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 [...]
Archive for January, 2010
27 Jan
Write your representatives
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 [...]
24 Jan
BPA update–finally some good news!
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 [...]
22 Jan
GM corn may cause liver and kidney damage
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 [...]
19 Jan
Trying natural deodorant again
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 [...]
16 Jan
Healthy Child, Healthy World
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. [...]
13 Jan
Plants that clean the air
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 [...]
11 Jan
Cadmium replaces lead in some jewelry
Jewelry purchased at Walmart and Clare’s in November and December of 2009 tested positive for cadmium. In fact, as much as 91% of the weight of the charms tested were cadmium. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that manufacturers in China are using in place of lead. Zinc would be a much safer alternative. For [...]
9 Jan
Deca flame retardant to be phased out in 3 years
On December 15, 2009, legislation to phase out the fire retardant named Decabromodiphenylether (or Deca for short) was introduced in the House of Representatives by Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). This Decabrominated Elimination and Control Act would ban Deca in all products by the end of 2013. Two days later, three large chemical companies (Chemtura, Albermarle, and [...]
6 Jan
Veggie Tamale Pie
This dish is a big hit with the kids, super helathy, and freezes well. What more could you ask for? Topping Ingredients: 1/2 cup dry polenta or corn grits 1/4 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese pinch of salt Filling Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium onion, chopped 1 zucchini, chopped [...]
