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Flushing Our Forests.

How does your toilet paper rank with regards to sustainability? The Natural Resources Defense Council developed a sustainability scorecard to toilet paper brands due to the destruction of Canada’s Boreal Forest. However, sustainability of our forests also become an issue when it comes to paper towels and facial tissue.

But More than Just Forests.

Some of the ingredients in our toilet paper have been shown to irritate the vulva, as in the case of formaldehyde. Or to cause burning when wiping, from petroleum based mineral oil. Even BPA is found in toilet paper, as are bleaching agents.

Make the Switch.

Several companies are reducing the use of plastic packaging when selling paper products. Others are not using wood pulp, but rather bamboo.

• The “Who Give a Crap” website offers 48 double length 3-ply rolls at a little over $1 each. They are made with forest friendly bamboo and contain no inks, dyes or scents. Caboo Tree Free Household Products are made from both bamboo and sugarcane.

• Grove Collaborative offers a tree-free paper towel made out of bamboo. Because of its ability to hold 3x its weight in water, a 75-sheet roll has the same absorbency as a 150-sheet roll of regular paper towels.

• Some people don’t think bamboo is as soft as standard tissue. Green Forest always gets top scores in sustainability and safety. It’s whitened without chlorine, safe for septic systems, and is made from 100% recycled paper.

And Don’t Forget Disposable Cups and Plates.

Manufacturers have now developed disposable tableware made from compostable and recyclable materials. Check out biodegradable options for your next large get together where traditionally you might opt for paper products.

• Eco Products features recyclable dining ware made from sugarcane and bamboo
• World Centric Organization offers serving containers made from wheat straw fiber
• Green Paper Products offers sugarcane plates, biodegradable cups and compostable cutlery in party sized packs for an extremely nominal cost

Toxic Outdoor Air.

While China may be releasing a banned chemical into the air that is ozone-destroying, we’ve got our own problems here in the U.S.

The Guardian reports, “Chemicals experts outside the industry say lobbying efforts demonstrate strategies that companies with toxic products have used for decades: sowing doubt about toxicology science, stalling regulation and wielding influence with political officials through campaign donations.” So, China’s chemical may be banned, but many of our chemicals should be and aren’t!

Should You Open the Windows?

The Department of Environmental Quality monitors daily conditions and if conditions indicate that the temperature and pollution are high enough, it will create elevated amount of ground-level ozone, resulting in an Ozone Action Day. For people who work or exercise strenuously outdoors or have respiratory conditions, ozone can be a threat to their health as well as an environmental concern.

Check Before Opening.

Two ways to check whether or not you should open your windows in your home, office or car.

• For a map of air quality around the world, visit pollution.org
• Go to airnow.gov and click on the map where you’d like to see more detail, then follow the color-coded key to the quality of the air
• You can also access air quality information on the Weather Channel app for your smartphone. Simply scroll down to “Air Quality” (page 7 of 8 on the app) and click “See Details” for more information.

But remember to check back frequently throughout the day, as the numbers do change!

Houseplants Can Clean Indoor Air.

In 1989 NASA published their Clean Air Study, revealing that certain plants have the ability to clean the air. Plants shown to remove the chemical benzene from indoor air included gerbera daisies, chrysanthemums, peace lilies, bamboo palm, English ivy, and Mother-in-law’s tongue.

New to growing houseplants? Try growing echeverias! These plants are nontoxic to pets, and include a variety of species and colors. Happy DIY Home’s article will tell you everything you need to know about how much light they need, when to fertilize or repot, and also includes information on spider mites and yellowing leaves.

And Plants Can Ease Anxiety.

Eliza Blank, the founder of wellness startup The Sill, said plants are “the antidote to this unfortunate thing that our entire [Millennial] generation suffers from: anxiety. And plants really can be part of the cure.” For other startup companies selling houseplants, see here.

It Isn’t Talked About.

One thing rarely mentioned in initiatives to combat obesity and disease is exposure to obesogenic environmental chemicals. This group of chemicals acts directly on fat cells to increase their number or storage by altering mechanisms that regulate appetite, satiety, and metabolic rate. For instance, studies show a strong correlation between BPA levels and worldwide obesity.

Still No Mention.

In an article for the Lansing State News, a representative for the American Cancer Society said, “We don’t know exactly where the risk is coming from…” when mentioning obesity is now poised to overtake smoking as the leading preventable cause of cancer.

The Link Between Obesity and Chemicals.

In 2013, the National Institutes of Health’s National Toxicology Program absolutely found an association between persistent pollutants and obesity. So, if belly fat increases the risk of cancer, can we please start talking about carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals stored in that fat?

Obesogenic Chemicals.

