Captain Planet Posts

I'm starting 2009 with a new segment- the Captain Planet Posts- Its a joke because my husband is well read and likes to read, research, whatever you want to call it various topics on Organics...- we're also part of the Green Movement or... as my dad likes to say "The Communist movement"- I really can't see the Communists being into recycling and eating close to the earth... so I think he's a bit mixed up there.

Anyway, on to the topic for the post.

Here is part of an article along with a link if you click on the TITLE.. as well as here...

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/dryer-sheets-fabric-softeners-safety-461208?kw=ist

AVOID DRYER SHEETS AND FABRIC SOFTENERS.....

If you're concerned about the health and safety of your family members, you might want to stay away from both conventional dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners altogether. While it may be nice to have clothes that feel soft, smell fresh and are free of static cling, both types of products contain chemicals known to be toxic to people after sustained exposure.

According to the health and wellness website Sixwise.com, some of the most harmful ingredients in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener alike include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), limonene (a known carcinogen) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), among others.

Since fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothes for extended periods of time, such chemicals can seep out gradually and be inhaled or absorbed directly through the skin. Liquid fabric softeners are slightly preferable to dryer sheets, as the chemicals in dryer sheets get released into the air when they are heated up in the dryer and can pose a respiratory health risk to those both inside and outside the home.

For those who don't want to give up the benefits of fabric softeners but are afraid to risk exposure to potentially toxic chemicals, National Geographic's Green Guide recommends adding either a quarter cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle. Either one will soften clothes, while the latter will also address static cling. (Be sure not to mix either with bleach, though, as resulting chemical reactions could cause noxious fumes.) If eliminating static cling is your top priority, try drying natural-fiber clothes separately from synthetic materials. The combination of cotton and polyester is often the culprit behind static cling. Better yet, reports the Green Guide, line dry synthetic clothing, as it tends to dry fairly quickly anyway.... more at:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/dryer-sheets-fabric-softeners-safety-461208?kw=ist