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May
26
EWG’s Sunscreen Report – Helpful or Harmful?
Filed Under Skin Care | 36 Comments
- They use the words “top-rated”. If they lumped it all into one list and said “Here you go, make your own decision!” which is basically what they told me when I asked them about their choices in their live chat on Facebook yesterday, I wouldn’t be so picky. But they listed these brands as Top Sunscreens citing they are the “right choice”. That leads me to believe (and others who trust them I’m sure) that they support those brands and the ingredients in them. I think this is a reckless thing to do for an organization who has so much available to them and such a wide audience listening. When I pressed them about including a product (Blue Lizard) that contains 3 parabens, fragrance/phthalates, PEGs, propylene glycol and other chemicals they informed me that “Sunscreen ratings differ from other Skin Deep ratings in that sun protection accounts for 2/3rds of the score, and ingredient hazards for 1/3. This is because of the known harmful effects of UV. We show the health score on every product page so people can incorporate this information into their decisions.” I feel that this should be more apparent to the readers looking over their lists. Had they not singled a selection of products as a “top-rated” list I might not argue too much. Let people decide based on the ingredients for each product. Which leads me to my next point…
- Many people trust them and their recommendations because they share so much useful knowledge. Their sunscreen report is the one everyone is looking to (save for the handful of people who use mine!) and the one everyone refers to, including big timers like Healthy Child Healthy World. Some people might assume, that because one Blue Lizard product is on their Top Sunscreen list that the entire brand is “safe”. People tend not to read through pages and pages of material before making decisions. They should but let’s be real. They don’t – which is why I try to keep things on SafeMama as compact and accessible as possible. So my fear is that someone perusing the Top Sunscreens list will go on to assume that all Blue Lizard products are safe because that product was recommended by the Environmental Working Group. The products in question are the only mineral sunscreens in the entire line of products – the rest of Blue Lizards brand uses the chemical that EWG has blacklisted – oxybenzone and other non-mineral sunscreens. Another example is the BabyGanics sunscreen which contains phenoxyethanol, PEG’s and has a few chemical sunscreening ingredients as well.
- Use a headset or speaker phone
- hold phone away from your body
- choose texting over talking
- A 27 oz. Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottle — the perfect solution to using less plastic and avoiding contaminated bottled water
- Jumbo Enviro-Tote made from 100% recycled plastic, printed with EWG’s pollution solutions
- 6-piece Pyrex Glass Container Set (no more Tupperware!)
- Crummy Brothers organic chocolate chip cookies
- $25 in free product coupons, plus…
- EWG’s most popular tools for healthy living
- As a special incentive, the first 500 donors who order the gift bag will also receive a complimentary copy of the book Green Goes With Everything by Sloan Barnett.
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with plain soap.
- Wash surfaces that contact food (e.g., utensils, cutting boards, counter tops) with a regular (not “antibacterial”) detergent and warm water.
- Wash childrens hands and toys regularly. Again, simple soap and good old-fashioned scrubbing will suffice.
- Environmental Working Group Action Fund and ask the CA Health Committee to vote Yes on SB 1713, a bill aiming to ban BPA from children’s products in California. They vote today so head on over and send in your voice.
- Z Recommends Car Seat Review: The have an excellent review of the new Britax New Frontier carseat and booster. It is very thorough and they have a nifty video demonstration.
- CPSC Crib Recall: Jardine has recalled a number of cribs for a strangulation hazard. I don’t normally point out recalls since they’re right over there on the sidebar but this is a big one that I thought warranted a mention.
- Moms Speak Up about Plastic Scrubbies: I read a post by one of the lovely ladies at Moms Speak Up that the exfoliating beads in Oil of Olays Olay Body Wash Plus Spa Exfoliating Ribbons is actually made of polyethylene beads. I’m so glad that Oil of Olay is okay with washing plastic beads into our water systems and into the digestive systems of fish and marine life. Excellent. That sounds fabulous along with the parabens and phthalates… what a treat!
Ok so I don’t usually do this but I am going to write an opinion piece here today. As you know I recently released my 2011 Sunscreen Cheat Sheet where I check out various natural brands of sunscreen, inspect the ingredients, write to the manufacturers to confirm information and compile my list of recommendations. Yes, I recommend these brands because I feel they display exemplary ingredients lists and are far less harmful than most commercial brands.
