This is what my congresswoman wrote in response to the letter I sent her:
Thank you for contacting me about your concern with the regulation of toxic chemicals. I appreciate the opportunity to learn your views and share mine.
I am concerned with the number of chemicals used in commerce today without sufficient toxicity testing. The Centers for Disease Control has found evidence of exposure to many chemicals in the bodies of American adults and children, some of which do not have any toxicity data. Of these, it is impossible to know which are safe or which are associated with adverse health conditions. Read more »
Filed under: Chemicals on February 6th, 2010 | No Comments »
I love samosas, and here’s an easy way to make them for dinner for your entire family. This recipe is vegan and freezes well.
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (whole-wheat pastry if you have it)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 Tbs. canola oil
Filling:
- 1 Tbs. black or yellow mustard seeds
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 5 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered (1 1/4 lb.)
- 1 1/2 tsp. canola oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tsp. agave nectar or sugar
- 2 Tbs. soymilk
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Filed under: Recipe, Vegetarian/Vegan on February 4th, 2010 | No Comments »
I’m so proud of my husband. Two years ago, around Earth Day 2008, he bought a bike and started biking to work. We live about 7 miles from his job and at first, the ride was challenging, but now it’s much easier for him. When the weather is good, he bikes 4 days/week (he works from home on one). In the winter, he typically bikes 1-3 days and takes the bus on the others. He lost about 10 lbs when he started biking to work and has kept it off since.
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Filed under: Environment, Exercise on February 1st, 2010 | No Comments »
ALL of the lipsticks the FDA tested in the summer of 2009 contained lead. 100%. But the FDA says there’s no reason to be concerned. The upper safety limit for lead in candy set by the FDA is 0.1 ppm. They found lead in lipstick at levels of 0.09 ppm to 3.06 ppm. Apparently because lipstick is not meant to be ingested, this is okay. But of course you ingest some of what goes on your lips. See the report for yourself.
Filed under: Lead, Personal Care Products on January 29th, 2010 | No Comments »
I was encouraged by the book The Body Toxic to write my representatives in government regarding my concerns about the lack of chemical regulation. It took me less than an hour to craft my letter and send it. All my senators and congresswomen have websites that make sending communications a piece of cake. If you’re passionate about an issue like this one, I encourage you to do the same. Here is my letter:
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Filed under: Chemicals on January 27th, 2010 | 1 Comment »
On January 14, 2010, Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, sent the following letter to the FDA commisioner:
Dear Madam Commissioner,
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to issue its final decision on whether bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical and synthetic estrogen, should be used in food packaging. As even the chemical industry has acknowledged, BPA leaches into foods and beverages from polycarbonate plastic containers and epoxy-based metal food can linings.
As authoritative studies by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have demonstrated, nearly all Americans test positive for traces of BPA. Environmental Working Group’s most recent study of cord blood found BPA in 9 of 10 samples taken from children born in 2007 and 2008.
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Filed under: BPA on January 24th, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Monsanto, the creator of genetically modified corn seed, released raw data recently after a legal challenge from Greenpeace, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, and French anti-GM campaigners. Scientists examining the raw data found that rats which ate the GM corn had “statistically significant signs of liver and kidney damage.” Each of the three strains tested were linked to unusual concentrations of hormones in the rats fed the GM corn for only 3 months, compared to controls. Females rats also had higher blood sugar levels and triglycerides. This leads me to two questions… Read more »
Filed under: Genetic Modification on January 22nd, 2010 | No Comments »
A year and a half ago, I tried to stop using antiperspirant. For about 3 months, I used a natural deodorant made with baking soda. Unfortunately, I developed some sort of allergic reaction to what I thought was the deodorant and stopped using it. However, I eventually discovered that my allergy was actually to the soap I was using while shaving, not the deodorant.
For over a year, I continued to use antiperspirant, although I used it much less frequently, didn’t apply it immediately after shaving (when skin is raw and more likely to absorb chemicals), and used a deodorant that contained only 16% aluminum (my former brand was 25% I believe). Now that I am expecting again, I’m thinking more and more about all the aluminum and parabens and phthalates in my deodorant that are no doubt being absorbed into my body and possibly concentrating in my breasts. I don’t want to breastfeed my child while using a product with so many nasty chemicals and ingredients that I have otherwise eliminated from my home.
So about a month ago, I resolved to try natural deodorant again. I am using a brand called Lafes. I found it at the natural grocery store, but it looks like you can buy it online as well. Over 70% of the ingredients are organic, and it uses natural salts and essential oils to control bacteria. I also appreciate that there are no synthetic ingredients in the deodorant. Granted it is winter, but I feel like so far I’m happy with the switch. I definitely sweat now, but I don’t find that I smell. I still have antiperspirant in my bathroom, but I’m really happy not to be using it for the time being.
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Filed under: Personal Care Products on January 19th, 2010 | No Comments »
HealthyChild.org is a great online resource for parents. It’s the website for an organization called Healthy Child, Healthy World and on it you can find great information about creating a greener, safer home and environment for your child. In 2008, the CEO and executive director of the nonprofit wrote a book: Healthy Child, Healthy World. This is one of the more thorough, better written books on the subject. A nice added feature is excerpts from various parents and celebrities (Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tobey Maguire, etc.) about their experiences with living green. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a way to reduce the chemicals in your home and the toxins that your child is exposed to. One chapter each is dedicated to pregnancy, cleaning supplies, food, body care, children’s toys and gear, yards, water and air, pets, and home improvement. I found that while many topics were covered, they weren’t always in the depth I would have liked, but this is a great starter book for the average parent fairly new to the subject. Read more »
Filed under: Book recommendation, Chemicals, Children on January 16th, 2010 | No Comments »
Indoor air quality is often 2-5 times worse than outdoor air. One of the best ways to keep your indoor air clean is to open your windows when possible. But in the cool winter, you can also use plants to freshen indoor air. Some plants have been found to purify the air of contaminants like formaldehyde.
For cleaner indoor air, NASA research has found that an 1800 square-foot house should have 15-18 of the following plants in six to either inch diameter containers:
- English Ivy
- Spider Plant
- Golden pothos or Devil’s Ivy
- Peace lily
- Chinese evergreen
- Bamboo palm or Reed palm
- Snake plant or Mother-in-law’s tongue
- Heartleaf philodendron
- Selloum philodendron
- Elephant ear philodendron
- Red-edged dracaena
- Cornstalk dracaena
- Janet Craig dracaena
- Warneck dracaena
- Weeping fig
- Gerbera daisy or Barberton daisy
- Pot mom or Florist’s chrysanthemum
- Rubber plant
My 2500 sqaure foot home has one peace lily, four spider plants, and six pothos plants for a total of 11 air cleaning plants. Looks like I need to double that.
For more, see my post on Cleaner Indoor Air.
Filed under: Air quality on January 13th, 2010 | 2 Comments »