I thought you might be interested in a news article entitled, “Common Chemicals may Have Autism Link.” The ABC News article explains how a study out of California might have uncovered at least one household chemical worthy of investigation: pyrenthrin, a type of pesticide found in common products from pet shampoos to household bug sprays and lice treatments for children.

What’s most concerning to me is that this is a chemical which has been around fro twenty years and was deemed safe. Many of us have this or similar chemicals in our cupboards or on our garage shelves without a thought to the potential harm they may cause to our health. The ABC article raises the question, “Why have questionable products in your home when there are healthy alternatives available?” It all comes down to educating the public on the toxic nature of common household chemicals and showing them there is a better way.

This summer, if you feel tempted to use chemical bug repellents on your children, stop and think about the potential harm you may be doing to their long-term health, Maybe you already have a safer solution to your bug problem in your Melaleuca cupboard, Check our “Melaleuca Wellness Guide” for insect control solutions using Melaleuca products.

We also have three research reports on household chemicals and a report on lice treatments which covers pyrenthrin and other toxic treatments.

A report on children and exposure to toxins, sponsored by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), aired on NPR (National Public Radio) in April, 2004. Dr. Michael Weitzman was interviewed, and if you would like to listen to it, just go to the link above and choose a media player under “listen now” to hear the audio track. A short summary follows:

There is a growing awareness within the public regarding the fact that levels of exposures to chemicals which previously were thought to be safe are actually posing a danger to our children. Unfortunately, we know less about the effects of childhood exposure to chemicals than we do about adult exposures. We know more about a child’s reaction to drugs than we do about a child’s reaction to chemicals. For instance, scientists are currently asking, ‘how do low level exposures to chemicals relate to chronic diseases in children?’ There are subtle but serious effects; but the scientific studies are few and far between because to complete a study like this, we have to follow a child for a long time and we’ve also got to be cautious about how to study children. Studies are usually limited to taking blood and urine samples from the children. In short, very little is currently known about childrens’ exposures to toxins.

This is a great source to cite as you begin talking about toxins in household cleaners. Help all the families you know to give up ‘normal’ toxic grocery store cleaners! Melaleuca’s EcoSense line of cleaners are so easy to talk about once one understands that there is a long-term and subtle negative effect on the health of our children when we don’t consciously choose what to bring into our houses.

RM Barry Publications can now take telephone orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We are in partnership with an answering service that can take our overflow and after-hours calls. They will also now handle all our Spanish language telephone calls.

We hope this new arrangement will be a benefit to you.

A Canadian  resource web site by the Labour Environmental Alliance Society outlines the toxins in household products. This page covers ten ingredients in household cleaners that are best avoided. The story covers toxic effects of these ingredients from statistics in MSDS sheets (similar to what our Toxic Checklist covers) and a story of someone who died after mixing bleach with toilet bowl cleaner. What a sad testimonial as to why everyone needs to learn about the chemicals in their cleaning products.

RM Barry Publications now has enough material in Spanish to be able to offer our popular Welcome Packages in Spanish.  So, introducing the Welcome Package for Spanish Speakers.  This Welcome Pack has the Spanish version of the Melaleuca Quick Reference, and one of each of our three Spanish pamphlets, plus a small gift card.

If you need to order the Welcome Packages in both English and Spanish and have them sent directly to your customers, you will need to use two forms and make two transactions. We have made separate order forms for each language.
If you want to have the Welcome Packages of both languages sent to your house so you can sign the gift card personally, you may use the USA order form and make one transaction.

Order Form for Welcome Packages in English.

Order Form for Welcome Packages for Spanish Speakers.

Spring is under way, and Mother’s Day is approaching! I’m a mom so I can help you pick out what to get for your mom. I’d love to get: Body Satin Moisturizing Body Wash because of those yummy scents. Another good bet would be the Body Satin Body Lotion, or what about a matching set of both?

Well, the Melaleuca Inc. May Launch is tomorrow. Have a great time if you’re planning to attend, and if you can’t make it, then check out Melaleuca’s online store on Monday to see what the announcements were.

Enjoy your weekend,

Jessica