Morning Minefield

Did you know your sheets might be a health hazard? I didn't either. It turns out our luxurious high-thread count cotton sheets may have been bleached and soaked in pesticides. Hopefully we have washed most of it out in hot water, but are we aware the detergent we used may contain unhealthy chemicals, too? It's enough to ruin a good night's sleep.

We need our rest because when we roll out of bed in the morning, we face a minefield of dangers.

We jump into the shower, savoring the spray that wakes us up. But don't enjoy it too much. If we don't have a filter on the shower, the city water flowing over us may be full of toxic substances (lead, chlorine) that are penetrating our skin. The shower head itself may be harboring bacteria (make a note to use mostly metal ones). The chemicals in our soap and shampoo may be dangerous, too. It turns out the stuff that promises silky smooth skin and shiny, bouncy hair may be abetting our eventual demise.

Brushing our teeth seems safe. If we use Listerine, however, we are warned that the alcohol content may cause mouth cancer.

Deodorant? We better make sure there is no aluminum in it on the chance that it will cause breast cancer.

We religiously apply the sunscreen that for years we have been strongly advised to use to avoid skin cancer. But then we hear about a new report that says the use of some of the most popular sunscreens may, in fact, cause skin cancer.

It seems unregulated chemicals in the stuff are harmful. Hats, covering up exposed areas (hard to do in the pool), sunglasses, and avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day are all advised. Just be sure those sunglasses have proper lenses that screen out the harmful rays or we risk ending up with macular degeneration.

Women may apply a little make-up. But wait! The chemicals in our creams and lipstick may make us more beautiful but they could also make us ill. If we are true earth mothers, we can apply a little olive oil to moisturize and smear a beet on our cheeks and lips for color. If we prefer not to smell like a salad or look like a clown, we can just risk it and use our Clinique.

A spritz of cologne or after shave? We may love a subtle scent but don't enjoy it too much. There may be unhealthy chemicals in our favorite fragrance, too.

If our clothes have been dry cleaned, we risk exposing ourselves to harmful solvents.

We go into the kitchen for a glass of water, which shouldn't come from a plastic bottle because BPA may have leaked into it. I know we aren't supposed to be drinking bottled water at all for green reasons, but that's another subject. If we are using filtered water, we better make sure the filters are changed often enough or we risk serious consequences. City water? Forget it. It's full of contaminants, and we got enough of those when we showered in it.

We may want to scramble an egg or make oatmeal. We like to use a non-stick pan because clean up after those two items is a chore. But wait! Make sure it is not Teflon! It's been linked to serious health problems.

Do you want peanut butter on your toast? Be careful! The peanuts used to make it may have harbored a mold that could cause health problems. Open that jar of Jif or Skippy at your own risk.

Taking medications of any kind? All the things we have been told are keeping us healthy might actually be making us sick. Just hope for the best. Taking vitamins? Make sure you are not over-dosing or taking supplements that may contain harmful chemicals.

As we pass through the house we encounter all kinds of potential hazards: cordless phones, cell phones, clock radios, wireless stations, microwaves, electric blankets, and who knows what else may all be creating electro-magnetic fields that could affect our health. Short of walking around in a space age suit that deflects the field, what are we to do?

We've run a gauntlet of dangers and it's not even 9 am. Armed with hand sanitizers, anti-bacterial wipes, and perhaps tranquilizers to deal with the anxiety generated from all the perils we face, we venture forth, always on guard against life's dangers.

We can do research to find the safest sunscreens, cosmetics, soaps, pots and pans, cell phones, etc. It's easy with google. We can be aware of the most serious health hazards, but at what point do we stop obsessing and just enjoy life?