Health risks from Chlorine exposure are being documented more and more every year.     Asthma in Children Associated w/ Chlorine Exposure A new study published in the Journal Pediatrics found that children who spend a lot of time at indoor swimming pools during their early years are more prone to developing asthma, recurrent bronchitis, and other breathing problems as they grow older, compared to others who do not frequent indoor pools.The researchers believe that harmful gases trapped indoors from the chlorinated pools are to blame for the airway damage. The main culprit: trichloramine, or nitrogen trichloride, is created when chlorine reacts with ammonia, which can be found in the sweat and urine from swimmers. Pediatrics 2007 Jun;119(6):1095-103   A European Study Methods : We have examined the relationships between the prevalences of wheezing by written or video questionnaire, of ever asthma, hay fever, rhinitis and atopic eczema as reported by the Internati...

     I wrote this post way back in the early 2000's. It seems PUR has now thankfully gone out of business. They even had a water filter that would inject their toxic flavoring into your fresh glass of filtered water. Why even filter it in the first place? Unfortunately now there are other liquid flavor additives and powdered drink mixes currently available which are just as bad. Before you buy such a product, read up on it. Don't trust because it is on the shelf it must be safe to consume. A lot of these products have nasty chemicals in them but since the amount is so low the FDA allows it because it falls under the exposure limit. Well recent studies show micro dosing of almost anything including vitamins and spices show an effect on the body.  Although this original post is dated, it is still a fun read and still poignant. Remember you are what you eat! Original Post This is a little off topic for this blog, however there are a few things that burn my bottom t...

  Aflatoxin comes from a fungus found on corn and other crops and can cause severe liver damage in pets. If your pet shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. — Sluggishness — Loss of appetite — Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly) — Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea — Fever Source: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) In The News COLUMBIA, S.C. - The FDA reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond Pet Foods. The company has recalled 19 varieties of dog and cat food because tests showed high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical that comes from a fungus found on corn and other grains that causes severe liver damage in animals. The company recalled products manufactured at its Gaston, S.C., plant from around September to November 2005. Based on sample testing, Diamond has narrowed down the exposure to food produced on Oct. 11, Brinkma...

    As soon as we posted the Ozone for DIY'ers - Part 1 , we received email asking to talk more about the " scammers " out there selling products claiming to treat mold. A few emails asked for specific names of products. I don't want to list names, but I think you will see a pattern which will help you decide for yourself. How can you tell if you may be dealing with a scammer ? Well, anyone promising you something too good to be true is a good sign. Off the top off my head I can think of three questionable products out there. All three of these products are sold by individuals that seem to be involved with pyramid selling, like AMWAY (multi-level marketing). The salespeople will not only sell you a unit, but try to recruit you into selling them. Some just want to sell you a product. Most of them will have business cards with a "code number" on it, or a website offshoot dedicated with their name at the end, example www.scammerozone.com/johndoe   Belo...

      People of Boston, do you want to know about ozone? Well, ozone can be used for remediation along with air & water purification. However, it can also be dangerous to your health in the hands of a novice. What is ozone? Ozone gas is a molecule which consists of three oxygen molecules. It is naturally occurring in the earth's atmosphere at all levels and is essential to reef keeping. Ozone functions by sterilizing the water and relieving it of unwanted bacteria and microscopic organisms. Ozone is explosive and is harmful to animals and humans in large quantities. OZONE SCAMMERS Let's get right into it. One of my long time clients called me a few years ago after he met a salesman at the Boston Home Show selling $400.00 ozone units. These units are sold to be table-top units. He knows that we (Boston- Biosafety ) use ozone as part of our arsenal. My client proceeded to recite the sales pitch he received from the salesman. The salesman even offered a free, 3 day...

     After reading this post you will know why we convert more chemical based pools to ozone pools every year. Chemically treated pool water is simply bad for our health. Whether it is Chlorine, Bromine or any other mixture, these chemicals are not what you want entering  or in contact with your body. As most of you all know, we (Boston Biosafety / Eco3 Environmental) not only deal with mold issues, we deal with health related pathogens. Keeping yourself healthy will not only extend your life, it will make your life more pleasurable . Instead of posting in my usual paragraph format, I thought it best just to use bullet points.   Chlorine and Health    Exposure Risks * People who work at chlorinated pools are over 700 percent more likely to suffer breathlessness while performing any level of physical activity. * Spontaneous abortions and stillbirths have been directly linked to chlorine exposure. Pregnant women's children exposed to chlorine a...

  What is Mold? Molds are neither plants nor animals. They are microscopic fungi, related to mushrooms, yeast, and mildew—and they can be found everywhere. Fungi use enzymes to digest food and reproductive cells called spores to reproduce. Molds play an important role in the decomposition of leaves, wood, and other dead plant matter. Mold puts the "blue" in bleu cheese, and mold is the original source of penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used naturally-occurring antibiotics. Unfortunately, mold is also one of the most common allergens on the planet.    Molds in the Environment Molds live in the soil, on plants, and on dead or decaying matter. Outdoors, molds play a key role in the breakdown of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Molds belong to the kingdom Fungi, and unlike plants, they lack chlorophyll and must survive by digesting plant materials, using plant and other organic materials for food. Without molds, our environment would be overwhelmed with...