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Green Ooze On The Highway.

When the story first broke, officials indicated the neon green sludge pouring out onto the freeway was nothing to be concerned about. Yeah, I didn’t believe them either. Come to find out the substance was actually hexavalent chromium, a known human carcinogen. When the problem was discovered the owner was in prison after 20 years of contamination concerns with his company, so this toxic mess will cost taxpayers two million dollars to clean up.

That’s Just One Chemical.

Yes, just one of the 80,000 or so chemicals on our planet. Industries in the U.S. released more than 3.54 billion pounds of toxins into the environment in 2016 alone, and 43% of high production volume chemicals have no testing data on basic toxicity.

The inspiration for my book was none other than Rachel Carson, author of “Silent Spring.” I thought about her so often while writing “Your Body’s Environmental Chemical Burden” and imagined her nudging me along whenever I got stuck. Silent Spring was published in 1962, alarming readers across America about the dangers of the chemical DDT. My book is also alarming at times, but environmental chemical exposure is something we simply can no longer ignore, especially for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Rachel died of breast cancer in 1964 but the message of her book still resonates loudly today.

A No Brainer.

“When corporations pollute the environment, they should have to pay to clean it up.” But that isn’t always necessarily true. Michigan proposed a bill where polluters must pay for cleanup, but it’s stalling as enviornmental laws are being relaxed for industry polluters by the current administration. However, that didn’t stop other states.

Way to go, New Jersey, for taking real steps to address the statewide contamination of PFAS chemicals in your water and ensuring that the polluters are held responsible for funding the cleanup. You are serving as a model for the entire country. And shame on Solvay Specialty Polymers and Solvay Solexis; E.I. Dupont de Nemours and DowDupont; Dupont Specialty Products; Chemours, and 3M for creating this problem in the first place!

Other Leaders In Legislation.

Washington State now has the nation’s strongest policy regulating toxic chemicals in products as signed by Governor Jay Inslee. This precedent-setting legislation prioritizes five chemical classes for action: PFAS, organohalogen flame retardants, phthalates, alkylphenol ethoxylates and bisphenols, and PCBs.

Portland, Maine became a leader worldwide in 2017 when banning synthetic pesticides and adopting organic land care. Private property owners can only use organic treatments on “lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, patios, sidewalks, driveways, parks and playing fields.” But Maine didn’t stop there. Effective in 2021, Maine will become the first state in the U.S. to ban Styrofoam food containers. Governor Janet Mills stated, “Polystyrene cannot be recycled like a lot of other products, so while that cup of coffee may be finished, the Styrofoam cup it was in is not,” Mills said in a statement. “In fact, it will be around for decades to come and eventually it will break down into particles, polluting our environment, hurting our wildlife, and even detrimentally impacting our economy.”

Non-Recycled Trash.

Living in Michigan we can be in Canada in less than an hour’s drive. My husband and I have vacationed in northern Canada on numerous occasions and while I absolutely adore the beautiful land and the amazing people who live there, I don’t want your trash my friends! Michigan accepts over 9 million pounds of Canada’s trash every year and almost 2 million pounds from Ohio. In fact, more than a quarter of all solid waste deposited in Michigan landfills is imported from elsewhere. You can find where the trash comes from in your state here. The top five states with the most landfill waste are Nevada, Pennsylvania, Colorado, California, and Illinois.

The largest corporate plastic polluter in the U.S. is Coca-Cola, producing around 3.3 million tons of plastic packaging every year – that’s 200,000 bottles per minute. Sadly only 29% of plastic bottles are ever collected for recycling.

Trash In A Jar.

Kathyrn Kellogg was able to limit her trash, after two full years, to a single mason jar! She admitted that no one can have absolutely zero waste, but just ONE mason jar full?! This is incredibly impressive and inspiring! Kathryn is certainly light years ahead of me and my efforts at reducing waste, although I am certain that my family doesn’t produce anywhere near the 4.5 pounds of waste per person per day as estimated by the EPA in 2015.

I do not recommend replacing all of your products at once, because it can be a daunting task. Rather, each time you run out of something replace it with a product having less of an impact on waste or one that is more ecofriendly — one product at a time, one day at a time. If you visit my other blogs, you’ll find a tremendous amount of useful tools to determine which product is best for the planet and for your health.

Beets And Coconut.

Dr. Paul Anastas, Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale said chemicals can be designed with an appropriate life cycle, and corporations are taking note as this paradigm shift is slowly occurring. For instance, substituting sugar beet juice for the salt typically used on our Michigan roads in the winter. And while salt isn’t classified as an environmental contaminant, it sure is destructive to our automobiles. Also, as the salt migrates into our lakes and streams it causes harm to aquatic animals and plants.

Mushroom packaging, avocado pit plastic, and now coconut husks! Michael Vos explains, “Asia produces more than a billion pallets every year. They require softwood which does not grow in the tropics and is thus imported from Canada, New Zealand or Eastern Europe on a large scale. Complete forests are being shipped to Asia to make pallets that are mainly used to ship products back to America or Europe. It is clearly a lot more efficient to make pallets in Asia with local materials – like coconut husks!

Oceans And Beaches.

If we all do our part, we can make a difference and give our grandchildren and great-grandchildren a better place to live! It took one person to start this movement in Mumbai in 2015, attracting over 1,000 volunteers to help out. This terrific 3-minute video will restore your faith that it is possible to clean up our planet – one person, one idea, one group of volunteers at a time. Thank you for inspiring us Afroz Shah!

Another cleanup project coordinated by the Ocean Voyages Institute removed over 100 tons of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. 4Ocean crews have recovered over 9 million pounds of trash from the ocean and coastlines, and their bracelets cords and beads are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and glass bottles. Have you seen what some of the artisan jewelers are doing with this plastic? The Kira necklace is handmade by Vi Bella artisans in Haiti and designed with plastic bottle beads, crystal, glass and silver beads. So lovely and affordable.

Holding Retailers Accountable.

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families organization reports that some of North America’s largest retailers are getting the message to get chemicals out of our products and packaging. Those retailers leading the list were Apple, Target, Walmart, Ikea, Riet Aid, Whole Foods, Sephora, Home Depot, CVS, Lowe’s and Walgreen. Here are the retailers that are lagging behind the movement and might need to hear our voices a little louder and a little more often. Remember, as consumers we have enormous power and retailers care about what we think. So, raise your voice and tell big retailers it’s time to eliminate toxic chemicals.

Environmental Toxins Everywhere.

