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Welcome to the Toxin Free Blog
Welcome to the Toxin Free Blog! Here, you will find information on ways you can control toxins in your environment, improve your wellness, and reduce your risk of sickness and disease from exposure to everyday contaminants. Be sure to check with us frequently for the most current information on toxin free household products, air and water filtration systems, ways to reduce the existence of toxins and your world and much more.
If there is a topic on which you would like more information, be sure to email us at
feedback@choosefitness.com. We hope you will join us in making a better place for you, your family and the rest of us!
The Safe Shopper's Bible - Must have for the healthy family.
Recently we have featured a number of books that present environmentally friendly options to everything from personal care, to home cleaning products, and frankly, I was pleasantly surprised to see how readily available this information is thanks to the efforts of some very dedicated authors. The fact is that we really have no excuse to opt for toxic products when there as so many healthy alternatives that work just as well.
With that in mind, I want to highly recommend another very important reference called The Shopper's Bible, A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food. This book reads like an encyclopedia of everyday household, personal care and food products, all organized by product type, and containing helpful evaluations on safety. It contains over 400 pages of great information for your family's safety.
Each listed product is rated on a set of criteria appropriate to the product, and within each category reviewed, the products are rated for risk, and then an indication as to whether they are recommended. Putting this information at your finger tips will make it easy to make good choices on the products and foods that you buy, and will definitely contribute to your wellness goals in a big way.
Be sure to pick up a copy of this very important reference tool. You'll be glad you did.
Two Great Books for the Environmentally Conscious Household.
Here are two great books both dealing with toxin free personal care and household cleaning products. Clean & Green, written by Annie Berthhold-Bond, provides 485 different formulas you can use to clean things around your house, and I highly recommend it. All of the formulas are simple, easy and inexpensive to put together, and should actually save you money at the same time as it protects your environment.
The Non-Toxic Home & Office is another gem that provides a wealth of information on everyday products we should avoid to promote wellness. These two resources should be in the library of any wellness conscious individual, and I hope you will pick them up.
Amazon has a fair number of these used, and in excellent condition, so be sure to check there, unless having a brand new copy is a requirement. Personally, I like to recycle, so I picked up my copies used, paid for both what I would have paid for one new, and saved a couple trees in the process too.
Aquasana Shower Filtration System.
As we expected, the
Aquasana Shower filtration system performed as advertised. From the review we did of their counter top version, you can tell that we like these systems.
Consistent with the counter top version, the
Aquasana Shower filtration system is no frills, be very effective. It provides excellent water filtration capability without the higher cost of models incorporating additional features.
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Our testers who put the
Aquasana Shower filtration system through its paces both reported a noticeable difference in the level of skin dryness they experienced. One reported a noticeable difference in the appearance of her hair (the other is bald so no report was available).
If you can live without the massaging shower head and removable wand features of the other shower unit we tested, this unit will keep you very happy, and more importantly, very healthy! This would be my personal favorite, except that I do prefer the wand model.
The
Aquasana Shower filtration system retails for $79.95, with replacement filter cartridges available at approximately $80.00 per year.
For more information about the
Aquasana Shower filtration system, please visit their web page. We will continue to report back to you on the performance of this unit.
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Aquasana Counter Top Water Filtration System.
The
Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system, is one of the least expensive drinking water filtration systems in our line up, but that does not mean that it is short on performance. This system is both economical and effective.
The
Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system has been tested and certified by the State of California to meet ANSI/NSF standards 42 and 53, which relate to color and odor, chlorine removal, and particular reduction (Standard 42), and the reduction of cysts, lead, volatile organic compounds and turbitity. But, Aquasana didn't stop there. Aquasana has put it's system through a testing procedure that is actually more stringent that ANSI/NSF standards require to demonstrate it's superior performance when compared to other certified filters.
