This page will archive all the problematic products covered in the home page for reference.
Dec, 2007		Distilled or low-mineral water hinders mineral absorption, upsets the water metabolism and harms the vital organs According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), demineralised water is harmful to the body in many aspects. It reduces the water content inside body cells, and increases the excretion of water and minerals through urine. It also upsets the balance of sodium and chloride ions, and hampers the proper functions of cell membranes, many body enzymes and hormones. There is zero or low intake of calcium, magnesium and essential microelements from demineralised water. Consumers may suffer from tiredness, weakness, headache, muscular cramps and impaired heart rate. In severe cases, brain oedema, convulsions and metabolic acidosis may occur.
May, 2007		Caffeine causes long-lasting stress, anxiety, headache, sleep disturbance etc. Caffeine is the most widely abused drug worldwide. It can be found in coffee, tea, chocolate and many soft drinks. Despite its highly addictive nature, caffeine is completely unregulated. Manufacturers are enthusiastic in launching caffeinated food and drinks, which generate a secure revenue stream once the consumers get hooked. Children and women are particularly vulnerable to caffeine because of their more limited capability to detoxify it. Recent studies found that caffeine increases stress levels that last throughout the day.
Feb, 2007		Smoking not only kills, but also makes you blind Almost everybody knows that smoking has killed a lot of people through lung cancer, heart diseases and stroke. But many smokers quit the habit only after they were told smoking would turn people blind. In a European Eye Study on 5,000 patients, 27% of them had eye disease directly attributed to smoking. Smokers have 2 to 3 times the risks of developing age-related blindness called macular degeneration. Passive smoking can also result in eye diseases.
Jan, 2007		Fashionable ladies shoes with heels and cramped toe space hurt the knee, feet and back A skewed sense of beauty in modern culture has put women into shoes that hurt. Studies found that even wide-based shoes with medium heels of 1.5 inch high could result in painful knee osteoarthritis, with worn down knee cartilage and loss of mobility. High heels are also linked to shoulder & lower back pain. Pointy shoes with cramped toe space lead to bunions, hammer toes, corns & callus, joint pain, tight heel cords and stress fractures of bones.
Nov, 2006		Mobile phone affects brain's functions and increases brain tumour risks Two Swedish studies found that prolonged cell phone usage was linked to higher brain tumour risks. Heavy users had more than twice the risk of brain tumours and 4 times on that side using mobile phones. An Australian research showed that radiation from mobile phone affected the brain’s functions and slowed response time. Keeping the mobile phone slightly away from the head reduces the exposure to radiation significantly. Young kids should not use mobile phone.
Sept, 2006		Disposable nappy causes male infertility and testicular cancer A German research in 2000 found that the plastic lining of disposal nappy (diaper) increased the scrotal temperature of baby boys by 1 °C, or more if they had a fever. This would have negative effects on testicular maturation and the formation of sperms in adulthood, leading to male infertility. High scrotal temperature may also facilitate the development of testicular cancer.
July, 2006		Hair dye increases the risk of cancer Beautiful artificial hair colour comes at a cost. A European study published in July 2006 shows that using hair dye may increase the risk of lymphoma, a type of cancer. Chemicals in hair dye can damage the body’s genetic materials. Hair dye was also found to be related to bladder cancer, arthritis and damage to unborn children. In May, 2007, a woman in Hong Kong who dyed her hair once every 3 months in the past 15 years was diagnosed with cancer.
Mar, 2006		Cancer-causing nonstick cookware, grease-resistant food wrap, stain-resistant carpet, as well as breathable & waterproof clothings While using these products brings you much convenience in daily life, a chemical (PFOA) used in making them is a likely carcinogen. It is accumulated in our body and our environment for a time longer than we want. It also pollutes the drinking water, and caused developmental and other adverse effects in laboratory animals.
Jan, 2006		Filter-based Vacuum Cleaners Disperse Dust, Mould & Bacteria Filter-based vacuum cleaners suck up the dust from the floor and blow it out through the pores of the bag or filter, forming the mote seen in a ray of sunlight. This causes health hazard to the cleaner as well as other people moving around the house. Click here to know more about the problems of leakage, clogging and bad odour of filter-based vacuum cleaners.