The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health stated that pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today. One of the best databases I’ve seen thus far is the Toxicant and Disease Database from the Collaborative on Health and the Environment, which allows one access to hundreds of toxicants and summarizes the state of evidence used to classify the toxicant on how it affects disease in our bodies.

November Elections.

The National Conference of State Legislatures updates their Environmental Health State Bill Tracking Database every Tuesday. Using this database you can search by state to see who is sponsoring new measures to improve the health of our communities, water, land, air quality and more. This is a great resource for areas that will be electing government officials later this fall. What gives me hope is that there is bi-partisan participation on several proposed bills, indicating we can work together to improve the planet – no matter our political affiliation.

Voices are being heard, and both governments and corporations are realizing the public is extremely concerned about our health and the health of our planet and we aren’t going to stay quiet about it any longer. Thank you to all the loud voices out there in social media land that aren’t taking “no” for an answer!

Critical Times Of Development.

Exposure to environmental chemicals, especially when the eggs and sperm are being formed, the fetus is developing in the womb, and during early childhood, contribute to the root cause of so many health conditions and diseases.

The EARTH Study.

Funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, for almost 20 years research teams have been gathering data on chemical and environmental exposures from mothers, fathers, and newborns to determine the effects these exposures will have on children’s health.

Exposure before conception has shown a disruption in fertility in both men and women and has even affected pregnancy outcomes.  In 2018, Brown University professor Joseph Braun PhD launched the PEACE (Preconception Environmental Exposure and Childhood Health Effects) study where researchers will continue to gather health data about children born to couples who participated in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study.

Birth Defects.

Environmental chemical exposure has also been linked to an increase in birth defects. One such birth defect? Hypospadias. That’s a condition in which the opening of the penis is on the underside, rather than on the tip. Using this tool from the Center for Disease Control National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network one can search many different diseases and birth defects by location, age group and/or gender.

For example, once on the link in Step One for “select content area” I highlighted “Birth Defects.” In the “select indicator” box I highlighted “prevalence of hyospadias.” In the “select measure” box I highlighted “average annual number of cases.” For Step Two’s Geography Type I highlighted “State by County.” In Step Three I highlighted “Michigan.” And, finally, for Step Four I highlighted “all years.” Now view the results.

As the map loads, notice the prevalence of this particular birth defect on the map and where the highest number of cases occur (in blue) – near industry. Where it’s yellow Michigan has very little to no industry. Clearly one is able to see a correlation between environmental exposure to chemicals used in industry and the effect it can have on just this one birth defect. Now try using this tool to explore other birth defects or diseases where you live in the U.S.

Fewer Males.

The CDC states “Fewer males are conceived when exposure to endocrine disruptors causes a decrease in testosterone.” Endocrine disruptors interfere or block the way natural hormones or their receptors are made or controlled.  It’s also been shown that endocrine disruptors may increase the vulnerability of male children to behavioral disorders such as ADHD.

The National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences has an incredible amount of information on their website  including active links to other resources. But some of us are visual learners. So please view the video presentation that ABC Science has created on endocrine disruptors in this YouTube video “Our Chemical Lives – Are Chemicals Hurting Us?”

The Global Fertility Crash.

Once on this image move your mouse over the graph. It may shock you, although I wasn’t all that surprised. After focusing on this topic over the past 7 years I know all too well how environmental chemical exposure is affecting fertility rates around the world. Concern is growing over low-level prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors as leading to a decline in fertility in both sexes, affecting an early onset of puberty in females and delays in male puberty, with a 30% higher infertility rate in daughters exposed to PCBs in utero. Phthalates showed a negative effect on sperm motility and concentration; paraben exposure may be contributing to diminished ovarian function; and pesticides can alter normal hormonal balance in both males and females and lead to infertility (it’s all in my book.)

One plastic chemical, BPA, has been shown in studies to reduce male fertility and negatively affect semen quality. Alas, just one more email to deal with but maybe it’s time to forgo paper receipts! The Ann Arbor Ecology Center’s Healthy Stuff program tested 207 receipts. BPA or BPS was found in 93% of those tested. Data regarding dermal absorption of BPA through the skin shows uptake between 10% and 60%. So if you still opt for paper receipts, wash your hands after handling them (especially before eating) and don’t allow children to play with them.

Cornucopia’s Guide.

Are you pregnant, or is anyone that you know expecting? Made Safe has just released their comprehensive, 106-page, free “Healthy Pregnancy Guide” covering the safest products in every area of life – kitchens, laundry, cleaning, personal care, bedroom, household, outdoors, self-care – when preparing for the new baby! Please forward this link to anyone you know who is expecting, or planning on conceiving.

Maybe you’re attending a baby shower and want a gift that is both baby friendly and environmentally friendly. If so, check out the BestBottom diaper system. Over 20 billion diapers end up in the landfill every year (taking roughly 450 years to break down in the environment) and disposable diapers can cost parents over $2500 through potty training. Check out the site’s quick videos to learn more about a cloth diapering system.

In addition, please check out the products offered from Hugh & Grace. Founders Sara & Ben Jensen stated, “When we learned that hormone disruptors found in most personal care products – including clean, non-toxic products – can have serious health risks, we knew we needed to create something better. We created hormone-safe products formulated to help reduce chemical exposure so people can live cleaner, healthier lives.”

Lactation.

If you are nursing or are planning to do so, the National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database LactMed allows women to search the safety of pharmaceutical drugs, herbs, supplements, and essential oils while nursing in order to determine any possible adverse effects. It’s an invaluable resource, as natural doesn’t always equate to safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If you are already nursing and would like to increase your milk production, the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine lists several herbs that can enhance milk supply, including a recipe for a Galactogogue Brew!

In Closing.

The effects of chemical exposure might not be the most uplifting topic, but it’s real and it’s happening right before our eyes. Therefore, we must focus on prevention. Detoxifying young adults (both men and women) before they conceive and then teaching them how to avoid future exposure is imperative and should be taught in schools. The body’s environmental chemical burden is real. Learn all you can about the topic and then share, and share some more. Each one of my blogs are filled with information and resources so please subscribe so you don’t miss out. Also, feel free to share a link to these these blogs with friends or on social media. We need to keep this conversation alive!

Or Unlearning.

“Don’t let your learning lead to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action,” author Jim Rohn writes. But sometimes we must first unlearn what we once believed to be true before we’re able to learn and take action. One of my big questions is why aren’t environmental chemical exposure and bioaccumulation being discussed in initiatives to combat disease if there is so much known about the detrimental health effects of these toxicants? When no discussion is happening, self-education on the body’s environmental chemical burden has to happen. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s first begin with a good understanding of the human body.

