Bottled water is not as safe as tap water because water bottled in plastic is allowed to be contaminated by chemicals that cause “reproductive difficulties, liver problems, and cancer.” Marketing hype and inadequate labeling entice consumers to buy bottled water even though it is far more expensive and usually not as healthy as tap water. Bottled […]
What causes swine flu and how can you protect yourself from getting it? The deadly disease has started to emerge in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Hong Kong, worrying public health officials and leading many consumers to wonder how they can stay safe. Here are some suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control to help […]
Dirt doesn’t scare me. In fact, generally speaking, I like dirt. Dirt under my fingernails means I’ve been working in the garden. Dirt on my kids’ faces means they’ve been out having a good time. Dirt on my dog’s nose means she’s been happily digging for her hidden treasure — bones — in the backyard. […]
Dr. Janet Gray, a scientist at Vassar College and director of the school’s Science, Technology and Society program, recently collaborated with the Breast Cancer Fund to issue a report on the dangers women face from environmental factors that cause breast cancer. I interviewed Dr. Gray and reviewed the report; here are the highlights: * Breast […]
This isn’t the kind of “hat trick” anyone would want to boast about. In yet another recall, Mattel today has asked parents to return almost 19 million toys made in China due to safety threats they pose from tiny magnets or lead paint. This action follows the millions of toys Mattel has already recalled […]
I think it’s fair to call the “kid’s toys” situation a crisis. As yesterday’s New York Times reports, “Despite a two-year effort to eliminate the threat of poisonous lead in inexpensive children’s jewelry, hundreds of thousands of tainted items are still being sold across the United States.” Because of this negligence, thousands of children are […]
The announcement on August 2 that Mattel was recalling almost a million toys because they were covered in lead paint has parents seeing red. Just a month ago, I was urging a boycott of Chinese toys based on the lead found in Thomas the Tank Engines. Now we have to scoop up Dora the Explorer […]
If you ever felt headachy, nauseous, or irritated after cleaning your house, chances are it’s not just from doing the work. A report just released by the nonprofit group Womens Voices for the Earth suggests that certain chemicals in some household cleaning products may be hazardous to women’s health. Kids are at risk, too. […]
