Cellphone Radiation

I am very grateful to the Environmental Working Group  for their ongoing research into the safety of consumer products. Here is the latest cellphone radiation figures. On this page you can read their tips for safety as well as read  documentation papers. EWG’s comprehensive, 10-month science evaluation of the hazards of cell phone radiation includes data from more than 200 peer-reviewed studies, government advisories, and industry documents, to provide you with the latest information on cell phone safety. You can enter in the name of your phone and see its rating.

Here is the best and worst as rated by the EWG:

I definitely feel spacey and unfocussed after using my  iPhone for long periods, although I use a headset which doesn’t totally elimiate but somewhat limits my EMF exposure. I definitely feel it when in NYC among the vast numbers of cellphone users. I am interested in your experiences with cellphones. Do you have headaches, dizziness or confusion?

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Say NO to Oxybenzone in Your Sunscreen

It is time to say goodbye to some of your old stand by sunscreens if you are avoiding putting toxins consciously into your body.

I so appreciate the research and commitment of EWG (Environmental Working Group). Here is something to think about since it is summer and it’s time to consider protecting ourselves from sun burn. You might want to read this article about the body burden Americans have created from wearing sunscreens with oxybenzone. As I have posted before, there are many ways to protect from too much sun, from SPF clothing and hats, to safer sunscreens. I have been the sunscreen police with my kids for years. Interestingly enough, none of them have listened to me. I guess I’m glad about it.

The EWG report cites 2 studies linking cell damage and  free radical formation from sunlight causing oxybenzone to form free radical chemicals. A CDC study indicated that oxybenzone absorbs through the skin in significant amounts and another study showing that 96% of 6-8 year old girls had detectable amounts of the chemical in their urine.  

Since oxybenzone was last tested in the ’70’s it is a very outdated sun protector. I would consider reading all your sunscreens and getting rid of the offenders.

And from the EWG’s comments on the FDA’s proposed amendment on final Monograph, from back in 2007:

“EWG’s research shows that FDA’s finalization of a strong monograph is critical. We found that some sunscreens on the U.S. market:

• offer inadequate protection from the sun;
• may be less safe and effective than products offered in other countries;
• are labeled with misleading product claims;
• contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.

Specifically, our research indicates that 83% of 868 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. We found that only 17% of the products on the market are both safe and effective, blocking both UVA and UVB radiation, remaining stable in sunlight, and containing few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards.”

You can check the safety of your cosmetics and sunscreens at EWG’s site.

 

 

Dr Hauschka Disappoints

I am very interested in using simple, clean and non-toxic skin care products. I am getting very close to cooking up my own. Using Environmental Working Group’s safecosmetics.com I have found that many of my favored organic companies aren’t as squeaky clean as I require. Check out your brands, and if they don’t feature yours you can just enter in the ingredients and see the ratings for each one on a scale of 1-8, 8 being hazardous to our health.

Here is an example of Hauschka’s Hand Cream (I loved that hand cream, especially the little samples, so easy to travel with…)

Okay, so what to do. There are other brands to choose from. What I am using now is Nikken’s True Elements. It is largely organic, certified by Ecocert. Ecocert is an independent organization that conducts inspections and certifications to insure organic integrity. They are a European company accredited by many groups including USDA for NOP Certification.

All True Elements products are made from the flowers, vines and herbs that grow in the Valaisan Mountains of the Swiss Alps. Subjected to extremes of temperature and humidity over the course of centuries, these rare plant strains have developed an unusual resistance to the effects of environmental stress. Sounds good to me. Using Safecosmetics site we found most of the ingredients to score 0 which is the best! and there were a few 1’s and 2’s mostly ingredients at the end of the list- which means there isn’t much o it in there!

If you want to order some, write a comment and I will offer it to you wholesale!

More – Eat Your Vegetables

This just in from EWG.org- EnvironmentalWorkingGroup‘s 5th Edition of The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, including government data. In this edition you will again find fruits and veggies with the highest and least pesticides.  You will be able to make informed choices about which conventionally grown veggies are the cleanest and when to stick with organically grown. What a wonderful service this group performs for us! You can download and print the wallet size guide. Or read the full list– top of the list for pesticide load is PEACHES! So, only organic. Bottom of the list is ONIONS- never found a bug on an onion, they must not taste good to bugs so they don’t spray them much?

 

“Every year, new research is published demonstrating the toxicity of pesticides to human health and the environment, often at doses previously declared “safe” by the pesticide industry and the government.

As acknowledged by the U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked with a variety of toxic effects, including:

• Nervous system effects
• Carcinogenic effects
• Hormone system effects
• Skin, eye and lung irritation”

The site is a great resource. 

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk?

EWG believes that  “people have a right to know what’s in their food, so they can choose foods with less pesticides.The government can and should take steps to dramatically reduce the number and amount of toxic chemicals, including pesticides, in the food supply.”

We can choose to purchase produce low in pesticides and favor organically-raised fruits and vegetables to support our families’ health and in particular protect our children the environment.