Indoor Air Pollution: Causes, Effects and Solutions

Indoor Air Pollution

It is the start of a new millennium and being “green friendly” is on everybody’s mind.  People are talking about issues like pollution, global warming, and sustainable living all over the world right now.  However, our outdoor environment is not the only environment that poses a threat to human health.  The indoor environment can actually be considerably worse—up to ten times worse than the polluted air outside!

Indoor air-pollution is a serious, growing problem that few people are even aware of.  In recent years, there have been drastic increases in many health related illnesses and symptoms due to indoor air pollution. In Fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked indoor air pollution in the top five threats to human health.  Polluted indoor air can be problematic in any building: the home, office, classroom, shopping mall, etc.  Numerous things contribute to poor air quality.  Luckily though, with a little bit of discipline and knowledge there is hope for cleaner, healthier air indoors.

In 1973-74 the United States faced a national energy crisis.  In order preserve energy and lower costs, hermetically sealing buildings quickly became the norm.  As well as buildings being sealed air tight, fuel consumption was further reduced when people began receiving tax deductions for adding additional insulation to their homes.  While these changes to the building industry made indoor heating and cooling more efficient, it also lead to some unfortunate consequences.  Harmful chemicals and gases found in the air inside are now completely sealed from the outside world with nowhere to disperse.  Trapping these gases inside means that individual people, families, children and pets are suffering dangerous side effects from breathing in such fumes. With people spending up to 9/10ths of their lives indoors, the repercussions can be tragic.

Harmful Potential Effects

Many health problems have been associated with indoor air pollution.  While the exact effects of indoor air pollution are still being discovered, scientists are finding more and more evidence to suggest that indoor air pollution is a very dangerous problem.  “Sick building syndrome” is a term that now goes hand in hand with “Indoor air pollution”.  Sick building syndrome describes symptoms that people experience when they live or work in a certain building for extended periods of time.  These symptoms are likely to go away when the individual leaves for a given time.  Common symptoms that have been linked to sick building syndrome include allergies, asthma, sinus irritations and congestion, respiratory congestion, fatigue, headache and nervous system disorders.  The numbers of all of these health conditions has increased steadily over the past 25 years in regions where buildings are hermetically sealed.

Sadly, it is now believed that symptoms related to sick building syndrome may not even be the worst of the health related problems that are caused by indoor air pollution.  Sick building syndrome generally refers to symptoms that can be eliminated under better air quality conditions.  Conditions like ADHD, autism, genetic damage, immune system disorders, memory loss, and lower IQ may not correct themselves simply by changing the environment.  The number of children born with some form of autism has increased ten times over the past ten years, and the number of children with ADHD has increased even more drastically.  Childhood cancer rates in the US has increased more than 20% since the 1970’s.  A quote from Dierdre Imus’ book (pg 41), “Green This!” details the startling repercussions of indoor air pollution:

“Researches at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and the Boston University School of Public Health have linked these steadily increasing cancer rates to various environmental contaminants: car emissions, pesticides, and parents’ exposures to the toxins commonly found in paints and petroleum-based solvents.  Many of these exposures take place before birth—the toxic substance can cross the placenta and damage the developing fetus—or even prior to conception, particularly if parents work in a heavily polluted environment”. 

This explains an increase in birth defects in recent years.  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has also been linked to indoor air pollution.  SIDS occurs for unknown reasons and is always unexpected.  SIDS occurs most commonly in infants between the ages of 2 and 4 months.  Researches now consider one cause of SIDS to be toxins in the air that infants do not yet have immunity to, or that damaged the fetus before birth.  SIDS has also been associated with tobacco smoke, a harmful contributor to indoor air pollution.

Causes

What are the main causes of indoor air pollution?  There are many. Chemical production has increased worldwide at alarming rates over the past 80 years.  Even knowing the dangers, our government does practically nothing to restrict use and production of these chemicals.  Complete health information is only available for  a small portion of chemicals used in household products.

Harmful chemicals come from an alarming number of other unexpected places as well.  Furniture, fabric, plastics, and other basic materials found around the home and office emit harmful chemicals into the air.  The use of synthetic materials has had a dramatic effect on air quality.  Synthetic materials emit harmful gases into the air.  Materials like particleboard, teflon, carpet, and wallpaper could all be emitting toxic particles.  Cleaning products, soaps, adhesives, cosmetics, computer printers, nail polish, paints, paper towels, and dry cleaned clothing are a small sample of common household products that contribute to indoor air pollution.  These products and materials give off a wide range of dangerous chemicals including formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, ammonia, acetate and the list goes on and on.