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For lead reduction the Aquasana system was challenged at a level 20% higher(170-180 ppb) than the certification requirement of 150 ppb (parts per billion)‚ and still produced lead free water throughout the 1000 gallon test cycle. No other water treatment system‚ of any kind or at any price‚ has ever produced better results for lead reduction.
Aquasana also conducted performance testing for the reduction of synthetic chemicals (VOCs) under conditions that were not only more challenging, but which simulated real life conditions more closely than ANSI/NSF standards require. Virtually all other companies choose to have chemical reduction testing performed by adding the challenge chemicals to de-ionized water‚ free from the competitive influences of sediment and chlorine. While this approach is permitted under the required NSF Standard #53, Aquasana does not believe it represents real life conditions. In order to demonstrate Aquasana‘s superior performance under "real life" conditions‚ it was tested by adding the challenge chemicals to regular chlorinated tap water with a moderately high turbidity (sediment) level. According to Aquasana, this method of testing is considerably more challenging‚ and the Aquasana system out performed all other brands under these conditions.
The unit was easy to install, and convenient to locate on the counter top to the kitchen sink. However, for a nominal charge, the Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system can also be purchased with an under the counter installation kit, which conveniently recaptures counter top space.
From a performance standpoint, we conducted our two tests on the unit. In the first test, we compared non-filtered water to filtered water for chlorine removal. Our non-filtered water registered a reading of 1.0 parts per million ("ppm"), which is at the low end of the scale for optimal swimming pool chlorine levels (optimal is between 1 - 3 ppm). The water filtered with the Aqua Pure system showed no detectable chlorine levels. We also performed the less than scientific "dog test" on this unit. In one bowl, we put non-filtered water, and in another bowl, we put water filtered from the
Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system. In each of the trials we ran, the dog chose the filtered water each time. This test wasw introduced to us by a water filtration system retailer who explained that dogs can smell the chemicals contained in the non-filtered water, and that given a preference, they will choose the filtered water every time. As in our previous dog tests, we were careful not to use the dog's regular water or food bowls, so that familiarity with them would not affect the test.
The initial investment in the
Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system is $118.00 retail, with replacement filters retailing at about $112.00 annually. That includes two filters that will purify up to 1,000 gallons of tap water. That makes the overall cost of ownership in the first and subsequent years about $.09 cents per gallon. This figure was arrived at by taking the initial investment and dividing it by the number of gallons the system is rated at. However, Aquasana offers an "auto-ship" program that reduces the replacement filter cost to about $90.00 per year, offering additional savings per gallon. It also eliminates the need to remember when your filters need to be replaced.
This system represents an excellent value without sacrificing quality, and would be suitable for most households looking for quality water filtration. While other systems we have looked at offer a variety of additional features, none of them does the basic job of filtering the water better than the Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system.
We will continue to report to you on our ongoing experience with this product, and if you get one yourself, please be sure to give us your feedback and experiences too. We want to hear from you.
Click this link for more information on the
Aquasana Counter Top water filtration system.
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Keeping your Home Clean and Safe.
Here are some
tips on keeping your home clean using safe, inexpensive, and common substances from around your home. Be sure to try some of these simple suggestions, and let us know if they are effective for you.
Aqua Pure Shower Filtration System
Our first shower filtration system under review is the
Aqua Pure Shower II water filtration system. This unit is made by the same company that produces the
Aqua Pure Counter Top water filtration system, and as we would have expected, it is a very high quality unit.
The
Aqua Pure Shower II water filtration system. , was easy to install, requiring only that you remove your existing shower head, and simply screw the unit into place. It features an omni-directional wand that can be placed on the filter's stand for hands free operation, and can also be removed to reach harder to reach areas. Either way, it was convenient and easy to use.
I was so happy with the functionality mentioned above that I actually forgot it's also got an adjustable massage feature, allowing you great flexibility in the water flow force, and type of flow.
On the shower unit, we peformed the chlorine test and it equaled the results of its drinking water counterpart, leaving no detectable levels of chlorine.
