology Transfer Network,
The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved April 6, 2011
from http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/chlorofo.html
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Jasmine Friedman
Final Draft of Feature Article
HCOM 511: Writing about Health and Medicine
4/7/11
15. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Learn about Chemicals around
Your
House.
Retrieved
March
9,
2011
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/kids/hometour/index.htm
10
from