Solutions

What can a person do to protect themselves and their family, friends and pets from the detrimental effects of indoor air pollution?  Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken to help improve the air quality around the home and workplace.  Increasing ventilation, buying all natural and or using home made cleaning products, using air filters, and keeping plants around, are all positive steps in the direction toward a healthier, less polluted indoor environment.  Some of these options may take time, discipline and research.  But the difference taking these actions could make in people’s overall health and wellbeing is well worth the effort.

One of the simplest things that can be done to improve indoor air quality is also one of the most important.  It’s easy; open a window.  Ventilation is crucial for both human comfort and health.  Today’s well-sealed buildings trap air inside.  By opening a window, stale air that is filled with pollutants has a chance to disperse into the atmosphere outdoors, and in turn, fresh air is cycled in.  The easiest way to eliminate the harmful particles given off by your furniture, and household products is simply not to trap them inside!

Unfortunately, depending on where an occupant resides, opening a window may not be an option for extended periods of time in extreme cold and severe weather conditions.  Don’t lose hope.  There are other things that can be done.  Some of the highest contributors to indoor air pollution are everyday cleaning products.  Instead of running to the store to buy conventional dishwashing detergents, wet Swiffer mops, and Febreeze odor eliminators, consider using more natural products.  In today’s consumer driven society it is easy to run to the drug store or grocery store when you need these products.  People generally don’t give much thought to what is actually in the product.  All natural cleaning products are out there, but can be difficult to find, and costly. Consumers should be aware that just because a product says “all natural” does not always mean that it contains no harmful chemicals. There is another option.  Cleaning products can be made at home out of harmless ingredients that work as well as many of the products you find in the stores.  Vinegar, liquid castile soap and baking soda are excellent examples of ingredients that are virtually harmless, but mixed with a few other safe ingredients can make fantastic cleaning products.  Anyone interested in making their own cleaning products to better the air quality in their home or workplace should read the books “Green This”, by Deirdre Imus and “Clean House, Clean Planet”, by Karen Logan.  Both books offer easy solutions for homemade remedies to replace the harmful products that most people use today.

Nowadays people are turning to furniture made of particleboard rather than wood, and plastics rather than glass and metal.  These options tend to be more affordable, lighter in weight, and easier to come by.  But the economical solution is not always the healthy solution.  Unfortunately, synthetics give off considerable amounts of harmful chemicals.  Keeping fewer synthetic materials around the home and workplace will help lead to better air quality.

Many people today are turning to air purifiers to clean their air.  These machines do help some, but only minimally. Air purifiers help to remove dust and lint from the air more than they are able to remove harmful chemicals.  There is however, a better, natural air purifier that works better than any product developed by man at purifying the air.  Plants.  Plants are the most important thing on our planet for sustaining the balance of life.  This fact is no different indoors from out.  By keeping plants in the home and workplace, people are making huge improvements in the quality of the air that they breathe.  Through the process of photosynthesis, plants naturally breathe in harmful gases and convert those harmful gases into oxygen, which will help the quality of human’s ability to breathe.

All plants are beneficial toward cleaner air.  However, some plants are better at eliminating certain chemicals from the air than others.  For example, a tulip can be very good for removing ammonia from the air, but not as successful at eliminating xylene and toluene.  Other plants, like the Peace Lilly and the Dumb Cane are exceptional at cleaning numerous gases from the air.  For more information on how individual species of plants effect air quality indoors, read Dr. B.C. Wolverton’s excellent book, “How to Grow Fresh Air”.  Taking care of plants can be a difficult process, but it can also be a rewarding one.  Caring for plants requires research and patience.  For people who are not good at remembering to water plants on a regular basis, there are low maintenance, easy to care for options.  Some of the lower maintenance plants are actually some of the most successful at eliminating harmful gases from the air.

Sources and Additional Recommended Reading

Imus, Deirdre. Green This. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2007.

Logan, Karen. Clean House, Clean Planet. New York City: Pocket Books, 1997.

Wolverton, Dr. B.c. How to Grow Fresh Air. New York City: Penguin Books, 1997.

