You are here: Home » Archive » Toxic Chemicals

Toxic Chemicals

Despite Recent Concerns, LEDs Still Offer Efficient & Clean Light

LEDs offer the best energy efficiency of any widely available lighting technology.  And LED lights contain no mercury, as opposed to the compact fluorescent bulbs that have become so common.  But recent reports suggest that LEDs may have their own issues with hazardous substances, so should you steer clear of them?  Not so fast – [...]

Read the full article →

Mercury Fillings: Not Efficient

Update: Recently, the FDA concluded that mercury filling have safety issues, see this news story. Sweden, Denmark and Norway have banned them. Germany and Austria have discouraged use. Yet, in the United States, dental amalgams, the “silver” fillings that have been commonly used in dental practices for decades, are still used frequently as an inexpensive [...]

Read the full article →

Chemical-Free Dental Health

We brush, floss and rinse with mouthwash to keep our teeth healthy, strong and fresh. Unfortunately, some of the very things we are doing to protect ourselves from disease could be making us sick. The ingredients listed on the back of our toothpaste tubes and mouthwash bottles might be things we’ve never given too much [...]

Read the full article →

Widely Available Low-VOC Paints

At Metaefficient, we try to only feature products that are toxin-free. Take interior paint, for example — how can a paint be considered “efficient” if it leaks toxic substances into your home for months or even years? According to the EPA, VOC-laden paint is a primary contributor to unhealthy indoor air, and it can significant [...]

Read the full article →

Ozone Generators: Effectively Deodorize Rooms and Purify Water

One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to purify water is to bubble ozone through it. Ozone is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms ( O3). It disinfects water very effectively, through a process called oxidation. Ozone ruptures the cellular structure of organisms, killing them. It also oxides toxic organic chemicals, minerals and [...]

Read the full article →

Inexpensive, Non-Toxic Solvent: Washing Soda

Washing soda is an efficient substitute for conventional toxic solvents. It cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Washing soda is sodium carbonate — it is in the same family as baking soda, but it has been processed differently. It is much more caustic/alkaline, [...]

Read the full article →

A Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides

Consumer Reports recently published a guide (subscription required) detailing which fruit and vegetables contain the most pesticides. They recommend always buying organic when purchasing the following fruits and vegetables: Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Grapes (imported), Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries, Spinach and Strawberries. Their report was based on the free Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides [...]

Read the full article →

How To Grow Fresh Air

Author B.C. Wolverton originally began his research to investigate creating a breathable environment for a NASA lunar habitat. What came of that research was the discovery that houseplants are the most efficient filters of common pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene. (See our list of the top plants for cleaning the air).

Read the full article →

Anti-Metaefficient: PBDE: A Poison That Is Now Everywhere

PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl) is a toxic flame retardant used in many products, including computer cases, carpet pads and foam cushions in chairs and couches. This recent article in the The Oregonian sums up the problems for humans: Research has shown that the levels of PBDEs in American women are doubling every two to five years. [...]

Read the full article →

Not Efficient: Pharmaceutical Drugs Found In Rivers, Tap Water

A variety of pharmaceuticals have been found to be present in rivers and tap water in the U.S. The drugs include painkillers, tranquilizers, anti-depressants, antibiotics, birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapies, chemotherapy agents, anti-seizure medications and many others. The pharmaceuticals are found in treated sewage effluents, surface waters, soil, and tap water, though at very [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries