Trying to make choices each day that are beneficial for both the environment and personal health can be overwhelming.

But making incremental changes in daily living can have an impact on both, according to the message delivered at an Aug. 4 workshop in Ohio Township Municipal Park.

"We don't expect you to throw away all of your cleaning supplies or your cosmetics. But you can start by making small changes," said Sarah Alessio Shea, environmental education coordinator for the Pennsylvania Resources Council.

The council, a citizen action group that works on behalf of the environment, sponsored the workshop in partnership with University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's Center for Environmental Oncology.

Ms. Shea ran through a list of common household products found under most sinks that can affect the environment and also have an impact on health.

"We are never going to eliminate all of them," she said. "There are a lot of chemicals out there, and they aren't all bad. But little changes can reduce harmful products."

Among the "red flag" ingredients on her list that can be found in cleaning supplies and other household products and that have been found to present environmental or health hazards were chlorine bleach; phthalates, often found in fragrances; sodium lauryl sulfate; DEA, or diethanolamine; parabens; glycol ethers; and triclosan.

She emphasized awareness.

"Know what chemicals are dangerous and potentially hazardous, and read labels," she urged.

Tracy Cassidy of Ohio Township has two young children. She said their health was the primary reason she attended the workshop.

"I lived in Berkeley [Calif.] for a while, and everyone there was more aware of the environment," she said. "And now that I have children, I am concerned about everything that they take into their bodies."

Ms. Shea recommended making changes in three key areas: Eating, cleaning and waste disposal habits.

Buying organic and local foods is an easy step, she said.

She advised avoiding cookware coated with a nonstick cooing surface.

"I would switch to stainless or cast iron. I know it is harder to clean, but when you scratch your [nonstick cookware], it becomes dangerous," she said.

Ms. Shea discussed what types of labels to look for and which can be misleading. "Just because something says it is green doesn't mean it is chemical-free or safe," she said.

Personal care products, including cosmetics, entered the spotlight recently with the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, which was introduced in Congress on July 20. Ms. Shea encouraged those concerned about the pending legislation to contact their representatives, but her main focus was on education.

"Look for the ingredients that we know can be carcinogens," she said.

Rita Ciccariello of Hampton has helped to organize the Recycle Rama held at Hampton High School for the past two years and wanted to learn more about healthier cleaning methods.

"I want to change my cleaning habits. I know that a lot of these chemicals shouldn't be going down our drains, but I want to know what else to use," she said.

"Everything that we use goes somewhere," Ms. Shea said. "It goes down our drains, into our soil and into our waterways."

In addition to cleaning supplies, medicines and other products also present a disposal problem.

"You shouldn't just flush drugs anymore," Ms. Shea said. "You have to be aware of how you dispose of things."

Workshop participants received literature listing several websites to visit for more information and mini-cleaning kits for use around the home.

"There are lots of recipes available [for cleaning products], and you can use simple products that our grandmothers used," Ms. Shea said, pointing to the baking soda, vinegar and commercial Borax in the bags. "You can find all sorts of recipes on the Internet for cleaning alternatives."

Ms. Shea said the program originally was designed for students in middle and high school.

"We put a lot of emphasis on personal care products, including cosmetics, and on cell phones," she said. The program was expanded for the general public earlier this year, with more emphasis on household products.

The partnership works well for the Pennsylvania Resources Council and the University of Pittsburgh.

"The university provides the research and a lot of the data, and then we provide the education to the public," Ms. Shea said.

For information about programs through the Pennsylvania Resources Council Inc.: www.prc.org. For information about the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's Center for Environmental Oncology: www.environmentaloncology.org.

Sarah Alessio Shea, environmental education coordinator for the Pennsylvania Resources Council, provided several websites that offer information about safe cleaning, food and personal care products.

• Pennsylvania Resources Council Inc. -- www.prc.org

• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute's Center for Environmental Oncology -- www.enviromentaloncology.org

• Southwestern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force -- www.swpahhw.org

• Care 2 Make a Difference -- www.care2.com

• Safe Cosmetics www.safecosmetics.org and www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

• The Green Guide for Everyday Living -- www.thegreenguide.com

Uses for Borax cleaner: www.20muleteamlaundry.com/about

-- Kathleen Ganster

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