Wolverton, Dr. B.c. "Sources of Chemical Emissions." 15 Nov.-Dec. 2007 <http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com/chem.htm>.

http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com/ - An excellent website for information on Indoor Air Pollution and Clean Water from a NASA researcher.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ - Useful information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Indoor Air Pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_air_quality - wikipedia gives details of specific allergens and harmful chemicals which could be effecting air quality and "greener design".

Green Rebel Recipe: World's Greatest Grilled Cheese

Who doesn't love a grilled cheese?  This recipe is for the gourmet grilled cheese deluxe.  This is for the grilled cheese connoisseur.  It is absolutely the world's greatest grilled cheese.

Ingredients:

-2 slices of bread of choice (I typically like Whole Wheat, Rye,
 or Pumpernickel for a bread with some added flavor)
-cheddar cheese
-shaved parmesan cheese
-red bell pepper
-sliced mushroom (optional)
-margarine (for health purposes I typically opt for olive oil  
 butter, instead)
-pesto sauce

Get Cooking:

To prepare, slice the cheese into thin squares.  Then chop the red pepper into thumbnail size bits, and slice mushrooms if you are including them.

Start by slathering one side of each slice of bread in margarine.  Next slap the the bottom slice of bread on a frying pan, buttered side down, and turn the stove on - set to low heat.  Slather the top half of the bread with a generous layer of pesto sauce.  Add slices of cheddar cheese, covering the bread.  Leave room at the edges so the cheese doesn't ooze out the sides.  Add pepper bits and mushroom slices (spread apart from each other so each piece can melt into the cheese).  Add a layer of shaved parmesan on top, and then place the top layer of bread over everything, butter side facing up.  Using a spatula, push down on the sandwich to help the layers stick together.

Now comes the tricky part.  It should be about time to flip.  I find the best way to do this is with two spatula's (or a spatula and a knife if you can't find two).  Slip the spatula under the bottom layer of bread, and put the second one on top.  Lift the sandwich off the pan.  Keep a firm grip, and carefully turn the sandwich around and place it back on the pan.  Pat yourself on the back for getting past that point, spin around once and count to three.  It should be done!  The second side cooks much quicker than the first, so get it off the pan quickly before it burns, and put it on a plate.  Cut diagonally down the center, and enjoy.

This sandwhich is so good, you will probably want to make a second one!

Can't lie

I can't lie... it is a little disheartening that between a fashion blog, an art in nyc blog, and an organic living blog... the organic living generates the least attention.

Where are the Green Rebels?

BP Oil Spill

As most of you probably already know, there was a recent tragic oil spill off the Gulf coast near Louisiana.  Tragically reports estimate that more oil has already spilled into the ocean than in the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska many years ago.  Until now, that spill was the worst in history.  Tragically, the oil is still spilling into the ocean.  BP, coastguards and government are all at a loss in the situation.  Nobody knows the exact cause of the leak, but worse yet, nobody knows how to stop it and oil continues to contaminate the ocean as I am typing this.

Photo of dead turtle by Joe Raedle / Getty Images News

As an environmentalist and passionate wild-life protection advocate, this news is truly heartbreaking.  My heart bleeds for the abundant sea-life which will suffer devastating tragedies over this terrible human blunder.  This will also inevitably harm coastal businesses for miles and miles along the Gulf coast.

My thoughts are with the whales, dolphins, sharks, sea otters, sea lions, fish, shrimp, turtles and other marine life, as well as the birds who feed off of them and the businesses which thrived on the healthy balanced sea.

This is a tragedy of magnificent proportions.  It is important to be aware of the potential and inevitable damages this will cause, and in the coming months to look for opportunities to help return the region back to a healthy balanced ecosystem.

For more information on the spill (such as damages, numbers, and even how Kevin Costner is helping attempt a clean-up) go to the following website: http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/oil-spill-live-feed-link-watch-video-bp-heavily-criticised-2619794.html

Super Vegan

Recent awesome Rebel In Green discovery for New York vegetarians, or visiting vegetarians:

Super Vegan is an awesome website devoted to animal friendly dieters.  This website has a fantastic list of veggie restaurants with reviews of each place!  It also has event listings and a blog spot.  Check it out:

Supervegan.com

Endangered Species

Our planet is made up of well over a million different species that we know by name, and an estimated 20 million more that we don’t.  Each plant and animal plays a crucial role in the beauty and uniqueness of our precious Earth.  These species do not only add character and beauty, though.  Every species alive helps to maintain the natural balance of our planet through their role in the food chain, and habitat.  Today however, an estimated 40% of species on our planet are endangered.  Without our knowledge and help, the future for many of these species will be short-lived.

