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 […]
Archive | Health & Beauty
Should Soap Bubbles Make Your Baby Sick? Tell J&J No!
Nothing should give you greater peace of mind than to give your baby a bath and know she’s come out squeaky clean. But a new report by Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has made me wonder whether that simple bath actually poses a serious risk. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics commissioned an […]
Got Dirt? So What?
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. […]
BPA Banned from Baby Bottles; What About Other Chemicals and Other Products?
Six major U.S. baby products manufacturers agreed to remove the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles, in an agreement reached with the Connecticut Attorney General. Said Environmental Working Group, the non-profit research institute that’s been advocating BPA-free products, “The action represents a critical breakthrough in protecting infants from the hazards of the synthetic estrogen and plastics component, […]
Lipstick Takes a Toxic Turn; Prevention Agenda Needed
Toxic chemicals keep turning up in lipstick. Previously, I reported on dangerous lead levels in lipstick. Now, according to research done in Canada, two other chemicals used in lipstick and other personal care products pose a significant threat to human health. The chemicals, known as D4 and D5 siloxanes, have been linked to uterine tumors and […]
How to Protect Your Family From Bisphenol A
Bisphenol-A, a toxic chemical used to make baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and food and beverage can liners, has been linked to heart disease and diabetes. Even so, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) insists that the chemical is fine for use by infants, children and adults. BPA, an artificial sex hormone, has produced […]
ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP IS TOXIC: Could harm fetus and infants; Pollutes breast milk
Thinking about buying some handy ‘germ fighting’ dish soap or bathroom cleanser? Think again. In all likelihood, those cleaners contain triclosan, a toxic pesticide that’s marketed as an “antibacterial agent” but is powerful enough to threaten children’s health and pollute mothers’ breast milk. According to a study by researchers at the non-profit Environmental Working Group […]
What about Nanoparticles in Sun Screen?
The recent post on sunscreen generated several e-mails that are worth sharing here. One reader worried that many sunscreens rely on nanotechnology, which manipulates particles that are smaller than 100 nanometers (nm); for comparison, a human hair is about 80,000 nm in diameter. Some research indicates that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, which makes it easier […]