Ten Simple Things You Can Do to Help the Environment

Here are 10 things you can do in the New Year to do your part for the environment: 

§ Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace three frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide and about $60 a year. 

§ Save the water bottle. Sick of watching your recycle bin fill up with water bottles? Time to buy a reusable water bottle. 

§ Pull the plug on electronics and chargers. Mobile phones, BlackBerry devices, iPods, digital cameras and other electronics use energy, even if they are turned off, if the charger is still going. 

§ Take shorter showers. Water for bathing accounts for two-thirds of all water-heating costs. 

§ Buy a hybrid car. 

§ Create idle-free zones. Schools, churches, synagogues, libraries, shopping malls and anywhere that accommodates a large number of vehicles are prime spots for signs requiring vehicle engines to be turned off to help cut fuel emissions and improve air quality. 

§ Buy local food products. You may pay a bit more in the grocery store, but buying locally grown products helps the earth because less fuel is required to transport your products to market. Additionally, buying goods that require less packaging may help reduce your garbage. 

§ Bring cloth bags to the market. Tote your own cloth bags to the store instead of plastic and paper bags, reducing waste and requiring no additional energy. 

§ Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat in your home.

§ Use recycled paper. Switch your home and business paper products to 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper, saving countless trees and five pounds of carbon dioxide per ream of paper. 

Ways to Reduce Toxic Metal Exposure At Home

 Exposure to heavy metals -- lead, mercury and arsenic -- at home? Yes, it's possible and through means that might surprise you, from glazed pottery to herbal supplements, the Mayo Clinic states.

 While limited exposure to everyday sources of toxic metals isn't likely to result in harmful health effects, it's wise to be aware of them, especially if you encounter heavy metals on a regular basis. Some general symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include loss of feeling, especially in the fingertips; hearing loss; impaired concentration; and personality changes.

 Some of the ways exposure might occur at home: 

·          Lead exposure: Lead can find its way into the body if it's inhaled as dust or fumes, or in the case of small children, inadvertently ingested in the form of old paint chips. Lead-based paint was commonly used in homes built before 1978. Children who ingest flakes of lead-based paint may experience anemia, unexplained stomachaches and developmental delays.

·          Some tableware, such as leaded crystal, pewter and some glazed pottery, can be a source of lead, even more so if acidic foods or liquids are served from them. Hobbyists who create stained glass or pottery can be at risk. Soldering to create stained glass can produce lead-laden fumes. Pottery glazes with white or yellow finishes can contain lead.

·          Be aware that small jewelry crafted in China may be made with lead. And be cautious using dietary supplements, especially products originating in China, where lead exposure risks are not as well known.

·          Mercury exposure: You are most likely to encounter mercury in its organic form, methyl mercury, when eating certain fish or shellfish. Mercury can be especially high in shark, swordfish, tuna, pike, walleye, bass and Atlantic salmon.

·          Over the years, some have raised questions about mercury in dental fillings. So far, no link has been made between metal dental fillings and changes in the central nervous system.

·          Arsenic exposure: Garden pesticides and herbicides may contain arsenic. Check the label and always follow instructions. Until recently, arsenic could be found in pressure-treated lumber. If you work with older, treated lumber, take precautions. Wear gloves and a dust mask and work outdoors.

·          Alternative health treatments: If you take any homeopathic, herbal or complementary health products, be aware there is no government oversight on what these products might contain. It's possible they could include heavy metals.

For additional information about lead, mercury and arsenic can be found at EPA's Prevention, Pesticide and Toxic Substance Web page at http://www.epa.gov/oppts.