One of the most tragic truths about our planet’s vanishing species is that the problem is almost entirely man-made.  Species naturally come and go over time.  Changes in habitat, diseases and natural predators all contribute to the natural loss of species.   But today, man poses a deadly threat to almost half of the species alive today.  And if all of those species, or even half of those species were to face extinction, the consequences on our planet would be unimaginable.  Poaching, hunting, destruction of habitat, oil spills, pollution, and global warming are the largest contributors to the endangerment of inumerable mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects and plants.  These issues are all within the control of human kind.

Endangered Species

Bald Eagle – These beautiful birds have a wingspan of up to 6½ feet.  In 1782 an estimated 50,000 Bald Eagles were a prevalent species on the North American Continent, and were made the symbol of the United States of America.  Today, Bald Eagles fight for survival due to the destruction of their natural habitat, illegal hunting, and food contamination by pesticides.

Bonobo — The African Rainforest of the Dominican Republic of Congo is home to these fantastic creatures.  Like humans, Bonobos communicate with each other through a wide variety of facial expressions, and have a complex social system that could be described as a community.  The demolition of the rainforest is destroying the Bonobo’s home and pushing their species toward extinction.

Bison — Before 1800, Bison were one of the most common sights in North America.  An estimated 70 million bison roamed the land until human settlement on the continent rose.  Human’s killed bison for their hide and as a sport, nearly wiping the species out by 1900.  Conservationists have worked hard to protect and undo the damage done 200 years ago.  While efforts have been mildly successful, Bison remain on the world’s endangered species list.

Boa Constrictor — Native to Central and South America, the boa constrictor can grow to be 13 feet long!  These non-venomous snakes spend their 25-30 years alive in underground holes and in trees.  This slithering species made its way onto the endangered species list because human beings hunt it for its beautiful, colorful skin.

Camel — These hump-backed creatures call the desert lands of China and Mongolia home.  This interesting species has adapted over thousands of years to be able to survive the intense desert climates that most creatures could not survive in.  The Camel’s natural home is now used as a Chinese nuclear testing range.  The creature is now listed as “critically endangered” as it’s numbers dwindle down close to extinction.

Caribou — Related to the Deer family, Caribou have beautiful, large antlers.  Caribou are found in the mountainous regions of the North America, most commonly in Canada.  Wolves and humans hunt caribou.  Mining for Coal, oil, gas and diamonds have contributed to the destruction of the Caribou’s natural habitat.  Global warming has also played a crucial role in the destruction of the Caribou’s natural cold and snowy environment.

Catfish — China’s Mekong River is where this interesting species of fish originates.  The Mekong Catfish is now considered critically endangered. This fish needs long stretches of river to migrate, feed and mate.  Unfortunately, water quality in many areas along the river is very poor, and human development along the river is destroying the catfish’s natural habitat.

Cheetah — These incredible large spotted cats are fast and fierce predators that once claimed land throughout Asia and Africa as their territory.  Today, Cheetahs are considered extinct in most of their original territory.  However, there is still a small population of Cheetahs in Sub-Saharan Africa and extremely few in Iran.  Cheetahs are disappearing for several reasons: poaching, loss of prey, and destruction of habitat are a few.  Why can’t a Cheetah ever prosper?

Crane — The Whooping Crane is truly a magnificent bird.  These birds journey between Canada and Mexico each year.  In the 1800’s human westward settlement turned the Cranes prairie lands into farmland leading the species dangerously close to extinction.  In the 1940’s there were only 14-16 Cranes left.  Their numbers have steadily increased, thanks to the help of conservationists, and today there are about 320 Whooping Cranes alive.

Crocodile — Scientists have traced the Crocodile origins to about 210 million years ago in the Triassic Dinosaur period, where it is believed that one of the Crocodiles earliest ancestors existed!  There are 23 different species of Crocodiles living today, including the Alligator.  This animal can be up to 14 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds!  The Crocs have viciously sharp teeth, but often swallow their small prey whole.  Destruction of their natural habitat and hunting has put these large predators on the endangered list.