The EWG releases their own Sunscreen Report each year and this year was no exception. Each year I am a little surprised by their choices and I was a bit flabbergasted by their report this year and I’m going to tell you why. Most importantly, I am challenging you, my readers to not take one organizations word for it. I try to provide my cheat sheets to save you time, yes. But I firmly believe it’s in everyone’s best interest to take time when you have it to question things and learn more about what you put on your body. So moving on…
I do not agree with some of the EWG’s Top Sunscreens. You’re probably thinking “Who does she think she is? she’s just a MOM, they are scientists, she has no clue.” And you are partially right. Except for the clue part. I’ve been inspecting sunscreens for years and while I have never been in a laboratory to test the effectiveness of any sunscreen, I do know that there are ingredients we should avoid and ingredients I do not allow in any products I recommend. What bother’s me about some of the brands EWG selected to put in their Top Sunscreens list is two fold.
Now, I am not disparaging the entire report. They do say the list is for “people who are looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor“, so they aren’t right out saying “these are the safest products over all” But what is the point if there are other hormone disrupting ingredients plaguing the contents? Doesn’t that negate some of the purpose? It’s confusing to me, so someone who is not familiar with looking for safe products, or deciphering ingredients, will make other assumptions. I think it’s only half of the story and they are missing an opportunity to really promote products that are safe all around.
There are some GREAT brands on the list, brands that I support and list on my own Cheat Sheet so all is not lost. I just think they should be a bit more selective. They have a WEALTH of valuable information in the report and they explain their methodology and provide far more information than I ever could alone. They are an awesome resource for those who want to know more and I support the organization. But some of their picks are confusing to me based on what they are telling us is safe.
My last issue is the intense focus on sunscreen this time of year. I get more email and comments about sunscreen than anything else. And unless you live in an area where you use it year around, I think people’s concern is misplaced. We should be focusing our “paranoia” on the products we use on our skin every single day. Not something that we use for a couple months out of the whole year. Is it important to scrutinize our sunscreens? Yes! But I think we should be this riled up about all body care products as much as we are about sunscreen.
I welcome your comments and criticism of my opinion. As a disclaimer, I don’t know everything and I don’t claim to. But I know enough to want things to be better.
Sep
15
Is your cell phone safe?
Filed Under Articles | 5 Comments
Remember when we were kids, phones were attached to the wall? You generally had one line for the whole house to share, and you had to practically cut the lines so your sister would let you use the phone already! Now we live in a day in age where just about everyone has a mobile phone. I have to admit, while it’s a bit pretentious and ridiculous to see these young kids with cell phones these days (and there are emergency only options), it’s a great way to keep track of your kids.
But, there’s the whole debate on whether or not your mobile phone is emitting radiation, and with phones being given to younger and younger kids, it begs the question. Is your phone safe? Think about it. Their generation has no idea that we actually had to share a phone with a rotary dial. They will never know life without a cell phone.
One of our favorite organizations, The EWG has put together a great guide on the best (and worst) cell phones, ranked by the amount of radiation emits. Sadly, my beloved iPhone is one of the highest emitting phones (of course it is). You can look up your current phone as well as find the best options for your family. Not eligible for an upgrade yet? EWG has also put together some great tips to reduce your exposure:
Read all 8 tips on reducing your exposure over at Environmental Working Group as well as much more information on the risks of children using mobile phones.
Apr
3
BPA, Melamine, now Perchlorate? What’s Next?
Filed Under Articles, Take Action | Comments Off
Editor Note: Please read this article carefully before emailing us to slap us on the hand for recommending breastfeeding. We in no way suggest that below. Perchlorate is found in breastmilk due to that chemical contaminating drinking water. Our problem is with the chemical in general and while you may have less exposure through breastfeeding it does not eliminate it completely. Ok, read on:
Recently, 15 brands of infant formula have tested positive for a chemical called perchlorate. Perchlorate is a chemical used in rocket fuel, that is also found in drinking water. Like we didn’t have enough to worry about, right?
Now, while the CDC (who did the original tests) did not release the brands of formula they tested, two of the brands account for 87% of the U.S. Formula market. So with that, you can wager a guess as to which brands they were.
My son was formula fed exclusively, so this is really disturbing to me. We all drink water, and we mix the water with the formula. From the EWG:
The CDC team warned that mixing perchlorate-tainted formula powder with tap water containing “even minimal amounts” of the chemical could boost the resulting mixture’s toxin content above the level the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers safe. Many scientists contend that the EPA “safe” level is too high to protect public health.