The Human Body.

A very simple training module on Anatomy & Physiology  is available from the National Institutes of Health. It’s a self-paced learning tool that can help you understand how the human body works. You can select a body system, such as the “Endocrine Glands & Their Hormones,” and outside links will be accessible throughout the module that will guide you to even further information and resources. Each module is also wonderfully illustrated to help with understanding the material more fully.

Maybe you have an issue with your thyroid gland or your cardiovascular system and want to know more about what that system looks like when it’s functioning at its optimal level, as well as what happens when that system goes awry. It’s a great website to spend time with to educate yourself and others on their bodies.

Enter Toxicants.

The American Cancer Society’s website lists environmental chemicals that have been linked to cancer and each category offers a way to download more information. For instance, under “Known Human Carcinogens” classified as Group 1 chemicals by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, one can download pdf files on the chemical in question. As you scroll down the website, you’ll see chemicals listed by the National Toxicology Program with an option to download their 14^th report on carcinogens. But keep scrolling. The results are staggering.

The Body’s Chemical Burden.

There are 273 chemicals on the National Toxicology Program’s website with information on how they affect our organs, tissues, and body systems. And those 273 chemicals just relate to cancer. Hundreds more chemicals are listed for other diseases affect every body system. On the NTP site you can search by animal or human, or both, and then click on the chemicals listed in the results to find out how one is being exposed. It also shows you whether the research evidence is strong or merely suggestive.

Pesticides And Autoimmune Disorders.

How might the environment be affecting 24 million people in the US with autoimmune disorders? Researchers have found that exposure to pesticides can be a factor, so can exposure to mercury. But autoimmune disorders are sometimes amplified by exposure to other environmental pollutants, as well. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association lists over 100 disorders on their website with links to help you learn more about them, complete with Education Modules.

Toxic Free.

A non-profit organization, Toxic-Free Future’s website hosts a wealth of information. One blog begins, “What do sperm, kids, salmon, and orcas have in common besides that they all swim? All can be harmed by toxic chemicals put in consumer products!” Spread the word about this organization that is not only helping to create more awareness of the problems we face today with environmental chemical exposure, but are also offering resources and tools to help us avoid future exposure as much as we can.

 

Pediatric Training Course.

In the early 1950s when I was born my mother didn’t pass numerous environmental chemicals on to me through her placenta. Yet in just the last decade and a half, data showed that the average infant came into this world with an average of 287 toxicants in their umbilical cord blood. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has developed a wonderful resource – the Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit Training Module. This free course will take approximately 90 minutes to complete and if you need continuing ed credits, simply complete the post test.

More CEs And Online Learning.

You can also catch up on CEs or just learn more from the National Environmental Health Association. Their website has endless information and there’s a good chance that you’ll find a topic you’re interested in. The Collaborative on Health and the Environment website has provided webinars and podcasts since 2002 on topics related to environmental health science. Even in the archived podcasts one can still listen to the recordings and download slides and resources. There are hundreds available, and they’re free. Find a topic that interests you and listen while you commute!

Elementary School Classroom Resources.

Are you an elementary or middle school educator and would like to share environmental science with your students? ToxTown, a division of the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine, hosts a website  where you can download lesson plans, games, and hands-on activities to teach kids about sources of exposure to environmental chemicals. There are also printable PDF files, videos, and links to other informational websites. Here is an example of a 2-minute video from ToxTown on nutrient pollution for kids.

There are several other websites with activities, games, and resources. One such website is the Sustainable Community Website from the Environmental Protection Agency. The National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences has an entire website devoted to the environment and kid’s health. It, too, has games, activities, songs, and lesson plans. Additionally, National Geographic offers lesson plans for Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-12.

Screening For Chemicals.

Several years ago, I opted to undergo a pricey body burden screening test from Genova Diagnostics. Their Toxic Effects Profile tested for 45 of the most common chemicals found in humans, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorinated and organophosphate pesticides, PCBs, BPA, phthalates, and parabens. For someone who had been eating organic since the late 1970s and had used the safest personal care and cleaning products for almost four decades, it came as a complete surprise when the results  showed I was in the 80th percentile for benzene and styrene, the 95th percentile for PCB153, and showed detectable levels of DDE, phthalates, pesticides, BPA, and  parabens. Being in the 95th percentile means only 5% of other individuals that were tested exceeded the level found in my body.

Don’t want to spend $1,000? Dr. Claudia S. Miller developed “the most widely used screening instrument for chemical intolerance.” A professor at the University of Texas School of Medicine in San Antonio, she researches the underlying environmental causes of disease. Take this questionnaire found on her website.

Detoxification.

Okay. So now you know we all have chemicals in our bodies. Are you looking for a formal detoxification plan? The University of Wisconsin’s Integrative Medicine website has a 12-page pdf file you can download. It includes what to eat, supplements that can assist the body, and more.

You’ll notice tthis document mentions the use of milk thistle, dandelion and turmeric. Are you familiar with the American Botanical Council website? Take advantage of the all the information it has to offer on plant medicine and essential oils that you may be using in your detoxification program or elsewhere in matters related to your health.

The Unlearning Part.

Hopefully if you’ve gotten this far you recognize that many of the chemicals used today are not safe, even though we’re told that they are. There are plenty of problems with toxicants and their effects on the human body, so please continue to learn (and unlearn) by reading my other blogs. Then please help spread these resource-filled blogs on your social media!

Testing, Testing.

You’ve checked the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database to analyze the pollutants in your city’s drinking water, but what if you have well water? How can you check the quality and safety of the water that you cook with, drink, bathe in, and use for laundry? The least expensive way is to test your own water with a TDS meter.

But perhaps you are interested in a more thorough testing of the contaminants in your water, especially if you do have well water. The Environmental Protection Agency’s website allows you to find a state-certified laboratory, and also includes information on the contaminants themselves that may be lurking in your water.

More Than Just Lead.

Certainly the PFAS in our drinking water has grabbed the national spotlight but it isn’t just about the PFOS family of chemicals. There are so many other contaminants in drinking water. For instance, in the Ann Arbor water system there is just as much hexavalent chromium as there are PFOS chemicals.

Hexavalent chromium was brought to the public’s attention most notably in the movie “Erin Brockovich.” Curiously, Ann Arbor water also has 4x as much radium than PFOS, and radium is a radioactive element! How do you find out what’s in your water and which water treatment works best to remove those contaminants? Check EWG’s tap water database and enter your zip code. Once it loads scroll down to the section on “filtering options.”