Chimpanzee — The chimpanzee is believed to be the closest primate related to mankind.  They spend their time during the day on the ground, but sleep in makeshift nests in the trees at night.  Chimps use their hands in similar ways as humans.  They eat with their hands, throw things at their enemies and even make tools for cracking nuts and finding food!  The chimpanzee comes from Africa.  Much of the habitat that the Chimps once called home has been taken over by farmland, roads, and the logging industry.  Chimps in the wild are captured illegally and kept as pets.  The biggest threat to Chimpanzee’s is being hunted for bushmeat.  Wild meat is a major part of human diet in certain areas of the world.

Dolphin — Dolphins are very smart and playful creatures.  They live in the oceans all over the world.  They can live up to 40 years and travel up to 40 km/hr.  Dolphins are endangered for several reasons.  Many dolphins get caught in fisherman’s nets when they are fishing for tuna, which fatally injures or drowns this magnificent creature.  In the 1960’s and early 70’s Dolphins were widely hunted for meat.  Today there are laws protecting the species from this, but the damage has had a lasting effect.  Pollution is probably the most major killer of this spectacular species.  Unclean water cannot only kill dolphins, but it also contaminates their food, making their diet potentially very dangerous.  Because dolphins are at the top of the ocean food chain, extinction of these creatures would drastically hurt the overall food chain and leave numerous other sea creatures in danger.

Elephant — The elephant is largest land animal in the world. Elephants have a great sense of community, they even mourn their dead!  Elephants are a big help to their habitat in Africa and Asia.  They eat tons of vegetation, which clears paths for grazing animals, allows certain plants to get more sunlight, and provides breaks in the habitat when a fire breaks out.  Between 1979 and 1989 about 8 elephants were poached per hour.  50% of elephants disappeared off the face of the Earth because of these dramatic numbers.

Falcon — Falcon’s are the swiftest birds in the world, and they live right here, in the US and Canada.  Falcons have never been high in number, but today they are close to extinction.  Scientists believe that the reason for the disappearance of this incredible bird is due to the use of pesticides.

Flamingo — You will find this pink bird in lakes and lagoons around the world.  Flamingos can be a wide variety of shades of pink, from pale pink to hot pink, to reddish pink.  It was believed that the species of Flamingos was extinct in 1924.  The bird was not rediscovered until 1957.  The reason for the disappearance of Flamingo’s is loss of habitat by man, and poor water quality.

Giraffe — Giraffe’s are tall and have long, lean necks to reach high into trees for food.  The giraffe can be found in Africa where many of them have been wiped out by hunting and climate change.

Great White Shark  — The movie Jaws was inspired by this fierce predator.  This shark is usually about 15 feet, but some have been recorded at 20 ft long and 5,000 lbs!  Unfortunately, the Great White Shark is now endangered.  These sharks have a slow reproductive rate. Great Whites are hunted by fisherman for their jaws, teeth and skin.

Grizzly Bears — Grizzly bears can be found in Alaska, Canada and the North Western United Sates.  Grizzly Bears generally run away from danger, but don’t threaten their cubs, home or food, because they may attack!  Grizzly bears are hunted by poachers and home owners who see them as a threat to their community.

Humpback Whale — The Humpback Whale sings songs with complex vocal ranges.  These whales hunt in groups, by circling around its prey and cornering it.  The Humpback Whale’s numbers are dwindling due to poaching.  Their numbers are slowly increasing thanks to the help of worldwide conservationists, but they are still on the endangered list.

Kangaroo — Kangaroo’s can travel up to 30 miles per hour, and leap 30 ft!  Female Kangaroos carry their babies, called “Joeys” in their front pouch.  They eat mostly grass, and can survive without water a long time.  Humans hunt kangaroo’s for meat and hides.  Humans have also introduced non-native animals to the Kangaroo’s natural Australian habitat.  These alien species have increased competition for food and habitat for the kangaroo.

Killer Whale — Killer whales are playful, beautiful creatures that are a staple figure in our earth’s oceans.  The disappearance of salmon, an important part of the Killer Whale’s diet, are disappearing.  Killer whales are also being killed of by PCB poisoning and ecosystem deterioration.  Oil spills, being tangled in fisherman’s nets, and boats are also contributors of the decline of the Killer Whale species.

