If the ingredient list on your skin care product includes the words methylparaben, propylparaben, or butylparaben, it’s time for you to switch to a safer, less toxic product. Back in 2007 I wrote a post titled What Are Parabens And Why Should You Avoid Them and the reasons I listed back then still apply today. [...]
Our homes are full of all sorts of toxic chemicals, whether they be from carpeting, insulation, various fabrics, laminate floors and countertops, or just toxic cleaning supplies. And while we can do our best to safeguard our air (and thus our health) against these toxins, sometimes good ole’ Mother Nature has the best defense against [...]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has just released their 12th Report on Carcinogens, a congressionally-mandated public health document that identifies substances in our environment that may put people at an increased risk for cancer. It is prepared by the National Toxicology Program each year, and this year 8 substances were added to [...]
Q: Can you explain the 2010 Safe Cosmetics Act? What does it purport to do and has it been signed into law? The Safe Cosmetics Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2010 by Democrats Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. But it never [...]
By now, you’ve probably heard about all the dangers of indoor air pollution. Within the closed doors and windows of our homes, the fumes from paint and cleaners, dust and a myriad of other factors all contribute to a problem that is five to ten times worse than even outside city air. Interior house paints [...]
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest research on the question of whether cell phone use causes cancer? Cell phones have only been in widespread use for a couple of decades, which is far too short a time for us to know conclusively whether or not using them could cause cancer. Research thus far appears to indicate [...]
Dear EarthTalk: Are silver dental fillings, which contain mercury, toxic? Despite their name, “silver” fillings are actually composed of about 50 percent mercury and 30 percent silver, with the remaining components divided among copper, tin, zinc and sometimes cadmium. Dozens of Americans have complained that the fillings have damaged their health through mercury poisoning, from [...]