PCBs, phthalates, BPA and other such chemicals can disrupt normal metabolic processes that develop early in life and increase one’s susceptibility to weight gain across the lifespan. Additionally, a number of these obesogenic chemicals can take long periods of time to produce ill effects, so the impact won’t be realized for many years.

No One is Talking, So Self-Educate.

Because information is lacking on where we are exposed, we need to self-educate. The Collaborative on Health and the Environment is an excellent place to start:

• Learn more about avoiding BPA 
• Learn more about PCBs 
• Learn more about reducing exposure to phthalates

Couples Are Having Less Sex.

An article published in USA Today suggested the pace of modern life is to blame for couples having less sex. Sure. I get it. The pace of modern life could certainly be a factor. But could there also be other factors to consider?

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.

When you hear endocrine, think hormones. So, in other words, hormone disrupting chemicals. These chemicals can bioaccumulate in the bodies of men and women (and children, as well) because of repeated environmental exposure. Being endocrine disruptors, these chemicals can affect hormonal balances in the body by reducing testosterone levels and altering estrogen levels. And too little or too much estrogen can also affect desire.

Chemicals Lack Testing.

World Health Organizations’ International Programme on Chemical Safety listed 800 chemicals capable of interfering with hormone receptors, acknowledging the vast majority of chemicals have not been tested. In 2012, the United Nations Environment Programme updated its EDC document, expressing concern about the health of humans and wildlife. (This document is 289 pages long!)

More than Sex Hormones.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals can affect the health of the thyroid, increase the risk of diabetes and obesity, reduce semen quality, and affect reproductive organs and their development.

But Wait – You Are Having Sex.

Then be sure to use Made Safe certified products for sexual health. This website will guide you to the safest condoms, lubricants, wipes, scents & oils, and washes. Made Safe Organization doesn’t sell these products, they just make sure they are safe!

The Watchdogs Have Our Back.

The Environmental Working Group reminds us that if you can’t purchase a particular “ingredient” from your grocery store in order to prepare a food at home, you probably shouldn’t be eating it!

VOCs, Parabens and Glitter?!

Buying organic can help you avoid parabens, benzene, artificial flavors, and surfactants, but EWG also questions whether you should be able to “eat glitter in your cereal”! Interestingly, approximately 1/3 of ingredients and chemicals added to conventional foods aren’t approved by the FDA and yet food & chemical companies say they’re perfectly safe to eat.

A Food Additives Database.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest ranks the safety of food additives in their Chemical Cuisine database. Take carrageenan, for instance. It is a potent inflammatory agent and possible carcinogen. And yet it is still legal for organic food companies to use it as a processing aid – even if it isn’t listed on the label.

More on Carrageenan.

The Cornucopia Institute has created a buying guide to help you avoid buying organic foods that contain carrageenan in order to help protect you and your family. As an added bonus with this guide, we can continue to support organic and conventional food companies who do not use carrageenan!

The Difference Between “Natural” and “Organic”.

Do you know the difference between foods labeled “Natural” and “Organic”? Although titled “Cereal Crimes”, this 3½-minute video from Cornucopia Institute explains what sets the two apart.

Volatile Gases in Our Snack Bars.

Hexane is one of the chemicals covered in my book. Are you aware of how you may be ingesting hexane? This chemical is often found in meat alternatives and nutrition bars containing soy. Thankfully, Cornucopia has prepared a guide to 45 of the most popular snack bars that will help you avoid this chemical.

And Dr. Daniel Amen Understands.

After studying over 140,000 brain scans in his 30-year career, he knows that substance abuse and drug abuse can affect brain functioning. And he understands the importance of avoiding toxicants. Because toxicants are also chemicals.

The Case of Marital Conflict.

When a couple underwent SPECT scans at Amen Clinics, the husband was asked if he did drugs. When he denied it, they asked what he did for a living. His response? “I finish furniture in a furniture factory.” So, he hadn’t abused prescription drugs or taken street drugs, but he was “doing drugs” at work every day as he breathed in the chemicals which in turn affected his brain functioning. The story and images of his brain are here.

What About Alzheimer’s Disease?

Why is there such a dramatic increase in risk for AD in the boomer generation vs their predecessors? Chronic exposure to environmental toxins, including organophosphate pesticides, has been suggested in studies to increase the risk of AD.

And Learning Disabilities?

These common pesticides have also been shown to potentially increase the risk of learning difficulties, and attention and behavioral problems in children. I wonder what will the rates for AD will be like in Gen Y and Millennials as they age?

But I Must Stress That…

When a child is born with an average of 287 toxicants in their blood and is then continuously exposed to environmental chemicals throughout their lifetime, this chemical slurry can upset nearly every function in the body.