Koala — The Koala “bear” is not actually a bear at all!  The Koala’s got this name because they look like Teddy Bears.  This adorable looking Australian animal actually has very sharp teeth and claws.  Like the Kangaroo, mother Koala’s carry their young in a front pouch.  Koalas were killed for their fur, but today Koala hunting is illegal.

Leopard — Found in Africa, the South Saharah, and northeast Asia, the Leopard is best known for its uniquely spotted fur.  They are very fast, and can run up to 100 km per hour.  These wild cats can even climb trees and swim!  Human settlement destroyed much of the Leopards natural habitat, and the Leopards had to turn to hunting farmed cattle and livestock.  This lead to human’s shooting Leopards to protect their farm animals.  In the 1980’s and 90’s Leapord fur was very fashionable, which lead to a large increase in illegal poaching.

Lion — The Lion lives in Africa and Asia and is easily recognizable by its large hairy main.  They can run up to 50 mph, and jump up to 36 ft!  The world Lion population has been cut in half since the 1950’s due to hunting, poaching, and agricultural expansion.

Monarch Butterfly — This beautiful creature has incredible orange, black and white coloring.  Their wingspan is about 4 inches, and they weigh under .5 ounces.  Global warming and habitat changes are the main causes of the endangerment of this species.

Owl — Owl’s are nocturnal animals and are wonderful nighttime hunters.  The live in Forest regions that have trees that are around 200 years old.  These area’s are known as “Old Growth Forests”, and 80% of these forests have been cut down, destroying most of these creatures habitat.

Panda — The Panda “Bear” is actually not a bear species at all.  Panda’s can be up to 300 pounds!  Panda’s are found in the Bamboo forests of Asia.  Bamboo makes up 99% of the Panda’s diet.  Today, more Panda’s live in captivity than in the wild.  It is estimated that only around 700-1,000 Pandas exist in the wild.  The Panda’s habitat is being destroyed, and without bamboo forests, they cannot survive.

Penguin — Penguins survive to the age of 15-20 in cold arctic climates.  These creatures spend about 75% of their lives in the water.  Penguins are endangered for many reasons.  Penguins are hunted by numerous natural predators.  Oil spills, pesticides and habitat destruction due to global warming, are all major contributors to the endangerment of penguins.

Polar Bear — Polar Bears are protected from their cold, arctic climates by their thick fur and heavy layers of fat for insulation.  Chemicals in the environment and global warming are the Polar Bear’s biggest threats.

Rhinoceros — The Rhinoceros is big, bulky and has 2 horns.  There used to be many species of rhinoceros.  Today all but 2 are extinct.  And the last remaining rhino’s face extinction today.  The black Rhinoceros is disappearing faster than any other large animal on the planet.  Hunting and poaching are the main causes for this unfortunate decline.

Sea Otter — Of all the world’s animals, Sea Otters have the thickest fur.  These creatures live up to 20 years and can be up to 65 pounds.  Amazingly, Sea Otters eat about ¼ of their body weight each day.  Fisherman, oil spills, and loss of habitat are the main killers of Sea Otters today.

Tiger — In the past 100 years about 95% of tigers have been wiped out.  Most of today’s surviving tigers live in India.  Tiger’s are loners, and like lots of personal space.  Loss of habitat has made this very hard for Tiger’s, and has lead to their near extinction.

Zebra — Zebra’s are best known for their incredible black and white stripes.  The zebra looks like a horse, but is far less tamable.  Zebra’s live in Africa, where most of their natural habitat has been destroyed and turned into farmland.

What Should I Recycle?

Helping our environment can start at home easily.  All you have to do is this:  Next time you go to throw something in the garbage ask yourself "Is this recyclable?" If it is, then put it in a separate bag so that it can eventually be re-used and eliminate the need to destroy more natural resources.  Otherwise it will rot in a landfill taking up space when it could have served a greater purpose!

Not sure what is recyclable?  Here is a list to get you started, bookmark it and refer to it whenever necessary.

Also: It is very helpful to separate paper goods from metal, glass and plastic.  Having 2 bags makes it easier for the people who pick up and deliver the recyclable goods to get them to the proper place.

Aluminum Cans - Soda (or pop, or coke, depending on where you come from) cans


Steel or Tin Cans - soup cans, coffee cans, veggie cans, etc.


Newspaper


Cardboard - shipping and packaging boxes, shoe boxes, pizza boxes, cracker boxes, cereal boxes (remove inner bag), cardboard egg cartons, tissue boxes, empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls, etc.


