Just One Word: Phthalates

Almost as pervasive as parabens is a family of potentially harmful chemicals used in many types of plastics, including children's toys, baby bottles and plastic wrap, called phthalates(pronounced THAlates). According to Johns Hopkins University assistant professor, Rolf Halden PHD, phthalates are plasticizers that are added to plastics to make them more flexible and less brittle. They are synthetic hormones that can interfere with the endocrine systems of humans and animals.

Humans may come in contact with these chemicals when the plastics are heated up. For example, heating breast milk or formula in a plastic bottle, or covering a meal with plastic wrap and then heating it in the microwave, can cause phthalates to leach into the food. Naturally babies and young children are more likely to be affected by endocrine disrupters because they are still developing. It is still unclear as to what level of exposure poses a risk and what the adverse health effects are. The amount of chemicals that leach into food vary, depending on the temperature, the amount of time at that temperature and the type of food. Fattier foods tend to absorb more chemicals.

Based on the evidence, it seems as though, there is no need to panic over any phthlates you may have been already exposed to, however, avoiding them in the future seems simple enough.

Tips:

When using a microwave, always put the food in a glass or ceramic container and do not cover with plastic wrap. Use a paper towel instead. A plain paper towel is best, one without colorful dyes, or bleach.

Heat baby food, milk and formula in glass containers.

Do not leave bottled water in your car or any other place where it may get too warm, as it may cause the plasticizers to leach into your water.

Alternatives:
Bottled Water
Carry and store filtered tap water in a lightweight aluminum container rather than a plastic water bottle.

Plastic Baby Bottles:
The Children's Health Environmental Coalition recommends born free natural baby products. They are available at Whole Foods and Babies R Us.
Choose plastic bottles made with recycling symbols 1,2, or 5. Some Medela and Evenflo bottles are made from these types of plastics.

Dry Cleaning Alternatives

According to the state of Ohio, epa, "dry cleaning can be responsible for releases of chemicals to the land, air and water. Evidence suggests that the primary chemical solvent used in dry cleaning, perc, can be damaging to human health and to the environment." Perc can also, to a lesser extent, stay trapped in your clothes and off gas inside your home.

Fortunately, there are alternatives. One alternative, known as "wet cleaning" uses water instead of chemicals while another subtitutes carbon dioxide .

Find a Green Earth Cleaners near you.
In New York City, you can also check out green apple cleaners.

Ask drycleaning questions at treehugger.com

Pervasive Parabens

Parabens are found in just about all personal care products, including the Kiss My Face soap I purchased at Whole Foods. Parabens are known to be estrogen disrupters but the levels found in personal products are considered safe by the FDA. The Environmental Working Group, however, recommends people limit their exposure to parabens since their use is so widespread and they have been found in human breast cancer tissue.

Another concern is how these toxins may build up generationally as mothers pass them on to their chidren. Picture source:chemical body burden.org

Aside from our personal exposure, much of our personal care products are washed down the drain. Consider the amount of shampoo, make-up, lotions and deodorants streaming into our rivers on a daily basis! The chemicals that mimic estrogen, i.e. parabens, have been linked to the feminization of fish. Source: EWG

For a complete list of ingredients to avoid in personal care products visit ewg

While parabens may be found in the majority of personal products there are alternatives. Personally, I love Burt's Bees for moisturizer, cleansers, shampoo and conditioner, but my 6 month old baby's skin is too sensitive for their fragrances. For her I use California Baby products. For deodorants and toothpaste I use Tom's of Maine.
I found the best prices for these products at drugstore.com. Prices are comparable for California Baby but it makes sense to purchase everything from one place to save on shipping..

For natural soaps we use Cal Ben Soap Co. If you read March's tip, this is the same company I recommend for dish washing and laundry soap. Save on shipping by buying together.

We no longer use shaving cream, just soap and water. I've also given up on manis and pedis since I have yet to find a natural nail polish and simply walking in a nail salon is not recommended for pregnant (and I assume lactating) women.

Cover Story: Toxins, Toxins, Everywhere

May 2007
Dear Readers,
As you may know, our homes are loaded with toxins. They are in our personal care products, our cleaners, the epoxy for the glue that holds our furniture together, our bedding, our paint and just about everything else. Each day we are exposed to a veritable "chemical soup."

