Skin Deep – A Simple Smooch or a Toxic Smack?

By ABBY ELLIN – From the NY Times

Published: May 27, 2009

THE debate seems to resurface every few years. Do some lipsticks contain lead? If so, is the amount so negligible that consumers have nothing to be concerned about? Or will all those years of applying lipstick several times a day add up to a worrisome accumulation of a dangerous substance?

On one side are advocacy groups and doctors who insist that, over time, those who wear lipstick containing lead are at risk of absorbing high levels of a neurotoxin that may cause behavioral, learning and other problems. On the other side are the Food and Drug Administration and outside experts who say that any traces of lead that do exist are too minute to cause harm.

To read further:

via Skin Deep – A Simple Smooch or a Toxic Smack? – NYTimes.com.

Lipstick Chemicals Declared Toxic by Canadian Gov’t – EWG

WASHINGTON, January 30, 2009. ­ While it’s common to see lipstick sales jump during an economic recession, the current global financial crisis may not produce the same result in Canada where the government today declared two chemicals used in lipstick and other personal care products to be toxic.

The move by Canada signals that the government has serious concerns about the hazards of the chemicals, which persist in the environment and accumulate in the food chain. Canada will prioritize the chemicals, known as D4 and D5 siloxanes, for action under the government’s Chemicals Management Plan to ensure that exposures are safe for people and the environment.

To read further:

EWG: Lipstick Chemicals Declared Toxic by Canadian Gov’t | Environmental Working Group.

Hot Shoes & Cosabella From Nimli!

Nimli is an environmentally mindful retailer based in New York City. They require their manufacturers to ship directly to customers – this results in a significant carbon footprint reduction, eliminating unnecessary steps of shipping and warehousing.

Each of their products are displayed with icons that inform shoppers about them manufacturing, from made in the USA to vegan and recycled.

You’ll end up knowing more about what you are buying and how it’s coming to you.

Check out these fabulous Vegan Sandals from Neuaura – $129

And

Cosabella Bamboo – Sustainable & Organic – Starting at $20, Camisole shown $84.

All I can say – Fabulous!

www.nimli.com

Best Brands for Safer Beauty & Personal Care Products

Coming Soon!

Hormone experts worried about plastics

More on the BPA Discussion:

Hormone experts worried about plastics, chemicals – Yahoo! News.

Diva Guide to understanding the plastic numbering system and safely choosing your platics.

Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet – American Lung Association site

Air pollution contributes to lung disease, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and lung cancer. Lung disease claims close to 335,000 lives in America every year and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Over the last decade, the death rate for lung disease has risen faster than for almost any other major disease.

Healthy Air from the American Lung Association.

The safest way to use plastics: Simple Solutions

By Tania Reuben

Presuming – We’re trying to use less plastic in our daily lives.

Presuming – We’ve eliminated the plastics that are known to be a higher toxicity risk.

Use the following tips to minimize your family’s exposure to plastic toxins:

- Do not use plastics in the microwave – including cling wrap.

- Avoid using plastics with oily food – toxicity leaching increases with contact to oily foods.

- Avoid the dishwasher, especially with plastics that are used for food storage – heat and some detergents cause the plastic to break down. Increasing the leaching of possible toxins.

- Avoid using plastics for warm foods or beverages – leaching is increased with heat.

- Avoid cling wrap – use paper, wax paper or use the Diva Solutions: Paperless “Paper” Towel System. Many cling wraps contain harmful pvc’s that will leach into food.

- When serving food on plastic dishes – think young children – transfer the food for storage. Typically plastic dinnerware is not storage grade.

- Discard plastics that are scratched and worn.

- Don’t drink your water out of plastic bottles.

- Use extra precautions with all baby products – coming soon – plastics and your baby.

- Choose “green” or bio based plastics. You can now find bio based disposable dinnerware and cutlery (I’ve even seen them at Smart & Final)- as an added bonus these products are also compostable.

Finally – once again – use less plastic!

Check out the Diva Guide – Use Less Plastic in Your Home.

Antibacterial Products – Are they really a good idea?

When selecting products – antibacterial is better, right?

In fact there is great concern that their use may pose potential risks in the arena of antibiotic resistance.  So – if it’s not better than soap and water – choose products without the anti-bacterial.

“The finding was praised by physicians who have long expressed concerns that the use of antibacterial soaps and lotions by consumers may be doing more harm than good. For example, the American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs published a report in the August 2002 Archives of Dermatology that it was prudent to avoid these products since evidence on their efficacy was lacking and the issue of antibiotic resistance is so critical.”

For the full story from the AMA.

Another perspective.

And this discussion hasn’t even addressed the use of Tricolosan in antibacterial products.

There are some alternatives – when hand washing just can’t be done. Products like Clean Well, that are plant based natural formulations.

Understanding the Plastic Numbering System & Choosing Safely: Diva Guide:

By Tania Reuben

The first step towards safer plastics: Eliminate them wherever you can.

This is can be hard, so small changes, one step at a time. Check Out – Diva Guide: Use Less Plastic in Your Home.

Like it or not – plastics are a big part of our lives. How can we navigate their use in the safest manner possible.

Learn to “read” your plastics. Look on the plastic for the little triangle – inside that triange you will see a number.

Avoid plastics numbered: 3 & 6

Know your polycarbonates or number 7 plastics- when in doubt skip it:
The 7 category is the one that all the BPA fuss is about.

There are safe 7′s – they will be labeled “PLA” or “compostable”. In learning more about the number system I was surprised to find that my “tried and true”, nice quality rubbermaid containters are all 3′s – and therefore unsafe!

So now that you know how to pick your plastic – learn the safest way to use them. The manufacturing of plastics involves a variety of petroleum based chemicals. The primary concern with plastics is leaching of toxins into our food and beverages. This risk is increases with heat.

All of the above information does not mean that the number 1,2 & 4 plastics are completely safe. They are manufactured using petroleum products and limiting their use is likely a good idea… which brings us back to the beginning. Eliminate plastic wherever possible!

Starbucks – revamping food offerings. Eliminating HFCS from baked goods.

With the demand for healthier food options on the rise, Starbucks is changing 90% of their menu

Key points:

-They are eliminating HFCS in their baked goods.

-Preservatives removed wherever possible.

-Salads will be introduced.

Note – I’m guessing that all those yummy coffee syrups are full of HFCS – but couldn’t confirm on their website.

When you head out to try some new nibbles don’t forget to bring your own mug!

To read the full story…

Starbucks raises quality of food, not prices | MNN – Mother Nature Network.

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