Microplastics.

According to National Geographic, it’s difficult to completely avoid microplastics. We eat thousands of bits of plastic every year. We also breathe them in, and they’re in our water supply. In fact, if you teach Earth Science for grades 4-12, NatGeo has a resource library with classroom resources to teach about plastics in our environment and what we can do about it.

Basically, a microplastic is a piece of plastic that measures less than 5 millimeters in size. They’re formed when plastic breaks apart into tiny beads. Many toxic chemicals are absorbed by plastic, including BPA, PCBs, PBDEs, POPs, PAHs and dioxins. Unfortunately, microbeads are small enough to slip through filters at wastewater treatment plants. Microplastics are not only harmful to our health, they’re also dangerous to our aquatic life and to our ocean.

The World Health Organization has a wealth of information on microplastics in the water cycle including both tap water and bottled water, the potential health impacts from microplastic exposure, and the removal of microplastics during wastewater and drinking-water treatment. The report is quite long but beginning on page 5 one can search the Contents for a topic of interest and then read only that section.

Speaking Of Bottled Water.

It’s not just arsenic that’s detected in bottled water. Plastics chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PCBs can leach from the plastic into the water during storage and then these chemicals are consumed when we drink it. Some plastics chemicals have been shown to affect brain functioning, including aggression and attention issues. Shockingly, the Natural Resources Defense Council indicates that roughly 25% of bottled water is merely tap water – sometimes treated and sometimes not. Bottled water creates both an environmental burden and a body burden. For more on who’s minding our drinking water, click here.

Gotta Get A Filter.

The best place to start in finding a certified water filtration system for your home is on the National Sanitation Foundation website. Once on this link you can decide which contaminants you want to reduce and then compare options for water treatment.

With all the concerns about PFAS in our water systems, the Minnesota Department of Health had 14 filters tested, of which 11 were shown to effectively reduce the amount of PFAS in your water. For information on those filters visit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Personally, I have a Berkey Water Filter and couldn’t be happier with it. For information on what this water filtration system removes, click here.

Camping And Natural Disasters.

When you are back-country hiking and camping, how can you make sure your drinking water is safe? Or what about living in an area of flooding, or another natural disaster, where you may need emergency water filtering and purification? On this link from the World Health Organization scroll down to page 13 of 80. From this report it appears that the best portable water filtration brands are LifeStraw, Solar Solutions and Puralytics.

Dirty Beaches, Dirty Water.

If you are planning a day at the beach, other than checking the weather forecast, additional things to check are the quality of both the water and the beach itself. One news report wrote “there’s poop in the water” at our favorite beaches and that the water showed bacteria counts exceeding EPA standards for safety, which could potentially sicken swimmers.

The report shows on most days of the year the beaches are safe, but researchers found bacteria counts can spike on certain days with fecal matter from people or animals as the culprit. “Pollution (that) gets washed into high-energy beaches will dissipate pretty quickly,” however “when it comes through streams and areas where there is not a lot of circulation, it just washes back and forth.”

Luckily, there are several resources that will help to determine whether hitting a particular beach is a good idea. On Beachapedia one currently has access to beach reports in 34 different states. The EPA website monitors information for over 3,000 beaches. Their information indicates that Michigan has the greatest number of beaches overall but that many of them are not being monitored, whereas other states monitor every one of their beaches.

The mobile app, SwimGuide, provides current water quality information for more than 8,000 beaches, rivers, swimming holes and lakes around the world. It’s also accessible online. For information on recreational water illnesses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On The Subject Of Trash.

According to the NOAA’s Woods Hole Sea Grant project, a Styrofoam cups takes approximately 50 years to biodegrade. An aluminum can takes about 200 years. Both disposable diapers and plastic bottles take approximately 450 years to biodegrade, and fishing line takes almost 600 years! Please take your trash with you, and pick up a few others pieces that aren’t even yours.

Young Millennial, Boyan Slat, deserves all the acknowledgement he can get. A 25-year old university dropout, Boyan created the Ocean Cleanup Project. Look what he’s doing to clean up the Boomer’s mess. (Thank you, Boyan!) He certainly has his work cut out for him. Have you seen images of the ocean’s garbage patches? If not, you need to. It’s a good reminder to reduce your use of single-use plastic.

Acrylamide And Other Chemicals.

Toasting bread to a light brown color, rather than a dark brown color, lowers the amount of acrylamide. This chemical can be formed when potatoes or grains are fried, baked, or roasted. Think French fries and potato chips for starters. The FDA says, “Acrylamide caused cancer in animals in studies where animals were exposed to acrylamide at very high doses.” Note the “very high doses.” Therefore, I wouldn’t be too concerned unless you are eating an awful lot of fried foods.

But then again, in 2010 the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) concluded that acrylamide is a human health concern and suggested additional long-term studies. The message is to limit fried foods, which we really should be doing anyway. The National Institute of Environmental Health website offers several tips to reduce your family’s exposure to acrylamide.

Perchlorate.

Why is perchlorate in food a concern? Perchlorate impairs the thyroid’s ability to use iodine in the diet to make the thyroid hormone T4, something essential to brain development. Thus, the presence of perchlorate in the diet of pregnant women and young children threatens fetal and child brain development.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, “Perchlorate is one of approximately 10,000 chemicals allowed for use in food and food packaging – and it’s also an ingredient in rocket fuel.” The Food and Drug Administration approved perchlorate for use in plastic packaging and food handling equipment for dry food – like cereal, flour, spices, and many other additives – to reduce the buildup of static charges. Unfortunately, it can migrate from packaging into our food.

Food Additives.

The term “food additive” does not include pesticide chemicals, lead, arsenic, or chemicals used in packaging our food – like PFAS. These types of substances are called “indirect food additives” or “food contact substances” and includes thousands of chemicals. The Environmental Defense Fund organization lists their key chemicals of concern in our food and provides resources to understanding the health effects of heavy metals, perchlorate, PFAS and phthalates.

While the Food Additives Amendment of 1958 gives the Food and Drug Administration oversight of chemicals added to our food directly as ingredients and those that end up in food as contaminants, the agency lacks the tools and authority to do its job.

Chemicals In Packaged Foods.