As I researched the effects of particularly worrisome compounds, I was relieved to find that the individual chemicals we are typically exposed to are, for the most part, deemed safe. However, (you knew that was coming), I was unable to find any information about the combined effect of the dozens of chemicals to which we are exposed, daily. Thinking about it further I realize it would be nearly impossible for scientists to study this "soup," since each individual's serving is different. One person might get exposure from hair dye and dry cleaning, yet eat organic food, while another might gain exposure at the workplace. Furthermore, my daughter has eczema and I am finding it very difficult to isolate which foods in my diet (I'm breastfeeding) as well as hers are causing it. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, how daunting a task it is to connect the illness with a cause.

The good news is our bodies are pretty efficient at getting rid of toxins. We can consume, as many of us do, fatty foods, refined sugars and alcohol, in moderation, and not suffer adverse effects. Each time we do this though, we are asking our livers to work a bit harder. What happens when we add chemicals into the mix? How much can we tax our livers before feeling the effects? I don't think anyone can answer that conclusively.

During cold and flu season, I often stress to my students (I teach elementary school science), the importance of keeping their immune systems strong. Germs are everywhere, I explain, you can wash your hands to protect yourself, but you cannot completely avoid them. When germs enter your body, your immune system(an army of tiny soldiers), identifies the intruder and goes on the attack. Good blood cells surround the intruder and kill it. That is, as long as you've supplied your army with plenty of vitamins and given them enough rest. But what happens when there are more intruders than your immune system can handle? Then you get sick.

In my opinion, it behooves us all to reduce our exposure to any potentially harmful chemical as best we can. Back in March, I discussed alternatives to toxic cleaners. This month I've taken a broader look at our exposure and provided alternatives. I hope you find these posts helpful and that you will share them with others.

Thank you

The Earth-Watchers Plan

Earth-Watchers is not about feeling guilty or passing judgment. Earth-Watchers is about finding your comfort zone, then stretching it until the stretched area begins to feel comfortable. When it does, stretch again.



Each month earth-watchers members choose a more eco-friendly habit.
At the end of the month we discuss our successes and failures as group. We brainstorm how we can make our moves toward sustainability more practical for everyone.

In addition, we take a look at what changes can be done in our community to help others to adapt some eco-friendly habits. For example. it is much easier to eat local when your community has a farmer's market or CSA. It is also much easier to collect compost when your community has a convenient and accessible drop-off location.

Would you like to try the Earth-Watchers action plan? Below you will find a list of eco-friendly actions. Choose one and when it becomes a habit and not a struggle, (only you can determine when that is), choose another. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

1. Purchase only shade grown, organic fair-trade coffee(August article and guide)
2. Reduce your exposure to toxins(May)
3.Say no to paper and plastic bags at the supermarket.(April)
4.Make one in 10 food items organic and avoid the dirty dozen.(March)
5.Choose sustainably harvested seafood.(March)
6. Stop using chemicals to clean your home.(March)
7. Stop sending conventional flowers. Send plants, or organically grown instead.(February)
8. Commit to choosing vintage and recycled jewelry(February)
9. Choose locally grown fruits and vegetables. To find a CSA visit www.localharvest.org

Editorial-My First Earth Day

I celebrated my first earth day as a freshman on a Pennsylvania college campus. I had recently joined a group, known as GECO, Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization, and we were celebrating the success of our most recent project. We, along with many other schools and organizations around the country, organized a letter writing campaign to the big tuna sellers demanding they stop using nets which harmed dolphins. Victory came surprisingly easy. In what seemed like no time at all, perhaps because we were late to join the effort, "dolphin safe" tuna was born.

It was on that same college campus that I first learned about global warming. We were taught it was a definite and real threat requiring immediate attention. We anticipated the environment taking center stage in the next presidential election. Why not...we had an environmentalist (Al Gore) running for VP. We assumed people would embrace the necessary changes and would fore go their gas guzzling over consumptive habits and we could put a stop to the damage a warmer climate would cause. You could say we were green in more ways than one.
That was 17 years ago! This earth day, it seems the environment has finally earned America's attention. Hollywood has at least made an attempt, to go green at this year's Oscars, organic foods are as mainstream as Walmart(for better or worse), and Wall Street is finally recognizing the profits in going green.

While we all might not be as dedicated as noimpactman, this month, in honor of Earth Day I invite you to make one change for the planet. Perhaps you'll join me in taking the "neither paper nor plastic," challenge(see post), or dump(appropriately) your chemical cleaners. If anything, I hope this blog demonstrates that there are many benefits to going green and that each step need not require a major sacrifice.





Please share your story on one positive change for the planet by commenting on this blog. Nothing is more inspiring than learning that others share your commitment to a better world.