Based on this study, the Environmental Working Group has recommended that EPA promptly set a legally enforceable upper limit on perchlorate contamination in drinking water, consistent with the latest science on perchlorate’s toxic effects.
Last fall, the Bush administration’s EPA leadership touched off a major furor by declaring that perchlorate posed no threat to most Americans and did not need to be regulated as a drinking water pollutant.
The decision was widely regarded as a major victory for the Pentagon and defense and aerospace contractors reluctant to pay clean-up costs that could mount into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
I don’t know why this doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
So what can we do? We all know that breast milk is best and of course if you can breastfeed, you’re ingesting less perchlorate. But formula is sometimes necessary or preferred. There are a multitude of reasons why a woman may not be able to breastfeed and we shouldn’t have to worry on top of that whether or not the formula we feed our babies, is contaminated. According to the EWG’s article: “Perchlorate was found in all brands and types of infant formula tested,” the scientists said. The worst perchlorate contamination was found in formula based on cow’s milk with lactose.”
Right now we’re kind of between a rock and a hard place. Bottled water is polluted, filtered water might be a better answer. Possibly go with a brand or type of formula that is less likely to contain perchlorate (or even less perchlorate), but most of all, Contact your congress person. Contact your senator. Hell, contact the President himself. Write to them and let them know that this is unacceptable!! We should not have to live in fear of giving our children formula, or drinking water for that matter. The industry should not get to hide behind the EPA and get off scott-free so that we can continue to poison ourselves and our families.
Mar
11
EWG New Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides
Filed Under Food Safety | Comments Off
I know many of us groan when we’re filling our carts with organic produce… the prices are astronomical compared to the other stuff. But the truth is there is “important” items to be bought organically and some that are safer to buy in the “regular” produce sections. But how does one remember which ones are better than others? We can all save a little moola if we follow the EWG Shoppers Guide to Pesticides when we shop.
The EWG had a report on this in the past but have since updated it and made a handy wallet size for those of us without photographic memories. Hop on over to The Environmental Working Group and download your Shopper’s Guide.
You can also browser their full list and see what each item rated on their list. Get all this info at FoodNews.org!
Feb
25
Dear SafeMama: Greener Pregnancy
Filed Under Dear SafeMama | Comments Off
I just found out I’m pregnant with our second child. I’ve been trying to be more educated about toxins. I’ trying to cut out everything possible that’s plastic (BPA, phthalates, PVC), eliminating foods with HFCS where possible, I got organic HBA items, but what else should I be aware of during my pregnancy? Any advice on pre-natal vitamins? I read that there was lead in them back in 2007 and not sure if that’s changed or not?
Ahhh, pregnancy. I don’t know that there’s anything other than pregnancy and children that make you more wrought with anxiety and guilt.
Our first son was a product of In-vitro Fertilization. I was just so happy to finally be pregnant. At the time, I had no idea about toxins in my home, or even what a paraben was. It’s amazing to me, that my son was born healthy.
When I found out I was pregnant with our second child, both my husband and I were every form of shocked you can think of. We had achieved a natural pregnancy. After going through infertility treatments, it’s a very bizarre feeling to have your reproductive system get its butt in gear and do what it’s supposed to. Everything happens for a reason and once the shock wore off, it became an amazing gift.
I truly believe my “going green(er)” played a part in my getting pregnant the second time. I won’t say it could happen for everyone, but after overhauling my chemical lifestyle, I wind up pregnant all of a sudden, it does seem to be more than coincidence.
People are always asking us how to go about living a healthier lifestyle in the home. I always tell people to do things one step at a time, And now, one of my favorite organizations, the EWG, has put out a printable guide to help parents cut down on toxins in the home. I think this guide is also great if you’re currently pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant and are looking to live a healthier life. Along with the book from another one of our favorite organizations: Healthy Child Healthy World. These have some really great invaluable tips to help you get rid of chemicals in your life. This book also has a tendency to be very overwhelming, so take from it what you can. It’s better to do what you’re most comfortable with and know that you’re at least making a difference.
(Kathy interjecting here: Another great book/resource: Going Green With Baby from our friends at Itsabelly. Book covers everything a new green parent needs to know!)