There are thousands of untested chemicals in packaged foods. How many out there still cook at home? In our household I prepare three meals a day – all from scratch. My “pantry” is a small drawer in my kitchen that sometimes holds Oatios, crackers, rice cakes and canned tomato products, but not much else. If you are someone who frequently purchases packaged foods, EcoWatch has a great article to read to help you understand the hazards in food purchases and how to push back at manufacturers. And don’t forget to revisit my blog Living With, Living Without for information on the neurotoxic chemical hexane, found in certain soy products!

Dioxins.

According to the World Health Organization, “Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment and they accumulate in the food chain, mainly in the fatty tissue of animals.” The developing fetus and newborn are the most susceptible to the health effects from exposure. As you scroll down on the link, under “Prevention” you’ll see that more than 90% of human exposure to dioxins is through consuming animal foods. Another reason to eat more of a plant-based diet.

Health Effects Of Common Chemicals.

Toxipedia was founded in 2006 by Dr. Steve Gilbert. On this link you can download his free E-book, “A Small Dose of Toxicology: The Health Effects of Common Chemicals.” It’s not only available in English, but also in Spanish, German, Chinese, and Arabic!

According to University of Wisconsin’s Integrative Health Department, along with the increased prevalence of chronic disease has come an increase in illnesses attributed to environmental exposures. Watch the 11-minute video presentation on Environmental Intolerances with Adam Rindfleisch, MD. Also, for information on how to help people suffering with multiple chemical sensitivities and environmental intolerances, click here for U of W’s pdf handout.

Guardian Wrist Band.

A writer for The Guardian wore a silicone wristband designed by researchers that showed the toxic substances she encountered during the week. She was surprised at the results. In March of 2014 I had a toxicant profile completed by Genova Diagnostics using blood and urine. The results of my Toxic Effects Profile equally surprised me as I had been eating organic since the late 1970s and had always used the safest personal care and cleaning products I could find — for 4 decades! Results indicated I was in the 80th percentile for benzene and styrene, the 95th percentile for PCB153, with detectable levels of DDE, phthalates, pesticides, BPA, and parabens. Being in the 95^th percentile means only 5% of other individuals that were tested exceeded the level found in my body. The findings of this test led me to read over 1500 research papers and write my book, “Your Body’s Environmental Chemical Burden,” a #1 bestseller on Amazon and winner of 13 book awards.

In The Meantime.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst tested a few different ways to wash chemical residue off produce: the bleach solution that farmers dunk fruit in after harvest, a liquid slurry of baking soda, and plain old tap water. Guess what? UC Berkeley says the baking soda was the best at removing the chemicals on fruits and vegetables! The recipe? One teaspoon baking soda to 2 cups of water.

 

Living Without Meat.

In 2008, approximately 34 million pounds of hexane were released into the environment in the U.S.  Are you consuming this neurotoxic industrial chemical? You just may be if you are eating vegan meat alternatives made from soy such as tofu, tempeh, or textured vegetable protein. Check out which brands don’t begin with hexane processing in this short video from the Cornucopia Institute and then refer to their Soy Food Scorecard for more companies not using the chemical solvent hexane.

One Green Planet published an article, The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Meats and Meat Substitutes. You don’t have to be a vegetarian or vegan to enjoy the recipes in this article, which also includes weekly vegan meal plans. Also available is One Green Planet’s app, Food Monster, which they quote as being “the biggest, baddest, yummiest vegan food app.” Consuming plant foods is better for your health and better for the health of our planet.

Living Without Cheese And Ice Cream.

Did you know that to make a pound of cheese from cow’s milk it takes approximately 1,000 gallons of water? Please take a few minutes to watch this amazing video of Mikoyo Schinner in Petaluma, CA for some of the best vegan cheeses made from organic cashews. In addition, you’ll learn more about her nonprofit “Mercy for Animals” and how she assists dairy farmers in their to transition to vegan products.

Dairy free but miss ice cream? How about vegan ice cream recipes with the following flavor options: banana, tahini-chocolate, avocado-lime, sweet potato-gingerbread, and more? Even if you aren’t vegan you’ll enjoy these recipes!

Living Without Allergens.

First published in 1998, the magazine “Living Without” became “Gluten Free & More” in 2014. This magazine and website have been such a valuable resource for people living with food allergies and sensitivities. Their recipes help people prepare delicious foods that can be free of any or all of the following foods: dairy, grains, eggs, nuts, soy, and gluten. Check out the recipe link for free recipes in any category you desire!

Can’t eat gluten? While pesticides have certainly been implicated as a major cause of gluten sensitivity, a new study shows that the PFAS chemicals used to manufacture nonstick cookware might also have something to do with it! Better to use stainless steel.

Living Without Food (Fasting).

Wildly popular, intermittent fasting suggests that women fast approximately 14-15 hours/day, leaving an eating window of 9 to 10 hours. Interestingly, this regime has been a lifestyle of mine since the 70s. I typically eat dinner around 6:00 and have never been an evening snacker. I get up at 5:00 am to start my day and by the time I finish exercising and showering it’s 8:00 and I’m ready for breakfast. Viola! Intermittent fasting and I didn’t even realize it!

I’ve read dozens of books on fasting in the past and have personally experienced many different versions of the discipline, from nothing but water to drinking fresh vegetable juices. Some of the points to intermittent fasting include Paul Bragg’s advice from the 1960s which is to do a 24-hour fast once a week. I find it fascinating how the old health practices are re-emerging – just with a new label. Some of my favorite books included Hereward Carrington’s “Fasting for Health and Long Life” published in 1953; “The Miracle of Fasting” by Paul Bragg published in 1976; and Dr. Bernard Jensen’s “Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Management” published in 1981, which one can download for free here.

EcoWatch posted an article on six ways to do intermittent fasting, sharing that ancient hunter-gatherers couldn’t find anything to eat at times so fasting was a common practice. However, my favorite program to follow at least four times a year was also designed by Dr. Jensen – The Eleven-Day Regime – as outlined in his book, “Vital Foods for Total Health” published in 1950.

There are some people who shouldn’t undertake fasting for a number of reasons, so before you attempt to do so please visit Healthline for safety information.

Living With Plant Milk.

Almonds are good for us, right? Nutritious and munchable, we also have almond flour and almond butter. And if you’re avoiding dairy, you might even be consuming almond milk. However, almonds are taking a toll on the environment as it’s estimated that it takes 15 gallons of water to produce 16 almonds! Who knew? We made almond milk in the late 1970s by (1) soaking raw almonds until they were plump, (2) putting them in the blender and then (3) straining before drinking. Much less water used in making our almond milk.