Magazines - office paper, notebook paper


Paper - coupons, brochures, printer paper, phone books, used envelopes, junk mail, wrapping paper, paper grocery bags, drinking cups, file folders, etc.

Plastics - milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, water bottles, yogurt containers, cottage cheese containers, etc. Look for plastics labeled with PETE 1 and HDPE 2 symbols (usually at the bottom of containers - these symbols mean they are recyclable, 1-7 is recyclable but 3-7 are not accepted at all recycle plants).


Glass - jars, beer bottles, wine bottles, etc.  Do not attempt to recycle mirrors, mercury products are not recyclable.


Printer Cartridges -  Most people throw away old printer cartridges, which is a huge contributer in landfills today.


Aerosol Cans - Must be completely empty

Notable Charity: Kitty Kind

RIG Notable Charity

Kitty Kind

Kitty Kind deserves special recognition for their animal outreach.  This organization takes in unwanted and homeless cats.  They do everything in their power to help, cure, and find new homes for these needy animals.  Their no-kill policy means that if a cat cannot be adopted to a new home, Kitty Kind is their home for life.

Millions of animals are put to sleep in the US every year due to over-crowding in shelters and un-adoptability.  You can imagine in NYC that these fatalities are high, given the large population of homeless cats and people in underprivileged housing that cannot properly care for their pets.  Kitty Kind is making a difference.

Keep up the good work, Kitty Kind!

To help, or adopt a cat follow this link:  http://www.kittykind.org/

Green Rebel book award: Green This!

Green Rebel Book Award:

Green This! 

Greening Your Cleaing

by Deirdre Imus

Imus offers real solutions for real people looking to make their home "green".  This book talks about the dangers of long-term use of store-brand cleaning products.  The book gives recipes for making your own, green-friendly cleaning products at home that are safer for the environment as well as the personal health and well-being of you, your family and your pets.

Given the frightening facts about indoor air pollution, this book is a must have for the health-conscious household.

To purchase click here: buy this book online

Food Documentaries Worth Seeing

All of these documentaries are available through netflix.  

I watched each via netflix instant que. www.netflix.com

Food, Inc.
A very interesting and informative documentary about many of the various aspects of the food industry.   I highly recommend this movie for those who want to learn more about what they put in their body.
For more info, or just a great website: 


http://www.foodincmovie.com/

The Beautiful Truth.  I highly recommend this movie for its insightful information about the dangers of the unnatural things we put in our bodies. The movie focuses on the Gerson Therapy which is a widely debated method to curing cancers and other serious illnesses through diet and lifestyle changes.  While I believe that this therapy may have merit, I felt that the movie advertised for this therapy a bit much.  Regardless, it's informational and can help answer questions you have about food additives and things of that nature.  Certainly worth the time.

For more info: http://gersonmedia.com/DVDs.html




The Botany of Desire is not focused on health and nutrition.  But it does offer an interesting perspective on plants, particularly apples and potatoes.  It also focuses on marijuana and tulips.  The focus of this PBS documentary is on the way human interaction with these plants has changed the evolution of the plant.  In terms of food it is just an interesting perspective on the history of apples and potatoes.  Knowledge is power.



For more info: http://www.pbs.org/thebotanyofdesire/

This American Life; Season 1, episode 6: Pandora's Box.  This is an interesting TV series that tells true stories from around the US.  This particular episode is great for vegetarians or those interested in becoming vegetarians.  This episode deals with the treatment of pigs in the meat production business.  Very interesting.  One of the show's crew members became vegetarian because of what he discovered!


For more info: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/

Green Rebel Recipe: Mashed Celery Root

Rebel in Green presents it's first vegetarian recipe!

Mashed Celery Root is delicious warm or cold.  It looks and feels like mashed potatoes but it is lighter, healthier, and packed with flavor.

Mashed Celery Root

Ingredients:

- 3 celery roots

- 2 Large Carrot

- Chives

- Fresh Dill

- Parsley

- Salt

- Pepper

Get Cooking:

Cut away the outer skin of celery roots, then slice  the celery roots into several smaller pieces (about the size of a deck of cards).  This makes softening the celery root faster and easier.  In a medium pot boil water with lots of salt (for flavor).  When the water is boiling, add celery root pieces and cover the pot.  In approximately 20-25 mintues, check the softness by stabbing pieces with a fork.  If tender, drain water.  If not, let boil for longer and test again in 5-10 minutes.  

