There are a lot of reasons to turn off the TV. One, if you're watching it, you're probably not moving. Two, if you're watching it, you might be digging face first into a bag of chips (not that I know anyone who does that ... ahem). And three, a recent study found that the dust on your TV screen might contain toxic chemicals.

Flame retardant is used in many household products these days, including TVs, but also in mattresses, carpet padding, and computer products. It also shows up in household dust, for reasons that, previously, experts couldn't explain. But what researchers in this study found was that TV dust contains high levels of flame retardant, leading them to believe that the heat of the television set vaporizes the retardant, allowing it to settle back onto the TV and surrounding furniture.

This is a big deal, environmentally speaking, because as of next February, TV broadcasts are going digital. When old sets get thrown away, the environment will bear the brunt of the additional chemical load. The researchers in this study didn't give any tips for how minimizing the issue in your own home. I'm not sure this is enough information to keep me from watching the season finale of Lost, but it is something to mull over. What do you think?

Source

Home Sweet Toxic Home doesn't sound to comfy or cozy, does it? Unfortunately, certain areas of your home can be toxic. Here are some of the most toxic places in your home, according to MSNBC.

From the insecticides/herbicides you spread on your lawn, lead in your kid's toy box, mothballs and dry-cleaning chemicals in your closet, carcinogens in the kitty litter box and chemicals and gases hanging out in your home office, you're surrounded by more dangerous chemicals than you might realize.

Beyond choosing non-chemical alternatives, you can also start collecting houseplants. Here are three popular plants to naturally purify the air in your home:

• Areca Palm: removes xylene commonly found in permanent markers and rubber cement.
• Boston Fern: removes formaldehyde found in permanent press fabrics, glues/adhesives and even cheap fiberboard furniture.
• English Ivy: removes benzene found in oven cleaners, detergents, furniture polish and spot cleaners.

Here's a list of seven more healthy houseplants to consider -- it's recommended you place two to three plants in an average-sized domestic living space of about 20 to 25 square yards.

Source

Putting on your clean clothes when they are still just a little warm from the dryer is such a guilty pleasure, and the fresh scent evokes all things cozy.

But did you know that scent that you love so much may be toxic? And the chemical residues left on your skin from the detergents can be causing an array of health problems for you, some as serious as cancer.

Gross! There is a negative impact on the environment, as well. Bacterial mutations in fish, unbalanced ecosystems and other toxic effects on fish and mammals are caused by the chemicals you use to clean your clothes.

Seems a bit counterproductive, doesn't it? Clean the clothing, poison the environment and your self.

Source