Earth Day Events in New York City

For more information on how your family can go green, check out this month's Time Out New York, Kids.

Earth Day weekend at Prospect Park
The park will host a number of activites, such as tree planting and recycling.
Saturday April 21st and Sun. April 22nd

Earth Day at Grand Central
Sponsored by Earth Day NY, more than 60 exhibits and booths that how to be more conscious of the environment. Kids can make cereal-box collages and "spoke flowers" with Recycle-a-bicycle. Be on the lookout for Burt's Bees giveaways.
Earth Fair inside Vanderbilt Hall; Saturday April 14th noon-7:00 and Sunday April 15th 11am-5pm.
Earth Fair outdoors on Vanderbilt avenue: Friday April 20th, noon-7PM and Saturday April 21st 11am-5pm.

New York City Grows Garden Festival
Saturday April 28, 9am
Adult and kid friendly workshops, food demonstrations, a prize drawing and more.
Visit NGA's website for more.

For Teachers : An Earth Day Guide

Participate in the Earth Day Groceries Project. Visit a local grocery store, borrow paper grocery bags, have students decorate them. Then, return them to the grocery store on April 22nd. Students will be proud to see their personalized Earth Day messages being distributed at their local grocery store. For more information, visit; http://www.earthdaybags.org/faqs.htm

Have your students make an earth day pledge. Since it takes 21 days to form a new habit, students can pledge to do something positive for the planet for 21 days. You can have them sign a statement, i.e. "I will bring my lunch in a re-usable container for 21 days," or "I will turn off the lights when I leave a room," or "I will turn off the faucet when I'm brushing my teeth." They can have two witnesses sign their pledge who will hold them accountable. Next month have them report back on how they did. Did their committment inspire others? Did they meet their goal? If not, what went wrong? Do they have any advice for others attempting the same challenge?

Make recycled paper with your students. To learn how visit: talkabouttrees.org. Be sure to demonstrate to your students that recycling paper uses a lot of energy and water. The best thing to do is use as little paper as possible and then recycle what you do use.


Have a "wasteless" competition. During earth week, if student desks are arranged in equal groups, tape a large garbage bag to each group. Explain to students they are to throw their trash in these bags for the week. Food waste and other perishables should not be thrown there. If you're concerned students may cheat, don't disclose your intention until the end of the week. On Friday, weigh each bag on a bathroom scale. The team with the lightest bag wins. Have students brainstorm ways to reduce their waste at school.
For more ideas, visit earth911kids

Start a garden
For advice and available grants on gardening visit nationalgardenmonth.org

April 14th, National Climate Awareness Day

This April 14th has been declared National Climate Awareness Day. People around the nation will gather for a variety of events to demand that Congress..."Cut Carbon emissions 80% by 2050." There are interesting events all over the country, to find one near you visit: http://www.stepitup2007.org/ and punch in your zip code. One particularly interesting event will take place in New York City's Battery Park, where protesters will line up to create a "sea of people." The rally begins at noon in Battery Park, then protesters, dressed in blue, will join hands as they spread out along Manhattan's east and west sides to create a visual representation of what Manhattan will look like under the 10-foot sea level rise scenario. For more on this event visit, www.seaofpeople.org. There are also several other events in New York City which you will find at the step it up website.

Take the Neither Paper nor Plastic Challenge

Inspired by San Francisco's recent ban on plastic bags, I've decided to ban my own use of non-reusable shopping bags over the next 21 days, since that's how long it takes to learn a new habit. By this I mean that I will attempt to refuse all non-re-useable shopping bags, both paper and plastic from all shop clerks. From that last minute stop to the drugstore, to the full on shopping spree for spring clothing, I intend to be bag free! I've actually tried this many times before, unsuccessfully. I've often found myself unexpectedly stopping to make a purchase with no means of carrying the items home without accepting a bag. This time, however, I have a plan and by making my intentions public, I hope I can stick to it.

Here are some tips:

1. Visit reusablebags.com. They sell a bag that folds up to a 2" x 3" x 2" pouch and weighs 1.5 oz. It can easily fit in a pocket or day bag. Then, when you need it, you can unfold it to 19"x16"x6". Pretty cool!

2. Toss a bunch of canvas bags in the trunk of your car. That way, if you make an unexpected stop you'll be prepared.

3. Leave an oversized bag by your front door. Mine hangs on my coat rack.


Please join me in banning grocery bags. Blog your experiences; from mishaps, to successes and advice for struggling environmentalists.