While the celery root is boiling you can shred and chop.  Shred the carrots using a grater.  Chop the chives (I like to use about 1/2 of a standard bunch from the grocery store, but you can base the amount on your liking - keep in mind, the bottom white ends of chives are the most flavorful part).  Cut the dill and parsley into small bits (Again, I like LOTS of dill, but base amounts to taste).  

Once the celery root is tender and the water has been drained, mash the celery root until soft and mushy. Next add carrots, chives, dill, parsley, pepper and a dash of salt.  Stir until contents are evenly distributed throughout the dish.

Serve warm or refrigerate until consumption.  It is delicious cold too!

Remember: as you are seasoning, start with less and slowly add more - tasting as you go.  You can always add more... but once you've gone to far it is very difficult if not impossible to turn back.

Bryant Bark

I never dreamed how big of a deal pet fashion could be! And while it all may be a bit ridiculous, its just too fantastic not to mention here.  On April 12th FIT hosted their second annual dog fashion show.  All fashions were produced by students.  The show was presented to a packed house with tons of media coverage.  I guess pets can wear the latest fashion too?

for info on FIT's pet fashion show click here: http://www.fitnyc.edu/7891.asp

But I think it may be even more fun to check out these photos:

Cute, but crazy!  But for all you dog lovers out there, it is definitely in style to dress up your dog!

This last image is about as far as I think I would go personally:

Green Rebel book award: Vegetarian Classics

Green Rebel Book Award:

Vegetarian Classics - Recipes Made Easy

by Roz Denny

Being vegetarian is one of the many ways I keep my life "green" friendly.  I discovered this cook book a few years ago and strongly recommend it.    There are tons of great recipes in this cookbook, and mouth-watering pictures.  Just flipping through the pages makes me hungry.  The cookbook is not vegan, but there are many vegan-friendly options.

This book may also appeal to non-veggies as well.  I have cooked vegetarian meals from this cookbook many times for my meat-loving friends, and it has always been a filling and successful meal for all!

A Green Rebel with an idea: No Impact Man

The other day I watched the Movie No Impact Man.  Good news for all you netflixers who love documentaries: It is available to watch instantly on Netflix.

The premise: This guy and his family set out for one year to make NO negative impact on the environment.  They achieve this in a variety of ways including:
- cutting out electricity
- going vegetarian
- buying only foods that are grown locally and come   without packaging
- eliminating ALL unnecessary consumption
- creating a compost box in their apartment
- washing clothing by hand
- switching to cloth, washable diapers

And much much more, they even stopped buying toilet paper!

To watch the trailer click here: http://www.noimpactdoc.com/trailer.php

One thing that shocked me in the movie was the amount of negative criticism that this family fell victim to for their "green rebellion" project.  I suppose people felt a bit threatened by this family for rejecting societal norms to make an impact.

Some critics said that they need to focus on "changing the system", and that their individual actions alone can't make a lasting difference.  This is crazy, in my opinion.  Who changes the system? Individuals!  Imagine if lots of people followed suit with No Impact Man.  If everyone's attitude is "I can't make a difference" then nobody will.  The more "individuals" who take action, the more of a difference we can make.

Others criticized them by saying this is a gimmick for his book and movie.  Even if that is true, I think these critics are a bit harsh.  This  family, whatever their intentions are are tying to make a difference.  By creating books and a movie, they are reaching a wide number of people and getting people far beyond themselves to consider their actions and impact on the environment.

Part of the rebellion

I strongly believe that we are on the cusp of very exciting times.  The green revolution.  And this may be the most crucial movement in all of human history!  I for one plan to be part of the change.  I'm a rebel in green, are you?

- People are just beginning to re-examine the way we live, act and function in society and the effects that this has on our environment.  Eventually this re-examination will lead to a positive change in our actions for the greater good of our planet.

- People are also becoming more interested and aware of personal health and the backwards ways that people feed, medicate, and care for themselves.  This awareness is slowly actualizing itself in the form of individual personal decisions that change their way of life for the better.

Society is moving in the right direction, but slowly.  Let's help push it along a bit, shall we?

Comments, questions, concerns and disagreements are more than welcome here!  I want to know what you want to hear about, read about and talk about.  Getting a dialogue going between individuals who care about and love our planet is the first step to making a difference!