We are the environment and the environment is us. Of the four quadrants, the environment is probably the one that people think least relates to their own health. The environment is seen as somehow separate from us. It is viewed as external rather than internal. However, we are intimately connected to our environment. The air we breathe in comes from the environment. The air we breathe out goes out to the environment. The air also touches our skin, moving into our bodies through our pores. The water we drink goes into our body. The water we bathe in goes in through our skin. If we keep the environment healthy, we keep ourselves healthy.

The World Health Organization estimates that 25% of health problems are caused by environmental factors. We spray food with pesticides and drive cars that produce pollution. We then eat these foods with the toxic chemicals and breathe the polluted air. Toxic exposure to chemicals can be linked to over 100 diseases and conditions, including asthma, allergies, and even many cancers. Fortunately, we are seeing a shift with an increase in organic foods, natural products, sustainable agriculture, and recycling.

The good news is that we have the power to remove many of the toxins in our lives and to make our environment healthier. Below are a few simple changes I have made over the last couple of years. They only take a few minutes of my time but they make a difference. 

• Leave shoes at the door. Okay, I know that some (most? all?) of my friends and family don't love this, but my household is shoe-free. Leaving shoes at the door cuts down on 80% of dirt and pollutants tracked into a house. Dr. Oz says, "We track all sorts of pollutants into our homes, including lawn pesticides (which have been linked to certain cancers and neurological and reproductive disorders), coal tar from asphalt surfaces (which contains carcinogens), lead, and even E. coli. Taking off your shoes when you get in is an easy way to keep those toxins out." I'm hoping the name dropping of Dr. Oz will at least bring some credibility for when my household guests come over and have to leave their shoes at the door.
  
• Say goodbye to plastic bottles! I've mentioned this before in another blog, Plastic at Home, Really?, but it's worth repeating because it can make a huge impact. About a year ago, I gave up buying plastic water bottles by the case from Costco. Sure they were convenient to grab-and-go, but now it's just a part of my routine to fill up my stainless steel bottle before I head out the door. Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. Sixty million water bottles are thrown away every day in the U.S. Of course, opting for the stainless steel not only helps the environment, it helps me too. There have been many studies which express concerns about the plastic leaching into the water. This is in addition to the questionable quality of the water that is found in these bottles.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle. First I try to figure out how I can reduce accumulating products (e.g. bring my own bags for shopping, print double sided, buy less). Then I try to figure out how to reuse the item, if possible. I think about whether any of my friends or favorite charities can use the item. I also have used Freecycle and Craigslist to sell items or give them away for free. After trying to reduce and reuse, I recycle. We all know we should recycle, but we aren't all doing it. In 2008, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 340 pounds for every person in the U.S. If everyone in America separated the paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum products from the trash and instead put them in the recycle bin, the waste in landfills would be reduced by 75%! For more information on recycling, read my blog Broom No, Foil Yes.
• Clean green. Many conventional cleaning products leave indoor air pollution because of the petrochemical VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and synthetic fragrances. These toxins build up in our homes each time we use these products. As they evaporate, they can make their way into our body and be dangerous to our health. These products can cause dizziness, watery eyes, skin rashes, and respiratory problems. A couple of years ago, I switched to all natural cleaning products. Mostly, I use vinegar (+ water) and baking soda. Sometimes I buy Method brand (fragrance-free). Try to avoid products that have fragrances, chlorine bleach, and ammonia.
  
• Cancel catalogs. After ordering a few times from catalogs, I found myself receiving a crazy number of catalogs throughout the year, particularly around the holidays. Every time I received a catalog, I took a couple of minutes to call the 1-800#. I would ask for my name to be removed from the mailing list and to be put on a "do not sell" list so that my name is not sold to other companies. I now receive very few catalogs, so it does work.
  
• Cancel phone books. Remember the old days when you used to actually refer to the phone book? Now with the internet, the phone book has become obsolete in my household. I called the number on the inside of the front cover and now I no longer get the books. Phone books make up almost 10% of waste at dump sites.

These are just a few things that I have done in the last few years to improve my personal (household) environment as well as the larger (collective) environment around me. Let's learn from each other. Post a comment and let us know what quick and easy things you are doing.

For a new commitment, I'm going to make an effort not to leave the water running when I brush my teeth. This can save up to 5 gallons of water every day. What change can you make in your life for the sake of the environment's health, as well as your own?