Topic: toxic chemicals

Unacceptable Levels: Watch The Trailer For This New Doc About Our Constant Chemical Exposure

It might make you scared of everything you own (and put onto and into your body), but you’ve still got to watch the trailer for the new documentary, Unacceptable Levels. More »

Blue Jeans Go Green: Levi’s Vows To Stop Polluting Rivers With Toxic Runoff

After a week of pressure from Greenpeace, Levi’s — the world’s largest denim brand — has agreed to clean up its “toxic fashion” act and stop polluting Mexico’s rivers in the name of making jeans. Levi’s said it will commit to making more eco-friendly clothes by eliminating all release of hazardous chemicals during its manufacturing process by the year 2020. More »

Kelly Preston Speaks Out About Autism And Her Son’s Death; Thankfully, This Isn’t A Jenny McCarthy Moment

Kelly Preston is speaking out about autism and the death of her son, Jett Travolta, for the first time in a segment on the show The Doctors. She says environmental factors and chemicals are a major cause of rising autism rates, and believes that they’re one of the thing’s responsible for Jett’s autism. While we’re probably all a little scarred by Jenny McCarthy’s crusade against vaccines, but this celebrity is worth hearing out: Not only is there real research and science behind her claims; she’s also promoting a lifestyle that’s generally pretty safe and healthy. Which is a much more appealing option than taking a gamble with vaccines. More »

Study Says Organic Products Contain Toxic Chemicals; Industry Groups Say Don’t Worry

And next up, in the Department of Everything Is Killing Us: A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives says all sorts of personal care and household products—including many labeled natural or organic—contain potentially toxic chemicals not listed on their labels. The study, conducted by the nonprofit Silent Spring Institute, tested soaps, makeup, lotions, laundry detergents, cleaners, sunscreens, air fresheners and other common stuff for a roster of 66 chemicals thought to cause asthma and hormone disruption.
More »

Summer Solstice Yoga, Awash In Chemicals Courtesy Of Febreze

Ah, summer is officially here. And the longest day of the year is cause for celebration, right?

If you live in New York, you can join thousands of your favorite fellow yogis tomorrow for the all-day Lucy Solstice in Times Square. Last year, 5,000 yogis came out to salute the sun in a major way in the heart of the busiest city on earth while hundreds of onlookers gazed at the wonderment of people twisting, bending and vinyasa-ing in unison. More »

Beauty Review: In-Kind Personal Care Products for Body, Face, and Hands

What it is: In-Kind Personal Care Products for body, hair, face, and hands

What’s in it: 95% natural ingredients including sunflower seed extract, acai, grapefruit, cucumber, cactus, mint, coconut, rosemary, goji berry, pomegranate, shea butter, ginger extract, verbena extract, and olive fruit oils, depending on the specific product. (There are 30 products in the line.)

What’s not in it: Parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, phthalates, PEGs (polyethylene glycol), sulfates, EDTA, synthetic color, or pesticides More »

10 Disturbing Facts About Food Dyes

What better day to dicuss food dyes than on March 17, when beers, cupcakes, people’s faces and bodies, and the Chicago River (among other things) are dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day? Unfortunately, the truth is that most food dyes aren’t so lighthearted, carefree, and fun-loving. Though we tend to associate them with birthday parties, annual parades, and community bake sales, food dyes can contain some pretty scary ingredients, and can lead to some pretty serious health issues including cancer, allergic reactions, and hyperactivity. (And the dyes are present in a lot of foods you might not expect.) Damn distressing dyes. So I asked our Fearless Foodtrainer, nutritionist Lauren Slayton, exactly what’s so bad about about eating foods that contain dyes, and for ten facts we may not know about these seemingly innocent additives. More »

Spring 2011 Colors: 10 Eco-Friendly Nail Polish Choices

Yesterday, our friends over at Well+Good NYC rounded up eco-friendly nail polish company Priti’s newest line from recently wrapped New York Fashion Week. But while those featured colors sure are pretty, they likely won’t be in style until the fall. So we went hunting for some nail and toe polish shades that are on-trend right now – including pale blue and leafy green. Plus, all ten finds are eco-friendly and non-toxic. As always, you can use the Cosmetics Database to see whether or not your favorite beauty product brand is free of the “toxic trio” (toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate), camphor, and other potential carcinogens and harsh or toxic chemicals. In the meantime, we can’t wait til spring has sprung. More »

Animals Hoarding: Health Hazards of Living With Exotic Pets

Animal hoarding, which has become prevalent enough to warrant its own reality TV show, took a turn for the truly bizarre this week in Shirley, New York, near the eastern end of Long Island, where an elderly woman was found to be harboring more than 100 animals in her home. But instead of the usual mix of cats, dogs, and birds, she appeared to be assembling her own ark, complete with chinchillas, deer, pigs, and even a cow. Which would be fine if this woman lived on a farm, but these poor animals were residing inside her house. Just like the song “The Circle of Life” – the Marilyn Manson version, that is.

Just when we were getting over the potential safety issues of letting our cats and dogs share our beds at night, now we need to face the potential health hazards of snuggling up with pigs, goats, and deer. What hath Paris Hilton wrought? More »

What We're Reading:

Certain Spices Contain Pesticides and 9 Other Shocking Facts About Condiments

Last week, nutritionist and Foodtrainers founder Lauren Slayton brought us 10 foods you didn’t know contained protein, and this week she’s back stirring up some condiment controversy.

So your beef is grass-fed and your produce organic. You don’t microwave in plastic and you always recycle. Sounds as though when it comes to food and health you’re doing pretty well. Not so fast. There’s one area you may be neglecting: Condiments (and a few other suspect foods thrown in for good measure). Do you really know what’s in them? Sorry, but I’m here to burst your nutritional bubble. So here’s our gallery of ten condiments you should carefully consider before consuming. More »

Europe Ditches Six Scary Chemicals — The European Union has announced it will ban six toxic chemicals from household and beauty products over the next few years. On the new no-fly list are phthalates like DEHP, which is commonly found in items made of PVC, and the fragrance Musk Xylene. (Reuters)

Caramel-Colored Cola May Cause Cancer, New Study Claims

Obviously, there are already plenty of health reasons to limit your soda intake, but the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is determined to add another to the list: Cancer.

In a report published Wednesday, CPSI urged the FDA to ban the caramel coloring used in cola products including Coke and Pepsi, claiming that “artificial brown coloring in colas and some other products is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures.” Not exactly appetizing. Even less so? “Chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole, which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats,” CPSI says. More »

Beauty Product Review: Lavanila Laboratories Healthy Deodorant

What it is: The Healthy Deodorant by Lavanila Laboratories

What’s in it: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Alpha-Glucan oligosaccharide (sugar derived), carrageenan, goji berry, valerian, corn starch, and more – the full list of ingredients varies depending on the scent.

What’s not in it: Aluminum, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, sulfates, or parabens.

What it feels like: A little rough going on — the bar is really solid, and pressing hard to apply can be painful to sensitive or razor-burned skin — but once it’s on, you’ll be dry and happy and vanilla-scented.

What it smells like: The bad news? You’re out of luck if you don’t like vanilla. The five available scents — Vanilla Passion Fruit, Vanilla Lavender, Pure Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, and Vanilla Grapefruit — are all variations on a theme. The good news is that all of the scent combinations are true to their names, so no extraneous chemical or floral scents. More »

Terrified of toxins? Then check out this comprehensive timeline of the history of BPA, from harmless, innovative invention to promoter of panic attacks among consumers. (Environmental Working Group)

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