The Good Human » toxic

Food Packaging Chemicals tied to kids’ Immune Disorders

david — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:50 +0000

Perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, having already been found to be present in breast milk, are in the hot seat again as a report out of Harvard School of Public Health has linked the chemicals to immune disorders in children, along with making them less likely to respond to routine vaccines. PFCs are found in food packaging, floor cleaners, and non-stick pans, and according to the EPA, are “toxic to laboratory animals, causing reproductive, developmental and other health problems.”

This new study is the first to link the chemical to immune disorders, after it followed 600 children from the Faroe Islands from birth until 7 years old, tracking their blood levels of PFCs along the way. The study’s lead, Dr. Philippe Grandjean, said “I don’t feel comfortable with the compounds for myself and my family and would rather eliminate them.” He also mentioned that parents may want to avoid giving their kids microwave popcorn, as PFCs are often found in the bags.

I have often written about the importance of avoiding toxic chemicals as much as possible, and have even put together a list of the 10 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid when out shopping. These chemicals are found in so many products that it can often be very difficult to avoid them all, but it’s worth the effort to do your best to do so whenever you can. So many diseases, such as cancer, come from exposure to them that your life truly does depend on your cautious vigilance when it comes to the foods and items you buy.

Photo from BigStockPhoto.com

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New 20 Year Ban On Uranium Mining Inside Grand Canyon

david — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:43:26 +0000

Finally, some good news coming out of Washington, D.C. According to the Associated Press, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will be finalizing a 20-year ban on uranium mining today on over 1 million acres of public land near the Grand Canyon. Granted, there are already thousands of mining claims in place around the area, which won’t be affected by this new ruling, but it’s nice to hear about some good news, especially surrounding the amazing Grand Canyon.

Environmental groups call the ban a long-awaited but decisive victory, noting that the Colorado River, which runs through the Grand Canyon, is the source of drinking water for 26 million Americans. “Despite significant pressure from the mining industry, the president and Secretary Salazar did not back down,” said Jane Danowitz, U.S. public lands director for the Pew Environment Group.

The Grand Canyon has been in the news lately, mainly because of a controversial connection between the National Park Service and Coca-Cola. The NPS initially canceled a plan to ban bottled water in the park due to pressure from Coke, but reversed course once they heard an uproar from the general public. It’s looking to be a very good year for the health of our National Parks.

Where To Find Safe and Eco-Friendly Hair Care Products

david — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:00:16 +0000

Q: I always hear about hair products and sprays that claim to be natural and organic based. What are some hair products that can be purchased that are legit and cause no harm to the environment?

Many common hair care products, including shampoos, conditioners and hair sprays, can pose health hazards. Most of the shampoos for sale on supermarket and drugstore shelves use a chemical called sodium laureth sulfate (or one of its derivatives), a foamy de-greaser that can cause follicle, skin and eye irritation, and which has been linked to some cancers when combined with other common shampoo ingredients.

Meanwhile, mass-market conditioners typically rely on so-called quaternary compounds to produce thicker, silkier and tangle-free hair, but these chemicals can also irritate the skin and eyes and likewise have been linked to cancer. As for hair spray and other styling products, most work by coating the hair with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a plastic polymer that has been dissolved in solvents to keep it flexible. Environment Canada, Canada’s counterpart to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, classifies PVP as a medium health priority, although phthalates, triethanolamine, parabens and other hair spray ingredients may be more harmful, having been linked to respiratory, immune and endocrine problems as well as cancer.

Luckily for those who spend a lot of time and money getting their hair to look, smell and feel just right, a wide range of greener, healthier hair care products has emerged in recent years. Aveda has been a pioneer in the industry ever since Horst Rechelbacher launched the company in 1978 after visiting India and witnessing the healing powers of Hindu medicine and aroma. Today the company offers seven hair product lines tailored to different hair types, with the majority of the ingredients derived from plants, non-petroleum minerals or other natural sources. Furthermore, upwards of 89 percent of the essential oils and raw herbal ingredients Aveda uses in its hair cars products are sourced from certified organic producers.

There are hundreds of other companies, too, that sell natural hair products. A great place to look is at the GoodGuide, a website that rates 145,000 foods, toys, personal care and household products according to health, environmental and social responsibility standards. Top-rated shampoos listed there include Burt’s Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar, Aura Cacia Kids Shampoo and Aubrey Organics Men’s Stock Ginseng Biotin Shampoo. GoodGuide’s top performing conditioners include Dr. Bronner’s Hair Conditioning Rinse, Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Leaf Oil, KMS Haircare Liquid Assets and Nurture My Body Conditioner. As for styling, GoodGuide likes any of the varieties of Dr. Bronner’s Hair Conditioner and Style Cream as well as L’Oreal’s Elnett Extra Strong Hold.

Another source for credible hair care products recommendations is the Guide to Less Toxic Products, a free online resource produced by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia. The guide lists 25 shampoos, 22 conditioners and 18 hair styling products that meet its stringent ingredient standards. Also check out the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database, which provides detailed ingredient information and safety assessments for 70,000 personal care products, including hundreds of shampoos, conditioners and hair styling formulations.

CONTACTS: Aveda; Good Guide; Guide to Less Toxic Products; Skin Deep.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E – The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Monsanto Named Worst Company of 2011

david — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:11:30 +0000

And you guys thought I just had a personal vendetta! Monsanto, a biotech giant well known for creating GMO foods and crops, has been given the Worst Company of 2011 Award, by readers of NaturalSociety. I personally would have named them Worst Company of the Decade, but I won’t complain about this award since I believe it is so fitting.

From the release:

Numerous scientific studies have found Monsanto’s GMO crops, herbicides, and biopesticides to be a danger to the planet. A review of 19 studies announced that consumption of GMO corn or soybeans may lead to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice – particularly in the liver and kidneys. The researchers also mentioned that GMO soybean and corn varieties contribute to “83% of the commercialized GMOs” that you may currently be consuming if you purchase conventional produce. Monsanto’s best-selling herbicide Roundup has also been found to create superweeds that are heavily resistant to herbicides, which are estimated to now consume over 120 million hectares worldwide.

The award is intended to bring awareness to these environmental issues, which are continually being recognized by nations worldwide. Hungary, Peru, and France are among the countries who have spoken out against Monsanto and GMO crops alike. Hungary recently destroyed 1,000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds, according to Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar. Peru has also instituted a 10-year ban on genetically modified ingredients, after a recent test conducted by the Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users (ASPEC) found that 77 percent of supermarket products tested contained GM contaminants.

I have been railing for years against the company, including outing Monsanto’s million dollar contributions to The Nature Conservancy, their partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, and their membership in The Sustainability Consortium. How a company hell-bent on destroying our food supply with genetically-modified seeds is allowed to partner with environmental groups is beyond me, but I guess they all need dirty money more than they need principles.

Congratulations Monsanto, for finally earning an award you truly deserve more than all others – Worst Company of 2011.