As for vitamins, my personal thought is that organic and natural vitamins are largely unregulated, and therefore, might be more harmful than they are good. It seems that all vitamins and supplements contain lead, but you’re going to probably have better luck with prescription vitamins, as they’re heavily regulated. They also have unfavorable ingredients in them (such as dyes and other things that we like to avoid), but they’ve also got very strict regulations forced upon them and therefore you’re going to get a product that’s consistent.
Unfortunately, you can’t avoid all chemicals and with vitamins you’re just trading in one set of concerns for another. So you have to weigh what’s most important to you in this case.
Dec
2
2008 Pollution Solutions Gift Bag for EWG
Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama | Comments Off
With the holidays approaching gift giving is on everyone’s mind. But this is also the season of giving and why not kill two birds with one stone. Buy a 2008 Pollution Solutions Gift Bag for the environmentalist in your life and help support the Environmental Working Group at the same time. I’d love to receive one of these as a gift… here’s what’s inside:
Cool right? The work the EWG does for all of us is so important and they rely on donations to continue funding the research that has gotten us this far… important research that we rely on to make safe decisions. Plus, for every donation/purchase of $135 or more, your donation will be matched by the EWG’s generous donors. You can get one bag for $135 or two bags for a discount $245. All donations over $135 will be matched dollar for dollar. It’s a great cause and an investment in the future.
Get One (Or Two!): 2008 Pollution Solutions Gift Bag – Mention SafeMama.com when you check out… if 10 or more SafeMama Readers purchase bags we’ll give a Pollution Solutions Gift Bag to of the fabulous readers who donated/purchased a bag – that means you’ll get a second one free if you’re selected (at random). Make sure to email us after you’ve donated/purchased your Pollution Solutions Gift Bag with your donation receipt.
Oct
8
Dear SafeMama: Safer Non-Stick Cookware
Filed Under Dear SafeMama, Food Safety, Green Mama | Comments Off
Q: I am curious what is the safest type of pots and pans to use? I was also wondering if there are any types of spoons, spatulas, etc. (other than metal that scratch your pots and pans) that are safe to use while cooking? Can you please help me?
Teflon and non-stick surfaced cookware has been in the green news before for being not so green, or healthy. The problem is that non-stick coatings are not meant for very high heat, and on many cookware labels they actually say “for low to medium heat”. That doesn’t mean people adhere. You figure its a pan, for cooking, its going to get hot. Duh. Apparently when overheated it can be a potential health hazard. The EWG links the chemicals used in nonstick coatings to cancer, stroke and high cholesterol. It’s a lot of information but a basic breakdown of the chemicals that are part of this Body Burden problem in Americans can be found on the EWG website.
So what do we do? Look for cookware that is void of this family of chemicals known as PFC’s (Also called PFOA, PFOS, C8, PTFE, and Teflon).
Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly Nonstick Hard Anodized Piece Cookware: Features an aluminum alloy core and exclusive PTFE- and PFOA-free nonstick surface that’s ceramic- rather than petroleum-based, so it helps to conserve existing oil reserves. Available on Amazon.com!
GreenPan™ Cookware: This cookware is now available at some Target stores. Features Thermolon™, a PTFE and PFOA free coating and releases no fumes when overheated. Find it at Target.com!
Cast Iron Cookware: Cast Iron has long been around so finding it won’t be a problem. Cast Iron distributes heat evenly and they can become “seasoned” into a perfect non-stick cooking option without any 
fancy coatings. Coast Iron can also add some valuable iron to your diet! Lodge Logic has some available on Amazon.com, but you can probably find cast iron at any local cooking supply store.
Safer Utensils: Try bamboo. bamboo is a sustainable material and is naturally resistant to bacteria. Find some at Pristine Planet.
Added to note: Regular stainless steel cookware isn’t an issue since it doesn’t have any non-stick coatings so for those of you wondering why it’s not mentioned here, there you go.
Jul
18
Next Toxin to Watch: Triclosan
Filed Under Chemicals, Product Safety | Comments Off
I sat in on a video Q & A session with Environmental Working Group Scientist Rebecca Sutton about a study the EWG released Thursday regarding Triclosan. Triclosan, as the EWG defines it as “an antibacterial chemical found in many consumer products”. Triclosan is often listed as an active ingredient in many household items… and is in some other household things you might not think of. It can be found not only in antibacterial soaps but also in dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, mattresses, sponges, shower curtains, phones, kitchen ware, food containers, shoes, flooring and carpet, cutting boards, clothing and fabric (think work out gear), and toys to name a few. Anything that touts antibacterial or germ resistant is a possible source.
