Canary Islands In The Mines

 Canary Islands in the mines

In the old days of mining, there were no such things as electronic detectors for the dangerous gases that seeped from the ground into the air inside the mines. Instead, miners used canaries that they kept close together in cages to warn them when the air became dangerously toxic. When the canaries inhaled the toxic fumes, the miners took it as a warning to get out of the mine before the deadly fumes caught up with them too. Why canaries? Because their bodies are so small that only a tiny amount of toxic gases can kill them. Children and pets are our "canaries in the mines" today. Because their bodies are much smaller than those of adults, they are more susceptible to toxins in their world. They are often a warning system that their environment is toxic for them... and for you too. When I was a kid, it was only kids who had allergies to toxins in their world. As children's bodies grew to adult sizes, they were able to handle more chemicals. This led to the belief that only children had allergies and that they magically grew out of them. Nowadays, the use of chemicals has increased so dramatically that even adults now suffer from a wide variety of allergies. Today, toxins are commonly found in and around every household. The most commonly used products that contain harmful and dangerous chemicals in the home are dryer sheets, household cleaners, and anything with an artificial fragrance. Outside the home, the use of chemical herbicides (RoundUp), pesticides, and fertilizers is common in most yards. Allergies are difficult to determine. For example, a person who has been allergy tested and found to be allergic to weed may be allergic to the chemicals in the weed. Mowing your lawn releases microscopic pieces of grass into the air with all those chemicals waiting to be inhaled by anyone nearby. There are alternatives to all the chemicals used in and around the home. For example, here is a recipe for a non-toxic weed killer that works just as well as the very dangerous RoundUp: 1 qt. white vinegar 1/4 cup salt 1 a teaspoon of liquid dish soap Spray on weeds. For maximum benefit, sunny, hot days are best.