Grist mentions that pistachio trees require 1/3 to 1/2 as much water as almond trees and unlike almond trees, pistachio trees don’t die during extended droughts. Pistachios can produce nuts for 80 years or longer, almost four times the life span of an average almond tree. As it gets hotter and drier, the range of pistachios is expanding northward, as the range of almonds retreats. Pistachio milk anyone?

Perhaps you’d like to try your hand at making your own plant milk. Inhabitat published recipes for oat milk, coconut milk, pea and seed milks. Important to note is that some homemade oat milks can be a bit slimy, but Detoxinista offers the best ways to avoid an unappealing batch of oat milk.

Living With Coffee Beans.

According to Healthline coffee makes us smarter, helps us burn fat and is good for our liver, among many other positive health effects. My biggest concern about making coffee is the coffee maker itself. Most of them have plastic components. Using a glass or stainless-steel coffee maker will reduce the migration of plastics chemicals into your morning brew. You could also try a French press, an old-fashioned percolator, or a pour-over coffee maker. Anything but plastic (see my blog on Plastic Coffee).

Don’t have room for coffee equipment? Steeped Coffee has solved that problem by offering coffee that is ethically sourced, nitro sealed to keep it fresh, and in the form of a “tea bag.” You can even pick your blend to steep. Another favorite of mine is the instant, organic and fair-trade coffee Mount Hagen. It’s great for camping or for making a quick iced coffee in the summer.

Living With Fermented Grapes.

If you are a wine lover are you familiar with Frey Vineyards in Mendocino, CA? They were the first organic and biodynamic winery in the U.S. and have been producing sulfite- and gluten-free wines for over 40 years. In addition, their wines are GMO-free. The also sponsor the National Pesticide Forum scholarship fund through the Beyond Pesticides Organization. Check out their website, where under the Sustainability link you can learn more about their farm and how they support the honeybees!

For a list of the health benefits for both red and white wines visit Healthline, keeping in mind that too much of a good thing can be detrimental to our health.

Beginning With Lice.

September is “Head Lice Prevention Month” because it’s back to school for kids. Because of the risky chemicals typically used in head lice treatment, Made Safe published a 9-page guide to help parents find safer solutions, such as wet combing and using essential oils of tea tree, clove, spearmint, neem and others.

According to the National Pediculosis Association having a fine-tooth metal comb on hand is a good idea and one more step to avoiding the use of pesticide chemicals on your children’s scalp!  In this 2-minute video you’ll find out why this specific comb is important. If you’d like to order one visit the LiceMeister website.

Oh, The Never-Ending Topic Of Vaccinations.

What troubles me is that when the topic of vaccination safety comes up, the additives and excipients that are in the vaccines isn’t being discussed. Check out the Centers for Disease Control Vaccine Excipient Summary listed by vaccine type and published in February 2020. Whereas on the website for the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University the excipients are listed alphabetically by chemical name. That’s an awful lot of chemicals being pumped into newborns, toddlers, and children.

And while exploring the Johns Hopkins’ link, note how many vaccines have formaldehyde in them (29 to be exact.) Check out the MadeSafe website for their Chemical Callout on Formaldehyde and its carcinogenic potential  as well as Toxic-Free Future’s information on formaldehyde.

I find it interesting that the U.S. EPA’s limit for mercury in drinking water is 2 parts per billion but according to the National Vaccine Information Center the current preservative level of mercury in 94% of multi-dose flu, meningococcal and tetanus vaccines is 50,000 ppb.

Something Else To Consider.

Can PFAS chemical exposure be why vaccinations aren’t working as well anymore? Apparently, a study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that exposure to PFAS during infancy decreased immune response to vaccinations at 5 years of age, and that “PFAS exposure might prevent children from developing the normal immune response to some vaccinations.”

Are you aware that the Centers for Disease Control has a “Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” where you can report illness and health problems or symptoms following immunizations, as well as search data by age, event, category, state/territory, and more? An invaluable website. If you need help on how to access data, watch this 13-minute video from the CDC.

Learning Disabilities.

According to the CDC, approximately one in every six 3- to 17-year-old children within the US has one or more developmental disabilities. Are you aware that children who are deficient in calcium and iron absorb more lead when exposed? Or those with iodine deficiencies are more vulnerable to the effects of perchlorate? In addition, prenatal infants exposed to high levels of air pollution can have lower IQ scores?

According to the US National Library of Medicine, toxic chemicals associated with learning and disabilities include methanol, PCBs and toluene and others. Scroll down on this link to the section on learning and developmental disabilities for additional resources on some of the chemicals associated with these health conditions.

Autism.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that autism affects 1 in 59 children, and studies show that the rate of autism is rising. A growing area of research is focusing on a woman’s exposure to harmful contaminants during pregnancy that may trigger a genetic mutation. Therefore, it’s really important for any woman of childbearing age to avoid pesticides, metals and other contaminants. And she will also want to undergo a detoxification program prior to pregnancy and nursing not during.

It’s important to understand that when undergoing detoxification the contaminants stored in the body become mobilized, at which point the mother can then pass them on through the umbilical cord or breast milk. My book is a terrific way to introduce Millennial women to the ways that they can avoid toxicants.

ADHD

According to the University of Wisconsin Family Medicine website research shows that the symptoms of some children with ADHD may improve if they don’t eat certain foods. The children who benefit from this may have a history of colic, eczema, reflux, antibiotic use, or a family history of conditions such as hay fever, asthma, or skin conditions.

Symptoms that suggest children may be sensitive to certain foods include dark circles under the eyes, breathing through the mouth, pain in the bones of the arms or legs, pain in the belly, irritable bowel syndrome, bad breath, foot odor, runny nose, and trouble sleeping. I’m so pleased with how far medicine has come in recognizing nutrition and gut health as the solution to so many health concerns in children. See this link for “Non Medication Approaches for Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” as found on the University of Wisconsin website.

On A Lighter Note.

I just love LunchBots. For over 12 years they have been designing stainless steel lunch (bento) boxes, bowls and thermoses. They range from a “small snack packer” to larger boxes. You can even select how many sections you’d like in each box. Plastic free, folks — plastic free! That’s one more step toward less toxicity for your little ones.

 

Safe Or Unsafe?

Most of the time when people buy a health supplement they look at the nutrition label to make sure they are getting the amount of nutrients they wanted, for example 500 mg of calcium. What they don’t do is look further down the label to the actual “Ingredients” and this is an area that can be of concern.

Excipients such as artificial coloring or flavoring, flowing agents, stearates, thickeners, and other chemicals and ingredients are also added to dietary supplements and the unsuspecting consumer doesn’t realize they might be getting something more than just calcium!