Why should we care? The EWG says Triclosan is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and may disrupt thyroid function. Wastewater treatment does not remove all of it, its ending up in our water sources… harming fish and aquatic life. To boot, Triclosan is turning up in breast milk and could potentially present toxicity to fetal development and childhood development.
Further, studies are showing that using an antibacterial chemical does not provide any more protection than just plain ol’ soap and water. It’s more of a marketing gimmick than anything.
EWG’s Enviroblog offers tips to avoid it:
You can find their full report here. This isn’t news to us here at SafeMama. We have always been on the anti-antibacterial warpath in one way or another whether it be “sanitizing” toys or going overboard with hand sanitizer. If you really need something for on the road hand washing when soap and water isn’t available, we like Clean George for an alcohol free one.
Read the full report: EWG Triclosan in Consumer Products
Jul
7
The Thing About Sunscreen
Filed Under Product Safety, Skin Care | Comments Off
If you read other child safety or beauty blogs, you’ve probably seen that the Environmental Working Group has released its 2008 Safer Sunscreen Guide.
Let me preface this by saying that we love what EWG does and what they stand for, however, over the last few months, we’ve been telling our readers to take their cosmetic safety database with a grain of salt. We do sometimes cross reference and share those findings, but with the disclaimer stating that the database is not always accurate. Formulas change so fast that it’s nearly impossible to keep up.
In the instance of the sunscreen guide, however, I was extremely disappointed. A lot of their recommendations contain harmful ingredients, such as parabens, propylene glycol and PEG’s. These are things that I would never put on my own skin, let alone my child’s skin, and I was surprised that an organization dedicated to safer living would recommend products with these chemicals in them.
One of the top “most recommended” brands on the list, was one that we had gotten a lot of inquiries about when we released our own Safer Sunscreen Showdown. And that’s Blue Lizard. It seems that this particular brand gets recommended a lot by pediatricians, however, with all of the chemicals in it, we simply cannot recommend it to our readers.
There is some good news however, and that’s their recommendations on TruKid and California Baby. I can’t even tell you how much I LOVE TruKid’s sunscreen. It’s one of my favorite sunscreens. It goes on greasy at first, but it absorbs really well, and doesn’t leave a white film like a lot of them do. There are no icky chemicals in it, and it smells fabulous. I used it at an amusement park last week and it held up well to my excessive sweating.
We obviously can’t force you to use one of our recommended sunscreens, but we do encourage you to read the labels. Your kids are going to need sunscreen from time to time, and if it’s a situation where you’re going to be sitting on a beach reapplying it all day, wouldn’t you want it to be chemical free?
Jun
24
SafeMama Link Round Up
Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Eco-Mama | Comments Off
Just a few articles and links I found worth mentioning today…
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Latest CPSC Childrens Products and Toy Recalls
- Bumbleride Recalls Indie & Indie Twin Strollers Due to Fall Hazard
- Weeplay Kids Recalls Infant Bodysuits Due to Choking Hazard
- Infant Rattles Recalled by Lee Carter Co. Due to Choking Hazard
- Mexican Wrestling Action Figures Recalled by Lee Carter Co. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
- Chariot Carriers Recalls Child Bicycle Trailers and Conversion Kits Due to Injury Hazard
Car Seat Recalls
Latest FDA Recalls
- North American Rescue, LLC Announces A Follow-Up to the Recall of Crickit Convenience Kits Because of Possible Health Risk Related to Nationwide Recall of Triad Povidone Iodine Prep Pads
- Healthy People Co. Issues a Voluntary Recall of Specific Lots of the Dietary Supplements Found to Contain Undeclared Drug Ingredients
- Nest Collective Voluntarily Recalls Select Revolution Foods Jammy Sammy - Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter Snack Size Sandwich Bars Due to a Labeling Error (Undeclared Peanut on Inner Wrapper)
Latest Recalls in Canada
- Seymour Custom Solvent recalled over labelling
- Kids eyeglass cases recalled because of lead levels
- GUND board books pose choking hazard
Safer States Action Alerts
- 28 states to consider toxic chemicals legislation in 2012
- Report round-up: Toxic chemicals in hidden places
- Obesity: What do chemicals have to do with it?
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