I am interested in finding ways in which I can remove or reduce
potentially toxic chemicals within my living environment.

This would include indoors and outdoors.  It may include initially
recognition of potentially harmful chemicals within the modern home
and garden, what potential problems these may cause, as well as ways
to replace these with less harmful alternatives.

My main focus is on ways that individuals can realistically and
practically approach this for improving their own living environment.

Any related web references, resources, affiliate programs and
suppliers would be useful. I am not interested in general content
traffic sites.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Jul 2005 20:18 PDT

I like to answer many of the environmental questions at Google
Answers, as I have a lot of background in this area.  However, your
question -- as sensible as it is to want to know what the dangers are
and how to reduce them -- covers so much territory that it would be
very hard to craft an answer for it.

You may want to get started here:


http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/open.htm


where there are a number of links to household products that can be a
danger, and to various opportunities for minimizing problems.  Give
the "virtual house" a try:


http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/house.htm


It's not as thorough as one might like, but it's a good starting off point.


Let me know if these are useful at all, or if you're looking for
something different.

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

I'd get rid of cleaning chemicals you may have that really are not
necessarily vital. There's lots of resources out there about 'home
made' cleaning detergents, such as vinegar and water for windows. The
worst thing I find people using, and becoming more popular in the UK,
is air freshner! Crazy people are putting all sorts of chemicals into
the air that they breathe. One thing I have done in my home is to
remove all carpets. It has reduced the level of dust in the house and
the air is much clearer. The best thing I have done in my home yet!

The biggest thing you can do is to deal with the chemicals you eat and
drink. Not sure where you are, but in the UK you can get pretty much
everything in organic form. I don't go all out, but try to avoid pre
prepared meals when I can and cook myself, meaning making everything
from the raw ingredients, meaning I know exactly what it is I am
eating. I try to also avoid anything with E numbers in, or at least
excessive numbers of them. I brought myself a blender and make
smoothies all the time, and kids like them too.

As for the garden, I would simply ensure that no weedkiller,
herbicides or fertilisers were used.

The fact is that most if not all of the chemicals in the home are
toxix. It would be very hard to avoid them.

Thanks econlite for your input.  I am new to google answers, and still
learning things.  I am not sure if this is the appropriate way to
thank people for comments, but thought it should work.

I am not getting much response, so perhaps I have not asked the
question in the best way, or the best place.

Thanks again.

Missti

pafalafa,

Thank you very much for the tips.  So I will go check out the links
you suggested, and see if I can drill down, to something more
manageable.

You may have noticed that I am new to this, so all help is welcome.

Cheers,

missti