SUSTAINABLEYOU SUSTAINABLE One thing you can do... PROTECT YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT’S IMMUNITY IN THE DORM OR AT HOME BY KAREN LANGSTON
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ven though we are in the midst of battling a viral invader, believe it or not, the advice I am going to share with you today for a safe and healthy back to school is the same advice I would have given to you five years ago when my daughter was a college freshman. Off-gassing from freshly painted walls, carpet, furnishings and disinfectants, over time, will take its toll on the immune system. Did you know building materials, furnishings and electronics can release pollutants continuously? Known volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene and
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greenliving | August 2020
benzene are found in glues, paints, fabrics, furniture and bedding, and can linger in the air for years. Although you may not have control over the off-gassing process, there are things you can do. Choose organic bedding and pajamas. Organic fabrics allow skin and lungs to breathe and avoid further assault on the immune system. My favorite brand is Avocado mattress. They carry organic mattresses, toppers, pillows, sheets and organic certified face masks. I believe, if you are going to wear a fabric mask, it should be organic to avoid breathing in chemicals from the bleaching greenlivingaz.com