Nicole Bijlsma - Healthy Home Guru

Baby obesity - chemicals linked to global obesity

2012-01-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

Overweight has become synonomous with living in the 21st Century - but what if there was more to addressing weight than just lifestyle and diet?

More than 50% of Australians are overweight or obese (ABS, 2008) which is similar to stats in other western countries. Diet and lifestyle however does not sufficiently explain the 70% increase in infant obesity in the past 20 years. There is a growing body of evidence and scientific researchers investigating the impact of obesogens - endocrine disrupting chemicals that are suspected to program us to be fatter. The accidental discovery was made by several scientists investigating the impact of hormone disrupting chemicals commonly found in foods and household products, only to discover they were causing an epidemic of fat lab animals. Stay tuned - we are going to hear alot about this! Watch the trailer for the new documentary: Programmed to be Fat? by Dreamfilm Productions.

BPA in canned food

2011-12-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

A recent investigation conducted by the Breast Cancer Fund and Choice reveals the presence of the hormone disrupting chemical BPA (bisphenol A) in tinned food found on supermarket shelves. BPA is associated with breast and prostate cancer, infertility and early puberty in girls to type-2 diabetes, obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

For more infomration, click here.

Natural cleaning - video

2011-12-10T19:17:00.000-08:00

Here is my recent interview on Channel 7 Sunrise on Natural Cleaning.

Toxic metals found in a third of Chinese toys

2011-12-10T19:10:00.000-08:00

A recent investigation by Greenpeace and the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) found up to one third of children's products sold in China contained heavy metals in their paints including lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, antimony or chromium. These metals cause learning and behaviourhal problems in children. China currently produces two thirds of the world's toys. Despite strict regulations to ban these metals, most western countries don't have the resources to screen every shipping container relying instead on product recalls (of which there have been many!). For more information click here.

Apple and grape juice contain high levels of arsenic and lead metals

2011-11-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

Around 10 years ago I had my hair analysed for heavy metals and minerals. The reading that came up highest was arsenic which was well above the normal limit. I always suspected that it came from years of drinking apple juice which I pretty much grew up on. My hunch is likely to be accurate in light of the new evidence that 10% of apple and grape juices tested had total arsenic levels of 10 parts per billion (ppb) and 25% had lead levels higher than the 5 ppb. This type of arsenic is carcinogenic. Best to stick with filtered water especially for children and pregnant women who are most at risk. Read more

Chemical in household plastic raises alarm

2011-11-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

Polypropylene (number 5 plastic) commonly used in everything from food storage containers, nappies, water pipes and clothing has recently raised concerns amongst scientists because it has been found to leach quaternary ammonium biocides and oleamide the adverse health effects of which are unknown. Concerns were first raised this week when it blocked an enzyme in a laboratory experiment.

I have classified polypropylene as a safe plastic in my book, however this news should raise alarms about all plastics (see my interview on The Circle). Once again, go back to basics, store your food and beveriges in glass, stainless steel, pyrex and ceramics. Read more.

Smart Meter Petition

2011-10-30T03:33:00.000-07:00

Victorians can now sign an online petition against smart meters at the link at a
great new website: http://stopsmartmetersau.com/

There is also space to enter your specific concerns, which will give added
weight to the petition (look at Signatures at the bottom of the petition webpage
to see other people's comments). You can also register yourself at the new website if you wish to be informed of updates posted to the site.

Halt Smart Meters would appreciate it if this information is distributed to as
many Victorians as possible, as quickly as possible.

Sunscreens - the saga continues...

2011-09-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Benzophenone (BP) is an ingredient that is commonly found in perfumes, lipstick as well as hair and skin products such as sunscreens to prevent sunlight from breaking down the products. It is a hormone disrupting chemical that interferes with thyroid function and lowers testosterone (Kim et al, 2011). There are serious concerns about its impact on male fertility.

Smart meters - not so smart!

2011-09-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

Smart meters are receiving alot of adverse attention worldwide for many reasons. Could it be the significant increase in your energy bill, the worldwide collapse of bee colonies (and ultimately our food source!), the fire risks or the admission by the World Health Organisation this year that radiofrequencies are likely to cause cancer that get your attention?

Here are 8 reasons why they should not be in your home!

Glymes, shymes - what the???

2011-08-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

The US EPA is about to crack down on Glymes (glycol ethers)- solvents used in thousands of everyday household products including paints and paint strippers, carpet cleaners, inkjet cartridges, lithium batteries, brake fluid, polycarbonate plastics, adhesives and sealants, and during the production of hypertension, asthma and anti-depression drugs.

Concerns were first raised in 1995 as a result of a significant increase in miscarriages in semiconductor manufacturing workers. More recent studies have also highlighted these concerns (Schenker, 2010). As a result of the fact that glymes are potent development and reproductive toxins, the European Union has enforced that labels of products containing monoglyme or diglyme must warn consumers that they “may impair fertility” or “may cause harm to the unborn child.” No such labelling exists in US or Australia to date.