Abnormal Behavior, Impulsivity, Aggression in Children.

Studies examining phthalates and PCBs have shown an increase in abnormal behavior and impulsivity in children, while gestational exposure to BPA has been shown to be associated with increased aggression.

New Jersey preschoolers have the highest autism rates in the nation.
But why? Could there be a connection to the levels of PFAS in the water? While I am certainly not claiming this is the only cause to the increase in autism, it is imperative that we consider the effect environmental contaminants have on health and well-being for the sake of future generations.

Caution. You Can Lose Your Job.

CBD is part of the panel testing for THC in mandatory drug testing for work or for those on parole who are tested for drugs in Michigan (and probably other states.) The name of the drug test is “MUST” = Management and Unions Serving Together (MUST). If CBD, even without THC, is detected in the test one can lose their job.

Quality is Another Concern.

In a study published 2017 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers purchased 84 products online from 31 companies. Only 30.95% were accurately labeled; CBD was under-labeled in 42.85% of products; and researchers found 26% less CBD than labeled on average. Some products had negligible or <1% of labeled content for CBD. And finally, THC was detected up to 6.43 mg/mL in 18 of 84 samples tested. Uh oh!!!

Legal in the State, Illegal in the Nation.

Even if marijuana and its cannabinoids are legal in your state, they are still considered illegal at the federal level. The US Drug Enforcement Administration considers marijuana and cannabinoids in the same Schedule 1 category as heroin, LSD, mescaline, ecstasy, and others. Wow, huh?

Accurate Health Information on Marijuana.

The National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health provides not only a summary of this plant and its compounds, but a number of very useful links at the bottom of the web page including active medical research studies. There is no doubt that this plant and its compounds can provide amazing health benefits.

And We Swim In It.

Water, that is. How do we know if the water is safe to swim in? Has it really come to this on our planet? Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.”

Dumping Chemicals in Our Surface Water.

Ann Arbor’s MLive news posted a story where 2,693 pounds of methylene chloride were released into the Kalamazoo River on November 1, 2018. The perpetrator, Pfizer, notified the city seven days later. Not immediately. They waited seven days.

More Dumping.

A PBS special aired on PFAS in our water here in Michigan (preview). The special was both heart-breaking and frightening to see what manufacturers can get away with by simply dumping their unwanted chemicals and then refusing to take responsibility for their actions when people are suffering the consequences of elevated PFAS in their water. We are simply told not to “avoid touching the toxic foam.”

It’s Not Just a Michigan Problem.

The Great Lakes, as beautiful as they are, are contaminated – especially Lake Erie and Lake Ontario – but according to the most recent surveys on national water quality from the US EPA, nearly ½ of our rivers and streams and more than 1/3 of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing, and drinking.

Where to Swim?

At theswimguide.org you can search for the water quality at over 7,000 beaches nationwide. They deliver free real-time water quality information for Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Bahamas, Ireland, France, New Zealand, and Australia. And along with English, Swim Guide is also available in French and Spanish! Download “Swim Guide” from the App Store or Google Play. Swimming just got a little cleaner!

It Starts with Floss.

USA Today published an article on Oral-B Glide floss potentially tied to levels of the toxic chemical family of PFAS in our bodies. Higher levels of one PFAS chemical was found in women who flossed with Oral-B, when compared to those who used another brand.

However, PFAS also are found in the lining of food packaging and most materials that are stain resistant, oil resistant or water resistant. Sigh.

The Danger Continues with Toothpaste.

Because of its ability to alter the composition of bacteria in our mouth, the chemical triclosan is added to toothpaste (along with a number of other potentially questionable ingredients.) In 1964, triclosan was developed as a component in detergent used for surgical scrubs, due to its antimicrobial properties. Thus, it’s also added to soap, shower gels, cosmetics, skin care lotions and creams, acne medication, deodorant, shampoo, ear plugs, combs, hair brushes… and on and on it goes.

Triclosan Messes with Hormones.

Unfortunately, triclosan has been detected in 81% of breast milk samples tested from the Mother’s Milk Banks in Texas and California. Unfortunately, triclosan has endocrine disrupting properties, altering levels of thyroid hormones, and estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels.

Wash Your Mouth after Using Mouthwash.

Chemicals are added to mouthwash, too. Chemicals that increase developmental and reproductive toxicity, and allergies. A list of the safest mouthwashes can be found here.

Make the Switch.

The Cornucopia Institute has done it again! Looks like they have discovered the safest toothpaste for us to use. The top “score” is 1200 and has 8 contenders. Some brand I’ve never heard of, but I will certainly check them out. How does your toothpaste rate? As for PFAS free floss? Cocofloss is said to be free of the chemical.