Take the product Viactiv chewable chocolate calcium, for instance. The nutrition facts seem fine, but now look at the actual ingredients — sugar, hydrogenated oil and corn syrup?!

Another Case In Point.

France banned the use of titanium dioxide. This additive is used in sweets and baked goods as a whitening agent. However it has been shown to accumulate in the organs of laboratory animals, and the French government could not rule out human cancer risks. Titanium dioxide is also found in sunscreens and personal care products. So, don’t forget to read your supplement labels – it’s often added to make your vitamins an appealing color. And when there are other ingredients that you’re just not sure of, check out the Chemical Cuisine database through the Centers for Science in the Public Interest’s website.

Product Recalls.

It’s not just unsavory ingredients. Supplements can actually contain the wrong plant or even environmental or chemical contaminants. This press release is filled with examples of product recalls —  “Attorney General Schneiderman asks major retailers to halt sales of certain herbal supplements as DNA tests fail to detect plant materials listed on majority of products tested. Cease and desist letters were sent to GNC, Target, Walgreens and Walmart as most store brand supplements were found to contain contaminants not identified on ingredient labels; just 21% of supplement tests identified DNA from plant species listed on labels.” So it’s true – you get what you pay for.

Quality Assurance.

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is a public health and safety organization that independently registers manufacturers meeting Good Manufacturing Practices.  On the NSF website one can locate whether or not supplements have been made by reputable manufacturers by searching the Manufacturer name.

A friend of mine, Lynda Hammons, developed the QA department at a large Utah supplement manufacturer and oversaw its operations for over 27 years. You can see this company’s commitment to quality in the many short videos on their website. These clips really give you an idea of how contaminated some “health” products really are and why Good Manufacturing Practices are vital.

But Safety Doesn’t Stop With Supplements.

The State of California is considering declaring acetaminophen (known as paracetamol in other countries) as a carcinogen. Acetaminophen is found in over-the-counter medications such as Midol, Excedrin and Tylenol. A panel of scientists will determine this spring whether or not acetaminophen will be added to the nearly 900 chemicals that California deems a cancer risk.

It’s More Than Cancer, Though.

Does your medication, whether prescription or nonprescription, affect the health of your liver? Are the dietary supplements that you’re taking safe if you have chronic kidney disease? This database from the National Library of Medicine is free to access. Once on LiverTox, simply type in the item you’d like to locate information on in the “search this book” box or go through the alphabetic records listed below. It’s a website that anyone can use – physicians, researchers or patients.

More Reputable Database References.

Want to know more about vitamins and minerals? The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements offers a database where you can learn about a nutrient, including deficiency symptoms, groups at risk for the deficiency, and interactions with medications. One of my favorite parts of the fact sheets is that they show the food sources of the nutrient in question. Very helpful!

The National Institutes of Health provides another wonderful resource on their website. Here you can study and/or download fact sheets on hundreds of dietary supplements. What I like about the information is that it shows the risks from too much, current controversies, recommended intakes, medical interactions, and so much more. An invaluable resource, especially for practitioners.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offers a database of herbs and supplements that is so incredibly useful. On this website you can search for plants to learn more about what they are used for but also check for any contraindications with pharmaceutical medications, especially in the case of cancer drugs.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health hosts a database of fact sheets for herbal medicine and essential oils. Although limited in content, it’s yet another excellent resource. The best part? Information on the historical use of the plant in the section “Background.”

Climate Change Is Bad For Plant Medicine.

The American Botanical Council reports that due to changes in our climate the growth of medicinal and aromatic plants might be at risk. Science has confirmed the extinction of animal species, but it appears that our natural medicines might also be affected! Learn more about using alternatives to endangered plants that offer such amazing health benefits. Then subscribe to my blogs to find out what you can do to reduce the impact of climate change.

Where Did All The Farmers Go?

There were 7.6 million family farmworkers – nearly 64% of the labor force – in the mid 1800s, while today that number is a mere 1.9 million. Families living on farms tended to eat well because fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and meat were a steady part of their diet. This resulted in children getting the nutrients needed for development and growth.

But That Was Before Monsanto.

Between 1929 and 1971, PCBs were manufactured in Anniston, Alabama. Monsanto Company purchased the facility in 1935. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 1.4 billion pounds of PCBs were produced before the plant closed in 1971.

Court documents show that liquid waste discharged from the plant containing PCBs made its way to Snow Creek at a rate of up to 250 pounds per day, with an additional contribution to air emissions calculated as approximately two pounds per day. In addition, nearly 1 million pounds of PCB-containing waste was deposited into uncapped landfills (finally capped in the 1980s) southwest of the manufacturing facility. Locally raised chickens and hogs showed high levels of PCB contamination, as did fish, leading to a “no consumption” fish advisory set in place in 1990 and that is still in effect today.

Monsanto Round 2.

Monsanto’s damage to the environment and human health continued with their use of the agricultural chemical Glyphosate, a known bee killer. Glyphosate is one of the active ingredients in Roundup weed killer. Because activists have been fighting this chemical giant and the way word has spread on the dangers of this chemical because of that activism, when Bayer (think aspirin) acquired Monsanto it decided it would no longer use the name!

But Roundup’s damage is long lasting and pervasive. While I commend Cheerios for offering free wildflower seeds that will attract bees, according to the Environmental Working Group the cereal Cheerios tested at 729 ppb of this pesticide. Please take 3-minutes to watch (and share!) this video on glyphosate.

Genetically Modified.

What exactly is a GM food? According to the NonGMO Project a “genetically modified organism is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature…”

The NonGMO Project is one of the most trusted organizations in North America verifying the GMO content of foods. When verified as GMO free it is given their seal. I’m sure you will recognize this seal. There is also an app one can download on their smartphone to scan the barcode of foods to determine if it has been verified as GMO free.

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment states that in 2016 the USDA reported 92% of all corn and 94% of all soybeans used genetically modified seeds. Beginning in 2014 note how a leveling off or even a small decline occurs. Wonder why? It’s because we vote with our grocery dollars on whether we want GMO food or not and it looks like manufacturers are getting our message! Keep scrolling down on their link. Halfway down the page you’ll see an interesting chart and section on the adoption of genetically engineered crops in the U.S.

Why All The Fuss About Pesticides?

Take, for instance, chlorpyrifos. Just one more pesticide and yet one more reason to eat organic whenever possible. The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that this chemical, while toxic to kids, is still being sprayed on our crops. A report by the California Department of Public Health stated that farms spray pesticides within ¼ mile of more than 430 schools in the Cali’s Central Valley.

