1 out of 15 homes has elevated levels of Radon.
What is radon? Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless radioactive gas that is produced by the breakdown of uranium in the soil.
Health concerns: It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is responsible for 20,000 deaths a year in the U.S. The great news is that it is completely preventable.
What can I do about it? Testing for radon is very important. You can find Environmental Protection Agency approved tests from your local hardware store to test for radon. There are short term tests and long term tests. Being that radon levels change throughout the year, it is best to do a long term test. Yet, you can also use a short term test. Just be sure to test three times four months apart to get adequate data to work from. Completing a short term test only once can give a false sense of security if the readings come back low. You can also hire a radon professional to come to your home and measure. The great news is that remediating a home that has high levels of radon is not ridiculously expensive. Most homes can be fixed for an average of $1,200.
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What is it?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent-smelling gas. It is a chemical that is used widely in building materials and also in numerous household products. It is also a byproduct of combustion.
What are the health effects?
Formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, fatigue, skin rash, wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. It has also been thought to cause cancer in humans and may also trigger attacks in people with asthma.
Where it is found?
Formaldehyde enters our living spaces in particle board, decorative plywood, gas combustion from stoves, cigarette smoke, permanent-press drapes and clothing, in furniture made with pressed wood, foam insulation, and even in paper towels (I know I was shocked when I heard this, apparently it has absorptive properties as well), and it is used as a preservative in paints and cosmetics.
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What is Chlorine and THMs? Chlorine treatment of water has saved countless of lives, preventing epidemics of typhoid fever and cholera. Yet, it has created another serious problem. The byproducts of chlorine, trihalomethanes (THMs), are formed when chlorine reacts with natural substances found in water. THMs are cancer causing compounds. THMs are also linked to kidney, liver, and nervous system damage as well as birth defects.
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I have seen this so often recently in green publications and being the speed reader that I am thought that finally there was a healthy way to dry clean my clothes. Some of the reasons that they list are:
1. There are no substances that will build up on your clothes
2. Carbon dioxide can actually remove chemicals from your clothes
3. Carbon dioxide use does not create more greenhouse gases
So, sounds great right? No…
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My words of wisdom: Believe in love, in possibility, in going after your dreams, in never stopping, in not existing but living - fully, unapologetically and wildly, believe that all is good, and always trust your gut. 