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After a week of use, I and the other tester found that our skin had become significantly less dry, presumably due to the reduction in chlorine and chlorine by-products. During this time of year, I normally have to apply lotion twice a day, but after a week of using the filter I am now doing that once every other day. Quite a dramatic difference.
Our other tester also noticed that her hair had a noticeable increase in sheen, and that hair coloring seemed to take more. These were unexpected benefits that we had not thought of before the test.
The only drawback to using the
Aqua Pure Shower II water filtration system is that my showers have doubled in length, because it doesn't dry out my skin! So, I now incur the rathe of other family members waiting to get to the shower with the Aqua Pure Shower II. I can live with this though since I get up earlier than they do, and I am never beat to the shower.
The
Aqua Pure Shower II water filtration system retails for $159.00, with replacement cartridges running $45.00 for a two pack. the cartridges should be replaced approximately once every three months, making it a very good value considering the wellness benefits associated with reducing inhalation of steam filled with chlorine by-products, and absorption of the same through your skin.
For more information about the
Aqua Pure Shower II water filtration system, please visit their web page.
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AquaPure Counter Top Water Purifier.
The
Aqua Pure Counter Top water filtration system, is a drinking water filtration system that has been tested and certified by NSF International in ANSI/NSF standards 42 and 53, which relate to color and odor, chlorine removal, and particular reduction (Standard 42), and the reduction of cysts, lead, volatile organic compounds and turbitity. The unit was easy to install. We had it up and running, and producing filtered water in about 10 minutes. The system has stable base because it's wider at the bottom than the top, and has plenty of tubing to extend the location of the unit to a convenient spot around the sink. The diverter, the piece that allows you to switch between filtered and non-filtered water, was easy to attach, as the unit comes with a variety of fittings that would be found in most households.
This unit has a neat little battery powered "smart sensor" which lights up green when the filter is good, blinks yellow when the filter is getting close to needing replacement,and lights up red when the filter should be replaced. The unit operates without electricity, so you don't have to worry about locating it near an electrical outlet.
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From a performance standpoint, we conducted two different tests to get things rolling. The first test was simply to compare non-filtered water to filtered water for chlorine removal. Our non-filtered water registered a reading of 1.0 parts per million ("ppm"), which is at the low end of the scale for optimal swimming pool chlorine levels (optimal is between 1 - 3 ppm). The water filtered with the Aqua Pure system showed no detectable chlorine levels. We also performed a very non-scientific,but entertaining test using a neighbor's dog. In one bowl, we put non-filtered water, and in another bowl, we put water filtered with the Aqua Pure system, and after several different trials, the dog chose the filtered water each time. We are told by the manufacturer that this is because dogs can smell the chemicals contained in the non-filtered water, and that given a preference, they will choose the filtered water every time. For purposes of this test, we were careful not to use the dog's regular water or food bowls, so that familiarity with them would not affect the test.
The initial investment in the AquaPure system is $259.00, with replacement filters costing $74.95 annually. That makes the overall cost of ownership in the first year about $.32 cents per gallon in the first year, and $.10 per gallon in susequent years. This figure was arrived at by taking the initial investment and dividing it by the number o gallons the system is rated at, and then doing the same in year two and beyond using the price of the replacement filter.
This system is a solid choice for anyone with municipally treated water (again 97% of America), and even though there are less expensive selections, some of you will find the smart sensor to be worth the extra initial investment.
We will continue to report to you on our ongoing experience with this product, and if you get one yourself, please be sure to give us your feedback and experiences too. We want to hear from you.
Click this link for more information on the
Aqua Pure Counter Top water filtration system.
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Water Filtration System Review Continued.
Before we evaluate the first filtration system in our lineup, here are some things you should do before making a purchase.
