Health and Safety Update http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety News and Information for Nurses in Washington State, from the Washington State Nurses Association. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:32:29 +0000 en hourly 1 Healthy Pet Tips for the Environment http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/index.php/2009/03/healthy-pet-tips-for-the-environment/ http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/index.php/2009/03/healthy-pet-tips-for-the-environment/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:31:26 +0000 Karen Bowman, MN, RN, COHN-S http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/?p=7
  • Choose pet food without the chemical preservatives BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin, vary cats’ diets to limit their exposure to mercury in seafood, and choose organic or free-range ingredients rather than “by-products.”
  • Use a reverse osmosis, faucet-mounted, or pitcher filter to remove contaminants before filling your pet’s water bowl.
  • Replace older foam pet bedding, and replace or reupholster furniture with exposed or crumbling foam where flame retardants are found.
  • Vacuum often with a HEPA-filter vacuum, and take off your shoes at the door to minimize your pets’ exposure to toxic chemicals in house dust.
  • If you suspect your deck was made with arsenic-treated wood, treat it with a sealant every six months and don’t let pets play or sleep underneath it. Wash with mild soap and water, but never power wash!
  • Don’t get optional stain-proof treatments on couches, carpets and car upholstery-they’re loaded with toxic perfluorochemicals.
  • Avoid nonstick pans. An overheated nonstick pan can kill pet birds, and it gives off chemicals that may be bad for other pets and people too. Try cast iron instead.
  • Care for your lawn without using insecticides, which may cause nervous system damage in pets that walk on the treated lawn, eat the grass, or breathe in the chemicals.
  • Use kitty litter made of plant sources like wheat or recycled newspaper. Clay-based kitty litter is strip-mined, causing extreme environmental damage during extraction.
  • Get biodegradable, compostable doo-bags for when you go on walks with your pooch-or just reuse bags like plastic newspaper wrappers.
  • Not only are flea collars generally ineffective, they’re also a source of constant toxic exposure for your pet and family. Instead, vacuum often and thoroughly, bathe your pet regularly, and ask your vet or local pet store about safer flea treatments and repellents.
  • Try a mild baby shampoo intended for human use instead of a pet product. Just like human products, pet grooming product manufacturers aren’t required to test their grooming products for safety-but unlike human products, they’re not even required to list ingredients on labels. Use EWG’s Skin Deep at cosmeticsdatabase.com to find one that’s right for your pet.

    • Source: http://www.petsfortheenvironment.org/

    ]]>     http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/index.php/2009/03/healthy-pet-tips-for-the-environment/feed/     Lead Test Fact Sheet (PDF) http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/index.php/2009/03/lead-test-fact-sheet-pdf/ http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/index.php/2009/03/lead-test-fact-sheet-pdf/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:24:39 +0000 Karen Bowman, MN, RN, COHN-S http://www.wsnaweb.org/health-and-safety-update/?p=4 Download this fact sheet entitled “What Does Your Child’s Lead Test Result Mean?”

    leadtestfactsheet.pdf (PDF; 216KB)

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