Due to consumer demand, SC Johnson, maker of products such as Pledge, Glade Air Fresheners, Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles, has announced its intention to disclose chemicals used in fragrances. Transparency in Labeling The word fragrance on a label indicates the use of dozens of chemicals which are combined to create a unique scent. Product labeling…
DIY Pesticide Duster
Looking to avoid hazardous chemicals while fighting uninvited guests this season? Try this simple and effective DIY pesticide duster! This DIY pesticide duster uses readily available herbs and spices. It also calls for diatomaceous earth (DE), a naturally occurring siliceous rock that is easy crumbled into a fine white powder. (Learn more about DE here.)…
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 101
These chemicals defy the conventional “the dose makes the poison” premise and are wreaking havoc with our bodies. You’ll find them in toys, scented products, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The evidence is mounting that these dose-defying chemicals are doing us harm. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Chances are you’ve heard the term endocrine disrupters. According to recent…
Chlorinated Paraffins in Hand Blenders
As much as possible I try to avoid chemicals in my food. I buy organic, veer away from GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), and try to avoid plastic packaging. I never considered my stick blender as a possible source of chemical exposure until now. A study released October 23, 2014 suggests that some hand blenders leak…
How to Choose Safe and Sustainable Clothing
How are we doing today when it comes to our health and fashion? In 1881, the Rational Dress Society challenged the fashion industry of its day. The Society protested against a dress that “either deforms the figure, impedes the movements of the body, or in any way tends to injure health.” Seeking to do away…
Why Pesticides Don’t Belong in Schools
What are the myths surrounding the safety of synthetic weed and bug killers? Are these chemicals as harmless as we are led to believe? I recently appeared before our local school board to ask them to reconsider the routine spraying of toxic sprays. The content of my presentation appears below. To members of the District…