This site is not JUST about living longer, it’s about living better… from the cradle to the grave. And that starts with the understanding that vibrant, overflowing health is the “default” state of the human body.
In 2007, The Green Patriot Working Group (GPWG) began a study to determine which consumer products contain 1,4-dioxane (a synthetic petrochemical carcinogen), and which had the highest levels. The GPWG and the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) have just released the results of a portion of the study conducted last year on laundry detergents which contain 1,4-dioxane but doesn’t list this toxic chemical byproduct on their product label.
1,4-dioxane is created when cleaning products and detergents are manufactured using ethoxylation, which is a cheap technique that dilutes or lessens the effects of harsher ingredients. Since it’s considered a byproduct of ethylene oxide reacting to other ingredients, it’s technically considered a contaminant and doesn’t have to be listed the product label… which is why we aren’t aware that it’s in a LOT of major household products.
For the study, David Steinman, from the GPWG, tested 20 different laundry detergents – both conventional and “natural” brands. All of the product testing was done by Evoxa, an independent, 3rd party laboratory that’s highly respected for its high standards and rigorous methods.
Is YOUR laundry detergent in the list:
Conventional brands:
1. Tide (P&G) – 55 parts per million (ppm)
2. Ivory Snow Gentle (P&G) – 31 ppm
3. Tide Free (P&G) – 29 ppm
4. Purex (Dial Corp.) – 25 ppm
5. Gain 2X Ultra (P&G) – 21 ppm
6. Cheer BrightClean Detergent (P&G) – 20 ppm
7. Era 2X Ultra (P&G) – 14 ppm
8. Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight Co.) – 5.0 ppm
9. Wisk 2X Ultra (Sun Products Corp.) – 3.9 ppm
10. Woolite Complete Detergent (Reckitt Benckiser) – 1.3 ppm
11. All laundry detergent (Unilever) – 0.6 ppm
12. Dreft powdered detergent (P&G) – non-detectable (ND)
13. Sun Burst (Sun Products Corp.) – ND
The “Natural” brands:
1. Planet Ultra Liquid laundry detergent – 6.1 ppm
2. Mrs. Meyers laundry detergent – 1.5 ppm
3. Clorox Green Works Natural laundry detergent – ND
4. Ecos laundry detergent (Earth Friendly Products) – ND
5. Life Tree Laundry Liquid – ND
6. Method Squeaky Green laundry detergent – ND
7. Seventh Generation Free & Clear laundry detergent – ND
Of the products tested, the Proctor & Gamble products had the highest 1,4-dioxane levels. Of the natural brands that were tested, only 2 contained 1,4-dioxane, but both in levels far below the average conventional brand. Obviously, not every brand on the market was tested, but it’s certainly clear from the results that we need to think long and hard before we buy our next box of laundry detergent.
What makes the 1,4-dioxane in laundry detergent so harmful is that the chemical binds easily to water and stays there. Tests have been done that show that even after water containing the chemical has been purified and filtered, low levels have still been detected.
Did you know that of the over 80,000 known chemicals, that only 200 are tested by the EPA, and guess what… 1,4-dioxane isn’t one of them.
The simple fact that it’s known to be a carcinogen that has been shown to cause cancer, liver disease and other serious problems, it just makes sense to to avoid it whenever possible.
The OCA has prepared a Personal Care and Cleaning Products Safety Guide outlining which products are free of 1,4-dioxane and which ones aren’t. Their list includes dishwashing soap, hand soap, all-purpose soap, laundry detergents, household cleaners, body washes and shampoos, conditioners, facial cleansers, lotions, sunscreens and deodorants.
The Chicago Blackhawks are the first vitamin D team in modern professional sports history.
According to my sources, the Chicago Blackhawk team physicians began diagnosing and treating vitamin D deficiency in all Blackhawk players about 18 months ago. Apparently, most players are on 5,000 IU per day.
After many losing seasons, last year the Blackhawks came out of nowhere to get to the Western conference finals. This year they are playing even better.
According to my sources, improved athletic performance is only one of the benefits for the Blackhawk players. The other is a reduction in the number and severity of colds and flu and a reduction in the number and severity of repetitive use injuries.
Six months ago, Runner’s World published a story on vitamin D and physical performance.