First, determine what contaminents may be in your water by visiting the
Environmental Protection Agency web site, and checking your state and local jurisdiction. You may also want to request a report from your local water authority directly just to make sure the information is current. Depending on where you live in the country, you may find more or less need for a filter that will remove certain types of contaminents. For example, in 97% of the jurisdictions in the United States, water is disinfected using chlorine. Some water filtration units contain a combination of filtering systems, and ultra-violet treatment as well. UV systems are typically unnecessary in jurisdictions where the water is treated with chlorine, because UV doesn't kill anything that chlorine doesn't already take care of. However, if you have well water, or in areas where water treatment does not include chlorine disinfection, a UV capable system may add value to your filtration needs.
Once you have determined what is likely in your water, you can then begin to identify filtration systems that remove those things. Most quality filtration systems will do a good job of removing chlorine, and chlorine by-products, as well as heavy metals, bacteria, and cysts. Selecting a system that is certified by NSF to meet their standards helps to expedite your due diligence. The state of California also issues certifications that basically rely on satisfying NSF standards. Don't assume that because a filter is not "certified" by NSF that it does not meet the standards, because NSF charges a certification fee, which some manufacturers choose not to pay, even though their filtration systems meet or exceed NSF standards. But, in those cases, look for filtration systems that have at least been independently tested to meet NSF standards, especially if it has been tested by a state authority.
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There are three basic standards that water filtration systems are typically tested for and those are as follows:
NSF/ANSI 42 & 53 - This is the physical process that occurs when liquids, gases, dissolved or suspended matter adhere to the surface of, or in the pores of, an adsorbent medium. Carbon filters use this technology to filter water.
ANSI/NSF Standard No. 53 Health Effects - Reduction of:
Lead
Copper
Mercury
Cadmium
Benzene
Toluene
Tetrachloroethylene
Products certified for reduction of VOCs will be effective for all of the following contaminants:
Alachlor; Atrazine; Benzene; Carbofuran; Carbon tetrachloride; Chlorobenzene; Chloropicrin; 2,4-D; Dibromochloropro-pane; o-dichlorobenzene; p-dichloroben-zene; 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,1-dichloro-ethylene; cis-1,2-dichloroethylene; Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene; 1,2-dichloro-propane; cis-1,3-dichloropropylene; Dinoseb; Endrin; Ethylbenzene; Ethylene dibromide; Haloacentonitriles; Haloketones; Heptachlor epoxide; Hexachlorobutadiene; Hexachlorocyclo-pentadiene; Lindane; Methoxychlor; Pentachlorophenol; Simazine; Styrene; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; Tetrachloro-ethylene; Toluene; 2,4,5-TP; Tribromo-acetic acid; 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene; 1,1,1-trichloroethane; 1,1,2-trichloroethane; Trichloroethylene (TCE); Trihalomethanes (THMs); Xylenes
ANSI/NSF Standard No. 42 Aesthetic Effects - Reduction of:
Chlorine
Taste & Odor
Particulate - Class V
Zinc
Ultraviolet Treatment (NSF/ANSI 55) - This treatment style uses ultraviolet light to disinfect water (Class A systems) or to reduce the amount of heterotrophic bacteria present in the water (Class B systems).
Standard 55 covers two types of ultraviolet disinfection systems:
Class A systems are designed to inactivate and/or remove microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, Cryptosporidium cysts and Giardia cysts, from contaminated water. They are not designed to treat wastewater or water contaminated with raw sewage and should be installed in visually clear water.
Class B systems are designed for supplemental bactericidal treatment of disinfected public drinking water or other drinking water that has been tested and deemed acceptable for human consumption. These systems are designed to reduce normally occurring, nonpathogenic or nuisance microorganisms only. Class B systems are not intended for the disinfection of microbiologically unsafe water.
All of the drinking water filtration systems we are reviewing meet the first two standards, and some meet all three.
