by Siobhan My husband had always been more environmentally minded and health conscious than I was. I used to get annoyed when he wanted me to recycle even small scraps of aluminum foil – I drew the line at plastic bottles. And I tuned out whenever he ranted about the evils of cars. My attitude [...]
Archive for October, 2007
26 Oct
Safer and cheaper window cleaning
I have discussed the hazards of traditional window cleaners before, particularly their use of the ingredient ammonia. So what alternatives do you have? I propose trying a solution of one part distilled white vinegar with five parts water. It cleans windows surprisingly well and since the vinegar is so diluted, the smell is not overwhelming. [...]
23 Oct
To get a flu shot or not
Flu season is almost upon us. It lasts from November through April, with the peak occurring December through March. That means many of us are gearing up to get our flu shots. Usually the flu shot is only recommended for at-risk individuals–the elderly, children ages 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, and those with [...]
20 Oct
The future of energy
This blog is about health. Mostly human health. But the health of the earth affects our health as well. Below is an article, “What Shall We Do?,” written for a local newspaper by my father, an atmospheric scientist for over 30 years. He has worked on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of [...]
18 Oct
What to buy organic
Want to buy organic food but can’t afford to do it all the time? Buy the following produce organic only and you’ll reduce your pesticide exposure by 50%1.
14 Oct
It finally happened to us
I was naive to think that we wouldn’t be affected. But sure enough, it happened to us just last week. I found out that some of the toys we owned had been recalled due to the use of lead-based paint.
12 Oct
Article on BPA
There is an excellent article written just two months ago summarizing the current research on bisphenyl-A (BPA) on the website Environmental Health News. It’s definitely worth checking out. Thanks Tiffany for informing me about the site! http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2007/2007-0803
9 Oct
How to get your kids to eat veggies
This is a great idea from Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica. She was on Oprah yesterday describing how she finally got her three kids to eat their veggies. She matches the color of the veggie to the food she’s preparing, then purees it and sneaks it in. She adds pureed squash to mac n’ cheese, carrots [...]
6 Oct
Chlorine chlorine everywhere
In order to kill any potential contaminants, almost all municipal water is treated with chlorine. It’s important to purify our drinking water, but unfortunately, we shouldn’t be drinking this chlorine either. Chlorine is listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act as a hazardous pollutant1. Exposure to chlorine has been linked to gastrointestinal and urinary-tract cancer2, [...]
3 Oct
Alternatives to BPA-lined cans
If you’re looking for alternatives to foods stored in cans lined with bisphenyl-A (BPA), they are available. Here are some I purchased recently from a local natural foods store–boxed tomatoes, tomato paste in glass jars, and even beans in glass jars. For more info on the risks of BPA, see the Dangers of Plastics post.