Beyond Pesticides has created a Pesticide-Induced Disease Database where one can explore pesticides in relation to Alzheimer’s, asthma, birth defects, cancer, endocrine disruption, learning and developmental issues, Parkinson’s, and reproduction/sexual dysfunction. It’s a very sobering activity but you’ll understand the importance of going organic as much as you can, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant and nursing women, infants, and children.

Back To The Farm Market.

Cornucopia offers a downloadable pocket guide that helps you to ask the right questions at a farmers market when organic is not available. After all, these markets still offer fresh and seasonal food that is locally grown. To locate a Farmer’s Market near you, visit the USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory and enter your zip code.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farms offer weekly deliveries of locally grown farm products during one or more harvest seasons on a subscription or membership basis. Consumers have access to a range of farm products offered by a single farm or group of farmers with an advance payment of a subscription or membership fee. You can find a CSA farm using your zip code.

On-Farm Markets are managed by a single farm operator and will sell products directly to consumers from either a location on their farm property or on property adjacent to that farm. Is there one near you? Check by zip code.

Maybe you’re interested in growing your own garden this year. Check out my blog on Planning A Chemical Free Garden for information on heirloom and non-GMO seeds, as well as safer herbicides and pesticides.

Animal Welfare Ratings.

We see dozens and dozens of labels on our foods today. Are they meaningless or relevant? How do we know? Visit this link for 33 different labels and advice as to which are the best and which labels we should beware of – like “cage free chicken” or “ethically raised, responsibly raised, thoughtfully raised” – it’s really interesting!

Lastly, Cornucopia’s Organic Poultry Scorecard “surveys more than 60 marketplace brands of chicken and turkey, highlighting authentic organic producers and exposing industrial-scale, faux-organic producers and brands.”

 

Climate Change Brings More Bugs.

Brown marmorated stink bugs made their way to Michigan in 2017. Although they don’t bite, they are a huge nuisance both inside homes and in fruit orchards and gardens. They also stink. Unfortunately, climbing temperatures could not only bring more pests to our homes and gardens, increased temperatures will expose people to more bug-borne diseases over time because as the planet gets warmer disease-carrying mosquitos will continue to spread farther north increasing exposure to Zika, chikungunya and dengue and other diseases.

Cases of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases in the United States have more than tripled since 2004. According to the World Health Organization every year one billion people are infected by ticks and mosquitos, and one million will die. New studies predict that by the year 2050 the number of people at risk for diseases from mosquitos and ticks will increase by nearly one-half billion.

Ticks.

The Centers for Disease Control indicates that Lyme disease accounts for 82% of all tickborne cases. Ticks bite infected animals and then they bite us. Not all ticks are infected but the longer an infected tick is attached to our body the greater the risk for contracting the disease, which can manifest months after the initial bite as arthritis, peripheral neuropathy and confusion.

Ticks are found in all 50 states. A surveillance map from the CDC shows the reported cases of Lyme Disease between 2012 and 2018 and, well, you’ll just have to see the map for yourself – especially if you are planning a hiking trip to Northeastern United States!

Mosquitos.

Michigan had the worst outbreak of Eastern equine encephalitis in more than a decade during the fall of 2019. Eleven counties reported animals or humans who had been infected by the mosquito-borne virus. And while only approximately 4-5% of those infected would get sick, 1% could develop an illness that causes the brain or surrounding tissues to become inflamed. Approximately 1/3 of these patients could even die.

Therefore the chemical Merus 3.0 was sprayed aerially across Michigan to kill mosquitoes. Officials assured residents that according to the manufacturer this product contained “natural pyrethrin,” which is “derived from chrysanthemum flowers in Africa.” However, the label also states that 95% of the product contains “other ingredients,” some of which are toxic to aquatic organisms including fish and aquatic invertebrates. In addition, Merus 3.0 is highly toxic to bees. Wow. So much for a natural product! In some locations, residents were able to opt out of having the chemical sprayed over their property.

Best Course Of Action.

There are other diseases that mosquitos can spread so we must do what we can to avoid being bitten. And the steps we take to reduce mosquito bites are the same we would take for reducing bites from ticks.

The University of California Davis suggests not walking in tall grass but rather in the middle of forest path to avoid small hitchhikers. Wearing light colored clothing will make it easier to spot ticks, especially once the hike is finished and before you enter your vehicle. Tucking your pants into your socks and shirts into pants is also advised, as are tall boots. Staying away from standing water and avoiding outdoor activities at dawn and dusk are encouraged to help avoid mosquito bites.

The CDC recommends clearing the yard of leaf litter and brush to prevent ticks in the yard, as well as not stacking woodpiles near areas of play. Remember, disease-carrying insects may also bite your animals.

Identifying Ticks.

There is an app for Tickborne Diseases available from the Centers for Disease Control that provides photos to help identify ticks. It also list the signs and symptoms of infection. The National Environmental Health Association website helps you find where ticks and other vectors are located by State. Along with a clear image of the pest, it also provides information on diseases transmitted.

Some people use a lit match or nail polish or other substances to remove ticks, but is there a safer and more effective way to remove them? Yes. Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the part of the tick that is closest to the skin – preferably the head. Then, without twisting, slowly pull straight out and wash the site with warm water.

How Safe Is Your Bug Repellent?

Our friends at the Environmental Working Group are in the process of updating a 2020 guide, but the 2018 guide still has great information. In addition, you can download the EWG’s Healthy Living app and simply scan the barcode of any bug repellent you want to purchase to instantly find its safety profile.

Are There Really Effective Natural Alternatives?

Made Safe Organization created a 13-page report on bug repellents. It lists chemicals of concern, and plant-based alternatives such as geraniol, clove oil, citronella, thyme, lemongrass, linalool, neem, and lemon eucalyptus. If you are an essential oil user, make sure you see page 8 of the report for information on carrier oils that provide even better protection from bug bites! Don’t want to make your own? Nantucket Spider Company sells an essential oil tick repellent – ready made.

Medical News Today lists more essential oils that are bug repellents, including basil and peppermint. You may also want to have these mosquito repellent plants in your yard! The protection time for essential oils vary, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency catnip oil may offer protection for up to seven hours!

On Boston Children’s Hospital website there is a list of effective alternatives. It shows that oil of lemon eucalyptus is effective for up to six hours but isn’t recommended for children under the age of three. A good way to protect the little ones is to cover them with lightweight clothing and apply repellents onto the clothing.