Insecticides and fungicides may be dangerous in different ways. That does not necessarly mean that one is less toxic than the other (in the long run). Some pesticide problems may not show up for many years and in a way unexpected such that that "route" was never tested for. The following recent research scientific paper is just one example of "the unexected/not tested". Title: Combined exposure to endocrine disrupting pesticides impairs parturition, causes pup mortality and affects sexual differentiation in rats Authors: P. R. Jacobsen, S. Christiansen, J. Boberg, C. Nellemann and U. Hass Authors affiliation: Department of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Søborg, Denmark Published in: International Journal of Andrology, volume 33, pages 434��"442, (2010). ABSTRACT: "Risk assessment is currently based on the no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) for single compounds. Humans are exposed to a mixture of chemicals and recent studies in our laboratory have shown that combined exposure to endocrine disrupters can cause adverse effects on male sexual development, even though the doses of the single compounds are below their individual NOAELs for anti-androgenic effects. Consequently, we have initiated a large project where the purpose is to study mixture effects of endocrine disrupting pesticides at low doses. In the initial range-finding mixture studies, rats were gavaged during gestation and lactation with five doses of a mixture of the fungicides procymidone, mancozeb, epoxyconazole, tebuconazole and prochloraz. The mixture ratio was chosen according to the doses of each individual pesticide that produced no observable effects on pregnancy length and pup survival in our laboratory and the dose levels used ranged from 25 to 100% of this mixture. All dose levels caused increased gestation length and dose levels above 25% caused impaired parturition leading to markedly decreased number of live born offspring and high pup perinatal mortality. The sexual differentiation of the pups was affected at 25% and higher as anogenital distance was affected in both male and female offspring at birth and the male offspring exhibited malformations of the genital tubercle, increased nipple retention, and decreased prostate and epididymis weights at pup day 13. The results show that doses of endocrine disrupting pesticides, which appear to induce no effects on gestation length, parturition and pup mortality when judged on their own, induced marked adverse effects on these endpoints in concert with other pesticides. In addition, the sexual differentiation of the offspring was affected. This as well as the predictability of the combination effects based on dose-additivity modelling will be studied further in a large dose-response study." -------------------------------------------- The first part of the INTRODUCTION SECTION of the full paper may be of interest: "Animal laboratory experiments have shown that in utero exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) including some pesticides can cause adverse effects on male reproductive development (Foster, 2006; Gray et al., 2006; Hass et al., 2007; Metzdorff et al., 2007; Christiansen et al., 2008). Individual pesticides alone have so far not been shown to contribute to adverse human effects at relevant exposure levels. However, some studies indicate increased prevalence of cryptorchidism and decreased penile length in sons of women working as gardeners or Many EDCs have been found as mixtures in humans (Blount et al., 2000; Swan et al., 2005), including children (Brock et al., 2002; Swan et al., 2005; Main et al., 2006). Damgaard et al. (2006) observed an association between congenital cryptorchidism and the levels of certain organochlorine pesticides in mothers’ milk (Damgaard et al., 2006). Earlier, Pierik et al. (2004) identified paternal exposures to pesticides and smoking as factors associated with these congenital malformations. These initial observations in epidemiological studies points in the same direction as laboratory experiments with oestrogenic or anti-androgenic chemicals in which substantial mixture effects occurred even though each individual chemical was present at low, ineffective doses (Rajapakse et al., 2002; Silva et al., 2002; Hass et al., 2007; Metzdorff et al., 2007; Christiansen et al., 2008, 2009). Some pesticides such as vinclozolin and procymidone antagonize competitively the androgen receptor (AR) binding of androgens and affect mainly the reproductive development in male offspring (Kelce et al., 1997; Ostby et al., 1999). Other pesticides such as mancozeb and propineb act mainly via disruption of the thyroid hormones and are mainly suspected to disrupt brain development (Hurley, 1998; Hass & Axelstad, Personal Communication). Our detailed research on prochloraz, combined with studies on other azole fungicides such as tebuconazole and epoxyconazole, indicates that these pesticides have the ability to react through several endocrine disrupting mechanisms, and to induce various endocrine disrupting effects (Vinggaard et al., 2005a,b; Taxvig et al., 2007). We have shown that prochloraz induced anti-androgenic effects in rats in vivo in a Hershberger test as well as in a developmental toxicity study (Vinggaard et al., 2002, 2005a). In addition, our studies show that prochloraz increases gestation length and indicate that prochloraz may also affect thyroid hormone levels and cause effects on the sexually dimorphic development of the brain (Vinggaard et al., 2002, 2005a). Both tebuconazole and epoxyconazole increase gestation length and pup mortality and furthermore, these pesticides virilise female pups, and affect steroid hormone levels in foetuses and ⁄ or dams (Taxvig et al., 2007)."

As I matter of fact I do wear jewelry differently at my 2 homes! I can't stand cold metal touching me so I don't wear necklaces in the winter (from Nov to about March) at my regular home. And I wear one particular pair of earring almost all winter because they dangle but not long enough to touch my skin. Some of the longer ones end up touching my neck from my scarves & bulky coat so I avoid those. It's crazy but cold metal just sends a chill right through me and makes me feel colder. Since it's warmer in HHI, I do wear necklaces & earrings and even bracelets. I usually bring a few down with me so that I can have some variety. One necklace at a time, if it's bold than the earrings are smaller. One bracelet at a time and it depends on my sleeve length. In both places, I occasionally wear rings when I remember them. Your comments about gold & blue reminds me that I have an 18k gold ring with a lapis lazuli stone. I should dig that out and start wearing it again.

With so much choice getting the right carpet for the right place in your home or contract location can be an extremely daunting prospect. Luckily for us however, the way carpet is made today means there are very few really poor carpets. Improvements in fibre technology and carpet construction techniques thankfully mean that even the less expensive carpets will wear well if they are put in the right place. Of course, different fibres and constructions will lend a carpet certain properties - wool carpets, polypropylene carpets, nylon carpets or a blend of fibres will each react differently within the same location ��" but this is by no means the end of the story. The length of time a carpet will last depends on several factors and each must be considered at the purchasing stage: the carpet pile itself, the fibre, the weight of the fibre and the density of the pile will all contribute or detract from a carpetâÂÂs suitability for your chosen location. The rule of thumb in selecting a carpet is location, location, location. You will find that it pays dividends to spend slightly more for higher quality carpets for areas of high wear such as hallways and living areas, but you may well be able to save some hard earned cash where those feet arenâÂÂt quite as frequent. All carpets have suggested end use locations, but you should always seek the expert advice of you retailer before making that final decision. You could try us at Quality Carpets Here is a link that might be useful: Quality Carpets

Cotton capris with pockets and a t-shirt. I keep pairs of both on a special hook in the closet that are used only for gardening. Garden gloves in one pocket, a head band and a scarf to wipe the sweat off in another pocket. The more loose fitting they are, the better. I may look like a slob but I'm comfortable. Can't believe I'm admitting this, but they don't always get washed every single time either! the capris that is. In fact there is one particular greenhouse/nursery I really like but I'd say most of the people who shop there come dressed to the nines - no kidding. One time I sheepishly commented to one of the workers that I always felt like I had to dress up to come here, even when I was in the middle of gardening and needed just one more plant to finish for example. She said, "Yeah, well they just pick out the plants, someone else does the planting!" ha ha