Hi, my name is Catherine; I was born on the beautiful green island of Ireland. I completed my education in Ireland and came to the bright city lights of New York City where I had a very successful career in the fashion industry.
One day I realized I did not feel well just walking into your average supermarket and that I became nauseous walking down the laundry products aisle. I felt ill walking into big box hardware stores and being in new construction. I listened to my body and researched what was going on with me. I began to realize that my body had become overloaded with emissions from toxic products.
It all came to a head; when at the age of 45 I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. My first diagnoses did not scare me into doing anything different but my second diagnoses was so severe that I knew I had to do something to help me live, help me live longer and live in a healthier environment. By the time I had my second diagnosis I knew based on the research I had done that when I stayed away from toxic products I felt so much healthier and vibrant. I looked around and asked myself: “Where do I spend most of my time? What toxins are in our homes? What toxins are we unknowingly bringing into our homes?" On average we spend one-third of our lives in our bedrooms. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports on www.epa.gov, that indoor level of pollutants may be 2 to 5 times – and occasionally more than 100 times – higher than outdoor pollutant levels. Indoor air pollutants have been ranked among the top five environmental risks to public health. The EPA lists cancer as one of the environmental risks as well as respiratory disease and heart disease. Most of us are concerned about our homes being robbed or that we might be mugged or murdered but we are slowly poisoning ourselves tucked away in the security of our homes, our sanctuaries and destroying the earth we live on.
Knowledge is power and education is the key to knowledge. The power of information, which allows us to know what we are surrounding ourselves with and knowing the solutions that exist to reduce our exposure to toxins and improve our overall health. We live in a landscape of toxic products. Why is it normal to have toxins all around us, in our furniture, fabrics, flooring, paint, walls and ceilings? Why is that normal? And what are the toxic chemicals we breathe in everyday doing to our health? I believe we all can live in a healthy, beautiful, less toxic environment. I used all the information and education I found to arm myself with the knowledge on less toxic and more sustainable products for our homes. The toxins we breathe in everyday are preventable. There are healthier products on the market. Every one of our individual efforts makes a difference to clean up the toxicity that is being emitted into the air we breathe. The good news is indoor air pollution is one risk that we can do something about and we all should care because we do not know how much damage these toxins are doing to us.
I got inspired to start a resource image directory of Green products and Green professionals because I was looking for less toxic products for my home and found there was no directory, no common place, no easy place to find builders, painters, interior designers, architects and products.
We all have a part in the overall health of our personal, professional and global environment and we can take small steps like using Zero VOC paint, buying furniture, mattress and fabrics that have low or no toxins. If you are building a new home or renovating, contact an architect and or builder who has expertise in less toxic and more sustainable products.
I want to make a difference; I care and believe that we all can live in a healthier environment. This is so incredibly important for us and for generations to come.
To Your Health,
Catherine O’T