Non-stick cookware linked to hyperactivity in children

2011-07-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

Concerns surrounding perfluorinated chemicals used in non-stick cookware, food packaging and stain repellant clothing have been raised for some time after these chemicals were found in the blood of over 90% of Americans. Recent research has now linked them to hyperactivity and early menopause amongst other things. Click here to see how you can reduce your exposure.

Plastics to store food and beverages - Are Any Safe?

2011-07-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

You probably already know that some plastics are a problem for our health in particularly PVC (3), polystyrene (6) and some polycarbonate (7) because they contain hormone disrupting chemicals which are thought to be contributing to early puberty, diabetes, obesity, heart disease as well as cancer of the breast and testicles. Well new research is indicating that some of the BPA free plastic could be more harmful than BPA! Many of these 'new' plastics such as PES (polyethylsulfone) contain BPS and BPF which have been shown to be stronger on their impact on the body than BPA.

My solution: use glass, ceramics, pyrex and stainless steel to store your food and beveriges in.

Here is my interview recently on Channel 10 The Circle to shed some light on the issue.

For further reading on plastics click here.

Sunscreens - what are you really putting on your skin?

2011-06-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

We all know how important sunscreens are to prevent skin cancer... however recent research indicates not only that most DO NOT protect against harmful UV rays, but they may contain chemicals that affect our hormones (oxybenzone or 4-MBC), damage the skin and in some cases, actually increase the rate of skin cancer. To find out the best and worst sunscreens click here.

The dirty dozen - pesticides in fruit n vegies

2011-06-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

Pesticides - we all know they are bad but how do we avoid them? Well, the Environmental Working Group just realised their "dirty dozen" after examining the pesticide residue in common fruit and vegies.

In order of highest were apples (my 4yo son eats 6 a day!), celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, capsicum, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce and kale (EWG, 2011). What do you do? buy organic when it comes to these foods. To find out where pesticides are in your home, click here.

Case study - are you allergic to your house?

2011-06-14T04:26:00.000-07:00

Mary is allergic to her home. I just cant think of a better way to describe it...

Within an hour of being at home she experiences itchy red eyes, difficulty breathing, and her nose starts to run. At first she didn’t make the connection that it was her home, until she started noticing that it didn’t happen in other people’s homes. However it wasn’t until she came back from a holiday in Europe recently that she realised how bad the problem was. Once again, within an hour of arriving home, the symptoms began. After countless visits to doctors and naturopaths and thousands of dollars in medication to no avail, I was called in to see if her home was making her sick. During the audit, I discovered that her symptoms began after they completed an extension to the living room in 2008. An examination of the crawl space in the renovated section revealed no damp proof course, pooling of water, lots of clutter and no ventilation. Surface samples revealed exceptionally high levels of mould (Penicillium and Aspergillus niger) on the underside of the floorboards. These species of mould release chemicals (mycotoxins) that can trigger hayfever, asthma and other lung problems. Air sampling in the living room immediately above revealed these moulds were three times higher than what is typically found in the outdoor air.

Most doctors and natural therapists have little understanding of the cause and health effects of mould, so unfortunately many asthmatics end up relying on prescriptive medication when it could be something as simple as mould in the home.

As fungi is ubiquitous throughout our environment, the only time mould becomes a problem in the house is if you give it food and moisture. As most building materials are the perfect food for mould, dampness is always the key to addressing mould problems. Dampness generally comes from condensation build-up as a result of poor ventilation, living in humid climates or flooding (plumbing issue, poor drainage…). When cleaning mould, use an 80% naturally fermented white vinegar to 20% water solution. Don’t use bleach as it provides some species of mould with a food source! If the area exceeds 1m2, a mould remediator maybe required. For more information, click here.

Car exhaust costs Australians $1.5 billion in health costs

2011-06-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to read many years ago, that vehicle exhaust and in particularly diesel fumes, could cause heart attack and increase your risk of developing allergies by twenty fold (BBC Horison, 2008). It appears that around 50% of the population are genetically susceptible to the harmful effects of diesel fumes.

It was therefore welcome that the government announced today that it will be enforcing new vehicle standards to reduce the emission of toxic gases and ultrafine particles from car exhaust. Living within 300 metres of a major arterial route can dramatically increase your chances of developing allergies. These emissions are responsible for heart attacks and asthma which is estimated to cost $1.5 billion in the public health sector. The first of these standards will occur with new cars from November 2013. Australia is one of the last western countries to adopt the standards.

Read more.

Tips to reduce allergies and asthma
1. Reduce dust mite exposure
2. Implement a chemical free pest control program to get rid of cockroaches and rodents (a common asthma trigger).
3. Avoid pets in the house. IF this is not possible, wash the pet weekly and brush them outside before they enter the home. Air their bedding in full sunlight as often as possible
4. Dont smoke in the house.
5. Get rid of the mould as it is a MAJOR trigger for asthma.

For tips on how to reduce all of these triggers, refer to my website.

World Health Organisations acknowledges mobile phone link to cancer

2011-06-07T01:25:00.000-07:00

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on 31st May 2011 announced what has long been suspected: that mobile phone use may increase the risk of developing certain types of brain tumours. Click here

As I wrote in my book, I personally believe it is only a matter of time now that we see health warnings on mobile phones. In time, it will mean a ban on buses, trains and trams as the microwave emissions bounce in metal carriages creating 'hotspots' exposing unsuspecting commuters to high doses of microwave radiation.

Tips to reduce your exposure
1. Use a landline phone (cordless phones use the same radiation as a mobile phone)
2. SMS whenever you can
3. When making or receiving calls, keep your head away from the phone: use the loudspeaker or an air-tube airpiece

60 minutes - BPA

2011-06-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Last night, 60 Minutes discussed the issue of BPA and the lack of action by our authorities - Food Standards Australia - in addressing the issue despite its ban in other countries. Their explanation was that the science was not conclusive - jeepers the amount of evidence to show it is not safe has been steadily amassing for almost a decade now! It was a shame that they didnt mention that its also lining many of our food tins! How long will we allow our children to be the canaries in the mines?

Toxic chemical in baby bottles and tinned food

2010-09-01T22:35:00.001-07:00

Here we go again.... More reasons why bisphenol A (BPA) should be banned from products on Australian shelves.

Despite inaction by our regulatory authority, some major Australian retailers are voluntarily phasing this type of plastic baby bottle from the shelves - thats great. However its presence in food tins is not even considered. The manufacturers tell you BPA has been used as an epoxy resin lining our food tins for 50 years... thats interesting because in that time men's sperm count has declined by 50%, the age of puberty has dramatically declined, breast cancer has almost doubled and obesity has become an epidemic!

Here's some food for thought...

A toxic chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA) found in plastic baby bottles have been banned in Canada, France and Denmark and are soon to be banned in most states throughout the USA. Disturbingly, this chemical has also been found in the majority of our food and beverage cans according to an investigation by the Consumers Union (2009) and more recently by Choice (2010). Even cans that were certified ‘organic’ contained BPA in their tin linings.

According to the Consumers Union (2009), BPA is linked with a heightened risk of
* breast and prostate cancer
* heart disease
* diabetes
* obesity
* early puberty
* reproductive delays with boys being particularly susceptible

In 1998, Japanese manufacturers were the first to voluntary restrict this chemical from canned food, using a PET film lamination instead. In July, Denmark made it illegal to sell infant feeding bottles, feeding cups and packaging for baby food containing BPA.

It is concerning that there is sufficient evidence to prove this chemical is not safe for infants, and yet our authorities fail to act until there is ‘conclusive’ proof. Consumers have a right to be aware of the risks and to know what safer options are available. Spread the word.

Bottled water - what are you really drinking?

2010-07-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

You can be forgiven for your confusion arising from the myriad of bottled water now available on the market. Perhaps there is some merit in choosing the one with the mountain on the label – it’s from a natural pristine source or is it? There is a general consensus amongst bottled water drinkers that it is healthier and safer than tap water. There are several issues associated with bottled water that warrant discussion:

• Source of water
Bottled water comes from either a natural source such as a spring or well OR from an approved potable municipal supply (tap water). History shows that natural sources are susceptible to periodical contamination from pollutants generated from agriculture (pesticides, fertilisers, and nitrates), industrial contaminants, algae blooms and bacterial issues. Just look at the worldwide recall of Perrier bottles in 1990 due to high benzene (a carcinogen) levels. Regular testing is crucial.

• Microbial growth
Your saliva harbours bacteria that can grow in the plastic itself. As such, it is important that you do not reuse plastic PET water bottles.

• Environmental concerns
Whilst PET (polyethylene terephtalate) bottles are 100% recyclable AND that Australians have one of the best participation recycling rates in the world (good on us!), in reality, only around 37% is actually recycled (ABWI, 2004; Vic EPA, 2006)

• Plastic bottles
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is the most commonly used plastic for disposable water bottles. It is 100% recyclable, does not impart a taste into the water and unlike PVC and polystyrene, does not leach hormone altering chemicals aka phthalates into the water. However recent reports indicates that phthalates maybe found in some PET bottles if they have been recycled from personal care products (Pinto and Reali, 2009). A better alternative is to use glass (I love the Grolsch beer bottles with the flip cap), or stainless steel).

• Cost
You pay up to 2,000 times more per litre of bottled water than you would if you filtered your own tap water. This is one way you can save money...

Read more..

Plastic Baby Bottles - Are Any Safe?

2010-07-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

In 2006 heavily pregnant with twins, I waddled my way to the baby bottle section of the local baby store; surely this was going to be an easy purchase. In and out – or so my husband thought as he patiently waited in the car. Despite the number of shelves that greeted me upon my arrival, I soon realised they were all made of plastic. As a naturopath and building biologist my instincts were to go for glass, but the sales assistant informed me she’d have to order them in. I subsequently bought two plastic bottles and ordered two glass bottles anyway. Not content that plastic was the way to go, I subsequently embarked on a ‘quick’ search on the internet only to find that the mounting evidence against polycarbonate baby bottles was already in full swing. Weeks passed as I peered through scientific journals. The outlook on plastic baby bottles was pretty grim, even in 2006. Even the safety of BPA free plastic baby bottles is a concern. This article is about what I found. Find out more: Plastic Baby Bottles, Are they Safe