One other important consideration in choosing a system is cost, but be careful when evaluating cost, because the initial outlay may not truly reflect the overall cost of ownership. For example, you can purchase a "pitcher" type filtration system for about $25.00, which is about as cheap as you can get on the initial cost. Without regard to the effectiveness of these filters, they actually cost more per gallon of water produced, because the filters are expensive too replace and do not last very long. It can cost you as much as $.25 cents per gallon to own and operate such a system, where for a little more upfront investment, you may be able to get the total cost per gallon below $.08 cents. If you and your family are drinking the amounts of fresh water that you should, this becomes a big difference in annual cost.
All of the systems that we are reviewing have a total cost of ownership that brings them down between $.07 to $.13 cents per gallon after year one.
As part of looking at cost, individual features can sometimes be important. For example, one of the filters that we will review has an electronic sensor that tells you when the filter is in need of replacement. Certainly, that's not a mandatory feature, but it is very convenient, so that you remove the guess work out of when to replace the filter. Others as we mentioned previously include UV filtration capability which may or may not be important to you. Some units are smaller than others, and can be mounted under the sink, in addition to functioning as a counter top unit. These are all considerations that will vary with your individual needs.
With all that covered, let's take a look at our first filtration system.
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Water Filtration Test Drive.
Recently, many of you have asked us to recommend water purification systems for home and office use, and we hope that was stimulated by the focus we have been placing on proper hydration. Because of the importance of this topic, we have decided to perform a review of a number of different systems available in the market currently. We have arranged to conduct our own "test drive" of several systems (both water, and air purification), and we will report the results to you here on the Toxin Free Blog.
Our review will focus on ease of use, effectiveness of the device, overall cost of ownership, and special features. In addition to the written review and ongoing reports, we will interview each of the manufacturers and feature those interviews on
Fitness Radio, our health and wellness radio show.
If you have had an experience with one of the products we feature, please feel free to provide us with feedback that we can share with the Choosefitness community. You can do so by submitting your information to
feedback@choosefitness.com.
Read more »
Water filtration review methodolgy.
Before we get into our actual review of water filtration systems, let me lay out for you how our review will be conducted. First of all, in preparation for
conducting the review, we screened 25 of the top water filtration systems on the market, eventually narrowing our review units down to four. We chose to review all countertop units because those are the easiest to install, and because under-the-counter versions of the countertop models operate essentially the same way with the exception of the location of the unit. To get to that number we looked at the following criteria:
Variety of contaminants removed
NSF and/or WSA certified or tested
actual cost of ownership as measured by cost per gallon of water produced
Initial investment
Unique or special features
After narrowing down the the contenders based on the above criteria, we selected what we believed to be the top four systems giving weight to the above factors. We also decided to review a shower filtration system separate from the drinking water systems.
The final four as we will call them will now be put through their paces for a full year, and we will report back to you periodically on our status with them. We will cover things like filter life, and effectiveness, any failures, and how they were remedied by the manufacturer, and well as ease of installation and use.
For purposes of this review we want you to know that none of the participating manufacturers are compensating Choosefitness.com for the review or feature of their products. They are not advertisers with us, nor did we solicit them to do so. In fact, we contacted them after narrowing the field, and specifically told each one that not only were we not soliciting advertising, but that we would not accept anyone in the review who actually chose to advertise with us. We have chosen to place text ads up for our participants, and in our fitness directory primarily for your convenience in locating them, if one or more their products interests you.
So, with that background, we begin the process of reviewing our candidates. Below is the list of the water filtration systems we will be reviewing:
Biozone Pure Wave Counter Top Water Purifier
AquaPure Counter Top Water Purifier
Living Water Counter Top Water Purifier
AQ-4000 Dual-Filter Drinking Water System
Wellness Kitchen Filter
In addition to these counter top systems, we will also be reviewing the following shower filtration systems:
AquaPure Shower II Water Purifier
Aquasana Shower Filter
Wellness Shower Filter
A few of these systems are still in route to us, and at least one is still waiting approval for participation by the manufacturer, but we will begin our review of the systems that have been received on December 17 or before, so stay tuned!
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