After reading the front page of the New York Times last week about the hazards affecting workers in North Carolina cushion plants, I decided to do a bit of research. The article by Ian Urbina, As OSHA Emphasizes Safety, Long-Term Health Risks Fester, explains the use of an...

Pregnant with a first child is a life-altering moment, especially when you hit five months and your belly becomes visible to the world. However, there are some rude people who have forgotten the basic rule of common courtesy for pregnant women... watch the baby bump!

Memorial Day weekend -- Mystic,...

As you return to your summer home, there are many things on the maintenance list and given the damp weather this year, many homeowners are reporting mold related issues. Plus, with the high pollen count and allergens, we are also hearing more about bouts of wheezing and sneezing.

Sick Homes

After watching the ABC special on made in America products, it was a challenge to myself over the past week to identify a top three list of eco-friendly, stylish items that are both beautiful and affordable. Plus, all these items had to be made in America. Home-related items that are...

In my original blog in 2009 about Chinese drywall, there was limited information, and hearings were just beginning. However, in the past month, we have learned of a pilot program where Chinese companies are compensating U.S. victims for toxic drywall remediation. Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin is actually...

What is third-hand smoke? It is that film that remains behind after a smoker has vacated a residence or hotel room. For those who are chemically sensitive, you can often smell it, or you will react to it by wheezing and sneezing. For others, it can be a hidden cause...

A pivotal moment occurred recently when a friend - only 45 years old! - was hospitalized for diabetes related complications. And then the outcome - an amputation, an even more restricted diet and more medication...

According to Reuters, it is projected that the prevalence of diabetes in the...

PREGNANT AT 8

Imagine your daughter at age 7 or 8 with the ability to get pregnant? And without any psychological understanding of how her physical maturity appears to older boys or men. It is an auspicious day when you read that girls who are only two years out of...

Pillows, Sheets...usually there are secrets that should be kept only in the bedroom. But its time to ask you what is "in" your pillow. Did you know that this tiny little secret could affect your health? Could your pillow be the reason for your wheezing and sneezing? Could the dust...

Drywall...a basic necessity for a typical home - but what if those walls were corroding your appliances, electrical wire and causing your family to have respiratory problems or to flee due to chemical smells?

We are hearing more stories that indicate families are not aware that indoor air quality can...

Several of my friends are having babies and since our firm does eco-friendly nurseries, they are asking us how to make it safe for their newborns. They are focused on organic bedding and baby food, but they forget that recent news story that indicates that unborn babies are being exposed...

Today: The Consequences

FEMA trailers, sick babies ... government studies to follow the consequences. In August 2007, I remarked on the MSNBC article about FEMA trailers that were sent to help Hurricane Katrina and Rita disaster victims. These trailers were taxpayer-funded carcinogen containers -- with air quality so poor that...

Why didn't they think of this sooner? A hybrid truck -- one that operates just like in a car. When the truck makes a delivery, the engine shuts off and the batteries kick in, thus eliminating 90% of the emissions that cause pollution and trigger asthma symptoms.

According to the...

So, you pick up The New York Times and read a story that talks about purported "green" products, such as clothing, that sell at a premium. Yet, when independently tested the products come up short on the reality of the claims...like, that organic seaweed shirt is no different from a...

Something caught my eye when reading the headline -- "Lights Out in San Francisco" -- at first, I thought there might have been another earthquake. And then the next paragraph explained how on October 20, 2007 the entire city of San Francisco is committed to a program called Lights Out...

The past few days have seen a buzz of news activity about the toys coming from China containing toxic lead paint. Most parents think that they will be able to tell if their child has been exposed by looking at them -- wrong! You cannot smell, taste or feel lead...

Earlier this week, I read an article on MSNBC.com about the FEMA trailers that were supposed to be sent to help disaster victims from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, plus recent flooding victims around the country. Shock doesn't describe how it felt to learn that these people have become victims again....